LEVINE:

Today is August 7 th —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— 1998. And I'm here in Concord — Concord, New Hampshire with Mary Iula, who came to this country from Italy in 1914 — no —

IULA:

In —

LEVINE:

In 1950, when she was 36 years of age.

IULA:

Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

Right, and she came on the Vulcania.

IULA:

Yeah, reach here June the second.

LEVINE:

June the second, 1950.

IULA:

Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

Okay. And we also have with us today Pauline Copley [PH], who is a neighbor and is sitting in on this interview. Okay. Would you say again, please, your birth date and where you were born?

IULA:

I was born in 1914, August 24. The name of the town is Sandos Maroni [PH] [unclear].

LEVINE:

Okay. And did you live in the same place —

IULA:

Y —

LEVINE:

— right up until you left?

IULA:

Yes. I — born there, was living there. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Okay. Now, [clears throat] when you think back of your — was it a city or a town or a village? How big was it where you lived?

IULA:

Was 4 — 4,000 people [unclear] time.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And when you think back on that little town, what are the things you remember about it?

IULA:

Well, [chuckles] I remember I lived with my father and my brothers and sister and all, two sister, two brothers. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Were you the first one to come to this country?

IULA:

Yes.

LEVINE:

And how was it that you happened to — to decide to come to America?

IULA:

Well, my husband, he came here when was 16 year old and after — he was on the Second World War. He was married and the wife had die. And he came — Italy and married me, no. And I was the second married. I was married before; my husband had die. He was a — choked with the food. I had my son, six months old when he die.

LEVINE:

Your first husband?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And what was his name?

IULA:

Joe.

LEVINE:

Joe?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. And — and his last name?

IULA:

Rosana [PH].

LEVINE:

Rosana?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. So you — so when your son was six months old, your —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— your husband choked to death?

IULA:

Yeah, from the meat, you know.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

I was married him two years and he was 24. I was 22 when he die, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Uh-hmm.

LEVINE:

Do you remember in Italy the ways that people did things that are different from the way things are done in this country?

IULA:

Oh, there it was different things. You know, when I came in here, I was [unclear]. I was — cry. Different food. I was sick with the food and don't used to like. I was [unclear] communicated with the people because [unclear] understand anything at all.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Well, let's talk about Italy first —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— before you left. What was it — what did you generally eat? What kind of food did you like?

IULA:

Eat only — we usually eat only the natural food. We used to grow the food. And me, I used to have — when I was single, I used to go to work. I used to belong to the [unclear] and whatever the people asked you to do, work on construction or do other things, had to do any thing. Italy, the girl learned to do every — any kind of a job the men do, any kind of the job they [unclear] do. Was — learn how to clean the house, how to do the wash, how to sew, how to knit, how to do everything.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And the — we used to have only the food that we — me, I used to go every Sunday in [unclear] which vegetable special this month. Was busy, you know.

LEVINE:

And when you — you went to the market. And did you buy — did you go —

IULA:

No, I used to grow and I used to took them to the market and all. But like in here, going to farmer market on a Saturday, I used to go too. But this month [unclear] to go every night. I took tomatoes and other things that the people [unclear], you know.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

Yeah. I used to work hard here to get [unclear] thing. [unclear] 16 years, I used to work on construction on —

LEVINE:

When you — wh — what did you construct? What kind of things did you —

IULA:

It was in construction, a bridge. It was in construction, house. I think it was in the [unclear] 1930. Me, I used to make this [unclear] cement. [unclear] mix no [unclear] mix and you're supposed to mix it by hand, and mix it twice, dry it twice and put the water. I think they're going to put [unclear] back. They're going to [unclear] same time as six [unclear] high, the house, you know.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

Supposed to [unclear] long. Supposed to — whatever the — was who work on the bridge used to use the word [unclear], like the men do.

LEVINE:

So were there many women working in construction?

IULA:

Everybody do this and it only was a [unclear] — no was [unclear]. And everybody was working hard on it. Not just me but everybody. The girl — if [unclear] do the work, nobody married her then either. No, is a lot of change. It's normally like one hours a — day — day, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

No, you haven't a car. Before we [unclear] you have any car at all.

LEVINE:

No cars in town?

IULA:

No. No. We used to have the vine of grape. We used to sell the wine. We used to olive, the [unclear]. We used to make a lot of wine. We used to have the garden and we used to have the pool [unclear] to water the garden. And we used to have [unclear] on the garden.

LEVINE:

What —

IULA:

When — when my husband and I — me and my mother-in-law used to do all of the work, you know.

LEVINE:

Wow. Did you live with your mother-in-law?

IULA:

Yes, I was — live 16 years before I came to this country.

LEVINE:

When you first married, did you move in with your mother —

IULA:

Yes, I [unclear] my mother-in-law. Italy, everybody like mother-in-law. I miss her very much.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

[clears throat]

LEVINE:

Wow. Yeah. So what was your father — what did your father do for work?

IULA:

The same job I used to do myself.

LEVINE:

Construction?

IULA:

You know, as a worker on construction. Used to do other kind of work and all. Any kind of the work he could do. Italy, you know, took care of [unclear], spread wheat on the ground after they were going to take him [unclear], clip the vine of grape, prune the tree, any kind of the job.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. And did your mother work as well?

IULA:

[clears throat] My mother, she was a worker hard. She was — do any kind of a job, no. She know [several words unclear] but she can call the [unclear] of many things that she used to do.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Now, how many children did — did your mother have?

IULA:

She [unclear] was seven. Two died. One was small — in five. One grown. The other, we — another four survive.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

One going to be 104.

LEVINE:

Really? Where is that one?

IULA:

He in where I was born, my town I was born, no.

LEVINE:

He stayed there.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

And two sis — they living there too. The baby was celebrate — July the 31 st , 79 year old. That's the baby.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

Another one, she's 82.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm. So, in — so, did your mother work outside the home as well as take care of her children?

IULA:

Italy, every man was working. And the people used to carry the children all [unclear] another town close on the [unclear] a time was seven — no, [clears throat] the [unclear]. No. And was working — was in — do the corn, move the soil in the corn, [unclear] in the corn, working. Everybody was working hard and not just in the [unclear]. All of the people there [unclear] this kind of the work.

LEVINE:

W — did this — the fact that everybody was working, including [unclear] —

IULA:

Everybody was working.

LEVINE:

Did that — did that happen after World War II?

IULA:

Was all the way, but no. I think it was the Second World War that things started changing. But since I came here, it's a change a lot. All of my family have a car. Everybody have a — no, they — they have a car. They have a gas stove. They have a refrigerator. They have everything. They have a shower, have a bed. When I was there, was electricity and [unclear] was any. We used to use the candle with the kerosene.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Then I — [clears throat] in the daytime we used to work hard. In the night, when you was at home, my mother used to do something. We only used to do the lace [unclear] thread. We used to do [unclear] knitting in them. We used to sew. My mother, she used to do all of the clothes. She used to show us how to do.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

No. And everybody, [unclear] one. Now is a change. The people now have a factory. [unclear] have some other things. They go to school all long. When I was there, it was two years or three years. After, they're supposed to go to work, no, because the people can't afford to send you to — 10 year old, I want to go for — I must go — go. My mother teach me after school to do the job of when I was on the other people places to do the work and all. And was paying me 50 cents a day. Here and it was even a penny. We all used to save the money [unclear], because she used to buy the clothes to give [unclear] one wasn't married. To the girl that wasn't married, the mother going to give everything [unclear] in the house. No, it wasn't three girl and my mother. She was a worker hard, you know.

LEVINE:

Was it a matter of a dowry?

IULA:

Well —

LEVINE:

Was it a dowry that your mother was preparing to give for her girls?

IULA:

Well, my mother, whenever [unclear] money all used to buys clothes whatever need [unclear] give it to [unclear] as it was need. Everything, sheets, bed, everything we needed, whatever you [unclear] in a house. The mother's supposed to give it to the girl.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

If nobody marries you, if you can't do — when I was there, if you no was able to do the job, clean the house and do other things, nobody wants to marry you. You know.

LEVINE:

Did you have any brothers?

IULA:

I told you, I have one going to be 104.

LEVINE:

Oh, that's your brother. Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

I have two sis — Italy. One, he died about a year ago, my broth — one die. You know. Since I came here, I never was able to go back there.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

Because my husband, he didn't — no was able to find too [unclear] job. He was working in construction and after he had a heart attack [unclear] 20 years before he die.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

And when he had a heart attack, was damage to the brains. And me, I had a harder time taking care of [unclear]. And often, I was sick myself. I lost 40 pound.

LEVINE:

This was your second husband?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Well, now —

IULA:

He — he died by — going to be in the fall of 16 years.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Well, now, getting back to life in Italy —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— when you were there, did you go to school for, like — you say two or three years?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And what do you remember about school there?

IULA:

Well, in the school and teach [unclear] and teach here all of [unclear]. What did — no, what — teaching it here, teaching it there too, no.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Did you walk to school?

IULA:

We was supposed to walk one hour to go to school.

LEVINE:

And was it a school where everybody was in the same classroom?

IULA:

Y — yeah.

LEVINE:

All the [unclear] were in —

IULA:

Yeah, the — the — no, wasn't too many classroom there, you know. The most was in one classroom. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Was there more than one teacher?

IULA:

Well, it wasn't a few teach, yeah. Some wasn't a teacher. The small — some was a teacher, the little, small, [unclear]. It wasn't a few teach in my town, yeah.

LEVINE:

And — and did the boys and girls go to school together?

IULA:

Only together. Nobody was [unclear]. All of the [unclear] was to go together in the school. Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

And so when you were 10, you stopped school to go to work?

IULA:

Yes.

LEVINE:

And what did you do when you were 10 years old when you started working?

IULA:

Well, was — was my mother that teach me to do, no.

LEVINE:

To — to do the household kinds of things, you mean?

IULA:

Did do the things in the house, had to do the things outside of the house, you know. You're going to learn to do everything Italy, no.

LEVINE:

Tell me some of the things you learned from your mother.

IULA:

I learn a lot of things from my mother. She teach how to clean the house, how to cook, how to crochet, how to knit, how to sew, how to respect the people. All [unclear] Italians love the people. If they — when a person is old, see some of the — some thing can't do the things they supposed to do, you do for her, because sh — you young. She's — when you see how the — [clears throat] — my aunt was the sister to my grand [unclear] when — no remember the grand [unclear], the grandma. Both of my mother — both [unclear], you know, was [unclear] die early. And wasn't — [chuckles] wasn't — we wasn't like here [unclear] Pauline. She was old. She was [unclear] near 100 years old. No, she [unclear] to do something. My mother, she says [unclear] Rose, the name was, "Because someday you get like her and somebody need to help you." My sister and I, we was laughing. I say, "Well, what [unclear]. We're [unclear] be like her." My mother says, "When your time come, you — you'll know." Yeah. Only time the [several words unclear] it is better the people.

LEVINE:

Mmm. And when you were doing things outside the home, outside your house —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— what kinds of things did you do outside?

IULA:

We used to cut the wheat or [several words unclear] —

LEVINE:

The side —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— that you cut —

IULA:

Yeah. Sometime, me, I was do this with [unclear] five, six, ten men. I was to do work similar to the men. Or you wasn't [unclear]. This was [unclear]. It was [unclear]. You [unclear] the [unclear] on the top — on the — on the [unclear]. No — no put them in the ground because [unclear] — you don't [unclear] run [unclear] — run back and forth. You [unclear] behind.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

And [clears throat] — but you — you — you was [unclear] vine of grape. You was — do any kind of the work, take care of the — do the garden, plant the corn and everything, no. Plant the bean, chickpeas. We used to plant every — any kind of those things there.

LEVINE:

Was your garden food for — for your family alone or did you sell some?

IULA:

I was going to market every — every weekend.

LEVINE:

So you had a big garden?

IULA:

Yes, [unclear] — eight [unclear] land all our garden.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

No. It was — work [unclear] hard. My mother-in-law was [several words unclear]. I would do the job, you know. Some time, used — used [unclear] piece a land three time a year. We'd take one things, plant another, take another, and take another, plant another. No. And make a living [unclear].

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

And how about livestock? Did you have — did you have animals too that you took care of?

IULA:

This and the people who call [unclear] on a farm. The farmer call this — he have about a hundred [unclear] of land or 200. He have a cow, a horse and other things. We don't [unclear].

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

You see, the people used to have one sheep or one goats. The donkey that carried the stuff and all in the summertime. We used to cut the [unclear], feed the donkey or the cow, after — supposed to dry a couple of days, three days, depending the what the weather was. After [unclear], you're supposed to do the bundle. [unclear] do the bundle with the string, was — do the rope with the [unclear]. One day, me — bundle of 500 — I make 500 bundle of these things.

LEVINE:

A 10-year-old? You were able to do that, to —

IULA:

I was a little older when I was this.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I was about 15- or 16-year-old.

LEVINE:

Wh — what was it like for you when you started to do such hard work when you were only 10 years old?

IULA:

I was enjoying the — my thing was [unclear]. I was climbing the tree. I don't mind at all [unclear]. A big cherry, any kind of the fruit in it. I was — [unclear] stepladder. I was [unclear]. No, this time of the year you have peaches. You have pear, you know. And with the — on the end of the [unclear] we used to have the cherry. We used to [unclear] the cherry [unclear] fig or any kind of the fruit, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

And me and my [unclear], Mr. [unclear], was climbing the tree, you know, and [unclear] and [several words unclear]. Me, I — I used to climb a tree like a kid.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And it —

LEVINE:

So you had —

IULA:

It was a pick the olive. You have the olive plant, was pick the olive. You was to do any kind of the things outside. But when [several words unclear]. We [unclear] the dishes [unclear]. We sit in the [unclear] and my mother, she used to do something, you know, the yarn to make sweaters, socks and we used to — all those [unclear], or was do [unclear], or was do embroidery or was to do other things. And ever — my mother, she says, "[several words unclear] all the time." We was [unclear]. Here, I'm [several words unclear] the other girl [unclear] singing a song and not a — not happy, you know. You know, when I came here, was a loss of myself.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Did you — do you remember any happy times when you were growing up?

IULA:

Well, I told you, Italy was another thing. It was [unclear], you know. You — you was to go — when it wasn't work and we used to have — we used to work harder. [several words unclear] at all, no.

LEVINE:

Did you — do you remember any religious occasions?

IULA:

Well, we —

LEVINE:

How you celebrated them?

IULA:

Yeah, my mother was say the rosary. We used to say the rosary in the wintertime every night. [clears throat] Was the third of the month [unclear] was finish my [unclear], because the day I get — I was supposed to [unclear] we had a more hard work to do, no. Used to go to church every Sunday. My mother on a Sunday, you know, was a — make any kind of the work. She says [unclear] supposed to go to church after the — we — and do the meal. Is supposed to rest because we used to work hard every day.

LEVINE:

So you never worked on Sunday?

IULA:

No, never on a Sunday or the other kind of holiday.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

No, no.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. What kind of a meal would your mother make for Sunday dinner?

IULA:

Well, on — when we was — [unclear] was [several words unclear] I used to make [unclear]. We — we used to make the [unclear] on a Sunday, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

And — and the other day, we used to cook green beans, the other things, always cook it twice a day, all the fresh vegetable, no — nothing that we was — spray things and all was pick 'em and cook 'em, was put the kettle on the stove, was go pick the food, cook 'em. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Hmm. Wow. And [clears throat] do you remember Christmas?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Wh — how did you celebrate Christmas?

IULA:

Oh, I — Christmas time, we used to make a lot — a lot of things and here I used to make them every year. I don't make anything anymore.

LEVINE:

What did you make?

IULA:

We [clears throat] — we used to make a lot of — a lot of things here. Those are [unclear] too much and [unclear] celebrated they make — make what you call a [several words unclear]. We used to use the fish. We used to cook and make [unclear] with olive oil and [unclear] and little bit of garlic, fry in the olive oil [unclear]. And we used to make too many things, you know, in the — on Christmas Day, we used to make [unclear]. And on Easter a lot of people, about a week ahead of time, used to make a lot of things with the eggs, no. And was making ricotta cheese, was making the other things, any kind of the bread, any kind of the [unclear]. On Easter Sunday, my father cousin — he was a priest. He used to come in the house, was — bless the house. We — my mother used to [unclear] the table with the white cloth and put the food in [unclear] bless on Easter Sunday.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

On Easter — on Easter Sunday and on day before.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

So what would happen on Easter Sunday? You'd get up and go to church first?

IULA:

We, on Easter Sunday, was get up, was go to church. It was a big holiday and we used to have a [unclear] and [unclear] because we used to have a [unclear] a day. And next day was a holiday and we was to go three o'clock on Easter Sunday, was to celebrate the [unclear] bless and sacrament. And the next day was a fair. And was a lot of people coming from other town, no.

LEVINE:

And what would happen at the fair?

IULA:

Well, the fair, the people are coming to sell any kind of a — they — clothes, [unclear], was going to [several words unclear]. And all of this was at the fair. It was a lot of — lot of things [unclear], was a set of shoes or was a lot of things, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Yeah. And this was on a Sunday. On a Monday, was the fair, was [clears throat] — was the firework and — and the daytime, because was a celebrated the — the holiday, the — the Mary [unclear], you know, the mother [unclear] was celebrated. And was the firework, the concert in the day and no time. In the night was the concert again and the firework.

LEVINE:

Hmm. Did you know — did you know the priest of your church?

IULA:

Yeah, one was my father cousin.

LEVINE:

Oh, your father's cousin.

IULA:

Yeah, one.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

The name was Carl. He died, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah. I was the [unclear] because was — was — the town was 4,000. I know all of the people and all. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Do you remember anything that happened around the time of World War II in your town?

IULA:

Well, I don't want — I don't want — [unclear] imagine this but we [unclear] any television while something happened. When went to the Second World War, my two brother was in [unclear] and one, my nephew in the — we no was able to — the people no was able to buy food. If you wasn't growing the wheat was supposed to give to the govern, was to left you so many — so many pounds, so many [unclear]. You know, the other supposed to give the wine, anything you was produce in the garden. And [clears throat] — and the people — some people that no was able to buy the [unclear] or was able to cook anything on top of the fire because [unclear] any oil, no soap and no clothes. We used — you have the shoes make from the [unclear]. When was a worker [unclear] was making a lot of noise and all. I used to have [unclear] the people that don't have any clothes and wasn't able to buy the food, no shoe, no coffee, no thing.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

No — we [several words unclear] things that [several words unclear], never ever candy or sweet [unclear]. But when was the Second World War, [unclear] if you wanted to by some, somebody was sick and was [unclear] to buy. [several words unclear], you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

But I was here, you know.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh. Yeah.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

So did you see any — any action? Did you see any soldiers or — in your town?

IULA:

Well [clears throat] — one of the — I don't remember exactly what they was — two men — the — was in the — drop the bomb. It was — kill a lot of people in — I thought it was gas. All — everybody was go to [several words unclear]. But after found out it wasn't a bomb, it wasn't [unclear], we wasn't able to see close, you know. But after there wasn't taking only the people, my town, only the other people who wasn't living the city, was only — no was nobody on the town anymore. Was no one living in the — friend. We — my — what I was [unclear] myself [unclear]. The men that was running the post office, him, the wife and one of [unclear]. And [unclear] son was — I don't know what it was. I don't know. It was [unclear] about a month. We had another house, was the [unclear] of the family. All the ones in the town — was nobody left. You know. About a month was [unclear] and wasn't too much [unclear]. It was [unclear] go around. And one time was in the — the plane was going to drop a lot of bomb on my — one of my [unclear]. You know. This was like [several words unclear]. It was [unclear] miss. But the [unclear] was [unclear] killing, I think, 45 people, my town. But we no was in — what it was — the city — and what it was [unclear] the land and all. [unclear] the house and it was — the house was [unclear] and one was go to church on Sunday [unclear] the house we used to go in. And it was — the house was — everything was take off. The people — when another town was supposed to give the house because it wasn't here when taking the people [several words unclear] and taking the people [unclear] a place or not, no. The place [unclear] was in the Second World War. But the neighbors — the most [unclear] was in bigger town. And when was a town [unclear], we see German sol — we saw lot of tank all over the place. Nobody was able to get out [unclear] house to go to work because the [clears throat] — if [unclear] see the light. No one was able to have the light at night, because if you used to have the light, wasn't able — [END OF TAPE 1, SIDE A] [BEGIN TAPE 1, SIDE B]

LEVINE:

Then you were saying that you couldn't have a light on at night because —

IULA:

Because it wasn't — the German solg [unclear] see the light [unclear] killing you. One — on a Sunday night, the father or the son was making — [unclear] oven, was baking the bread. It was a raid in the night — was making the bread. They see the light. They kill them both, you know. When it wasn't the plane [unclear] — the [unclear] when was hear the noise of the airplane and wasn't scared. It wasn't [unclear] as screaming and [unclear] the people and all. And after th — this — the German solg — with the — with the machine gun was [unclear], was killing a lot of people of my town. No [unclear] town [unclear], no.

LEVINE:

Were there a lot of German s — soldiers in your town?

IULA:

No, I don't think — they — we wasn't far but the one was — the [unclear] came and the people [unclear] all over the place. We no was close to the Ger — Germany — Germany, no.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

We — I don't know how many mile it was though. But this wasn't the soldier — wasn't a [unclear] — wasn't a good [unclear], no. It was [unclear] all over the place. No. And we [unclear] no — we no was able to take care of the garden and was able to take care of the — the — [unclear] the time when they're supposed to make the wine, because everybody was afraid — no.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

I remember many time I was [unclear] my son was, "Go hide this," or, "Go hide them [unclear]," or, "Go hide it here." You know, "Go hide it there," you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

We have a hard, hard time.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm. Did a lot of the men from your town go — go off? Were they fighting in the Second World War?

IULA:

My town and the other town too was left with just the kids and the lady and if you wanted — needed somebody, some man to do some work, you no was able to hire nobody.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Everybody was go.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

And the — oh, [clears throat] [unclear] my town, about seven, eight mile from — the German solg — was talking to the lady. It was a [unclear] only have the long hair. I used to have it too and all my [unclear] cut it not too long ago in the — after [unclear] was a [unclear] cut of the breast, cut of the throat.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Hmm. Do you remember —

IULA:

Everybody was afraid the [unclear] these things.

LEVINE:

Right.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Do you remember when the war was over?

IULA:

This — when the war was over — this happened [unclear].

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

This was —

LEVINE:

After the war.

IULA:

Yeah, yeah. Af — I told you [unclear] was happen this, you know.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

Yeah. You know, was able to go out to other houses — was afraid, you know.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

Oh.

LEVINE:

Well, [clears throat] why — you said that your husband — your second husband had been in the United States.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And then he came back to find a wife.

IULA:

He was — he was going to First World War. He — he was — go — when was the First War. He was older than I, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah. It was [several words unclear] Italy called Albany — Albany [PH]. Yeah, he was too from this. He was [unclear] I don't know, about a year or two. You know, was able to communicate with the family. I don't know if he was dead or was survive. And after we [unclear] — no, [unclear], he — he came Italy and he was married. He don't — had any kids. He come back here again, you know.

LEVINE:

And then his wife died?

IULA:

And the wife, she wanted to do some [unclear]. She — she fall. She burned her head.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

She was — damage of the brain. She was on — is to do that thing about a few years, you know.

LEVINE:

Hmm. So — so talk about when your — when the man who became your husband came back to Italy. Did you know him before that? Now, how did he come to meet you?

IULA:

Because of my — because of my first husband.

LEVINE:

Oh, he was the cousin of your first husband?

IULA:

This — [unclear] introduce [unclear] was related to my — my first [unclear].

LEVINE:

I'm sorry. Say that again, please.

IULA:

Was the — was related to my — my first [unclear].

LEVINE:

So did he come —

IULA:

Me, I never wanted to marry again. I wanted to stay with my mother-in-law, [unclear] my son. But the seconds was here, was — was bring my mother-in-law here [unclear] and [clears throat] was better future for me and for my son. When I came here, my son was go to school, was graduate, was going in the Navy for four years. And me, I was sicker with the food — was sicker — my family left behind. And I was able to communicate with the people and all.

LEVINE:

Yeah, yeah. Well, that's hard. Well, so how — so did your second husband come looking for you to meet you?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And then you got married there —

IULA:

Yeah, married there and I came this country with him.

LEVINE:

Could you describe your wedding that you had?

IULA:

Well, in Italy the first wed is — is different, the white dress.

LEVINE:

Oh, I see.

IULA:

But the second one, you can dress up — no. No, it wasn't big wedding, just my family. No — is the family, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. And what was your second husband's name?

IULA:

Was Anthony.

LEVINE:

Anthony Iula?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. And what — what about — what was your son's name?

IULA:

My name [unclear] the son of the father Rosar [PH].

LEVINE:

And so you really didn't want to leave — leave your mother-in-law. When you left Italy, you —

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

You were not happy to be leaving.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

No.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

And so had you heard anything about the United States? Do you remember what you expected [unclear] here?

IULA:

No, because I don't know nothing about. My husband, he never told me anything at all. No. And the — this was the second — my — the cousin of my first [unclear]. But you — you know, [unclear] telling me nothing [unclear]. No. When he came Italy before my husband had came. But nobody — when I was [unclear] New York in — we [clears throat] were 10 o'clock in the morning in the — June the 2 nd was [unclear] — was [several words unclear] the J, the place [unclear] I. I stay one long day there, sitting in the sun. It was the way the — this wasn't a [unclear] first, second and third. The ship, you know was — carried a lot of people.

LEVINE:

Were you — how were you traveling? Were you traveling third class?

IULA:

The second.

LEVINE:

The second?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Now, do you — did anything happen on the voyage that you recall?

IULA:

When — three day before was reaching New York, the sea was a storm. And the boat — [unclear] the boat was [several words unclear] and the people, everybody sick. I was — spend two night and one day in a hospital. On the boat, we have — you have everything. And [clears throat] one morning, was going to go to breakfast and the dishes of the table was — rolled all — I don't know. Many piece was [unclear]. Everybody was sick. Everybody was [unclear] — was go [unclear], you know. But three day before we reach New York, you know. After the sea was stop and was all right, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Do you remember when the ship — the — what was it, the Vulcania — do you remember when it came into the New York harbor?

IULA:

Yes, [unclear] before I was [unclear] — you was [unclear] the ship [unclear] supposed to go check up in a office. You're supposed to check up [unclear] my vaccination. Because when I had a — before I was — in the morning [unclear] was talk of the ship to come here, I had another vaccination because I had five time and never was [unclear]. They offered the boat to [several words unclear]. I had a bandage on my arm. And before I was to go down to the ship — supposed to go on a office, a checkup what it was happen, take the bandage off, if he was going to take it or not. And supposed to go [unclear] the name was and was taking time [unclear]. And the — we miss the — the [unclear]. It was the all the day long of one small little loaf of bread before [unclear] the boat was. In the morning we had breakfast. But there [unclear] was little loaf of the bread to each person, no.

LEVINE:

That's all?

IULA:

That's all. In the water was [unclear]. The son was — and my husband was to go around and find the suitcase and was — after it was all of the — nobody was left. And after [several words unclear].

LEVINE:

Did you sleep in a cabin or did you sleep in a big dormitory-like room?

IULA:

No, we had the cabinette. No, the — the bed — bunk bed, one on the bottom and one on the top, yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm. And who did you travel with? Did you —

IULA:

My husband.

LEVINE:

Oh, you and your husband came —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— back at the same time?

IULA:

Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And when — when — did — do you remember seeing the Statue of Liberty when you came?

IULA:

Oh, yeah. It was beautiful. Oh, was beautiful in the morning, June the second. Oh, how beautiful it was! The — had the — [unclear] the sea — what you call them? The birds of the sea, you know. It wasn't [unclear]. It was beautiful. Yeah.

LEVINE:

And then do you remember going to Ellis Island?

IULA:

Yes, with a lot of things. Yeah. No, after the — was laid — was to go [unclear] on the [unclear] the train become Boston.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

And my husband, he told me, was sitting down on the seat. And he told me, "I'll go get the ticket. You sit there; don't move." And after we talked with the [unclear] boss, when was [unclear] the [unclear]. And he bought a [unclear] candy. But, you know, wasn't telling me what it was. And [unclear] was hungry, was [unclear]. And we came home one o'clock in the morning on the side [unclear].

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Did your husband know how to speak English?

IULA:

He — he know how to read and write in [unclear] because he came when was 16 year old. He was — go to school.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

But he never tell me anything.

LEVINE:

Now, your husband was Greek?

IULA:

No, he was —

LEVINE:

No?

IULA:

— from my town.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

Was neighborhood man.

LEVINE:

Oh, okay.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Oh, I thought — I thought you said something about Greece. No?

IULA:

No, I don't say Gree —

LEVINE:

Okay.

IULA:

The [unclear] my husband was like [unclear] Pauline house, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah, yeah. Was brought up [unclear] brothers and sis, you know. But I don't know him.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. So — so just to talk about Ellis Island briefly. They had the letters I and J —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And you had to go where the —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Where they were.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And then you — were you examined there? Did you go through an inspection? Did you have to talk to an inspector?

IULA:

Well, I told you, you're going to check up when you — when you reach New York with the boat, you're going to check up what do you come? What do you go? What do you no go, no. Going to have all of this kind of the — same as when you leave Italy. You going to — will leave whether you go — where — when — came in the — you came in here, want to know what place you go, what place you live or what — asking all of this question.

LEVINE:

Right, yeah.

IULA:

Of course, what are you going to do? Yeah.

LEVINE:

Yeah, okay. So that was an inspector?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And how long did you have to stay at Ellis Island?

IULA:

Well, long — asking you the question that you need [unclear].

LEVINE:

So a few hours?

IULA:

I don't know. I know — I don't know. I don't remember. No.

LEVINE:

Okay.

IULA:

I don't remember.

LEVINE:

And then you took the train to Boston.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

W — and then you arrived in the early morning?

IULA:

We took the train late — the — New York. And New York was [unclear]. Now, Boston was wait in the depot [unclear], you know. And we take the train to come [unclear]. And we came home at one o'clock on a Sunday — Saturday morning.

LEVINE:

Oh. Now, where did you go to when you left the train station?

IULA:

I came home. We take the train, Boston, and I came home, no.

LEVINE:

Well, did your — did your husband have a house or an apartment?

IULA:

The house [unclear] Pauline live.

LEVINE:

Oh. I see. So —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— you — you changed in Boston and you came up here —

IULA:

Yeah, came — yeah, when we was [unclear] and the [unclear] was [unclear] here [unclear] with — was the train before, no. And we take the taxi. My neighbors was [unclear], was in a [unclear]. It was [unclear] because my husband left the key with the neighbors and it wasn't — I had a party when [unclear] one o'clock in the morning, a lot of friend over. It wasn't for me [unclear] but to me, I don't know [unclear] here. No. And my husband, you know, even wasn't telling me [unclear], you know, wasn't make a [unclear] here, other things, you know. One o'clock in the morning. Yeah.

LEVINE:

How did you feel? How did you feel when you got here?

IULA:

I told you. I was [unclear] because I was missing my family. I told you, find the house like I left my home, no.

LEVINE:

Yeah. Now, you had your son with you?

IULA:

My son came six month later.

LEVINE:

Later. He stayed with your mother-in-law?

IULA:

Yeah, uh-hmm.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

IULA:

Uh-hmm, yeah.

LEVINE:

Yeah. So [clears throat] — so now what was your husband doing in Concord for work?

IULA:

He was a [unclear]. He was working with the construction when he was able to find the job, you know. No, wasn't too many job. No.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Because after the — was in the Depression and wasn't too many — one — was the president [unclear] and wasn't too many job. No.

LEVINE:

Well, how about you after you got here? Did you work at all?

IULA:

Well, [clears throat] that's a long story. When I came here, my husband don't want to send me to the school. He don't want to make a [unclear]. He never told me anything. Say, you going to learn yourself. When I came [clears throat] on a Saturday morning we [unclear] go — [unclear] street. You know, he took me to the po — on the police station and some other place and meet the people, you know. And he told the police to [unclear] this girl in a [unclear], give her a ride home because he wasn't here, no. Everybody, you know. And this was on a Saturday. On a Sunday, was to go to see the movie. And me, I was — hated the food. I was so sick. I'm just as [unclear] at the food, was the bread. Everything was making me sick. We used to make [unclear] bread, no. And I — I came down sick with — the doctor wants to give me some medication because I was so terrible. And I was able to — I was able to [unclear] because we never used to [unclear] Italy. And I was able to — the bread — we used to have different food. I was sick. I came — an [unclear] came on a Sunday — on a Saturday morning, one o'clock. You talk to me on a Saturday [unclear] people down [unclear] street, and a man — on the Sunday was to go to the movie. And on Monday, he give me five dollars and [clears throat] he told me to go to the store to buy the grocery. And we [unclear] the bus a couple two, three time with him. He told me, "Want to go to F, want to go to W." And no, he talk me on the store [unclear] the store was go on a Saturday. He was from Sicily but he was born here. He was [several words unclear]. And he says, "You go there and you take whatever you want taken, [unclear] on a [unclear] there." He mark — [unclear] the money if he [unclear] the change back. Me, I don't [chuckles] know the money what — when I was [unclear], I [unclear]. The neighbor thought I was a craze. After two day, I was to go down [unclear] to [unclear] Pauline house [unclear]. And [clears throat] I was to go to the store and I pick whatever the things the [unclear] want. No, I was [several words unclear]. The man, he took my bag and put them back on where it was. He came down with some other things. Me, I — I — like this. [unclear]. I [unclear] say nothing. I left. And I started to walk. Because one man was a little nicer and [unclear] shop. And [several words unclear]. I say, "I'll go see if [unclear] can help me." I walk. I walk. I walk. But me, I never change the street. I reach on the front of church and, you know, the building, the government building before was a post office. I say, "I don't — I don't remember that I saw the church." There was it back again. And I — I saw the [chuckles] — the [unclear] of this man, said — call it the [unclear]. Says, "Lady, are you all right? She's [unclear]." He came in the door. She says, "What are you doing here? [unclear]?" I said, "[several words unclear]." She said, "And what do you do here?" I say, "I came to the grocery shop." [chuckles] Well, I tell her what's on the corner. And I told him what he — he was — speak Italian, was born in my town. I tol — I told him what happened. He came inside the — the store. He told him. He told the wrong lady. She says this was her business, Italy. "Why don't you give her the — whatever she take?" No, he told me she [several words unclear]. He says [unclear] go to the bus. He says, "What bus? What kind of the bus you going to take? Here is a lot of bus." I said, "Is with a F." He says, "[unclear] across the street." I say, "I'll look [unclear] one [unclear] when the red light change the green." He put the hand [unclear] here before you born and never you — you no even living here but [chuckles] [unclear] two day. I [unclear] know all of this things. And the — she says, "If you — you know [unclear] for the — for the bus. You remember the house?" I say, "I hope so." [chuckles] He says, "You want me to come with you?" I say, "No, I'm going to do on my own." I say, "You help me this time. I [unclear] help another time or two." I took the bus and I came home and the people was calling me craze." [chuckles]

LEVINE:

Wow, that was very brave of you to —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— to go out like that. Did you — were there a lot of Italian people in Concord at that time so that you could speak to them?

IULA:

No, wasn't too many.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

But my husband, you know, was — was — communicated with Italian people. Because he had a similarity when he was alone. He don't want to give the — [unclear] the people telling me is a trouble and all.

LEVINE:

What happened where your — when your little boy came, when your son came? How did you meet him?

IULA:

When my son came, he was to go New York [unclear] to go. I [unclear] the [several words unclear]. I talk — I was sick with the food. And I had diarrhea. Everything was here was go through my body. And after I came, then nobody had this trouble. I don't know what. The doctor [unclear] I it is too much upset and —

LEVINE:

Upset about —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— being uprooted and coming here.

IULA:

And I added [unclear] when was [unclear] to me. I was [unclear], no.

LEVINE:

When was that?

IULA:

When I'm taking my [unclear], about three months — no three months, the later one, when my son came six months later. You know. He was going New York, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm. And then how did he get from New York to Concord?

IULA:

The train.

LEVINE:

He came on the train?

IULA:

Yeah, with the —

LEVINE:

And who was he traveling with?

IULA:

My husband.

LEVINE:

Oh, your husband went down to New York —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— and met him and —

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

— brought him?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

Now, how was that? Because your husband really didn't know your little boy.

IULA:

Because he know. He was in Italy a few months —

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

— when he married me, you know.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

He was there a few months.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

So then were you ill for a while after your son got here?

IULA:

Well, when my son came I was more happy but he no used to my husband. He was always getting a fi — used to give five dollars to buy — three people. What are you going to buy with three — five dollars? [unclear] wanted the change back. And I was — no. But after [clears throat] — when I came a citizen, I show my paper —

LEVINE:

Now, be careful; you have the mic on.

IULA:

Oh, I —

LEVINE:

Maybe when we —

IULA:

Pauline, [unclear] on the bed is the picture of the — my paper, please.

LEVINE:

So you — so how did you learn English?

IULA:

I learn on my own.

LEVINE:

On your own.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh, uh-huh. Oh, so this is your certificate of naturalization. Uh-huh. And you got it in —

IULA:

Show the [unclear].

LEVINE:

— 1967.

IULA:

Show the [unclear]. The [unclear] — the [unclear]. No, the other one.

LEVINE:

Here's the — here's the maiden name also.

IULA:

I added this. [laughter]

LEVINE:

Oh, wow.

IULA:

This — this was me.

LEVINE:

Really? What — what is this? Oh, you're not — oh, isn't that — that must have been a proud day for you.

IULA:

Well, one of the neighbors, she — I was — go six week after [unclear] day. She try to teach me a little bit. She was writing me [unclear] all of the question. Supposed to ask the [unclear] when was coming from — and the — he ask me over 200 question. [unclear] was able to [unclear] all as read, write, to spell all the things that this country — when was [unclear] the White House, the [unclear]. Everything that the kids learn when go to school. I learn all this on my own.

LEVINE:

Wonderful.

IULA:

And this — I added this.

LEVINE:

Now, did you — did you have to go to classes before you became a citizen?

IULA:

The [unclear] from Mas — from Massachusetts [unclear] me. Before I [unclear] this —

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

— supposed to go the [unclear]. They ask me the question.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

[unclear] answer the question. I [several words unclear].

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And ask me over 200 questions, you know. And he have three pens, one green, one brown and one black. If you have the question all right, it's green. If — if you slow, it's brown. If [unclear] you don't know nothing.

LEVINE:

[chuckles] I see. I see. Did your husband become a citizen?

IULA:

Oh, yeah. He became a citizen years ago, no, before me. Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. Did you —

IULA:

He have the paper, one like this —

LEVINE:

Uh-huh. But you couldn't become a citizen under his papers?

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

You had to become one yourself.

IULA:

No, no, no.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I came a — [unclear] and this country [unclear] able to come. But no, this — this my — I get this for my own.

LEVINE:

Well, that's wonderful that you were able to do that.

IULA:

And after I [unclear] this, I was go for — find the job. But my husband was sick and don't want to stay alone and suggested I call the welfare in — the [unclear] care of a baby home. I took care of one, two at a time, a baby about five days a week.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And I used to sew. I used to do sweater [unclear]. I do embroidery. I used to do crochet, used to iron the clothes, take care of a baby but don't go no welfare.

LEVINE:

I see. Uh-huh. And you were able to do that at home when your husband was sick?

IULA:

Yes.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I was — do all of this. I work harder, hard but keeping my place clean, take care of my husband who's sick and do the other things, you know.

LEVINE:

Did you have any other children?

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

It was just your son?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Wow, so —

IULA:

I [unclear] the sew machine. I used time all of my clothes. I used to make the clothes with somebody else. I [unclear] go to bed at one o'clock, two o'clock in the morn.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

I was — specialize. We make sweater. I [unclear] the job on the store, make sweater, ha — hand make, you know.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

Yeah. But the store was to take 30 percent.

LEVINE:

So h — how long did you do all these things [unclear] —

IULA:

Well, no quit but — but [unclear] my eye. [unclear] was to do these things. But my eyes, got — can't see.

LEVINE:

What happened to your eyes?

IULA:

I had the macular degenerating. I can't see.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

I can't see you. I see shadow but I don't see you.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

No. I can't read, write. I can't sew. I can't knit. I can't do nothing.

LEVINE:

And when did that happen?

IULA:

Well, I — the doctor told me a while ago that I had this thing, but a little bit at a time. It all [unclear], you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

You know, yeah. But na — you name it; I used to do any kind of the work outside and inside. Everything you — you name it. I used to do any kind — this thing. I don't know how many kind of the thing [unclear] do.

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

So —

LEVINE:

Did you have any good friends that you found here in Concord?

IULA:

Oh, I had them. All [unclear] was my friend. Now, I have one friend. She's [unclear] going to be home the next birthday. She said all of the time, "You never have a friend like me." All of the neighborhood all was my friend. All gone.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Because is a — is a 48 years.

LEVINE:

Forty years.

IULA:

Forty-eight [unclear] here.

LEVINE:

Forty-eight. Right, right.

IULA:

[unclear]

LEVINE:

And when did your husband die?

IULA:

He going to be 16 years November the 14. He was 20 years sick and no — he — he going to be 16 years he die.

LEVINE:

I see.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I live in Pauline house [unclear] years [unclear] after moving here. You know, this belong my son.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

[unclear].

LEVINE:

Wow. Well, is there — how do you feel about — [clears throat] — how do you feel about being Italian and being American? Which — how do you think about that?

IULA:

Well, It — Italy, the people are more close. Here, different thing. [unclear] the people [unclear] together [unclear] together. Only the people once in a — all — many time, I hear [unclear] television [unclear] Italy singing a song and [unclear]. Here, everybody stay close here — [END OF TAPE 1, SIDE B] [BEGIN TAPE 2, SIDE A]

LEVINE:

Okay, we're beginning here tape two and I'm speaking with Mary Iula. And you were saying how people thought that for you to go and get your citizenship papers —

IULA:

The people [several words unclear] when I came from Italy I had — I don't — was able to communicate that was an old [unclear]. I used to call him [unclear] in — because I don't know what — I don't know was he [several words unclear]. No. A little bit at a time. I used to take the bus, was 70 cents to take it. You was [unclear] about five day. I used to — took the bus and I used to go down Main Street. And I used to look at the people, whether [several words unclear] see the things and [unclear] I was coming home. I don't have the money, buy anything. I just — I was go [unclear].

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

You know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

It was [unclear].

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

Was learn the street after there was [unclear]. After there was a [several words unclear] down Main Street.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

You know. I want to go all over the place. I never was lost.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And the friend say, "How do you know [several words unclear]. I don't know [several words unclear]." I said — I say, "If you see something, you remember where got to go, what got to do. You don't get lost." [unclear] I go to [unclear] house and to remember what it was. I can now go next time. And this was me.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

You know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

It — all [clears throat] — all [unclear] be careful. [chuckles] One time when a friend — bless the soul; he die — he once told me go there. And I go to the grocery to shop. He was an old man, an old. And it was for me, Italy, the [unclear] I used to write the letter. When I came here, a lot of people Italian. [unclear] the family there was able to come together because [unclear] was able to read or write. When I came — and I don't know how many letters to write to the people, oh, wasn't all — all used to like me, you know. And they used to take me to the shop sometime. And one — one time, they show me — go to — I was waiting for them. And the police was [unclear] on a truck. He came, "What are you — what are you [unclear]?" Used to — we used to say, "Calm down. Calm down." [chuckles] I say, [unclear] "I like to ask you some question for me." [laughs] And when I ask you some question when she came here was [unclear] and all. All of my [unclear].

LEVINE:

Wow.

IULA:

[sentence unclear].

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

No. No. If you see some — [unclear] a lot of things, I'll do — I'll do — say all right. But I can't help myself. No.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I — and when you go to school, no. You learn a lot. But when you learn is, oh, [unclear] the six week [unclear] of there was to go — [unclear] was teaching me.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And I was learning so quick.

LEVINE:

Do you regret not going to school?

IULA:

My husband, he don't want to send me. No. He don't want to make it [unclear] read and write, learn [unclear] write and all.

LEVINE:

Could he read and write?

IULA:

Oh, yeah. He once go to school here. No.

LEVINE:

Oh, he went to school?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

But he don't want to — me [unclear].

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

No, no.

LEVINE:

No.

IULA:

No. I was [unclear] me. But then go out. I working hard. I never ask nobody for charity. I never was to go no welfare. I took care of a baby. This was my [clears throat] — I was enjoy every second. I used to hug him and kiss him.

LEVINE:

Your baby?

IULA:

Keep — the baby [unclear] took care.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm. Oh, the baby. Uh-huh.

IULA:

[unclear] took care of about five days — about a week old, two weeks old. This was [unclear], you know and took care of the baby. I used to enjoy, you know.

LEVINE:

Do you still see that person? The baby, grown up?

IULA:

Well, this all moving out of town. This was little while ago. One boy, he came and visit me, no.

LEVINE:

Oh, that's nice.

IULA:

Yeah, but the other, all moving out of the place, you know. And the people moving — the — all of the [unclear] was single [unclear] and don't care too much for the baby. I used to do a lot of work with the kid, you know. I used to give the bath. I used to make the food some of the time when I [several words unclear] food. I used to make the food with the baby, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

[sentence unclear]. I used to do a lot of things.

LEVINE:

Do you think the fact that you came to this country when you were in your 30s — do you think that made a big difference in how you felt or who you were? Do you think it made a big difference in the kind of person you've been after that?

IULA:

Well, wh — when — when you come in this country [clears throat], you're going to change everything. You — you going to speak a different — you're going to [unclear] of things [unclear] people to do here. And you're going — you're going to [unclear] like when you baby.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

You [unclear] again at a — begin, you know. I going to do the things, you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Was harder for me but no take away after the — no.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm, uh-hmm.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

What do you think your life would have been like if you didn't come here?

IULA:

Well, if my sister — she told me all the time, "If you was Italy, was a millionaire today." Because a lot of things have changed. We used to have the business with the wine, olive oil in the garden. A lot of things are changing. It was better future for me [unclear] was here.

LEVINE:

Really?

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

But I'll — this is my — the — when I was take the oath, I told it, "This is my country." And [clears throat] it says, "You [unclear] your country in" — no, this I say, "This is — this is my country." It was the pledge [unclear] and he ask me to read my [unclear]. He ask me to spell them. And he ask me too many — I told you about over a hundred question in all.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm, uh-hmm.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

What does it mean to you to — to be an American?

IULA:

Well, I'm an — I'll be here this so many years. I'm — I'm glad [unclear]. I'm [unclear] my family here. I'm alone. I miss my family. But nothing I can do.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Not your son? Do you see your son?

IULA:

Oh, yeah. He live here. Yeah, yeah.

LEVINE:

And do you have grandchildren?

IULA:

My grand — my granddaughter came in this year with three daughter, my great granddaughter. You know.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

Sunday I'm going to go there, I think at one o'clock, going to celebrate my birthday. My granddaughter — go to vacation and all. And see, my [unclear]. Another one, my great granddaughter.

LEVINE:

I see. What is your life like for you now?

IULA:

Well, [chuckles] the things — the [unclear]. I have too much stress for my eyes.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

This bother me.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

Me, I miss the things I used to do. I used to read and write. When I used to write the friend, nobody told me what is supposed to tell [unclear], what — supposed to do this. And me, all used to come to my mind when I used to write my family too.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

And I can do near — when now, ahead of time, I used to make a pattern, make clothes or make a sweater, make other things. I can't do it. I miss this — the things I miss the most.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

I miss — my eye [unclear] can't see. This bother me a lot.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Is there anything else you can think of that has to do with coming to this country and what it's been like for you that maybe we didn't talk about before?

IULA:

W — well, [clears throat] I told you, I — I left my family and the — this — the — the [unclear] my son is [unclear] was find a better future here. But my husband was sick, no. And my son was — graduate five years. Wants to go five years on the school. He graduate [unclear], you know.

LEVINE:

Oh.

IULA:

And after, wants to go in the Navy. No. He wants to work 37 years with the state and never change the job. He retire now. Oh.

LEVINE:

Hmm.

IULA:

Oh.

LEVINE:

Wow. Okay. Well, I want to thank you very much.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

You have a very interesting story and you were very brave to do some of the things that you had to do in your life.

IULA:

Well, I'm — I'm a very happy because the people that say, "Go on welfare." Me, I have two arm and two feet and my eyes. I can do anything and I was working hard, didn't — no go — I never was going on welfare.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

When my husband had the heart attack, it wasn't a type of disability $85 a week.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

I mean a month.

LEVINE:

Eighty-five —

IULA:

What — what do you buy $85, month. Me, I was working hard, making dollar. I want to go [unclear] find another job. But he don't want to stay alone.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

I work about a couple of month and I was — quit the job, take care of them, try and do something else. I [unclear] to go to store to make [unclear]. All I had to make [unclear] wasn't no. And wasn't make some six sweater, all different things and I [unclear]. And I supposed [unclear] the — the [several words unclear] supposed to judge my work, no.

LEVINE:

Oh, uh-huh.

IULA:

And [unclear] was congratulation [unclear] and nobody was to do the work who wasn't [unclear] myself.

LEVINE:

Huh.

IULA:

But it wasn't taking the 30 cent off every [unclear]. Supposed to buy the yarn, [unclear] and no. I was working hard. I'm glad what I was, do my life.

LEVINE:

Uh-hmm.

IULA:

Since I was 10 year old, all, I used to work hard. No.

LEVINE:

Yeah.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

You have worked hard. Yeah.

IULA:

I was — used to working hard. I had a lot of trouble [unclear] go. [unclear], you know.

LEVINE:

Uh-huh.

IULA:

No.

LEVINE:

Okay. Well, I want to thank you very much.

IULA:

Oh.

LEVINE:

And I'm going to be sending you the copy of the tape. And I've been speaking with Mary Iula, who came from Italy in 1950 at the age of 36 on the Vulcania.

IULA:

Uh-hmm.

LEVINE:

And is 84 at the time of this interview on August 7 th , 1998.

IULA:

Yeah.

LEVINE:

And this is Janet Levine for the National Park Service and I'm signing off. [END OF INTERVIEW]