Many of my Sicilian ancestors took a leap of faith and decided to immigrate to the United States. A large number of my Clesi and Barone family left behind their Contessa homes, friends, and family to set new roots in Ybor City and New Orleans. My great-great-grandparents Natale & Caterina Clesi, their four children: Antonino, Maria, Lorenza & Pietro, along with Rosaria Barone (Caterina's sister) left together in early November, making their way from Contessa to the Port of Naples, which in itself was quite a journey. They had to cover approximately 260 miles just to reach Naples and that was about 45 miles on either foot or horse drawn cart, then about another 214 miles by boat. Already by this point the family had probably seen more in the last day or two of travel than their entire lives in Contessa. Once they arrived to the Port of Naples, they had to purchase fare tickets, which cost an average of about $30.00 at the time, then wait for their ship the SS Olympia to board them. Once aboard the Olympia my family, like most of the others, were sterrage passengers which meant they spent most of their 2 week trip in the bottom of the ship. My family was also traveling with an infant. Pietro was about 6 months old at the time. These transatlantic trips were tough enough already but I can't imagine how extremely difficult traveling with an infant must have been stuck in the bottom of a crowded ship for 2 weeks.
After finally arriving to the Port of NY all of the steerage passengers (the poorest of passengers) were ferried to Ellis Island. My great-great-grandparents & family finally stepped foot on American soil, November 18, 1895. Everyone was then shuffled through the immigration building where the screening process took place before being admitted to the United States of America. My family and their only possessions, 5 pieces of luggage were now on their way to new Orleans. Their time in New Orleans lasted only a couple of years and again they relocated but this time it would be permanent and to Ybor City, Fl.
After finally arriving to the Port of NY all of the steerage passengers (the poorest of passengers) were ferried to Ellis Island. My great-great-grandparents & family finally stepped foot on American soil, November 18, 1895. Everyone was then shuffled through the immigration building where the screening process took place before being admitted to the United States of America. My family and their only possessions, 5 pieces of luggage were now on their way to new Orleans. Their time in New Orleans lasted only a couple of years and again they relocated but this time it would be permanent and to Ybor City, Fl.
Port of Palermo during late 1800's
Port of Naples during late 1800's
SS. Olympia the ship my family & 462 others were aboard arrived Nov 18, 1895, Ellis Island
Immigrants waiting to exit the ship at Ellis Island
During 1910, my great-great-grandmother Caterina Clesi & daughter Concetta "Concha" made a return trip to Contessa for a visit. They departed the Port of Palermo on Nov 9, 1910 for their return trip home. They were passenegers on the SS. Alice along with 705 others. They arrived at the Port of NY on Nov 23, 1910 with $100. and the manifest noted they were returning home to Tampa, Fl.
SS. Alice
