Sent: 10/26/2010 5:54:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: family stoires
Hi cousins,
as you may know I've been in touch with Chris Cardillo (cousin Harry and Ann's son) and Leo Cardillo (grandson of Letterio Cardillo - Brother to our grandfather).
Anyway, I just got an e-mail from Chris requesting any old Family stories. He suggests that your Mom may be able to recall some stories of our families past.
Chris wrote:
I wanted to suggest if anyone is close enough to either Aunt Corrine or any other members of the Cardillo generation before yours it might be good to sit down with them and record an oral history. Aunt Corrine seems very reserved but I am sure she knows a lot of things that you guys missed as kids. Dr. Leo may also be a good candidate for the interview since I think he is the oldest of your generation.I have stories about my grandfather and his brother having to flee to Chicago at the turn of the century. Someone was painting their parent's apartment and they argued with the painter who was trying to cheat them and my grandfather pulled a gun and shot him (not sure if he hit him or not). Him and his brother were forced to go to Chicago until things settled down.Uncle Frank - my grandfather's brother also told me a lot of stories about the piers during the war...some very interesting stuff and a glimpse into a world that is all but gone. I had long conversations with Uncle Frank (my father's surrogate father) before he retired to Florida to be closer to his daughters. Uncle Frank in someways was also my surrogate grandfather since my Grandfather Matty died when I was very young. There were all kinds of stories about a pool hall, a candy store by the piers, etc. - all family owned.I am assuming Aunt Corrine has other stories that will eventually be lost...and I feel that it is those stories about the Cardillo family during the turn of the century all the way up to the war that would be most interesting to all of us - since it is during that time that we became Americans.Just an idea if anyone is interested in pursing it - I don't have the relationship to approach Aunt Corrine or any of her contemporaries - but I would be willing to help video or audio record the conversation.
Try to pick Mom's brain and let me know. Record them if you can.
Cuz Hank
I remember the wonderful Christmas dinners at Grandmas. All the Aunts helping with the cooking. It was great fun sitting at that long table downstairs. I wonder what a dinner like that would cost today. At least we didn't have CHICKEN! It sure was noisey, the Cardillos were a loud bunch, especially the brothers, bless their hearts. Does anyone remember playing 'bingo' after the eating was over. I'm not sure if that was after Christmas dinner or New Years Day. I do remember Uncle Joe's record machine. I loved to watch the process of the threads coming off the record was we sang. I too looked at the pictures of the street but couldn't actually go down to the end. Gravesend was in the news recently, during the summer I believe, but I don't remember why. Loved walking on the avenue U to all those wonderful Italian shops with my mother. I can picture the big bowls (and I do mean big) of olives in one store and the fresh pasta. Stores run by people like our grandparents from the old country. Lots of Italian specialties. Yes, we do have Italian specialties stores today but they are not the same. Behind the counters are workers let's just say not of Italian decent. That's it for today.
ReplyDeleteYou know I don't remember Brooklyn at all-or so I thought. When you were talking about the shops on Ave U a memory came back to me. I remember going into a store with my mother that sold fresh coffee beans and how wonderful the aroma in the store was. Is this just my imagination or does anyone else remember this store?
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