We Were Poor but No One Told Us

By Leonard Marino

WE WERE POOR BUT NO ONE TOLD US is the true story of a child of a family of 10, born and raised in the slums of Buffalo, New York, who overcame the obstacles of poverty. The story begins with my parents, Joseph and Rose, two immigrants from Italy. Pa was a decorated hero of the Italian navy and with the meager reward money from King Umberto of Italy, immigrated to the United States, where he met and married Mom in 1913. They raised 10 chilren over a time span over 31 years, through 2 World Wars, the Great Depression and many years of poverty....covering the period between 1913 and 1945. During this period, the only affordable living facility in Buffalo, New York, was on Dante Place, a slum area, adjacent to the abandoned and historic Erie Canal. During the summer months, those old enough, along with Mom, worked on nearby Buffalo farms picking fruit and vegetables. The proceeds from this yearly summer endeavor carried the family through the winter months. Pa worked as a laborer on the Lehigh Valley railroad for 7 days a week until he retired in 1978. Despite many personal trials and near catastrophic events over the years, the family emerged stronger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481732000

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© 2013 by Leonard Marino. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/21/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-3201-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-3200-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013905147

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CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1    The Beginning

Chapter 2    Early Memories

Chapter 3    God Sent Them

Chapter 4    Scarves, Gloves And Socks

Chapter 5    Grandpa Nick’s Garden

Chapter 6    Barrels And Grapefruit

Chapter 7    Santa Courier Express

Chapter 8    The Least Of These

Chapter 9    Not Your Fault, Leo!

Chapter 10   They Gave Us The Slip

Chapter 11   Crystal Beach

Chapter 12   Building A Dream—Memorial Auditorium

Chapter 13   Dark Fears

Chapter 14   Tomato Time

Chapter 15   The Farm

Chapter 16   Something To Pack The Clothes In

Chapter 17   Life On The Farm

Chapter 18   Vivid Memories

Chapter 19   Farm Related Situations

Chapter 20   Financial Crises

Chapter 21   Family Emergencies

Chapter 22   Duke

Chapter 23   Aunt Mary

Chapter 24   An $18 Bicycle

Chapter 25   Nits And Grits

Chapter 26   The War Years

Chapter 27   New Era

Chapter 28   The War Effort

Chapter 29   The Big Move—A Significant Event

Chapter 30   The Handymen???

Chapter 31   High School—Things Got Better

Chapter 32   Unexpected Development

Chapter 33   College Days And Beyond

Chapter 34   Where We Are Now

Chapter 35   Looking Back

FOREWORD

The writing of WE WERE POOR BUT NO ONE TOLD US has its beginnings over 100 years ago with my father, Guiseppe (Joseph) Marino, and my mother, Rosina (Rose) Zarbo in Sicuiliana, Sicily, Italy, around 1887. The chapters that follow are intended to show how a family of 10 children born of the marriage of Joseph and Rose, two immigrants from Italy, successfully raised their family without help from charities or social services through the Great Depression, several world conflicts, and a myriad of personal setbacks. The family of 5 sons and 5 daughters grew up to be successful citizens of this great country through the love, patience, and guidance of my parents, despite language barriers and great poverty.

This book is written by the author, the 8th child of the 10 children and is intended to show through his experiences during his childhood and adulthood, how the family overcame the difficult years, despite the poverty and sometimes sad, and desperate life’s experiences.

Leonard Marino

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is lovingly dedicated to my mother, Rosina Zarbo Marino, and my father Guiseppe (Joseph).

With special thanks to my wife, Meli, who encouraged me to write this book and for her participation in its completion.

Also to Meli’s sister, Jean Podkowinski, for her interest and eager anticipation in the book’s publication.

Also to the surviving members of my family, sisters Frances and Rose and brother Ignatius.

To Eleanor Gavacs, who gave me the idea of writing this book, by keeping me posted on a weekly basis of the demolition of Memorial Auditorium during 2009 in Buffalo, New York.

As a boy, watching the construction of Memorial Auditorium, every day was the major single factor affecting my career choice in engineering for my lifetime work.

CHAPTER 1

THE BEGINNING

My father Joseph, born in Siculiana, Italy on December 17, 1887, was one of 6 children of Salvatore and Josephine Marino. My mother Rose was born on February 17, 1897, one of 7 children of Nicholas and Vincenza Zarbo. Rose also was born in Siculiana, Italy. My father’s family in Italy were all fishermen by trade and my mother’s family tilled the soil. My father, at the age of 17, did not wish to pursue a career as a fisherman, but instead, elected to join the Italian navy. During his 2 years in the navy, his naval career was highlighted by his participation in the rescue of civilians during the Messina earthquake in 1903. He received a distinguished service medal from the King of Italy, then being King Umberto, for his bravery and meritorious service. Upon his honorable discharge from the navy, he set sail for the United States with the dream of becoming an American citizen and raising a family in the land of opportunity.

He arrived in New York City with the remainder of his fortune of $14. in his pocket given to him by King Umberto for his service in the Italian navy. From New York City he traveled to Buffalo, New York where he had relatives. There he met my mother, Rose. They were married after a short courtship on November 2, 1913 in Buffalo.

Previous to his marriage, he wisely became a citizen of the United States, and with that in hand, was able to obtain a job with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as a laborer.

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Mom and Pa’s Wedding Portrait

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Pa in the Italian Navy

CHAPTER 2

EARLY MEMORIES

I was born on August 25, 1929. Two months later, in October, the nation was plunged into the Great Depression. Of course, I have no memory of the early days of the depression, but the 7 children that were born before me, suffered these early