As I mentioned previously on this blog, the importance of 139 Harrison Avenue, Garfield NJ cannot be overstated. That house was the cental location for my branch of the Ambruso family when they first decided to travel to the America. It was built by Patsy Bonelli and his wife Mary Ambruso in 1909. It was where Mary's siblings and mother came when they first entered the United States. Patsy and Mary had a daughter, Rose, who married a guy named Mike Melfi, who lived just around the corner. Rose and Mike came to live at 139 Harrison Avenue. They raised their family there.
The picture above shows my mother Esther Ambruso Casteline with me and the three children of Mike Melfi and Rose Bonelli, all sitting on the front steps of 139 Harrison Avenue. The year is about 1948. My mother is holding Tommy, the youngest. On the far left is Michael Melfi Jr. On the far right, with the bannana curls, is Marie Annette. I'm the little guy with the wavy hair sitting next to my mother. Tommy Melfi, the baby, still lives in the house today.
Keep up the good content, Dad. I just read this and the article below about Italian Americans and the call to fight in WWI. I know it is difficult to keep up a good pace with good content, but i appreciate what you are providing here.
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