Gaetano Coniglio di Serradifarcu

Gaetano Coniglio

Born: 26 April, 1889,Serradifalco, Caltanisetta, Sicily
Married to Rosa Alessi: 30November 1912,Serradifalco
Died: 4 July, 1944, Buffalo, New York
Arrived at Ellis Island 30 April, 1913

Meaning of Coniglio [cu-NEEL-yu]: rabbit

The street and house where Gaetano was born in 1889,
Vicolo Migliore Numero diece (Number 10 Migliore Alley).
The street was also sometimes called Via or Strada Migliore.

Serradifalco, July 2004 ~ Photos by Greg and Melissa Coniglio

My Father's Birth*

La Nascita di ma Papà

* (I wrote this piece in English several years ago. I recently translated it to the Sicilian language, and my friend Joe Baiardo of Hamilton, Ontario helped with constructive corrections. Joe also worked with another Hamilton friend, Sam Cino, who produced a video to accompany my narration of the story. A link to that YouTube video follows the text below.)

     In Serradifalco, Sicily, on Friday, 26 April 1889, the sun rose at 5:04 AM and set at 6:39 PM.
     But my grandfather, Gaetano Coniglio the elder, never saw it rise or set, because he was down in the bowels of Stincone, one of the local sulfur mines, working to earn a meager living for his wife Maria Carmela Calabrese and their family.
     Maria Carmela had borne him eight children, but Raimondo, the eldest, had left for Argentina, and three others had died in infancy, including little Leonardo, three years earlier.
     Gaetano had entered the mine long before sunrise, and as the hour approached eight in the evening, he packed his gear and made the long, slippery climb out of the mine. He trod on footholds barely carved in the rock, slippery from the sweat of the labors of the carusi, the mine-boys who toiled all day, carrying the raw sulfur to the furnace outside the mine.
     The moon was new, and invisible, but even so, as he left the black mouth of the mine, by comparison the starlit sky shone like dawn. His cumpari, pick-men like himself, were the brothers Vincenzo and Salvatore Barile. They accompanied him as he walked the three miles to his humble home at Via Migliore number ten. Like them, he was virtually exhausted, but his thoughts were about Maria Carmela.
     She was in her final days of pregnancy, and it had not been an easy one. He knew that his only daughter, thirteen-year-old Maria, not only would be tenderly caring for her mother, but also would have a bowl of hot minestrone ready for him when he arrived, perhaps even with a shred of the lamb they had relished on Easter, the previous Sunday.
     But as he approached the corner of Via Roma and Via Migliore, he saw Maria anxiously pacing there. When she spied him, she ran to him, shouting "Papà, Papà, sa veni, sa veni, lu bamminu arrivà!" (Papa, Papa, come sir, come sir, the baby boy has arrived!)
     He and his friends hurried into the building, scattering the family livestock kept on the ground floor - two hens, a rooster and one remaining lamb. Gaetano rushed upstairs to the living quarters to see Maria Carmela calmly suckling a red-cheeked, black-haired cherub. A stoic who did not often show his emotions, Gaetano laid a tender hand on his wife's cheek and muttered "Ha fattu beni, cara." (You've done well, dear.)
     Carmela took the praise and jokingly responded "Unn'ha statu? Era natu a li cincu. Iddu antura si mpara a parlari!" (Where have you been? He was born at five o'clock. He already knows how to speak!).
     The rest of the evening, into the early hours, was spent in an alcove of the living area by Gaetano and his friends 'Cenzinu and Turiddu, made somewhat festive by the decorations and baskets of palms Gaetano had woven two weeks earlier. The cumpari nursed a small bottle of wine that Turiddu had magically produced from his pack, while Gaetano sang the praises of his new son, not omitting the fact that he had fathered the child at age fifty-three! Home-made bread dipped in the wine helped to sustain their revelry, as his friends cried "Tanuzzu, tu puru ha fattu beni!" (Gaetano, you, too, have done well!)
     The night deepened, and they realized they must return to the mine that morning: each found a warm spot on the floor and napped as best he could, while Maria tended to the needs of her mother and her new baby brother.
     As Saturday morning approached, the men shook themselves awake, grabbed crusts of bread and their packs, and began the walk back to Stincone. Dawn was staining the sky, and they approached the mine with trepidation. The mine owner was Mastru Licalsi. They called him 'Mashu Babbu', 'Master Dummy'. He was standing arms akimbo in the mine's entranceway, and he berated them for being late, saying he would dock them for the lost time.
    Emboldened by his new fatherhood (and perhaps by last night's wine), Gaetano retorted "Go ahead, and while you're at it, you can dock me for a half-day, because this morning, I'm taking my son to the municipiu to have his birth registered!"
     Before Mashu Babbu could sputter a response, 'Cenzinu and Turiddu piped up "You can dock us, too, because we're going as his witnesses!" And they turned on their heels and trudged back into town.
     So it was that at ten that morning, 27 April 1889, 'Cenzinu and Turiddu, with Gaetano gingerly cradling his baby boy, took the short walk to the town hall on Via Duca di Serradifalco.


     Gaetano presented the child for Town Secretary Pasquale Vaccari to see, while a clerk recorded the details:

     "Your name?" - "Gaetano Coniglio"

     "Age?" - Gaetano, with obvious pride, replied "Fifty-three!"

     "Occupation? - "Sulfur miner."

     "Date and time of the birth?" - "The twenty-sixth of this month, at five in the afternoon."
     "Address?" - "Via Migliore number ten."

     "Mother of the child?" - "Carmela [her common name] Calabrese, my wife."

     "What do you name the child?"

     There was a rigid naming convention in Sicily, requiring the first and second child of each gender to be named after their respective grandparents. This tradition had already been met with Gaetano's earlier children, so he responded "I'm not likely to have any more sons. I'll give him my own name, and the name of my grandfather, Gaetano."

     "Have you brought witnesses to this registration?" - "Yes, my friends Vincenzo and Salvatore Barile. They're sulfur miners, too."

     "Can any of you write?" - "If we could write, would we be sulfur miners?"

     A Serradifarcu, in Sicilia, lu veneri, 26 aprili 1889, lu suli si spuntà a li 5:04 e afunnà a li 18:39.
       Ma, ma nannu, Gaetano Coniglio maggiori, nun lu vitti; ne a spuntari e ne afunnari, pirchi era tuttu lu timpu intra li vudedda di lu Stincuni, unu di li minieri vicinu di zurfu, travagliari pi guadagnarsi nu pocu di sordi pi la muglieri Maria Carmela Calabrese e la so famiglia.
       Maria Carmela aviva ottu figli, ma Ramunno, lu chiú ranni, si nni ji a l'Argentina, e nantri tri muriru bammini, macari lu picculu Liunardu, tri anni chiú primu.
       Gaetano ci ji intra la miniera tantu timpu primu di la spuntata di lu suli, e quannu l'ura s’avvicinava al li ottu di sira, si piglià i sò cosi, e fici la lunga e sciddicusa chianata pi jiri fori di la miniera. Acchianava adaggiu, adaggiu, ncapu li scali scavati ‘ntra li petri, sciddicusi di lu suduri di lu travagliu di li carusi (li ‘piciutti di li minieri’) ca travagliavanu tuttu lu jiurnu, purtannu lu zurfu crudu a la furnazza fori d’la miniera.
       La luna era nova e nun si vidia, ma puru accussi, mentri lassava la vucca niura di la miniera, ci pariva ca lu cilu stiddatu brillava comu l'alba. Li so cumpari, picuneri comu iddu, eranu li du frati, Vincenzo e Salvatore Barile. L’ avivanu accumpagnatu mentri caminava li cincu chilometri finu a la so casa nica, nica, a Via Migliore numeru deci. Comu iddi, Gaetano era troppu stancu, ma li sò pensiri eranu pi Maria Carmela.
      Chidda era in l’urtimi jurna di esseri gravida, ca ha statu veramenti difficili. Gaetano sapiva ca l’unica figlia so, Maria di tridici anni, nun sulu dava a denzia a so matri, ma puru aviva anchi preparatu ‘nu piattu callu di minestra pi iddu, fursi anchi ccu ‘nu muzzicuni d’agneddu c’avivanu mangiatu a Pasqua, duminica scursa.
       Ma mentri s’avvicinava a la cruci di strati Via Roma e Via Migliore, vittí a Maria, cu camminava di cca e di dda, tutta nirvusa. Quannu lu vittí, ci currí, gridannu "Papà, Papà, sa veni, sa veni, lu bamminu arrivà!"
       Iddu e sò amici curríru intra la casa, spartiri li bestii di famiglia tenuti a lu pianu a terra: du addini, ‘n’addu, e l’urtimu agneddu. Gaetano vulà susu, a la cammera di famiglia, pi vidiri a Maria Carmela, c’allattava carma, carma nu picciliddu cu na facciuzza russa e li capiddi niuri, comu ‘na cerba. Stoicu ca nun mostrava tantu li so sentimenti, Gaetano pusà ‘na manu tennera a la faccia di so muglieri e murmurà "Ha fattu beni, cara".
       Carmela accettà lu cumplimintu, e rispunni, cu rídiri, "Unn'ha statu? Era natu a li cincu. A st’ura si mpara a parlari!"
       Lu restu di la sira, finu a li primi uri d’a mattina, fu trascursu in un'alcova di soggiurnu di Gaetano ccu Cenzinu e Turiddu,i so amici, fattu nu pochu 'festusu cu li decoraziuni e li vaschetti di pasqua ca Gaetano aviva ntessutu du simani prima. Li cumpari vivívanu di ‘na buttiglia di vinu ca Turiddu aviva magicamenti tiratu fori di lu so saccu, mentri Gaetano cantava li lodi di so figliu novu, senza tralasciari d’aviri fattu un figliu a cinquantatri anni! Lu pani fattu di casa ammugliatu ni lu vinu aiutà a sustenirli e a divertànusi, mentri l’amici gridivanu "Tanuzzu, puru tu ha fattu bonu!"
       La notti si fici chiù profunna e si ricordaru ca ni la mattina avivanu turnari a la miniera: ognunu truvà nu postu callu n’terra e sa drumisciru comu putivanu, mentri Maria dava attenzia a so matri e a lu so nuovu fratidduzzu.
       A l'avvicinarsi di sabatu mattina, l’omini si rivigliaru cu na trema, affirriannu li crosti di pani e li sacchi e accuminciaru lu viaggiu di riturnari a Stincuni. L'alba stava macchiannu lu cilu e s’avvicinaru a la miniera cu nu scantu. Lu proprietariu di la minera era Mastru Licalsi. Lu chiamavanu "Mashu Babbu", (Mastru Cretinu). Stava cu li brazza ncapu li fianchi a l'ingressu di la minera e ci bastemiava pi essiri tardi, diciennu ca li duvissi attraccari pi lu tempu perdutu.
       Incoraggiatu cu la so nova paternità (e forsi di lu vinu d’arsira), Gaetano ci rispunni "Avanti, fallu, e puru mi po attraccari mezza giurnata, pirchi stamattina portu a ma figliu a lu municipiu pi fari a registrari la so nascita!"
       Prima ca Mashu Babbu putissi murmuriari na risposta, 'Cenzinu e Turiddu gridaru "Po attraccari anchi nuantri, pirchi nni iammu comu li so testimunii!" E si vuntaru i carcagni e si strascinaru intornu a lu paisi.
       Fu accussì, ca a li deci di la matina, 27 aprili 1889, 'Cenzinu e Turiddu, cu Gaetano, ca teniva cu tennerizza lu so bamminu, ficiru na passeggiata curta allu municipiu, a la via Duca di Serradifarcu.

       Gaetano presentà lu bamminu a lu segretariu comunali, Pasquale Vaccari, mentri nu’ impiegatu registrà li dettagli:

        "Lu to nomu?" - "Gaetano Coniglio"

        "Quant’anni ha?" - Gaetano, cu cunfidenza, arrispunni "Cinquantatri!"

        "Chi e u to travagliu?” - "Zurfataru."

        "Data e ura di nascita?" - "Li vintisei di ‘stu misi, a li cincu di sira." ....
...
        "Indirizzu?" - "Via Migliore numeru deci."

        "Matri di lu bamminu?" - "Carmela Calabrese, ma muglieri."

        "Comu lu chiami lu bamminu?"

       Allura, c'era ‘na cunvenziuni forti, pi nominari li figli a la Sicilia, ca diciva ca li primi e li secunni figli di ogni sessu, ciaviranu mettiri li nomi di li rispettivi nanni. ‘Sta tradiziuni era usata cu li primi figli di Gaetano, allura iddu rispunni "Unn aiu aviri chiù figli. Ci dugnu lu miu nomu, e lu nomu di ma nannu, Gaetano".

        "Ha portatu ‘sti testimuni a ‘sta registraziuni?" - "Si. Sunnu li me amici Vincenzo e Salvatore Barile. Anchi iddi sunnu zurfatari."
.
        "Sapiti scriviri?" - "Siddu putissimu scriviri, fussimu zurfatari?"

It may not have happened exactly that way, but who can say it didn't? My father's Record of Birth appears below. The clerk wrote down only the names and dates as reported by my grandfather. The ‘meat’ of the story comes from my heart.

Pi casu un succidi giustu giustu accussi, ma cu lu po diri ca nun fussi accussi? L'Attu di Nascita di ma patri si vidi a basciu. l'impiegatu scrivi suli i nomi e li dati comu dissi ma nannu. La 'carni' di la storia veni di ma cori.

Note: Vincenzo Barile was not only a co-worker of Gaetano Coniglio the elder, he was married to Giuseppa Migliore, who was the daughter of Gaetano's second cousin Giuseppa Montalto and her husband Michele Migliore.

^{Click HERE for my narration of 'My Father's Birth'
on}

'Cu lu scuru vaiu' is a traditional sulfur miner's folksong.
It laments "I leave in the dark, I spend the day in the dark, I return in the dark"
^{Click HERE for a version on}

           Gaetano's civil birth record shows the date of his and Rosa's civil marriage as 1 December 1912. Church and civil authorities were at odds after Sicily was subsumed into the previously non-existent kingdom of Italy, and church weddings (and the offspring of such unions) were illegitimate in the eyes of the state.
           Gaetano was the seventh son of Gaetano Coniglio and Maria Carmela Calabrese.
           Another fact gleaned from the birth record is in the margin note, which states that Gaetano the son married Rosa Alessi on the first of December, 1912. This refers to the couple's civil marriage, which took place in the Town Hall on that date.

From Serradifalco Registri Stato Civile Film No. 1964310, 1889 Births, No. 158, Gaetano Coniglio
Antenati images 107 of 288 and 108 of 288

ATTI DI NASCITA

Numero 158
Coniglio Gaetano

A 1^o Dicembre 1912 sposó
Alessi Rosa

Arnone

^*S'indiche la professione o la condizione.

   L’anno milleottocento ottantanove, addi ventisette di Aprile,
a ore anti meridiane diece e minuti ___, nella Casa comunale.
    Avanti di me Vaccari Pasquale Segretario delegato con atto del Sindaco del ventiquattro aprile milleottocentoottandotto, debitamante approvato, Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Serradifalco ______________
è comparso Gaetano Coniglio, di anni cinquantatre,^*solfaio domiciliatio
in Serradifalco, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore po meridiane cinque e minuti __________, del di ventisei del corrente mese, nella casa posta in
via Migliore al numero diece, da Carmela Calabrese sua
moglie, casalinga, seco lui convivente______________________
_________________________________________________________
e nato un bambino di sesso mascolino che igli mi presenta e a cui da il nome di Gaetano ______________________________________________
   A quanto sopra e a questo atto sono presenti quali testimoni Barile Vin
cenzo___ di anni, trenta,^*solfaio, e Barile Salvatore, di anni
trentasei,^*solfaio, entrambi reidente in questo Comune. ______________
Letto il presente atto agli intervenuti si e da me sottoscritte
solamente, avendo li stessi detto di non sapere sottoscrivere
    P Vaccari_____________________
_________________________________________________________

RECORDS OF BIRTH

Number 158

Gaetano Coniglio
On 1^st December 1912 married
Rosa Alessi

Arnone

^*Indicates occupation or status.

    In the year one thousand eight hundred eighty-nine, on day twenty-seven of April, at ten o'clock AM, in the Town Hall.
   Before me, Pasquale Vaccari, Secretary delegated by act of the Mayor on twenty-four April one thousand eight hundred eighty-eight, duly approved,
   Official of Public Records of the Town of Serradifalco ___________ appeared Gaetano Coniglio, age fifty-three,^*a sulfur miner living
in Serradifalco, who has declared to me that at five o'clock PM,
minutes ____ on day twenty-six of the current month, in the house located at via Migliore number ten, by Carmela Calabrese, his wife, a homemaker, living with he, himself ______________________________
_________________________________________________________
is born a baby boy who was presented for me to see, and who was given the name Gaetano ______________________________________________
    To the above, and to this record, are present the witnesses Barile Vin
cenzo age thirty,^*a sulfur miner, and Salvatore Barile, age
thirty-six,^*a sulfur miner, both residents of this community. ____________
The present act was read to those in attendance but is signed by me alone, the informant and witnesses having said that they don't know how to sign
    P Vaccari_____________________
_________________________________________________________

         Gaetano's baptismal record, in Latin, below, shows in the right margin the date of his and Rosa's marriage in church as November 30, 1912. The main text is in Latin, but the margin note is in Italian, which uses '912' as an abbreviation for the year 1912.

From Serradifalco Registri Ecclesiastici Film No. 2012919, 1889 Baptisms, No. 164, Caietanus Coniglio

Coniglio
Caietanus 164
         Die 27 Aprilis 1889
Caietanus Coniglio filius Caietani et Carmelae
Calabrese, baptizatus est a me Sacerdote Carmelo
Cutrona. Patrini fuere Paulus Damico, et
Rosa Milazzo, Conjuges Sp. il 30
Novembre
912 con
Alessi Rosa
di Leonardo

The baptism record says:

Gaetano Coniglio
164
Day 27 April 1889
Gaetano Coniglio son of Gaetano and Carmela
Calabrese, is baptized by me Priest Carmelo
Cutrona. Godparents were Paolo Damico, and
Rosa Milazzo, husband and wife. Married the 30th
of November
1912 with
Rosa Alessi
dtr. of Leonardo

Gaetano's father, also named Gaetano, was a zulfataiu, a miner in one of the several sulfur mines around Serradifarcu. Gaetano the younger may have begun working in the mine at age 7 or 8, possibly as a carusu, carrying heavy baskets of sulfur ore, hacked out by the pick-men from the interior of the mine to the surface, to be smelted. After a few years of this, he may have 'graduated' to being a picuneri, or pick-man.
Below is a rule-book for the Mutual Aid Society of the Sulfur Miners of Serradifarcu, to which both Gaetanos belonged.

The group shown below is 'Li Ficudinia' (the Prickly Pears), playing and singing the song 'Lu Surfararu' (the Sulfurminer). Click HERE to listen.

This is Gaetano's discharge from the Italian Army. While the note on his birth record above, indicates that his father was illiterate, Gaetano the younger did sign his Army papers, so he evidently was the first Coniglio in history who was able to sign his own name. He was eligible for the Italian draft on his twentieth birthday in 1909, the year his mother Maria Carmela Calabrese died. He served honorably in the Italian Army from 24 July 1910 through 15 August 1912. While he was in service, his older brother Raimondo died, on 12 August 1910, and his father died, on 11 October 1910.
Click on the image below for more details.

My parents were married in the Chiesa Matrice (Main Church) of San Leonardo Abate in Serradifalco on November 30, 1912, and in the Municipio, or Town Hall of Serradifalco on 1 December 1912. Note that the civil marriage record is signed by both Gaetano and Rosa, who signed "Alessi Rosina". Gaetano was a sulfur miner, and he married Rosa, daughter of a sulfur miner, which reflected the rigid class distinctions in Sicilian society at the time. Rosa was the sister of Angela Alessi, the wife of his older brother Giuseppe.

Da Anagrafe di Serradifalco, 2008

From the Serradifalco Registry Office, 2008

.
KINGDOM OF ITALY
._______

P A S S P O R T
.
FOR OVERSEAS
._______

ROME
Printed by G. Scotti

NOTICE TO EMIGRANTS
(click HERE to enlarge)

Nationals are advised that in order to enjoy the protection and the rights covered by the law on emigration, those wanting to go to America must board a steamer that is an emigrant carrier, with a ticket issued in Italy from authorized offices.
It is necessary that emigrants refuse every proposal of Agencies of emigration established outside of Italy, tending to attract them to disembark in foreign ports, because, accepting, they would encounter serious disadvantage: greater expenses, travel many times longer, lack of protection at borders by governing Commissioners, necessity to resort to foreign courts in case of litigation, and expensive stops in foreign maritime cities in order to achieve boarding schedules.

-------

No. 2377
This passport consists of twenty pages
---------------------------------------------------------

no. of the passport 634		no. of corres- ponding register 1
IN THE NAME OF HIS MAJESTY VICTOR EMANUEL III BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND BY WILL OF THE NATION KING OF ITALY -------- Passport
issued to Gaetano Coniglio son of the late Gaetano and of the late Carmela Calabrese born at Serradifalco on 26 April 1889 resident of Serradifalco in the Province of Caltanissetta occupation Sulfur Miner

- 2 -
Description of the Holder of the Passport

Bearing regular
Height 5 ft. 2 in.
Forehead regular
Eyes chestnut
Nose thin
Mouth straight
Hair chestnut
Beard clean-shaven
Mustache chestnut
Complexion dark
Build medium
Identifying marks small scar on the forehead

Signature of the Holder
Coniglio Gaetano

On 30 April 1913, four days after his 24th birthday, Gaetano landed at Ellis Island on the SS Berlin (line 11). He was evidently required to remain on the ship until the next day, as the arrival date on the manifest is 1 May 1913. Listed as Gaetano's closest relative left in Serradifalco was his wife Rosa Alessi. His destination was his brother Giuseppe Coniglio at 76 Main Street, Pittston, Pensylvania. On the same voyage as Gaetano was Angela Alessi (line 5), who left her father Leonardo in Serradifalco, and was going to her husband Giuseppe Coniglio at 76 Main Street, Pittston, Pennsylvania.
Angela Alessi was Rosa's sister, and Giuseppe Coniglio was Gaetano's brother. No doubt Giuseppe convinced his younger brother to chaperone his (Giuseppe's) wife to America, while a pregnant Rosa waited in Serradifalco for Gaetano to send for her. 76 Main Street in Pittston was an Italian-language bank, and rather than waiting there for Gaetano and Angela to arrive, Giuseppe probably left cash, train tickets and directions for them to use, to get to Robertsdale, Pennsylvania, where he had employment as a coal miner.

The Steam Ship Berlin.
Later it was re-christened the Steam Ship Arabic.

The Italian-language bank
at 76 Main Street, Pittston, PA

In 1917, at age 28, Gaetano was required to register for the draft for World War I. He was never drafted, possibly because he was married with a wife and two young sons (Guy and Leonard), and worked in what was probably considered an essential industry, at the Rock Hill Iron and Coal Company in Robertsdale, Pennsylvania, a 'company town'.
The photograph shows the Robertsdale Italian Band, assembled for a performance on Columbus Day, 1917. Gaetano, Rosa, and their sons Guy and Leonard may have been in the crowd that day.

The 1920 U. S. Census (last line) shows 'Guy Comellia' living at 100 Spring Street, Robertsdale, Wood Township, Pennsylvania. His wife 'Rosy Comellia' and their sons Guy (named after his paternal grandfather Gaetano Coniglio), Leonardo (named for his maternal grandfather Leonardo Alessi) and Raimondo (named after his father's eldest brother Raimondo Coniglio) are listed at the top of the next census page. The Coniglios lived next door to Calogero and Grazia Asarese Butera, two paisani from Serradifalco who lived at 96 Spring Street.

Gaetano petitioned for U. S. Naturalization in 1921, shortly after the family moved to 18 Peacock Street in Buffalo's Canal District. His first daughter Carmela (Millie) was born in that house, and baptized in the neighborhood's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

Gaetano took classes in English and History, and his American citizenship was granted on 16 April 1924, after the family had moved to 309 Myrtle Avenue.

Me (with curls) in the arms of Angie Sciortino.
Gaetano is at the rear ~ Musacchio's farm, North Collins, New York, 1939.

This is the only instance that I know of, with my father and myself in the same photo.

In 1942, one day after his 53rd birthday,
Gaetano again was registered for the draft.

Three of his sons were already in the military!

Studio portrait of Gaetano and Rosa, about 1940.

In the late 1930s and early '40s, Gaetano worked at various jobs: pipe-laying for Iroquois Gas; caretaker of the local community center, Welcome Hall; and tending bar at taverns like Magistrale's on Seneca Street. In summers, the family would be transported by truck to Musacchio's farm in North Collins, where Rosa and the children lived in one of the migrant worker shacks, and picked beans and berries. When he could find work, Gaetano would stay in Buffalo during the week and join the family on week-ends, to add two more hands to the family's labor force. While at the farm, the owners gave Gaetano the responsibility of locking and unlocking the community water pump each day, earning him a nickname among the other migrant workers: 'Mashu Tanu', or 'Master Gaetano'.

Gaetano, Ray and Rosa
309 Myrtle Avenue ~ 1942

Gaetano
North Collins, NY ~ 1943

Tony and Gaetano
North Collins, NY ~ 1943

Gaetano ~ 1942

Rosemary and Gaetano
Myrtle Avenue ~ 1943

Gaetano and Phil, 1943

Rosa and Gaetano
Myrtle Avenue ~ 1943

Gaetano and Rosemary
May 1, 1944

Here, my father was standing by the community water-well pump of Musacchio's farm camp in the summer of '43. I recently learned from Sam and Ross Markello (Marchello) of North Collins that Pa was assigned the responsibility of removing the pump handle each day at sunset and replacing it the next day before sunrise, to prevent unauthorized use of water by the resident laborers. Because of this assignment, he was called "Marshu Tanu" (Master Gaetano).

        After years of scrimping and saving from our three-cents-a-quart labors, Gaetano was able to buy the first home the family ever owned in 1944. It was at 973 West Avenue, a few blocks from Bluebird’s Bakery, and right next door to the family of Calogero Butera and Grazia Asarese, fellow immigrants from Serradifalco.
        Sadly, our joy at being in our own home was cut short on July 4, 1944, when my father was struck and killed by a hit and run driver on the corner of West Ferry and Niagara. But by buying that house on West Avenue, Gaetano had provided for his family, and through his work ethic, frugality and passion to save, he had given us all a valuable example that we have tried to emulate throughout our lives.
        I have only vague memories of my father, but I do remember that when I was only three or four, and would become frightened during the night, I would sometimes climb into my parents' bed with them. My father's body radiated so much warmth that I would tell my mother "Ma, Papà è comu 'na stuva!" ("Ma, Papa's like a stove!")

Gaetano's funeral was attended by family members and friends, many of them paisani from Sicily and specifically from Serradifalco and later Robertsdale, Pennsylvania. To see the list of attendees click HERE.

The burial place in the letter is in error, it should have read Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Click HERE to see Gaetano's direct ancestral tree (his 'pedigree')

Gaetano Coniglio married Rosa Alessi on 30 November, 1912 in the Chiesa Matrice San Leonardo Abate, in Serradifalco. The next day, they were married in a civil ceremony at the Serradifalco Town Hall.

Children
..
Gaetano Vincenzo Coniglio (Guy) married Maria Antonia (Mary) Modica
Leonardo Coniglio (Len) lifelong bachelor
Raimondo Angelo Coniglio (Ray) married Marion Cappellano
Felice Salvatore Coniglio (Phil) married Betty Jean Hinton
Carmela Coniglio (Millie) married Alfonso (Alfred) Volo
Concetta Coniglio (Connie) married Donald K. Miller
Maria Angela Coniglio (Mary) married Fiore Denisco, then Francis (Frank) Sowa Sr.
Antonio Frank Coniglio (Tony) married Frances Knickerbocker
Angelo Felice Coniglio (Ange) married Angela Yvonne Bongiovanni

(a son was also stillborn on 14 June 1932)

To read more about the family, go to these pages:

Robertsdale

A Visit to Robertsdale

Buffalo

North Collins

Gaetano and Rosina

	--	Origins	Genesis	Generations:	1	2	3	4
	--	Heritage	Gaetano & Rosina

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