Argenide Monacelli Orsini

Giuseppe Orsini

My father Giuseppe Orsini was born in Gubbio, Italy in the province of Perugia, on the 11th of June 1910. He was never sure of the birth month as birthdays were not celebrated as we do today, there wasn't the money or thought of celebrating birthdays in those days.

He had a tough life when he was young and only went to the 3rd grade of school in the S. Martino in Colle area where he lived and at thirteen, he basically worked on the various farms in the area. He was well liked and was almost adopted by one of the families in San Martino in Colle.

As he grew the times were tough and work was scarce and then he went to work abroad in France, Luxembourg and Germany. During the 1930's up to and including 1945, he was working abroad. He was working in Germany pre war in the mines and then after was relocated in a labour camp in Germany. This time was one he referenced as the War of 1942, and one he almost starved to death during his interment at the labour camp (he hid under his bed a bag of acorns which were normally fed to pigs to fatten them, lucky he never had to eat the acorns).

My father was a great story teller and as a child, I would listen to his stories and just imagine these mystical places he would recant his adventures throughout these early years. There was never any animosity towards Germans. He said that they were "fair" that if you earned a dollar, then you would be sure to get it, but with Italians, one would not be guaranteed of this.

When he returned to Italy he experienced a place with little to welcome someone who had been away from his beloved city and vineyard in San Martino di Colle. There was an enormous amount of despair, high unemployment and no jobs.

My father wanted to get married as he was approaching 40 and asked a well known matchmaker in San Martino and she suggested my mother, Argenide Monacelli.

He took the opportunity to marry my lovely mother, Argenide Monacelli who was one of the neighbouring girls who was still single at 29. My father was 40. He proposed to her and wed on November 20th and then left for Canada on the 29th of November 1950.

Their honeymoon was brief as my dad needed to leave for Rome. He departed Rome for a new adventure. He left for his trip on November 29, 1950. He was accompanied by nine other men from Gubbio, they were:

Columbo Fronduti (my godfather)

Giuseppe Piccotti (my uncle, dad's cousin)

Sergio Belardi

Santino Morelli

Francesco Marchigianni

Alfo Ceccarelli

Enzo Foffi

Elio Spgarelli

Angelo Rosetti

They all were bound for Canada, not via ship but on a plane. Can you imagine? These were planes probably used during the war and he said that he had to wear cotton in his ears because the noise was so great and they had put planks on the floor of the aircraft.

The trip by plane involved 21 hours from Rome to Gander, Labrador. 3 hours to Paris from Rome, 3 hours to Shannon (Ireland) from Paris and then 11 hours to Montreal from Shannon. Then they went from Montreal to Timmins on a train.

The trip to Canada required ten men to work in the mines. Two did not make it in the mines: Santino Morelli and Alfio Ceccarelli.

On November 30 they left for Timmins and arrived on November 31 at South of Porcupine (this is close to Timmins). The trip had taken them 24 hours to complete.

They worked for a gold mine and the work was OK. The pay was .93 cents an hour. After six months it increased to $1.00 an hour. It was good pay and the conditions were good.

The accommodations and food were supplied by the Mine. The food was Canadian food and they were very hungry and ate everything. There was lots of food. They had turkey and also Ostrich legs (eggs).

Life in Timmins was simple; there was no TV or radio. At Christmas there was a program from a Polish man and then they heard greetings from New York, from an Italian radio announcer, called Ruggero Orlando from New York. They sang songs and they were "molto Allegria" (much happiness) and they were young.

My father left Timmins in 1951 for Toronto with my godfather, Columbo Fronduti. My father already suffered by asthma and could not work in the mines. He later developed emphysema in his 70's.

Giuseppe Picotti left Timmins in 1961. That means that he worked in the gold mines for 21 years.

My father's first job was with Pre-Con Murray and he was responsible for cement finishing. Dad was a stone mason, but he could do anything. He was adept at doing basic plumbing, carpentry, etc. The other men from Gubbio also worked for Pre-Con Murray and Associates. Sergio, Dante, Dario, Ottavio and Mario worked for Pre-Con.

In 1966 Piccotti saw my father, Giuseppe Orsini on Queen St. as Piccotti was waiting for the streetcar. Work was scarce and Piccotti was doing Terrazzo work, meaning working on the roads. Dad asked "Parente dove vai?" Piccotti answered that he was going to work on the roads, and my father said "Santolo mio, cambia lavoro", meaning change your job, as this is the worst job for you.

In 1967 my father was at the Workman Compensation Board and met Piccotti there. Dad had broken his leg and was recovering. "Che fai que?" "What are you doing here?" then on Sunday Piccotti came for lunch.

In 1967 my family moved from downtown (39 Humbert St. to Livingstone Ave.).

My father worked hard and retired at 65 from Pre-Con Murray and was always fit and kept active well into his 70's. He then developed a form of dementia and passed away in May of 1988, and he missed my mother as she had passed on in Januray 1987.

Argenide Monacelli Orsini

My mother was born in San Martino in Colle, on April 14, 1921. She was the third daughter born to Piero and Filomena Monacelli. She grew up in this large family with two sisters and two brothers. Things were fine until the War broke out and then my mother recalls that life was hard and she no longer could go dancing to the local fetes. My uncle Abramo played the violin and she would get to tag along and get a chance to dance with the young men.

And fast forward the years to 1950, she had known my father all her life and had some reservations because the family had colourful characters, starting with my grandmother Clorinda who was a bit of a gossip person. She would stop and chat to all the local people as they would make their way down the mountain to go to Gubbio. My grandfather, Ubaldo did not have the best character, and he was a tough character.

She, at 29, decided to wed my father and hoped for the best. They were married in November 5, 1950. Then a short time later, my dad left for Canada. My mother then joined him in 1953 and she made the voyage via ship and her travelling companion was a woman from Gubbio by the name of Virginia Bellucci.

My mother and Virginia had 3rd class passage to Halifax, and they sailed from Naples. I remember my mother telling me of really amazing stories. Having been brought up with high standards for cleanliness and order, her introduction to life outside of Gubbio was rather shocking for her.

My mother set sail from Naples on the Saturnia in Jan/Feb, 1953. She was located in 3rd class berth in the Saturnia and really hated being in the mix with all the other Italian immigrants who mixed their goodies (cake - pan di Spagna) with their combs. She was moved to a first class berth on the Saturnia, as she experienced intense sea sickness during the voyage.

She arrived in Halifax on Feb. 21, 1953 in the middle of winter and in the dead of night. I recall her telling me that it was cold and it was dark. I believe that she was put on a train (her and her travelling companion) and arrived in Toronto, where my dad met her.

My mother worked in some sweat shops on Spadina, and in pop factory where the acid worked havoc on her hands. Once she became pregnant, and I was born in May 22, 1954 she no longer worked.

My parents lived on 534 Adelaide St. W. near Bathurst St. until I was about 3 or 4 years. The house is no longer standing, there was a fire when I was about 2 1/2 years old, and I do remember it.

My brother was born on June 22nd, 1955.

We then moved after the fire to 39 Humbert St. in the area of Ossington and Queen. The house still stands today.

My parents are both deceased now and I have great respect for the values of hard working and sacrifices which they made willingly. They make me proud of when I go to Gubbio or in Toronto, when paesani speak fondly of the great beauty and love for her family which my mother possessed. The remarkable soul of my father was admirable as he had the courage to work abroad in France, Luxembourg and Germany, especially during the war.

This legacy of courage and sacrifices I leave for my son and the next generations.

THE END

Vanda Orsini (daughter)