Italian History

From the 100-year Anniversary of the Nuova Aurora Club 1907--2007

reprinted with permission

Following the civil war, more Italians arrived and settled in Little Italy. Carl Rossi, the second known Italian, settled in Erie in 1866 and Vitale Spadacene arrived in 1868. Spadacene became the first known ethnic leader of the growing Italian community.

The growth of Erie's Italian colony was slow until after World War I. By 1891 there were several hundred Italians who settled on the city's Westside at and around West 16th and Walnut Streets. This area of the city became known as "Little Italy." By 1895 there were 350 Italians living in Erie. Little Italy was the largest and oldest of four Italian settlements in Erie.

By 1911 there were 3,000 Italians living in Erie. The Little Italy settlement had grown to nine city blocks, from Huron Street south to West 17th and from Chestnut west to Poplar Street. In 1920 the population of Little Italy was estimated to be 8,000 people.

While St. Paul's Church served as the center of religious and social life, Erie's Italy Colony also had many social and mutual aid societies.

The oldest mutual aid society established independently of the church was La Nuova Aurora Society founded May 20, 1907. La Nuova Aurora Society located in Little Italy not only furnished sickness and death benefits, but also served as a civic center. The Club sponsored many sports teams, which included Little League Bowling, golf teams and adult bowling, and softball teams. Nightly games of bocce and a finger betting game called morra were held. The club also sponsored college scholarships to Italian-American students. During the polio epidemic of 1949, the club donated an iron lung machine to the City of Erie. La Nuova Aurora was very popular among the early Italian people. By 1911 the club had 72 members.

Erie's first Italian physician was Dr. Francesco Trippe. Little Italy had it's own hospital known as Rose Memorial Hospital, formerly located at West 21st and Sassafras Street.

Albert Piza with Louis Phillips and John Lucarotti came to the city in 1892. Piza established the first Italian owned fruit and grocery store located on the northwest corner of 16th and Walnut Streets in 1900. The store, however, did not specialize in ethnic food items. Angelo Mazzio opened the first exclusive Italian grocery in 1903. The store was located on the southwest corner of 16th and Walnut Street. Mazzio's store specialized in spaghetti, olive oil, Italian tomatoes and spices. From 1910 -- 1920 there were twelve Italian owned grocery stores, three restaurants, one sausage maker, and one auto repair shop in Little Italy.

Two banks both founded in 1922 also served the early Italian settlement. Leonard Pasqualicchio established the Bank of Italy, which was the larger of the two with assets of $24,116.00. The Bank of Italy fell victim to the Great Depression, closing its doors in 1932. 

The Club's survival is due to the dedication, strong ethnic background, and a love for this little corner. Through the years, the club has seen many changes and survived difficult times. In the early 1980s Attorney Richard Vendetti, the club's solicitor, was instrumental in helping to keep the club doors open. Through the efforts of the Board of Directors and the continued support of the many club members, the club continues to prosper into the 21st Century.

The younger generation seems to enjoy the atmosphere of a small club. Today the Club has approximately 800 members.

MOLTO GRAZIE!! WISHING ANOTHER 100 YEARS!

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