Anthropology 202

Paper #1 American Identities

Italian American in Herrin Illinois

Submitted to Sarah Muno Anthropology 202 Americas Diverse Cultures Section 009 Spring 2013 Southern Illinois University Carbondale by Mariessa Orso

Rough Draft February 7th 2013

Among the people who shaped the social fabric of the U.S., the Italians played an important role. ( Di Benedetto, Allessandra, 2000: 1). Since 1776, the United States of America has been attracting immigrants from around the world. We are a nation of immigrants. ( Di Benedetto Allessandra, 2000). When you think of Italian immigration, you think of large cities such as New York and Chicago, but Italian immigrants also flocked to small towns and communities as well. At first Chicago, Joliet, and Rockford saw the influx of Italians, but as early as 1887, the immigrants had moved to Central and Southern Illinois (Venegoni,). Herrin Illinois was one of the major small towns that attracted Italian immigrants at the end of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century. By 1920, Herrin had more Americans of Italian descent than any other town in Southern Illinois. According to the 1900 census, there were only about 1,550 people in Herrin. The population more than quadrupled in ten years, to 6,864, and by 1917 Herrin had the third-largest birthrate in Illinois. The increase in numbers, however came almost exclusively from immigration. (Griswold, 2009: 58). Bart and Caesar Colombo were the first Italian settlers in Williamson County; they came, like so many others from the tiny northern village of Cuggiono, located west of Milan in the province of Lombardy in 1884 (Griswold, 2009:60). When the Italians and their families arrived into Herrin, it wasnt necessarily with open arms. Herrin was not a multicultural society, the immigrants faced ethnocentrism, discrimination, were talked down to, and were called names like Dago and Wop. The immigrants were different because many of them could not speak English, they spoke Italian and they were predominately of Catholic religion. The Italian immigrants that came to Herrin were predominately young single males trying to escape financial hardships of their homeland for the American promise of wealth and opportunity in Herrins booming coal industry. The men would find work in the mines and save

their money to bring their families, girlfriends, and wives over to Herrin. Some of the immigrants would make enough money to go home instead of staying in Herrin. Coal brought the immigrants to Herrin, even though that industry is long gone, the culture and rich history of the Italians remains. Italian immigrants not only provided a new young labor force in Southern Illinois and Herrin, but they also brought and introduced Italian heritage and culture with them. One of the major cultural contributions the Italian immigrants made was a kind of little Italy in Herrin, but this was because they had to. Since the Italian immigrants were seen as outsiders, there was not an immediate assimilation. According to Rennie Berra-Hughes, a descendant of one of the immigrant families, the immigrants did not trust the towns people and gathered into small communities and later formed their own societies of businesses including restaurants, bakeries, and small grocery stores called The Lombard Society. The Lombard Society also consisted of other types of businesses started by very prominent Italian families such as the Marlow, Berra, Colombo and the DellEra families. These families managed to start the acculturation process by opening an Opera House, Hippodrome Theatre, The Herrin Ice Company that sold Jersey Ice Cream, and White City Park. White City Park was kind of a little Coney Island in Herrin, it had a 1.5 million gallon saltwater pool and had a hall that could hold 500 people dancing to the best bands including Frank Sinatra (Griswold, 2009: 67). Luigi Perotti, an Italian immigrant that later became a famous architect, designed the Opera House, Herrin Hospital, and First National Bank building in Herrin. Joe Berra and Louis DellEra opened the first saloon in Herrin, and the Cardoni Company built many places in Herrin including the Catholic Church (Dooley, Gary. Personal Interview. Herrin: Jan 30,2013). These Italian immigrants made huge contributions to the community, but none bigger than Our lady of Mount Carmel Church (the patron of Cuggiono) in 1901. Before the church was

built mass was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis DellEra, one of the more prominent Italian immigrant families. Church was looked at as an extended family gathering said Rennie Berra Hughes. Italians welcomed friends into their homes with open arms, family is what it is all about she said. DellEra and Bart Colombo were the two main Italian immigrants responsible for gathering the finances to build the church in Herrin. They did so well that they were able to build a parish school in 1908 and in 1924 the parish built a beautiful church representing Italian style from the Lombard area. ( Banks, personal communications). The schooling of their children was also an important aspect of how they cared about their family. The immigrants wanted their children to embrace their social identity, but also to embrace American culture. They wanted their children to have more opportunities than they had when they came to America. They did not want their children to be looked down upon because they could only speak Italian. They wanted them to be able to code switch and not forget their roots, but be able to learn the English language also. Even today at the school, children are taught of the Italian culture and heritage and even learn a little of the Italian language. Church and religion are major staples in the Italian culture and heritage, and even today in the Herrin community Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and school are an integral part of the Italian community. Sandra Colombo, another Italian immigrant descendant from Cuggiono, when asked what it meant to be Italian, replied it means having a strong sense of family, church, and food! When you think of most Italians you think of a big family gathering to enjoy a big meal, says Colombo. One of the major cultural contributions that Italian families brought to Herrin were new foods. Italians introduced eggplant, artichokes, olive oil, black olives, salameats, sausages, pastas, raviolis, and fresh bread to the area. Italians main identities are food and family because they go hand in hand with one another. Pasta is very important to Italians and is always served at

dinner in a traditional Italian meal. There are various types and shapes of pasta and each kind has its own cultural origin. Risotto is a preferred pasta among the Italian immigrants because rice was abundant in their home town of Lombardy. Gnocci a potato pasta is also popular because the land was very fertile in Lombardy and potatoes were plentiful. These types of pasta were brought to Herrin from the Italian immigrants. Louies P & R an original Italian immigrant deli that has been passed down in generations is still operating in Herrin today and serves these favorite dishes to the public along with other spiced meats such as salameats and prosciutto. These are just some examples how Italian immigrants in Herrin have influenced the cuisine, but you can find Italian cuisine across the globe. Food is a large part of what makes a culture distinctive, and Italian cuisine has been exported to many countries just like immigrants have been. Generally speaking, pizza, pasta, gelato, and tiramisu are the common examples that we see across the world. The last and probably most important aspect that defines Italians is their family. The Italian family is a stronghold in a hostile land: within its walls and among its members, the individual finds consolation, help, advice, provisions, loans, weapons, allies and accomplices to aid him in his pursuits. No Italian who has a family is ever alone (Barzini, 1964:190). When the Italians came to America they were not just coming for a better life for themselves, they were doing it for their familys sake. Italians faced obstacles in Herrin when they first arrived, but they banded together and are now looked at as some the great influential people that helped shape what Herrin is today. Every Memorial Day weekend, Herrin celebrates the Italian heritage with a week-long celebration including a parade, live entertainment, grape stomping competition, and of course great Italian food and wine.

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