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letter to Giulia Oct. 30, 2002         

Read Italian Immigrant, Giulia Ferrante Zando's story  - life in War, WV - coal mining camp

"The Best of the Best" - Life in War was wonderful

  
  Compelling oral history from an amazing woman

Giulia Ferrante Zando arrives in America in 1913 at the age of  9 - 10 accompanied by Vincent, brother,13 and Aminta, sister, 11
Spends 10 days on Ellis Island
The rich New Yorkers came to the Island and tossed  coins over to the immigrant children
Traveling from rich, fertile lands of vineyards and orchards near Naples, Italy to War, West Virginia coal mining camp was quite a shock.

Giulia had never seen snow before nor the art of mining and processing coal in the coke ovens

Giulia tells me,  "It was like going from Paradise to the Inferno"

Giulia tells me, "It was like traveling from Heaven to Hell"
Giulia had not seen her father since she was 18 mos.

 click here to read more --it is pretty great   page 2 or back to top