Today, April 17, has been designated at Ellis Island Family History Day. On this date in 1907, more than 11,700 people came through Ellis Island - it was the most immigrants to be process through the station in one day. In my own family, seven of my great-grandparents arrived at the port of New York and came through Ellis Island. (One of my great-grandfathers arrived at Baltimore.)
My grandmother, Dina C. Licciardi Bellan, sailed from Naples on 27 Apr 1921 with her mother and sister and arrived at Ellis Island on 12 May 1921. She was 6 1/2 years old. Her name is on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at the Ellis Island Museum. Before she passed away, she had the opportunity to travel to NYC and see the wall (and her name) in person. Here is a photo of her next to the wall and below that is a rubbing she made of her name.
My grandmother, Dina C. Licciardi Bellan, sailed from Naples on 27 Apr 1921 with her mother and sister and arrived at Ellis Island on 12 May 1921. She was 6 1/2 years old. Her name is on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at the Ellis Island Museum. Before she passed away, she had the opportunity to travel to NYC and see the wall (and her name) in person. Here is a photo of her next to the wall and below that is a rubbing she made of her name.
Dina (Licciardi) Bellan in front of American Immigrant Wall of Honor
Rubbing of name from Immigrant Wall of Honor
Late in life, my grandmother started to fill out a 'Family Heritage Workbook' about her life and her family's life. As far as the journey across the ocean, all she writes is, "Crossing the ocean is vague, but I do remember getting off the train in Cleveland and seeing my father leaning against a big car." (Her father, Luigi Licciardi, had immigrated to America the year before.)
©2014, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder
©2014, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder
