Who were the Mondello's of Casteltermini then ?
The birth, marriage and death certificates from the research in Salt Lake City determined the following about the Mondello's of Casteltermini in the 1800's:
We had the title of "Maestro" which was an esteemed position and second only to "Don", a land owner. Our relatives could read and write which only 20% of the population could. We had the trade of "wall maker" but with the title of Maestro, it was probably a construction company. Guiseppe must have come to America with some sort of money. He was not forced to settle in New York as many were due to lack of money for extended travel. He had the money to travel a thousand miles to Tampa. Obviously, our family was prosperous and successful.
Why did Guiseppe leave ?
In Casteltermini I was given a pamphlet by my relatives entitled "Sei Mesi Sotto I Fasci", translated - "Six months under the workers Union". Casteltermini and a lot of Sicily thrived because of the sulfur mines. Guiseppe was working in the mine as a wall maker and witnessed the harsh conditions for the miners. He and other men legally formed a union, Guiseppe was the controller. This was obviously a thorn in the side of the company. To make a long story short, the company had outsiders incite the union members to protest and strike and blamed the union leaders for organizing and initiating this strike, which obviously they had not. They were quickly arrested, tried and sentenced to jail time. Guiseppe received about two and a half years in prison and a years probation. After his release it would have been difficult for Guiseppe to find work, also the family was threatened due to his potential to organize the workers again. Guiseppe and the family left their home for the new world forbidden to ever return. However, his actions had been noble and he was highly thought of by the community. The relatives in Casteltermini said they never heard from Guiseppe and Cruz and they wondered what had happened. With our return they now knew.
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This is a picture of Guiseppe and Cruz with their grand daughter
Generosa Alverez. I think it was taken about the mid 1930's (?) I still do not know
why they chose to settle in Tampa.
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