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    Attilio and Stella Gatto:  Oral History Transcript Summary

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Raffaele Albi

Mr. and Mrs.
Enrico Butti

Mr. & Mrs.
Domenico Chiarello
(Nella Anselmo)

Gus & Assunta Dotto
(Emilia Raffin)

 Attilio & Stella Gatto

Gus Lavorato

Giovanni Paron

Louie Protti

Mr. & Mrs. Sartor

Sam Scrivano

Silvio Tona

Paolo Veltri

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A summary of the oral history transcript of Attilio and Stella Gatto in which they describe growing up in Italy, marriage, and the emigration experience.

Attilio:

  • Attilio was born in Grimaldi, Cosenza on December 10, 1911, the youngest of four brothers and three sisters. His father was a contractor for roadways while his mother attended to the household. Their comfortable residence was in town and that is where his mother passed away.
     
  • Having finished elementary school, he enrolled in evening classes to become a carpenter and at the same time he worked in the local carpentry shop, where he learned the job from some of the best carpenters of the area. The pay was non-existent, but at Christmas time he would generally get something.
     
  • Attilio goes to Cosenza where he perfects his trade, and signs up for military service. He takes this opportunity to go and visit his brother's tailor shop in Milan. The war starts in Ethiopia and they go back to Grimaldi together. During this period he is accepted as a Fireman and still continues to be a carpenter to help during the bombarding and fires.

Stella:

  • Stella was born in Grimaldi, Cosenza on September 10, 1921. She is the youngest of one brother and three sisters.
     
  • Her father immigrated to Canada and was working as a blacksmith with his brother in law.
     
  • Stella's mother died young at 39 and Stella's oldest sister and uncles look after them in the house at Piazza Umberto I.
     
  • Her father comes back from Canada and re-marries. But he dies at the young age of 54. Stella's brother comes back from Canada and takes the young brothers from the step-mother.
     
  • After she completes elementary school Stella spends her time with the local nuns, where she take classes in sewing and embroidery.

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