Avery Street to Campbell Park

Email from Barbara D’Agostino to Patrick in June 2014:

Hi Pat!  I read your birthday card to Al this morning and encouraged him to tell me what he remembers of your Dad.  I thought you would be interested in this if you haven’t heard these stories before!
     Your Dad, Angelo, was called “Angeluccio” when he was young.  I don’t think that I spelled it right but it means “little Angelo”.  Your Great-grandfather Pasquale died when he was only 50 leaving Great-grandma
Angelina with 8 children.  Your Aunt Mary and Uncle Sam moved back to Avery Street to help with the finances and your Dad, Angelo, at 18 quit school so that he could contribute to the household.  Uncle Sam got him a job on the railroad working as a laborer in the section gang.  It was hard work!  His social life was
being with his close friend and cousin, Tony Grande and hanging out on Jay Street with the gang there.
    He joined the Army (probably was drafted) during WWII and was in the Military Police Escort Guard that accompanied POW’s from Germany and Italy to POW Camps.  He was stationed in California at a desert
Army Camp.  When he was discharged he returned to work on the railroad and continued to live at home and help.
     When Uncle Louie and Aunt Antoinette got jobs and could contribute to the household, the family began the search for a wife for Angelo, but Al is sure that he found Aunt Sue on his own!
     Your Dad was always ready to give a hand where he was needed – pouring cement for a sidewalk, working on a roof – he never said “no”!  Al says that he was a great help to Uncle Sam with the work that had to be done on Aunt Mary”s “fixer-uppers”!
     Your Dad was loved by all of the grandchildren who hung around Avery Street, and Al remembers that he would always slip him a quarter or 50 cents.  When Al was a teen he would hang out at the local bars with his friends and because they looked so much like each other, people would think that it was your Dad they saw at the bars.  (From what I heard, Al was a “challenge” to raise!!!!!!)  So, Pat – hope this will fill in any blanks that you might have. 
     Much love and God bless you.  Barbara