Italian Celebration Plans Set
Italian Celebration Continues Tradition
By Dr. Paul J. Loatman, Jr., City Historian
A Broadway show is declared a "smash hit" when it survives for a year; more than three years, and it is "an all-time great show." How then can we categorize the Assumption feast celebration which has had a run of nearly a century, making it one of the longest-running Italian ethnic activities in the United States? Last year’s last-minute cancellation of the event may have seemed like a death-knell to some; but, things are alive and kicking again and will proceed much as usual on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12.
Italian immigrants first came to Mechanicville in the 1880s to work on the railroads and canal here. Many of them were "birds of passage" who commuted annually between upstate New York and Naples by purchasing passage from a local postmaster who moonlighted as a steamship ticket agent. But by the end of the 19th century, this ethnic community had grown large enough that fellow countrymen from the paese of Coreno – Ausonia (neighboring villages outside of Naples) organized a mutual aid society known today as "the Fratellenza." Less than a year after its founding, local Village Council minutes of July 27, 1900 recorded the following: "The Italians of the village asked for permission to raise the Italian flag, and it was granted to them." What exactly it meant "to raise the Italian flag" is not explained in the minutes, but a few years later, beginning in 1904, the Fratellenza requested municipal permission to conduct a three-day festa associated with the Feast of the Assumption much as they did back home in Italy. Before long, Mechanicville Italians were attracting throngs of their fellow countrymen here every August, and it was not unusual for the Saturday Mercury to record an influx of 7 to 10,000 people annually to join the festivities here.
Although there are few people left who recall those early days, Leo Piroli’s family has been connected with the celebration for close to a century. Leo’s father, John (Red) Piroli, marched in the August processions for over half a century, beginning right after fighting in the Italian army during World War I and continuing up to 1975 when he passed away. Leo himself took up where his father left off, having put in his own 50+ years of service, and now, he is passing on the legacy to his children and his son-in-law, Lou Alonzo, without whom the celebrations would be extraordinarily quiet.
Phil DiBello’s father, Peter Clements, helped to organize the celebration every year he resided in Mechanicville, up to and including 1986, when he passed away at age 95. Now, Phil takes pride in the fact that her granddaughters, Ashley Carney and Samantha Farina (ages 7 and 8) will represent the fourth generation of her family when they March in this year’s procession.
Antoinette Forte has lived all of her 81 years directly across the street from the Church of the Assumption on William Street, where she continues a tradition begun by her mother before memory can recall of providing breakfast for the street band members and young girls carrying the Virgin’s portrait as they begin their trek around town. Two memories stick out in her mind more than others when she reflects on the event, one, that of Antonio, the street vendor, who came from New York City every year to sell Italian candy and cookies; the other, the parade of black-clad "Gold Star Mothers" who processed behind the Virgin for hours – barefooted – while reciting the Rosary immediately following World War II. That year also witnessed the return of fireworks displays after a five-year hiatus caused by wartime blackouts. Two New Jersey companies competed for a prize given to the firm that put on the best aerial display that year.
Joe Ruggiero’s father came to Mechanicville in 1892, and like many others, Joe recalls the days when the Feast of the Assumption was as much of a holiday as Christmas and Thanksgiving – maybe more so. Work ceased, out-of-town family members returned home for three days, and everyone marched up Viall Ave hill to witness the spectacular fireworks which concluded the three-day celebration. As one of the oldest members of the Fratellenza, Joe always looks forward to the August celebration.
Certain concessions have been made to the march of time this year in recognition of the fact that most people do not work in local rail yards, textile mills, or paper plant as they once did. Thus, all activities will take place on the weekend preceding the feast day.
The Italian Feast Celebration will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12. A special mass honoring Mary (in addition to the one celebrated on August 15) will be conducted on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the Church of the Assumption; the street procession will follow immediately, progressing up Grove, across Saratoga to Round Lake Avenue, moving down Viall to Elizabeth, up to 6th, back down Chestnut to Third, ending at Depot Square. The Roma Italian Band of Billerica, Massachusetts, will provide the processional music. Entertainment, games, and vendors will be available at the square throughout the day until 9:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to join in the procession. Sunday’s activities will begin at noon and will run until 9:30 p.m. when a spectacular fireworks show, donated by the DeCrescente family, will cap off the festivities.