Up the alley: Part Two ... more photos My Grandmother's name was Irene Pilli and was born in 1900 in Italy. He came through Ellis Island on this coast in 1921. Was 22 years old in 1922 when she married Umberto D'Angelo. He settled in this new land for a new life together with Umberto. My grandfather worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.. And finally they had 5 small children wild. Beginning with Samuel, Tony, Vince, Marion and ending with Joseph. Unfortunately, Umberto died in 1932 due to encephalitis. It 's a tragedy to lose a husband you love, but it is a disaster even worse to be left alone to grow five hungry children, especially during the Depression. Depression in America lasted from 1929 to the early '40s. The eldest son, Samuel, was 9 years old, the last, Joseph, just 8 or 9 months. What to do?
I'm not sure the order of events, but I think it was after the death of Umberto that Grandma converted the front room of the house, which was in her room, in a "speak easy "(Translator's note So they were called the places where liquor was served during Prohibition). This was during Prohibition, which began in 1920 and ended in 1933. The room is available each day Arrow whiskey and beer from 7 am to 10 or 11 at night. It was rather a neighborhood bar, where Grandma was a maid and was known as "Miss Irene." (Translator's note The "Miss Irene" was also a famous bar in Fells Point in Baltimore)
(The name of Miss Irene in Fells Point, which closed its doors in 2010) One of the most loyal customers was Tiddy Plater. It was still there when I was a ' teenager, and I remember it well, though not without a hint of embarrassment. I was going to school when suddenly I tripped and fell to the ground, right in front of a trams full of boys of the Saint Joe. I remember him laughing dangling from the window for my lame lack of grace. To make matters worse then here comes Tiddy Plater, already shaky and uncertain with his drink in the morning the body, which would help me to stand up to me! He was not able to do with her ...
Another major client was the Sergeant of Police Beidefelt. I remember driving a Ford 1931. He understood, I believe, that even though Grandma was doing something against the law, he did it to keep his family together. So when he I know the police have raided his premises, told him. This enabled the students to quickly dig a hole to bury under the hen house spirits. Thanks to Sergeant Beidefelt, Grandmother never suffers the humiliation of prison.
Another poppy, I mean a customer was Dave Wright. He became famous for its stands of the ice. For 5 cents you could indulge in flavors such as Blue Boy, Watermelon, and Joe Palooka Bloody Orange that soaked the pan filled with crushed ice. I I used to work hard to earn 5 cents a day so that I could have one of my (and still am!) Favorite summer delicacies.
Crabby was another unique character. I do not know why call him "Crabby". It may be that it was for his character, or they have something to do with shellfish (Translator's note "Crabby" means grumpy, but "Crab" means crab, which is also a specialty in Baltimore) ...
All were welcome with the exception of one man. Vernon Chambers, he was expelled for life. He was a giant of a man and was always drunk. I remember when I had to keep up the great spotted him staggering up the hill, because if I approached too much and had lost his balance and degrade the ground, I certainly would kill her. Though, I believe, was the father or the grandfather of "Spooky," which was a big boy. Not many years ago, my cousin was adjusting a lift in a state prison when he heard someone call "Norman." He turned shyly to look at who he was and it was spooky, and waving it away. But he was not working at the prison, he was a guest of the state. A great dear boy anyway.
Women were welcome in the bar as well as men. Some of them attended. There were Hattie Green, Mattie Green (no, they were twins) to Snooki Banks. I feel so lucky to remember all these wonderful people, I suppose it means that they are really old, or that they all lived one hundred years and more.
I'm sure that his live across, Maggie and Tootsie were regulars. Or at least Tootsie. Maggie she used to run after him with a broom every time he was exaggerating with the libations at the bar of Grandma.
In the bar there was only a counter, which was as long as the room, but there were tables, chairs and a spittoon.
A guy named Joe Mundane brought the liquor in 5-gallon tin cans. He knocked at the back door to tell it was coming. The beer arrived in wooden casks (barrels future for wine?) That were rolled through the cellar window. It had an iron grate to allow the discharge of the beverage. No child was ever admitted to the bar, not even his little wild. Grandma had to leave the bar each time preparing their food. In 1935, year year younger, he closed the bar and converted it into a grocery store. I do not know what that activity lasted, but eventually came to be his bedroom. Some time after the death of Umberto Grandma remarried such Dominick Mascetti from Chicago (Chicago NdT but what was the de Monzambolo Trond!). They had another son, Dominick Jr., our beloved Uncle Junie. Dominick (father) lived until 1943, when he died because of an accident with trams and left my grandmother to six children grow.
I'm not sure it was just at the time that Grandma began to take on boarders in the house to help pay the costs. Eventually he found a job at a candy factory. Precise This brings no advantage to soft teeth of all his grandchildren, because I do not remember ever brought home some of those fabulous chocolate candies. Sure, maybe once or twice, but not as much as you might expect.
Having more people in the house was not really ideal because there was only one bathroom. The house was already crowded at that time. His six children were now older and married after they had lived with Grandma a while before finding a home on their own.
The bedroom was on the back of Grandma on the first floor. It was entered right into the kitchen. I loved the kitchen with its red tiles and blue. He had white wall cabinets. There was a special that contained all the goodness of the kitchen. The sugar bowl! When we were old enough, my brother John and I were allowed to open that. The smell that emanated was all Italian. I can still hear him. We could take a piece of white bread smeared with butter and then sprinkle with sugar on top. That was our specialty, bread and sugar. The kitchen leads directly through the stairs to the room where they could reach the bathroom and other bedrooms. One side of the room was the room of John, a boarder. The door to the cellar was accessed in that room. The only thing that separated the hall from the room John was a curtain. In the room next to the bathroom there was room Magooch, another boarder. In the big room at the top of the stairs the boys lived. There was a trap door in the room that led to the attic. Sam used to hide there to scare his brothers. That was the same room where Uncle Junie, who never wanted to go to school, was awakened by the brothers with a bucket of water. As for the bathroom instead, it had a small roof outside the window, Sam judged perfect to hide a sheet, and wait patiently for an unsuspecting brother came to do something. We always pecking at the poor uncle Marion stumbling on his trousers was screaming down the entrance. Brothers, or should I say, brother.
The daughters Grandmother Sooner or later all the wives of his sons had to have something to do with her ... The Boss. She treated them all equally. That is wrong. She did not like or approve of anything about them. I'm sure it made their life hell. It is not a little surprised when he discovered that Sam's wife, Mary (my mother) was not afraid of you, indeed, was willing to play cards with her.
One thing you need to know about is that my grandmother loved to play cards. Penny Ante (NdT Game similar to poker where the maximum bet is limited to a penny or other predetermined amount) and poker. They were his passion along with Bingo at the 14 Holy Martyrs (Translator's note equalized a Catholic school).
(The Holy 14 Martyrs of Baltimore, inside there were large rooms for recreational activities of believers) She used to take me from time to time. I remember when he attended
Queen for a Day (Translator's note was a format in which competitors were telling their story publicly. What more could move the audience, gaining the applause, was given a crown and a list of awards, from sponsors, according to the wishes expressed by the competitor. It was a program criticized as too humiliating for those who needed you to participate).
won a crown and a bunch of other stuff. Once Uncle Marion was able to buy a car, it became his job to accompany her to play bingo. Another passion was watching wrestling on TV. I remember even pulling a shoe at the TV when Antinina rock was crushed to the ground.
The cast of characters who were playing poker with her will be legendary. The matches are always played in the evening and I volunteered to accompany my mother to grandmother's house. To get there we had to pass along the avenue. The game was played on the white table in the kitchen of Grandma. I always sat next to Grandma when I was there. Though not always the safest place to sit. A Grandma did not like losing money! Perhaps he could have some uncertainty with the English language, but never with dollars and cents. You could not fool even a penny and it was better not try. When you lose a hand with the cards he got angry and threw down calling, "bunch of m ...." And then flung to the ground. I would not pay a penny for Starla closer.
The cast John.
came from Hungary (or anywhere else there). He was a freedom fighter, and unfortunately, he committed suicide by gas. He always wore a black leather cap and was as thin as a toothpick. You do not wash much. Yet he was boarder from Grandma. I do not know how it was. I do not know where Grandma found these people. He spoke with difficulty a bit ' English, but was able to count cards and money. Paul
Vanilla.
Paul was "The Iceman". It was the Italian who delivered the ice into large blocks. He also had a herd of rabbits. Was slower than molasses when he was to read the papers or his own. The words "For God's sake Paul, it's up to you, by the cards!" Echoed in the night. Still could be heard when I got home and Mom through the lane late at night.
is another who could not speak English.
Rosie Peel
That's actually called Rosie Pilli and was married to my grandmother's brother, Dominick. Rosie and Dominick lived just around the corner of the house of Grandma. He arrived first in this country. There was something that happened between them that caused a break in relations to the rest of their lives. You do not speak again. A real tragedy. Although Dominick did always have the eggs.
Rosie was a 'get used to the game. Grandma spent all the game time staring at her like a hawk so that he could not steal a penny nor hide a card. His English was probably the best of the bunch, after my mother's.
When someone wanted to say something that felt they did not want, then spoke in Italian, turning occasionally to make sure I did not understand me. But I understand, maybe not the exact meaning, but also understand that I was witnessing something special, a cast of characters who fall into the trap of a game whose purpose was to play to win some money, but the ultimate aim of each was not to lose even one.
When the game ended, Grandma did not let us never go home alone in the dark. Always sent John to join us. And I do not know if John would make me more afraid or the dark along the avenue.
(continued. ..)
(A truck Beer Arrow, which was produced just in Baltimore)
