The First in "The Soo"
This photo is circa the late 1940's. The man on the bottom right, my Uncle Saverio "Sam" Perri, was the first Perri to move to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada in 1917. He actually came through Ellis Island in 1914 and we think he went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to work and live with some our cousins. Somehow he made his way to Sault Ste. Marie and started a restaurant called the Plaza Cafe on Gore St.
Gore St. in "The Soo" back then was basically a small commercial district in the shadow of the steel mill that serviced immigrants that worked at the mill.
On the left, beside him is my Great Aunt Rosina - Za-Rosina to us kids growing up and next to her on the bottom to the far right is my grandfather Carmine Perri.
In the back row left to right is my cousin Angelo Perri, Zia Rosina's son. Now, Za-Rosina married a Perri...but not our Perri. Perri is like Smith in Decollatura, Calabria Italy, to a certain degree. As a kid this always messed me up, but I think I have the story straight now.
Beside Angelo is my cousin Carmine Perri...yes...Carmine Perri is a wonderful name and many of us Decollaturesi have that name! He was visiting from Danbury, Connecticut, when this picture was taken.
Top right is Joe Perri...Za-Rosina's second son. And yes...my father was Joe Perri as well. Joe, just like Carmine, is a very popular name in that small mountain town in the very, very south of Italy.
These people came, worked hard but still lived life with style (look at those suits) and had a joy for family and food.
At Bella Rossa Cucina we hope our products live up to the tradition, sense of family and Calabrian pride that the people in this picture brought with them from the old country.