Above, a photo of the SS Liguria printed in the 1908 New Orleans newspaper which documented the arrival of over 250 immigrants on board in steerage passage. Pete left behind his wife, Mary/Maria, and their four month old daughter, Lena, behind in Poggioreale, Sicily.
On March 11, 1908 he was recorded in the List or Manifest of Alien Passengers.
On the passenger list, he is described as "age 29, height 5' 4", with rosy complexion, chestnut hair and sky blue eyes and a scar on the front". He is joining his uncle, Antonio Maniscalco, in Houston, Texas.
"Little Grandma" and Aunt Lena would remain in Italy until June 1909, when they finally sailed from Naples to New York, arriving at Ellis Island on July 1, 1909. Mary and Peter would have a total of 11 children, nine to survive into adulthood. My grandfather, Pete, was the baby. Aunt Jo is still living in Houston, and is a regular attendee of our family reunions.
One wonders at the challenges he faced as a new immigrant to the United States. What prejudices did he encounter? How long did it take for him to learn the language? To reap the benefits of his labor? How would his experience compare with immigrants today.
Here's to another great 100 years for our family!
