When people think of Racine history and groups of people who came over from the “old country”, they usually think of Danes, Germans, Poles, etc. However, during the first half of the 20th century, there was a thriving community of Sicilians who lived and worked in Racine …
A grandson of a former Racine resident wrote: “…My grandfather and his brothers and sisters emigrated from Sicily to Racine in 1904-1913. My father and all of his family and cousins were born in Racine, WI. In 1947 my grandfather moved his family out to CA, where I was born. The closest I’ve been to Racine is O’Hare airport in Chicago. My dad lived on LaFayette Ave. (today’s N. Memorial Drive).” (carecupero@hotmail.com)
My Father, John Mallo Manalli, was born December 18, 1899 in Santa Cristina, Sicily now combined with Piana Di Greci and known as Piana di Albanesi because most of the inhabitants are of Albanian descent many of whom still speak Albanian which was my Father’s first language. He only began to learn Italian when he started school. His Mother was also born in Santa Cristina, but his Father, Giacchino, was born in Piana di Greci. In 1902 John emigrated to America and joined his Father and older Brother Henry who had emigrated two years earlier in New Orleans. They later moved to Rockford, Illinois where he grew up and where the rest of the Family joined them. When he was 21 he moved to Racine with his younger Brother Sam wherein 1926 he met and married my Mother, Stella James whose Mother immigrated from Denmark and whose Father, of Welsh descent was born in Michigan. I was born in Racine on June 29th, 1931.
Gil Manalli
435 Old Colony Road
Anderson, SC
manallig@bellsouth.net