Colombo of New Rochelle, NY

[NYJudi]

I know this is a long shot but I found last night on the Westchester Archives website that my grandfather Domenico Colombo belonged to the Bonefro Mutual Aid Society and also to the Haly's Independence Day Club of New Rochelle, New York. I was wonder wondering if anyone is familiar with these clubs and if someone knew what the Haly's Independence Day Club was all about?

I'm going to send away for any information that the archives can give me but thought in the meantime while I wait for it, someone can clue me in.

Thanks for any help that you can give me.

Judy

[DMM]

In a book written by Michele Colabella, he describes New Rochelle as "Little Bonefro" and talks to some length on the Societa di Mutuo Soccorso Bonefro, begun of 11 November 1911. Nicola Colombo was the finance secretary and hosted meetings at his home. In 1925, some members created a recreational branch, called he Bonefrani Social Club, directed by Frank Iarocci. In 1927 the Club inaugurated their new seat at 14 Russel Ave.

[NYJudi]

In a book written by Michele Colabella, he describes New Rochelle as "Little Bonefro" and talks to some length on the Societa di Mutuo Soccorso Bonefro, begun of 11 November 1911. Nicola Colombo was the finance secretary and hosted meetings at his home. In 1925, some members created a recreational branch, called he Bonefrani Social Club, directed by Frank Iarocci. In 1927 the Club inaugurated their new seat at 14 Russel Ave.

Thanks for the response, DMM....I did some research on the Internet hoping to find the book my Michele Colabella. I found books but not sure which one, if any, are the one that he talks about New Rochelle being called "Little Bonefro". It might make for interesting reading and maybe give me an inking if Nicola Colombo is my grandfathers cousin or brother. Nicola Colombo was on my grandparents marriage certificate as well as his papers to become a citizen. Do you know the name of the book by any chance? I'm hoping that the bookstore here in AZ will have it or that maybe I can order it online.

Thanks again for the reply.

[DMM]

Colabella wrote a series of books on Bonefro and its people (all written in Italian). Unfortunately, many are now out of print, so you'll have to check international used books stores.

The book I was referring to is called Bonefro "Gente Foretana, Quaderni sul'emigrazione," Editor=Cosmo Iannone 1999. One chapter is entitled "Un 'piccolo Bonefro': Nevriuscelle" (dialect for New Rochelle). The chapter starts (loose translation) "The most important Bonefrana community was formed at New Rochelle, commony known as Nevruscelle." It seems the eastern zone of New Rochelle (Fifth and Main Streets) became, and remains, a real "little Bonefro." In fact, he ends the chapter describing the closure of the "Bunny Club" (as the Bonefro Club was jokingly called) by saying "evidently, the club no longer had reason to exist once the decendents of the Bonefrani, after a century, were completely integrated in the socioencomic reality of New Rochelle."

In a footnote, Colabella references his discussions of the Club in his previous works, some of which I have. If you are interested and the forum is OK with it, I'll try to get thru his other books to provide some tidbits about the Bonefrani emigrants to New Rochelle, the Club, etc. as I come across them.

[DMM]

Judy,
I forgot to mention:
According to Colabella, article 4 of the Societa di Mutuo Soccorso Bonefro states the society was not only for Bonefrani or descendents, but also open to those whose wives were, or were descendent from, Bonefrani. Since you know Domenico's wife was not Bonefrana, this could help support the theory that Domenico himself was...

[NYJudi]

Colabella wrote a series of books on Bonefro and its people (all written in Italian). Unfortunately, many are now out of print, so you'll have to check international used books stores.

The book I was referring to is called Bonefro "Gente Foretana, Quaderni sul'emigrazione," Editor=Cosmo Iannone 1999. One chapter is entitled "Un 'piccolo Bonefro': Nevriuscelle" (dialect for New Rochelle). The chapter starts (loose translation) "The most important Bonefrana community was formed at New Rochelle, commony known as Nevruscelle." It seems the eastern zone of New Rochelle (Fifth and Main Streets) became, and remains, a real "little Bonefro." In fact, he ends the chapter describing the closure of the "Bunny Club" (as the Bonefro Club was jokingly called) by saying "evidently, the club no longer had reason to exist once the decendents of the Bonefrani, after a century, were completely integrated in the socioencomic reality of New Rochelle."
In a footnote, Colabella references his discussions of the Club in his previous works, some of which I have. If you are interested and the forum is OK with it, I'll try to get thru his other books to provide some tidbits about the Bonefrani emigrants to New Rochelle, the Club, etc. as I come across them.

I went to some bookstores to look for the book but unfortunately was unable to find it. I'm going to keep looking for it since I'm sure it would make for some interesting reading for me. You mentioned posting some tibits for me from the book and I would love for you to do that. You can either send it to the personal email on this board or to me directly at NYJudi@aol.com. It's funny that you mentioned the "Bunny Club". I heard the Bunny Club mentioned numberous times when I was growing up at the Colombo house but was very young and wasn't interested back then, so didn't pay much attention. I knew my aunts and uncles Colombo and I think I remember my grandfather Colombo. I was so young when he died so maybe I just think I remember him.

I appreciate the time and effort you have taken to share the book with me. If you decide to email the tibits to my aol email address, be sure to put Colombo or Colombo/Vaccaro in the subject line so I don't accidently deletet it.

By the way, the Colombo house was on 4th St, not far from 5th St that you mention being Little Bonefro.

Judy

[NYJudi]

Judy,
I forgot to mention:
According to Colabella, article 4 of the Societa di Mutuo Soccorso Bonefro states the society was not only for Bonefrani or descendents, but also open to those whose wives were, or were descendent from, Bonefrani. Since you know Domenico's wife was not Bonefrana, this could help support the theory that Domenico himself was...

I'm not sure where my grandmother was from, I know her mother was from Salerno, so maybe she was as well. I recently found out that my grandfather belonged to the Italy's Independence Club of New Rochelle and help start the group. I sent away for the record but all I was able to find out from it was the he help start the group along with 9 others and they had a meeting only once a year. Along with the meeting was parades, fireworks, etc.

Judy

[DMM]

Judy,
Try Abe Books, Internetbookshop.it or other international, internet booksellers. I noticed several of the same book "Gente Foretana" available at their sites, running about 12 Euro. (Note both the book and one of these websies are in Italian).

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... 85%26y%3D8

http://www.internetbookshop.it/code/978 ... etana.html

[NYJudi]

Judy,
Try Abe Books, Internetbookshop.it or other international, internet booksellers. I noticed several of the same book "Gente Foretana" available at their sites, running about 12 Euro. (Note both the book and one of these websies are in Italian).

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... 85%26y%3D8

http://www.internetbookshop.it/code/978 ... etana.html

Thanks for the links and I'll try the sites. I don't speak Italian so it should, so I don't know how I'll read the book, but I'll give it a try. I really want to see what it says about New Rochelle and the Bunny Club. It should be interesting.

Judy

[DMM]

Hi Judy,
I decided to post in case others were interested in Colabella's work on New Rochelle. I hope it's OK with the forum, it is my meager translation of a out-of-print book, so I don't think there's any copyright problems (?)

Here are the first pages of the chapter on Bonefro immigrants in New Rochelle:

A “Little Bonefroâ€

[NYJudi]

[quote="DMM"]Hi Judy,
I decided to post in case others were interested in Colabella's work on New Rochelle. I hope it's OK with the forum, it is my meager translation of a out-of-print book, so I don't think there's any copyright problems (?)

Here are the first pages of the chapter on Bonefro immigrants in New Rochelle:

A “Little Bonefroâ€

[DMM]

Judy, glad you enjoyed it... I'm scanning thru all my books to see if there is any mention by name, specifically, of your grandfather. There are Colombo's in my tree, too, but quite a long way back. Too soon to try to connect the dots. Anyway, here is part 2 of (probably) 3 from "Piccolo Bonefro":

The characteristics of the association were so expressed:
Art. 2 The supreme scope of the association is mutual aid. It should cooperate with its influence to the moral wellbeing of its members.
Art. 3. It will remain neutral, as mush as it can, regarding politics and religion.
Art. 4. Not only Bonefrani or descendents can join this Society, but also those who have a Bonefrana wife or descendents of her.

In the beginning was also envisioned group accompaniment to the cemetery, but this obligation was abolished in December 1924; in substitute, members of the association would have to visit the home of the deceased with the flag of the Society. In 1925, the mortuary subsidy, at first fixed at $100, was augmented to $200, with the accompaniment of a wreath of flowers for $10; it had also increased for the death of a wife of a member, from $25 to $50 with a wreath not to exceed $10. It had assured a social medical doctor, “to cure the ill members residing in New Rochelle and its surroundings, and to visit proposed candidates for membership in the Association.â€

[DMM]

Here's the 3rd and last part of my translation, "Little Bonefro":

Numerous were the merits of the Club both in the social camp and in those patriotic: contributions to the erection of the monument to the fallen [war dead] in Bonefro and to the repair of the chapel of S. Nicola, aid to the war orphans, to those ill with tuberculosis, to those stricken in the earthquake, to the American Red Cross, to the Boys Club, to the hospital of New Rochelle. After the war, the Bonefrani of New Rochelle generously sent new and used clothes, beans, rice and peas, and cash to the orphans of the Maucieri Home and to the poor of the land.

The chronicles of the life of the club were usually reported in the newspaper “The Standard-Star.â€

[tteti]

Hey I was born and raised in New Rochelle and I never knew of these facts.Truly amazing and interesting. In fact when I returned from active service I worked part time at D'Onofrio field, also surprising is that my maternal great grand parents were named Onofrio

[DMM]

Hey I was born and raised in New Rochelle and I never knew of these facts.

Glad you said that, I was starting to feel a bit awkward, telling natives about a city I've never been to, by translating a book written by an Italian from documents obtained from immigrants to New Rochelle But, these things all happened 50 to 100 years ago, after all...

There's value in the history itself, but I hope also some in the list of names, dates and relationships. Hopefully someone can piece together some part of their Bonefro heritage.

Were your great grandparents from Bonefro?