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Feast of Saint Gerard, perhaps the
most beloved patron Saint of Italian Americans, is a
tradition still carried out to this day in Newark's
"old First Ward." This photograph taken in
1935, is among hundreds depicted in the documentary
film entitled "Newark's Little Italy: The Vanished
First Ward." |
Narrated by Emmy Award-winning anchor Steve Adubato, this
half-hour television documentary traces the history and
people of Newark's old First Ward.
The story of the First Ward is not just one for Italians
from a particular neighborhood of Newark, but rather a saga
that any American with an ethnic background could appreciate.
It's a story of mostly poor people coming from Europe to
America hoping to find a better life, who pulled together
what little they had and supported each other through tough
times, including the Great Depression. It's the story of
how people with little material wealth could live such rich
lives.
"Newark's Little Italy" focuses on the importance
of the Catholic Church in the life of a neighborhood. In
the First Ward, that church was Saint Lucy's. The documentary
looks at the long, torturous decline of the old First Ward
which many say was brought on by the construction of the
Columbus Homes, a high-rise housing project erected as part
of the federal government's "urban renewal" effort
of the 1950's. The Columbus Homes were built in the heart
of Newark's "Little Italy." It examines the reaction
of Italian-Americans to this ill-conceived housing project,"
said Adubato. Many of those interviewed said the federal
government destroyed the First Ward by building a high-rise
complex that immigrants refused to live in. After it was
built, the exodus from the First Ward began, until only
a handful of Italians remained. The old neighborhood would
never be the same.
Other subjects explored in the documentary include the First
Ward's legendary restaurants, social clubs, bakeries, and
"prominent figures" - from organized crime figure,
Richie "The Boot" Boiardo, to US Congressman Peter
W. Rodino, who lead the impeachment proceedings against
former president Richard Nixon. It explores unusual events
that occurred during the "heyday" of Newark's
Little Italy including the "canary funeral of 1920,"
when a neighborhood cobbler held a lavish funeral for his
pet canary. He hired a band, a hearse and pallbearers. Over
10,000 people lined the streets to watch the procession.
A significant portion of the documentary features interviews
with former First Warders and reveals historic photos of
the old neighborhood, including pictures from the annual
"Feast of St. Gerard," which still takes place
every October through the sponsorship of Saint Lucy's Church.
Organizations who helped make the documentary possible
include The Nicholas Martini Foundation, which provided
the initial seed grant to get the project off the ground,
The Italian Tribune News, Saint Lucy's Church and The North
Ward Center.
"Newark's Little Italy: The Vanished First Ward,"
is a special presentation of Caucus: New Jersey and has
been produced in association with The Newark Public Library.
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