Walking in Luigi's Shoes

My GGF Luigi LoPresti was born in Enna, Sicily. Although his father Angelo was a sulfur miner, Luigi became a shoemaker like his father-in-law Salvatore.  Luigi first immigrated through Ellis Island at age 24 in 1903.  Over the next few years he established his own shop in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  Together Luigi, his wife Maria and their three children lived upstairs in their live/work space.  Downstairs Luigi practiced his craft making and selling leather shoes. Here they are at Coney Island circa 1920. 

Fast forward to 2022 on July 2:  during Enna's annual religious festival (Due Luglio) I meet 14 of my Sicilian cousins for the first time.

We met for a traditional three hour lunch (pranzo).  Two weeks later I found and began the process to purchase an ancient stone house in the Historic Center of Enna Alta to be near them, completing nearly a 120 year circle.  And to walk in Luigi's shoes.

A ship manifest from Ellis Island reads my GGF Luigi LoPresto first immigrated to the US in 1903.  As with many immigrants arriving during the mass migration of 1880 - 1920 from Southern Italy, our last name was misspelled at Ellis Island.  Through obtaining my family documents (birth, marriage and death certificates) required for Italian Dual Citizenship all my family records in Sicily read as LoPresti or Presti for our last name.  Presti is a common Sicilian last name.

My GGF Luigi LoPresti soon returned to Sicily.  Our family memoir reads Luigi would play his mandolin and sing to my soon to be GGM Maria Barcelona below the balcony to her home in nearby Serradifalco, Sicly.  Luigi and Maria were married in 1904 in Enna (then called Castrogiovanni), Sicily.  My Great Aunts Paolina and Assunta were born in Enna, Sicily between 1905 and 1908.  As soon as Luigi set up his shop back in Perth Amboy, NJ he sent for Maria and his daughters.  Our family memoir reads Maria was hesitant to leave her father Salvatore behind in Sicily as he was blind.  The family memoir then reads Salvatore told his only daughter Maria to follow her husband to be with him in the US.  What sacrifices the Sicilians made leaving family behind to start a new life so far away.

We estimate this photo to be taken when Maria and her daughters first arrived to the US circa 1908 as my GF Angelo was born in 1910 in Perth Amboy, NJ.

I am grateful Luigi had the foresight to document their arrival with this photograph.  I see in their eyes the longing of what they gave up coupled with the wonder of their new lives ahead in a foreign land.