Through Carmela's Eyes

By Frank Palumbo Jr.

This is the story of a young girl, an Italian immigrant, who was brought to America in hopes of a better life. Times were hard and her parents were forced to take her out of school, at age twelve and send her to work in one of the woolen mills in Lawrence Massachusetts. While there, she endured a devastating accident that would forever alter her life and that of her family. The repercussions would extend far beyond anything that could be imagined. Carmela Teoli, after spending seven months in a hospital, would go on to testify to a Congressional Committee about the conditions under which she, and the other children, had been forced to work. Her words had the power to influence many people including the First Lady, Helen Taft , who had been in attendance at the hearings. Mrs.Taft quickly took Carmela under her wing to the extent of inviting her to spend the night at The White House. Clothing, a warm bed and a delicious dinner were all provided for her. Carmela conversed freely with The President and his wife that evening about everything that she and her family had been through. The next day she would meet with more congressional members where she could further relay her plight. Following the Congressional testimony, working people were entitled to better conditions. The Bread and Roses strike of 1912 had made an impact on labor regulations as had the testimonies of the children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477255117

Frank Palumbo Jr.

Frank Palumbo Jr. is the proud grandson of Carmela Teoli. It has become his destiny to tell her compelling story which changed the lives of so many people in 1912. He was told of his grandmother's saga at a very early age but was not able to reveal it until now. There was always the "sworn" secrecy of what she had gone through. He has spent years researching and confirming all the details of the incidents which occurred and now her true life story can finally be told with pride and the dignity that she deserves.

Book preview

Through Carmela’s Eyes

The Life Story of Carmela Teoli

Frank Palumbo Jr.

Edited by Connie Paton

Co Edited by Gina Silvestri

Artist for front cover Anthony Armstrong

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© 2012 Frank Palumbo Jr. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 8/13/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5512-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5510-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5511-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012914405

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Note from Writer - Frank E. Palumbo Jr

This is the life story

Carmela Teoli and her families struggle to find a better life in America.

1CHAPTER 1 - THE JOURNEY

This story begins on May 15, 1901 in Rocca d’Evandro Italy.

2 CHAPTER 2 - THE STREETS PAVED IN GOLD

Gennaro found his way downtown in New York City to the train station and purchased a ticket that would take him to this city called Lawrence, which was located in the state of Massachusetts.

3 CHAPTER 3 - HOME, SWEET, HOME

Two years passed as Gennaro kept searching for his ideal family farm.

4 CHAPTER 4 - A NEW BEGINNING

In September of 1904, Camella came to Gennaro and told him that she was quite sure that she was carrying another child of theirs. She was happy and hoped that he would be too.

5 CHAPTER 5 - THE WORKERS’ STAND

It was Friday January 12, 1912. It was a historical day when one of the greatest mass protests in American history that would take place. Early that morning, the city officials sounded a riot call from the bells of city hall in Lawrence.

6 CHAPTER 6 - THE JOURNEY OUT OF LAWRENCE

The morning of February 24, 1912 was a nervous time for many people in the town of Lawrence. It was the day when fifteen of the children, who had been working in the mill, would be leaving town to testify. They had their parents’ full consent to reveal all the conditions that they had been subjected to.

CHILDREN FROM LAWRENCE STRIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON!"

March 7, 1912. This would be Carmela’s big day. On this morning as the hearings got under way and the Congressional Committee Chairperson hit his gavel down and commenced the protocol he proclaimed: Let the record show that today’s date is March 7, 1912 and also let the record show that we have a very special attendant in our proceedings today. It is our honor to have the presence of the lovely first lady Mrs. Helen Taft.

7 CHAPTER 7 - REBUILDING LAWRENCE

On March 14, 1912, nearly 25,000 men, women and children strikers gathered on Lawrence Common and solemnly voted on the settlement of the strike.

8 CHAPTER 8 - CARMELA’S LEGACY

Frankie listened, patiently and empathetically to her for what seemed to be hours. Even after all those years, Carmela was still not ready to fully open her Pandora’s box that she had so secretly kept to herself.

I would like to express my appreciation to the many people who have assisted me in my endeavor to write this book. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to my wife, Kathy, for her unending support in my endeavor to complete this book. She has been patient, supportive and understanding as I spent countless hours researching and writing this story about my family. In addition, I also want to recognize my aunt Josie for all her love, her input and willingness to share whatever details she knew about the past. Also, I would like to strongly recognize and express my appreciation to the Bread and Roses Festival Committee for having me as a featured speaker at the 2011 Festival. The Lawrence History Center, the Lawrence Heritage State Park and lastly the Lowell Historical State Park and mill museum were also invaluable sources of information for me as I wrote this book.

Note from Writer - Frank E. Palumbo Jr

This is the life story

Carmela Teoli and her families struggle to find a better life in America.

This is the life story of Carmela Teoli and her family’s struggles to find a better life in America like so many other Italian immigrants in the early 1900’s. For the purposes of focusing on my grandmother, I have chosen to name her mother, who was the first Carmela, to Camella. This story is about Carmela Teoli and the courage of a fourteen-year-old girl who was an integral part of a historically momentous labor movement, which started in 1912 from Lawrence, Massachusetts. It changed the abusive labor practices that had been so prevalent in the United States of America at that time in history.

It all began on January 12, 1912 when the Lawrence mill owners were ordered by the Massachusetts State Legislature to reduce the working week from fifty-six hours to fifty-four hours per week for all employees. The repercussion was that it forced the laborers to take a pay cut from the mere $8.76 they earned each week. That day thousands of mill workers, in protest, marched through the streets of Lawrence and descended upon the city’s biggest factory, the American Woolen Mill. The workers sabotaged machinery to show their rage and disgust as to how a fourteen year old girl, my grandmother, lost her childhood and how her honest testimony in front of a Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C. changed, not only the labor laws, in the country but history in the United States forever.

In 1976 a man by the name of Paul Cowan started to research The Bread & Roses labor movement and the history of Carmela Teoli. In 1977, he contacted some of the children of Carmela Teoli, one of them being my father Frank E. Palumbo Sr. who, at the time, resided in Milford, Connecticut. Speaking with Paul Cowan, Frank Sr. known to his family and friends as Frankie recanted the story of his mother, Carmela Teoli. He proceeded to tell Mr. Cowan some of his family’s untold story and asked him to keep the promise that he had made with his mother years before. He had sworn to never unlock the magic box of trust of her and her family’s struggles during the years of the Bread & Roses strike. As time went on Paul Cowan passed away, and so did my father, Frank E. Palumbo Sr.

The story you are about to read is also very personal to me. The plight and anguishes of this amazing little girl, who I am proud to call my grandmother, and whom I loved so very much.. She was an inspiration to many. In addition, writing this in warm memory of Frank E. Palumbo Sr., my father, who was always, not just my father, but also my best friend He revealed to me with the true story of Carmela Teoli. I miss him so very much. He entrusted me with the oppressed family story that could only be told after his passing. I hope you will find this story as moving as it has been for me as my life’s heritage was revealed to me starting at the tender age of fourteen.

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1

CHAPTER 1 - THE JOURNEY

This story begins on May 15, 1901 in Rocca d’Evandro Italy.

This story begins on May 15, 1901 in Rocca d’Evandro Italy where a twenty-four year old young Italian man named Gennaro Teoli and his wife, Camella, were living together with their two young daughters. They had four year old, Carmela, and one year old, Maria Nina who were fast asleep, dreaming of their bright future together. It was five o’clock in morning when Gennaro woke from a restless night’s sleep, knowing that this was the day he would be leaving his family behind and taking his twenty-seven day journey to America. He did not have the financial means to take his beloved wife and two young daughters with him and this had been weighing heavily on his mind for the past week, but he knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity so that he could have a better life in the future.

Camella, that morning, found a way to pull herself up off the bed. She, like Gennaro, had not slept much that previous night. Many thoughts started running through her head such as wondering how was she was going to care for the children and herself without the love and support of her beloved husband. The little money they did have had been spent on Gennaro’s boat ticket and most of the rest had been set aside for him to ensure that he had some means to live on once he arrived in America. Gennaro had finally come to the realization that he would have to leave his wife and daughters behind. Nevertheless, he knew from deep inside his heart that the United States of America would offer a better life for himself and his family then the town of, Rocca d’Evandro Italy could.

There was a better life ahead. With what little time Gennaro had left he made sure that every moment counted. As he played with his daughters, he turned to his wife, knowing of her trepidations and fears after he would be gone, and tried to comfort her by reassuring her that he would write often. When he found a job, he promised that he would send money back home to her to help with the girls. Camella, dreading his departure, packed familiar home-cooked meals along with some dry sausage and cheese for her husband to take on his long twenty-seven day journey. She knew that in less than two hours her beloved husband would be gone on The Tartar Prince, which would eventually take him from Italy to New York City, where he would find a better life for his family. Her sole consolidation was the fact that so many people had told them about the great abundance that was to be found in America. Other people that they knew had already made this journey and she was willing to do whatever it took to help her husband and her daughters.

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The Tartar Prince was built by Brothers Limited Sunderland in England in the year 1895 It weighed 3,272 Gross tons, was 342 feet long and 43 feet wide. It was equipped with a Steam Triple Expansion Engine, Single Screw. Service speed 12 knots and could accommodate up to 1045 passengers. There was room for 145 First Class passengers who were located up top and 1000 Third Class passengers who were given space down below. Built for Prince Line, in 1895, Tartar Prince offered overseas travel from the Mediterranean area to New, York City. Many immigrants traveled on her. The Ship Burned and Sank in The South Atlantic on Oct 25, 1902 just one year and four months after Gennaro Trip.

The day of Gennaro’s departure came and Camella had no realization of how painful it would be. As the ship left the dock in Naples, Gennaro waved to his wife and daughters trying not to show his deepest emotions and how much his heart was breaking inside. Gennaro looked upon his wife crying and waving with the one arm she had free from holding their one year old, Maria Nina, In addition, the one leg she had free, was being clung to tightly by Carmela. Camella and their little Carmela were not as strong as he was. Tears were streaming down their faces as Gennaro’s image drifted away. As the ship disappeared from her sight, Camella felt herself more alone then she ever been in her entire life. Her life had been Gennaro and their girls up until now. Returning home, with her babies, the void of her husband weighed heavily on her. As the sun set that evening, her heart did too.

On the ship, Gennaro found a spot where no one could see his anguish. He suddenly broke down and cried. The hours slowly passed. The first night at sea for Gennaro was long and lonely. The mighty sea pounded the ship all night, much like the thoughts in his head about the family he had just left behind. that haunted him yet would carry him over until they could reunite. He knew that day would come. They were his life. As the powerful waves smacked across the hull, it caused the boat to sway from side to side. Gennaro had never been on a ship of this size and he became very sick from the movement. However, as the hours passed he finally fell into an uneasy, slumber as he reflected on all the events of that nervous day.

After a seemingly endless night, Gennaro awoke to find beside him the bag that his sweet, beautiful, Camella had made for him filled with her lovingly prepared meals for him to eat on his long journey. Gennaro set out to explore the ship that morning. As he was walking on the top deck of the ship, looking at the faces of all of the other Italian immigrants, like himself, who were seeking refuge and opportunity, he saw much of the same uncertainty that he felt. As the days passed, he befriended other Italians and began to engage in conversations with some of the men on the ship. He learned of a city called Lawrence in the State of Massachusetts where there apparently were an abundance of job opportunities for immigrants like himself.

Gennaro was intrigued. He knew little of job opportunities in the state of Massachusetts as he and Camella had intended to settle in the state of New York. Gennaro knew for sure that the one thing he was committed to was steady work; after all, he had been a farmer all his life. He had worked hard all his life from sun up until sundown and knew his work ethic would eventually reunite his family in America. He knew that hard work would bring his family back together again.

Knowing he had twenty-five more days before he reached the U.S. Gennaro made sure he packed away writing paper so he could begin writing the letters that he had promised to send Camella in his absence. Hoping to ease her mind, in his first letter, he told her about the town of Lawrence in the State of Massachusetts. He had learned that there was abundance of work there, especially for immigrants like himself. He and Camella had planned to find a home for their family and work for himself in New York City. He told her he was going to look moreover and see how far this town called Lawrence, in Massachusetts, was and what the chances might be there for him to make a decent living to support them in America.

He told her how much he missed her and the children and that not only did he think about them all day long but he also dreamt about his family each and every night As the endless days went on, Gennaro finally arrived in America. Passing by the Statue of Liberty, he was filled with hope. As the ship was steering through the Hudson River and finally reached Ellis Island, Gennaro softly whispered an uncomfortable prayer "God, I hope it’s a long time before I ever have to make a long journey again." Waiting for the processing procedure for him to be admitted into the United States, he began to notice that some people and children were being sent to another line by the guards. He turned to the man behind him and he asked "Why is that line different over there? As he pointed the man replied, That is the line for the sick. Looking at them, he could see clearly that not everyone in the line was looking sick. Thinking to himself, he realized that this was one thing he must add in the letter to Camella. When the time would come for them to arrive in the land of opportunity, she and their daughters would have to look their best and be in perfect health to avoid the segregation that appeared to take place upon the arrival of immigrants.

Now his thoughts were consumed with his family and all that he had left behind. He missed them desperately. Back in Italy, Camella awoke from an uneasy night’s sleep. She had had so many sleepless and restless nights without her beloved Gennaro by her side in their, once warm, bed. For so many years, they had been side by side in every way and it now felt like so many pieces of the puzzle of life were missing for her. Grateful for their beautiful daughters, she took comfort in them and could see and feel her wonderful husband in them with every waking hour. There was reassurance in that. As time went on, she found herself walking to the post office every afternoon hoping against hope that there would be some correspondence from her husband. At this point she didn’t even know if Gennaro had made it to America.

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Random, worrisome, thoughts ran through her head with each, long, daily journey to the post office. Did the ship sink? Did he go overboard? He does not know how to swim. Was this good thing to do? As time went on, Camella found herself sick with worry but knew that she had to carry on for the sake of her little girls. She lived in fear that she might never see her precious Gennaro again.

One day a long time childhood friend, Sophia Porone came by to see Camella and the girls. She brought along with her a pot of homemade Italian gravy with meatballs that she had made the day before. Sophia wanted to make sure that her friend was doing as well as could be expected without her husband. Sophia, looking into Camella’s eyes, could see the pain and anguish in her friend’s heart. Camella told Sophia that she still had not heard from Gennaro.

Breaking down in tears, Camella expressed to Sophia, in an almost unintelligible, sobbing lament, how much she missed her husband and feared for his well-being. She confided, "I don’t know if I will ever hear from him again. Camella tried to compose herself as Sophia attempted to reassured her that: Gennaro will be fine… just you wait and you will see." Camella knew that Sophia meant well but she had missed Gennaro so much even before the ship had set sail from the dock. Sophia tried to comfort her dear friend Camella as much as she could.

She extended a heartfelt invitation to her and her daughters to come for another home cooked dinner the next night. Maybe an evening out would distract her a little and the girls would certainly have fun as Sophia, who had no children of her own, loved the presence of little ones in her home. It could be a happy night for all of them. Camella found comfort in her daily routines. They were the only semblance of normalcy in her life as her husband was so far away. Her daily thoughts were filled with questions like…Where is he? What is he doing? Did he find work? Is he safe? When will he write to us as he had promised? Has he forgotten about the children and me? Without fail, everyday at 11:00 am, she would get the girls together and make her way as fast as she could to the local post office in hopes of news from Gennaro.

One day was different from the others. Making her way out of her home toward the well beaten path to the post office, Camella saw that Sophia was running as fast as she