The Spiraling Chains - The Spiraling Chains: Kowalski - Bellan Family Trees

Census Sunday: The Licciardi Family, 1930

9/21/2013

This Sunday, I am looking at the first U.S. Census that my Italian great-grandparents appear in. Louis (Luigi) Licciardi came to America in late 1920 and his wife, Adele, followed with their two young daughters, Dina and Yola, in 1921. In 1930, the family is renting part of a duplex home on Cleveland's east side. Louis owns an embroidery business on West 6th Street in downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District.

I'm not quite sure why, but the census enumerator listed my Great Aunt Yola separate from the rest of the family. (And they got her first name a bit wrong, but, hey, that happens all the time.) He did make a note of it though and points the reader in the right direction as to where she IS listed.

Licciardi Family 1930 U.S. Census

Here are a couple of Cleveland city directories. The one on the left is from 1928 and gives the address of Louis' embroidery business. The one on the right is from 1930 and shows their home address. (Click on images for larger view.)

1928 Cleveland Business Directory

1930 Cleveland Directory

Here is what the house that they lived in looks like today via Google Street View. Real estate data shows that it was built in 1927, and since the 1928 Cleveland residential directory lists them as living there in 1928, they were very likely the first occupants. Based on the census form, it looks as if my great-grandparents rented from the owner, Joseph Bertolius, who also lived there with his family.

3697 E. 146th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Image courtesy of Google Street View

And finally, here is the building in which my great-grandfather, Louis, ran his embroidery business in 1930. (He later moved the business to E. 25th St.) It is known as the Bradley Building. It was completely renovated in the late 20th century, and today it is an apartment building with shops and restaurants on the main floor.

The Bradley Building, W. 6th Street, Cleveland, Ohio Source: Wikipedia

©2013, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday, Grandma Bellan!

9/3/2013

Dina Licciardi Bellan, born 4 Sep 1914 in Iselle, Italy. Shown here in Lake Worth, Florida, 1943.

©2013. copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Wordless Wednesday: Louis, Dina, and Adele Licciardi, 1920s

8/20/2013

My great-grandparents, Louis and Adele Licciardi, with my grandmother, Dina in the middle. Photo was most likely taken by my great aunt, Yola.

©2013, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Wordless Wednesday: Yola and Dina Licciardi, 1920s

5/28/2013

My Great Aunt Yola (left) and my Grandmother Dina Licciardi (right) as young girls, probably around 1922-1924.

International Day of Families

5/15/2013

Today, May 15, is the United Nations International Day of Families. Some of these family photos I have posted before, and some I haven't. I hope you get to enjoy the day with your family members!

Schroeder Family, 2012

The Schroeder Family: My parents-in-law with all of their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren, 2012

Schroeder Family, 2011

My husband and me with our children, November 2011.

Kowalski Family, 1997

The Kowalski Family: My parents, siblings and me, 1997.

Kowalski-Patrick Wedding, 1978

Aunt's wedding photo. My dad's parents, siblings, and spouses, 1978.

Kowalski Brothers

My grandfather (second from left) with his brothers, Stanley, Joe, and John Kowalski.

Bellan Family, July 1960

The Bellan Family: My mom (far left) with her mom, dad, and older brother, July 1960.

The Licciardi Family, Christmas 1952.

Adele and Louis Licciardi (center) with their daughters, Yola (left) and Dina (right), and their grandchildren. Christmas 1952.

Walter Schroeder with sisters.

My husband's paternal grandfather, Walter Schroeder, with his four sisters.

The Licciardi Family, late 1920s.

My maternal grandmother's family. From left: Louis, Yola, Dina, and Adele Licciardi, probably late 1920s.

The Bellan Family, late 1910s.

My maternal grandfather's family. George and Ursula Bellan (seated) with their children, Rudy, Olga, Mary, George, John, Edward, William, and Theresa. Late 1910s.

Happy Mother's Day

5/12/2013

Just thought I would post some favorite pics of the mothers in my family:

Me with BOTH of my grandmothers, early 1980s

Me with my paternal grandma, Veronica Kowalski

Me with my maternal grandma, Dina Bellan

My great-grandmother, Adele Licciardi, with her two daughters, Yola (left) and Dina (right). 1935

Veronica Kowalski holding my dad as a baby, with her two older children, Joy and Dan, 1951.

My mom with me as a baby.

My mom w/ my little sister, Becky.

My mother-in-law holding my daughter, 2010.

My husband's grandma holding my son, 2007.

Me with my son, 2008.

Me with my daughter, Mackinac Island, 2011.

Wordless Wednesday: The Licciardi Family, 1937

3/6/2013

From left to right: Louis (seated), Yola and Adele (standing), Dina (seated).

My great-grandparents, Louis and Adele Licciardi with their two daughters, Yola and Dina (my maternal grandmother).

A Valentine Between Sisters

2/14/2013

My Great Aunt Yola gave this Valentine to my Grandma Dina back in the 1920s when they were schoolgirls. I love how she signs her full name - as if it would be from another Yola! I found it in some of my Grandma's things a few months ago. It obviously must have meant a lot to her to keep it all those years.

On a side note, this is one of the weirdest Valentines I've ever seen. "Nobody better BEAT my Time." Not so sure what that's supposed to mean, and the fact that he looks as if he is about to hit her with the club is a bit disconcerting. Can you imagine the response if a child handed out Valentines like this today?

Travel Tuesday: Adele's Postcard from London

2/5/2013

In May and June of 1949, my great-grandparents Louis and Adele Licciardi took a trip to Europe. My grandmother saved most, if not all, of the postcards she received from her parents while on this trip, so I have pretty good idea of their basic itinerary. In Italy, they visited Turin, Rome, Palermo, and Naples. This was probably their first trip back to their homeland since they left in 1920, so I'm sure they visited with friends and family members. But they also spent some time in London. Below is the postcard that my great-grandmother addressed to my grandmother. It reads, "I will call you on the phone June 29 at 7:30PM instead of 2PM. This is a large city but the food is very bad here. -Pa & Ma London, 6-25-1949."

This is how Adele was - she told it to you straight. I'm not sure when all the jokes about poor British cooking started, but clearly she was not trying to make a joke :-)

Back of postcard

Front of postcard

Foto Friday: Louis Licciardi, June 1936

2/1/2013

Great-Grandpa Licciardi looking quite dapper in his off-white drape cut suit, a style that became popular in the 1930s. I'm not sure where this photo was taken, but he is wearing his Italian War Veterans hat, so it's likely he is at one of their meetings.