Clifton Italians
From an article by Jim Reis, published in his book Pieces
of the Past, Volume 3, pages 45-46 and reprinted here with his permission.
They were proud of their heritage and faith. Each year they paraded through the streets carrying a religious statue on their shoulders, displaying to all the flavor of their home country.
That may sound like the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Cincinnati, but the event actually involved the Italians in Clifton. Clifton is south Newport, the hilltop south of the railroad tracks and across from the Newport Shopping Center.
Over the years the area has been known as "Spaghetti Hill" a name linked to the Italians who settled there in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is that heritage that Newport celebrated with its "Festa Italiana". Italians were part of the migration from Europe in the 1840s as revolutions rocked Europe. Charles Graziani, who was born in 1806 at Oneglia near Genoa on the Legurian Sea, the son of the Count of Oneglia, settled in the Cold Spring area. His son, Benjamin Graziani became an influential attorney and a state representative.
A Kentucky Post article on October 11, 1892 said 200 Italians were being brought to build the streetcar from Madison Pike to Milldale. The Italians were to arrive that day, and local leaders were upset that immigrants were being used. But most of the talk that day about Italians was centered on the Columbus Day celebration. As part of the celebration, facsimiles of Columbus' Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina were displayed at the Newport landing. Twenty men dressed as Indians met the ships with Antonio Cordano playing the Indian Chief. An Italian choir sang for the crowd.
The heyday of the Italian community came in the late 1920s and early 1930s, when an Italian celebration was held in August. The three day event centered on Catholic services commemorating the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Newspaper Article August 19, 1932
The celebration included plenty of activities, including music, games and food, all with a distinctive Italian flavor. The first such celebration was held Aug 14 and 15, 1926. Eugene Giancola served as chairman of the event, which opened with fireworks at 7pm Friday and a parade on Saturday. The center of the parade was a statue of Mary carried on the shoulder of marchers and it was considered a great honor to carry the statue. Alphonso Ranieri, Anthony Mosillo, Anthony Calla and Alma Schott submitted the bids. Mrs. Schott won and gave Anthony DiGiancomo the honor of carrying her corner.
Church services and a luncheon were held on Sunday, entertainment lasted until supper, then resumed at 6:30 pm ending with fireworks. In 1927 the event expanded. Services were in Italian by Rev Joseph Bernattos. By 1929 the festival had grown so much that the Dock Cab Co. was hired to ferry people to the church grounds. A Kentucky Post account on Aug 10, 1931 carried four front page parade picture of the "Italian Fiesta in Clifton". Boxing exhibitions were added in 1932. The three day celebration ended in 1933.