History of Baltimore's Little Italy
Italian immigrants sought a better life in America as poverty, war, unemployment and famine forced them to cross the Atlantic. With meager possessions in overcrowded steamships, they left behind their homeland and families. Between the mid to late 1800s, many landed near Baltimore’s waterfront via President Street Station. Yet life in America was harsh – Italians were discriminated against, paid less and considered the poorest of immigrants. They banded together to adjust and overcome homesickness, language barriers and disillusionment.
Migrating a few blocks east into what was eventually named Little Italy, they planted roots and developed life reminiscent of villages in Italy. They shared the streets and buildings with Irish, German and Jewish neighbors and shop owners. By the early 1900s, Italians occupied almost every house, offering trades such as taverns, boarding houses, confectioneries, grocers, shoe repair, barber shops, bricklaying, and tailoring. Since 1881, the community has been emotionally and spiritually centered around the Catholic church of St. Leo the Great – true to this day. Although fewer Italians now occupy Little Italy, some residents and restaurateurs are natives of Italy or descendants of the original settlers. Reigning still are remnants of the Italian heritage and culture brought to America from the proud people who originated this charismatic neighborhood.
Migrating a few blocks east into what was eventually named Little Italy, they planted roots and developed life reminiscent of villages in Italy. They shared the streets and buildings with Irish, German and Jewish neighbors and shop owners. By the early 1900s, Italians occupied almost every house, offering trades such as taverns, boarding houses, confectioneries, grocers, shoe repair, barber shops, bricklaying, and tailoring. Since 1881, the community has been emotionally and spiritually centered around the Catholic church of St. Leo the Great – true to this day. Although fewer Italians now occupy Little Italy, some residents and restaurateurs are natives of Italy or descendants of the original settlers. Reigning still are remnants of the Italian heritage and culture brought to America from the proud people who originated this charismatic neighborhood.
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Available in our online SOUVENIR SHOP are two history books Baltimore's Little Italy: Heritage & History of The Neighborhood and Italians in Baltimore. They include much history on Italian immigrants who settled in Little Italy and in other neighborhoods around Baltimore.
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"Thank you once again for preserving the Italian culture and recording it in a book for generations to come. Modern day Italian Americans need to know their heritage and be proud of their ancestors. The photographs are fantastic and I searched in the deepest recesses of my brain to re-experience the members of the community when I was a little boy." ~ Andrew Lioi, 94
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Maria and Liz are sisters who grew up on Eden Street in Little Italy.
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Lawrence Conticello said reading this book was "like going back to my youth."
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"People featured in the book I have known most of my life," Harry Greenblatt said.
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"I remembered all the good times in the mid-1960s on Mug's Corner," said Frank Monaldi, Sr.
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"The book arrived today. My 90-year-old father [pictured below] has been reading it since it arrived. All he keeps saying is, 'This is a wonderful book. Thank you for getting this for me.' He says it's like going back to his youth ... and of course with the photo of Phoebe and her mom on the cover is just precious to him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this gift for my dad who was born at 207 S. High Street and raised in Little Italy until he went into the service during WWII. His name appears on the plaque on the side of Saint Leo's along with the young men who served their country during WWII [and WWI]. That was definitely the greatest generation." ~ Bruno Conticello
"I read this wonderful book and remembered all the good times in the mid-1960s on Mug's Corner. I would walk home from Patterson Park High School and spend the 15-cents bus money my mother had given me, to go into Mugs and play the 'CAN-CAN' pin ball machine. My mom would ask why I was late coming home from school; I told her I walked. It was also great to read about The Monaldi Family. Suzanna Molino did a great job in her research putting this GREAT BOOK together. I got a copy as a birthday gift from my girlfriend Edie." ~ Frank Monaldi Sr.
"I can't put it down. My family had a wholesale deli business in Little Italy from 1946-1989 ... at 1312 Eastern Avenue. I spent my summers and holidays in Little Italy while still in school. I joined the family business in 1961 and was there until the end. I am now 72 years old and the people that are featured in the book I have known most of my life. My parents lived on Pratt Street and Stiles Street. My father had his Bar Mitzvah [in the synagogue] where Da Mimmo's parking lot is located. Guys were always coming in to our place to get hot dogs for Mugs. Some of those guys are still around and I see them every time I visit the old neighborhood. You did a great job putting this book together and I am sure everybody that has been associated or have lived in the neighborhood will appreciate it as much as I do. Thanks for all of your hard work. Ciao!" ~ Howard Greenblatt
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"What a great book! I especially liked the photographs and the business blurbs, as well as the information about John Pente. When our family closed our 127-year-old hardware business [E. Ritterhoff & Sons] at Baltimore Street and Central Avenue in 2000, John wrote my father a wonderful letter reminiscing about when he and his father used to shop in our store when he was a boy. My father passed away this past December and I wish he had been able to read your book because I imagine that he knew many of the neighborhood residents and probably had some stories about them of his own." ~ Claire Ritterhoff
"... thank you for pulling together the stories and the history, really capturing the memories I have of my dad, aunts, uncles and grandparents sharing about life in Little Italy. My maiden name is Tamberino and my dad, Raymond Tamberino, lived across from St. Leo’s above the tailor shop my grandmother worked in and my grandfather had a variety of ‘odd’ jobs around the neighborhood. My family, the Tamberinos and Tirocchis, lived and worked in Little Italy and took tremendous pride in their neighborhood, sharing stories of growing up and the tradition of being an Italian American. My dad passed away in 2007 and I am trying to preserve history and stories for my children to share; your book has been a big part of pulling together our family history. I just felt compelled to let you know I appreciate your work and let you know the impact it has had on our family." ~ Mary Kai Macken
"... how much I enjoyed your book about Baltimore’s Little Italy. I remember well shopping at Pastore’s Italian grocery store on Lombard Street with my parents and dining at the many fine Italian restaurants there. My earliest recollection dates back to the late 1940s which by then indoor plumbing was installed in the homes and buildings throughout that area. After our high school proms, the restaurants were filled with boys in tuxedos and girls in beautiful evening gowns. My wife and I attended each others' junior and senior proms. Our favorite restaurant was Chiapparelli’s which always accommodated our large group. Quite a site to see and a great time to be a teenager! My father was an immigrant from Lucca, Italy in Tuscany. He arrived in 1904 at the age of 10 with his 8-year-old brother and parents. They settled in Pittsburgh, PA because my grandmother’s brother, Amarico Pasquinelli, had already established an Italian butcher shop there. My mother was born in Pittsburgh, the product of two Italian immigrants from Naples. They eventually had 13 children! I have always valued being and living my Italian heritage which taught us what was really important in life: faith, family and friends. My sincere thanks for writing such an interesting book. It was fun to read and I kept smiling." ~ Gino Gemignani
"I met you at Saint Anthony's Festival and purchased your book. The book was great and I really enjoyed reading it. It was informative and I am going to go to all the places you mentioned that I did not even know existed. Never even knew Central Avenue was called Canal Street. Thanks for a great summer read." ~ Salle Reese-Carter
"... thank you for pulling together the stories and the history, really capturing the memories I have of my dad, aunts, uncles and grandparents sharing about life in Little Italy. My maiden name is Tamberino and my dad, Raymond Tamberino, lived across from St. Leo’s above the tailor shop my grandmother worked in and my grandfather had a variety of ‘odd’ jobs around the neighborhood. My family, the Tamberinos and Tirocchis, lived and worked in Little Italy and took tremendous pride in their neighborhood, sharing stories of growing up and the tradition of being an Italian American. My dad passed away in 2007 and I am trying to preserve history and stories for my children to share; your book has been a big part of pulling together our family history. I just felt compelled to let you know I appreciate your work and let you know the impact it has had on our family." ~ Mary Kai Macken
"... how much I enjoyed your book about Baltimore’s Little Italy. I remember well shopping at Pastore’s Italian grocery store on Lombard Street with my parents and dining at the many fine Italian restaurants there. My earliest recollection dates back to the late 1940s which by then indoor plumbing was installed in the homes and buildings throughout that area. After our high school proms, the restaurants were filled with boys in tuxedos and girls in beautiful evening gowns. My wife and I attended each others' junior and senior proms. Our favorite restaurant was Chiapparelli’s which always accommodated our large group. Quite a site to see and a great time to be a teenager! My father was an immigrant from Lucca, Italy in Tuscany. He arrived in 1904 at the age of 10 with his 8-year-old brother and parents. They settled in Pittsburgh, PA because my grandmother’s brother, Amarico Pasquinelli, had already established an Italian butcher shop there. My mother was born in Pittsburgh, the product of two Italian immigrants from Naples. They eventually had 13 children! I have always valued being and living my Italian heritage which taught us what was really important in life: faith, family and friends. My sincere thanks for writing such an interesting book. It was fun to read and I kept smiling." ~ Gino Gemignani
"I met you at Saint Anthony's Festival and purchased your book. The book was great and I really enjoyed reading it. It was informative and I am going to go to all the places you mentioned that I did not even know existed. Never even knew Central Avenue was called Canal Street. Thanks for a great summer read." ~ Salle Reese-Carter