Louis (Luigi) Biamonte Mike Biollo Father Giovanni Bonelli Camillo Bridarolli Mr. & Mrs. Henry Butti John Camarta Domenico Chiarello Joe Fabbri Mario Grassi Victor Losa Filomena Michetti Mrs. Mamie Meardi Tony Nimis Giorgio W. & Norma Pocaterra Mr. & Mrs. John Segatti Romano Tedesco & Mrs. Irma Giacobbo Angelo Toppano

Mario Grassi was born in a little town close to Rome in the Abruzzi area-Antrodocco. He left Naples in 1910 at the age of 12 and, with his father, took a boat to New York. Another immigrant leaving the region at the same time was Filippo (Phillip) Poscente. After 15 days on the boat, they rode a train for 5 days that transported them to Calgary, Alberta. Upon arriving he went to work on the railroad and then attended school for two years. Due to lack of funds he went back to work, this time at the Palliser Hotel as a busboy. After two years at the Palliser, he went to work as a shipper for the next ten years. Mario then returned to the Palliser Hotel where he worked at a number of different jobs until his retirement. He returned to Italy with his family in 1960 for a visit.

The interview was conducted by Giancarlo Grelli for the Dante Alighieri Oral History Project in 1973.

This oral history project was initiated by Sabatino Roncucci, a founder of the Dante Alighieri Society, for the purpose of documenting immigration history so that it could be shared not only with the Italian community but also the community at large.

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