Happy New Year!

Happy 2008 to everyone. Hoping for the best for all.

Pat,

We are so lucky to have you digging up all the history and facts about grandparents and heritage. Thank you for taking the time and care that you do. I love reading about them. Thanks so much!!
Pat

Costante and Mary Dalpiaz

According to Aunt Josie, Costante sailed from Naples because that was the only available port just after WWI. He was 19 when he arrived at Ellis Island on the Guglielmo Peirce . The Ellis Island records indicate the ship arrrived Christmas Day 1920. Josie says he had to wait in port aboard ship with cousin Vittorio (also 19) until Dec 26 due to the holiday.

Costante apparently went to Illinois (Springfield perhaps) after his arrival to work in an auto manufactuing plant. This is something I'd like to do some more research on. He may have lived there with uncle Ottilio (more about Ottilio to come!) After being laid off, he went to Lafferty Ohio (some 500 miles away) to work in the coal mines because his sister Erminia Torresani was there.

Costante met Catherine Messa first because they were both in an Easter play together. That's how Costante met Mary. They were married June 6 1925.


The story is told that Costante left Ohio in Nov 1926 just ahead of the sheriff who was looking for moonshine which someone planted outside his garage. ("Planted" ??--what do you think?) Mary was 7 months pregnant with Josephine at the time and Mr. Lessie snuck Mary to Wheeling to meet Costante to take the train to Long Island City, since the Lessies (in-laws) were there.

Costante first worked in the Jack Frost sugar house in Green Point Brooklyn. Mary may have also worked there. After that, he started working on the trollies then buses but had to learn how to drive.

He never owned his own car and would pull into bus stops when driving cars by habit. I love that little tidbit! Anyhow, as they say, the rest is history!

Welcome to the new blog for you Dalpiaz kids!!

It was great to see everyone at Linda's for Christmas Eve. We missed Jake and Brian but we'll catch up with you soon we hope.

I think maybe this blog will help keep everyone better connected as you will all be able to post to it if you like. It's working pretty well with the Ryans, so I am hoping the same for you all.

Please share your pictures, ideas -- whatever! I really only have current email addresses for the adult families and not the cousins but all are welcome so please share the info with the kids or with me and I'll send along the info so everyone can participate if they want to. Hoping to hear from you soon right here!! Pat