In the early 2000s, the Italians of Montclair Oral and Photographic History Project provided digitization for photographs, documents, and personal artifacts of Italians and Italian Americans in Montclair, with the mission to uncover, record, and preserve the precious traces of the Italian American community in Montclair from the late 19th century through the early 21st century. This collection was generously provided for digitization by the Giannetti family.
According to Arnold Giannetti’s handwritten description, written sometime in the mid-1970s, the above photo shows Michael Gianneti’s tailoring establishment at 381 Bloomfield Avenue, circa 1918. To the left side of the Model T Ford, left to right are Louis Cardell, Arnold S. Giannetti, Mr. Michael Giannetti, Dr. Ernest Geannette, William Giannetti, and Joseph Cardell. To the right of the Model T Ford stands Ms. Emma Giannetti in the doorway. Dimly seen in the large [downstairs] window is Mrs. Edith G. Aiello, and in the window on the second floor is Mrs. Michael (Josephine) Giannetti.
Mr. Michael Giannetti operated a successful tailoring establishment and served many notable citizens of Montclair, who dropped off their clothing on the way to the train at the Lackawanna Station. One of his customers was Louis F. Rodel, first mayor of Montclair under the Commission form of government. Mr. Giannetti retired around 1930 and was the owner of the building, built around 1908. He lived to the ripe old age of 90 and passed away in 1960.
The young boy in the white shirt sucking his finger is Bernard Cohen, one of the 3 sons of Mr. Cohen who operated a hardware store on Bloomfield Ave. opposite the Wellmont Theatre.
Mr. Giannetti arrived in Montclair at the turn of the century together with two of his brothers, James Giannetti, and Antonio Giannetti, whose shoemaking shop is shown on the right. It was replaced by a red brick building around 1926.
Note: According to the Ellis Island website a Michele Giannetta arrived on May 19, 1897 from Naples on the ship “Werra.” His age was listed as 27, which fits with the year my grandfather was born, 1870. He and my grandmother, Josephine Sabarese Giannetti were born in Lacedonia, in the province of Avellino. My father went back to Italy after a few years (possibly 1902) and brought back his wife, their daughter Amelia, and his mother-in-law, Luisa Balestrieri.
These notes were edited by Andrea Giannetti Whitton in 2005.
To view other collections digitized through the project, visit the Family Collection tag.