Rare Photos of the “Festa di Madonna di Monte Carmela” of East Harlem-July 16, 1942.
Posted: May 27, 2020 Filed under: Angela's picture galleries, Churches of East Harlem, East Harlem, Italian Americans, Italian East Harlem, New York City, NEW YORK ITALIANS, Vintage Photography | Tags: 1942, AIEH, sepia, vintage, vintage photographs, Vintage Photography, vintage photos 13 CommentsPhotos courtesy of Michael G. (I took the liberty to edit them a bit, just to give them some more definition.) The photographer that took these wonderful photos was Michael’s great uncle, Antonio Scelza, of 424 East 117th Street, in East Harlem. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing photos, Michael! Enjoy them!
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail!
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail!
Antonio Scelza, photographer.
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail!
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail!
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail!
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Procession. East 115th Street. July 16, 1942. Notice the OLMC church, in the background, on the left. Also, the newly-erected Benjamin Franklin High School is in the center background .
Note: After you click on the above image, look in the lower right hand corner, to click on the words “view full size.” Then, you can click again to zoom in to see more detail! You can click on each individual photo to view it in full format.
Italian Harlem 
I marched in the feast with my mother and aunts when I was a child and continued on into adulthood. The last time I marched was around 1988/89 It was very special to me and to my family. We came from 107th st. between 2nd & 3rd and my other grandmother lived on 106th st between 2nd. & 3rd.
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Joe,
My paternal grandparents had a latticinni at 311 E 107 and I lived at 161 E 106. My mother’s maiden name was Catania and my surname is Carroccio. My mother’s father had a macaroni store on 2nd Ave. and 106th.
We may have lived near each other.
Paul Carroccio
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I was born in 1944 and lived at 219 East 106 St. Between 2nd and 3rd avenues,,,Went to St. Cecilia’s grammar school across the street and then moved to 107th between 3rd and Lex later on. I too remember those times fondly…marching in the feast of St. Anthony parade, shopping the pizza and pork stores on 2nd Avenue between 105 & 106 streets and riding the long gone 3rd Avenue Elevated trains with my Grandpa stopping to buy the “Il Progresso” newspaper (for him) along with freshly ground coffees at the shop near the station. Rich experiences passed on to my children and grandchildren only by word of mouth and from memory.
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Growing up in east Harlem as a kid the Feast was a big thing every year from on 116 to 114 Pleasant Ave, Upon 116 to first Avenue on 115 or 114 the same. Great times great memories.
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I lived at 422 East 117th st from 1938 the year I was born till 1955 when I moved to the Bronx. I lived directly across from the apartment building that housed Saint Medici. My recollection is that the feast on 117th st was called St Cosmo and Damiano. I recall the owner of the building that housed the Statue of the Saint was a widow and her two sons; the younger was called Cosmo and I believe the older was called Dominick. I can still vividly see tall and skinny Dominick? walking nervously around the neighborhood with his hand in his pocket jingling coins which he collected daily from the men and women of the neighborhood – he was the local bookie. The irony of this always puts a smile on my face.
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Hi Olga,
Thanks so much for your comment! I love to hear old stories and recollections from the old neighborhood! If you have any vintage photos that you wish to share, email them to me. italianharlem@gmail.com
Thanks,
Angela
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My Grandfather, Arnold Maggi, made these Statues. He was a Sculptor and so was my father, We lived at 310 Pleasant Ave. in a 3 story Brownstone. The lower level was their shop later converted to living quarters.They made, repaired and repainted many of the Statues for Churches in Manhattan and the Bronx.
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Hi Arnold,
Wow! That’s awesome! Do you know where these statues are? Are they being housed in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church? Also, do you have any photos you can email me, of your father at work, or just vintage East Harlem photos, in general? That would be amazing!
Thanks,
Angela
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My grandparents came from Calabria and moved to East Harlem. They owned a bakery which I believe was called Grimaldi’s. I don’t know the location and tried to find it but came up with nothing. Do you have resources that can provide me with this?
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Also I do have pictures I can send you (not of the bakery, but others). Do I just post them here?
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Hi JoAnn,
Send them to my email address. italianharlem@gmail.com
I would be happy to post them to my site. Are they scanned photos? I don’t post “a photo of a photo” lol, because the resolution is not optimal. I prefer to post high definition photos. If you don’t have a scanner, you can mail them to me. Email me when you get a chance.
Thanks,
Angela
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Hi JoAnn,
I know a family by the name Grimaldi. They live in the Bronx. I know that they moved to the Bronx from East Harlem. I don’t know anything about your family’s bakery, but perhaps one of my readers will recognize the name. We’ll see how it pans out!
Angela
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Angela, I am very happy that I sent you the photos I am sure my Uncle Antonio (Tony) Scelza also is happy maybe others will do the same and you more photos to post, I was lucky to have saved them from the trash.
Just wanted to say Thank You for posting them I am sure they invoked many good memories for people that follow this site. Michael G.
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