The true Carlo Gambino

[AlexfromSouth]

Columbia, Van Brunt, President, N 2nd, Hicks, Union, Sackett, Degraw, Columbia Heights up to Water and Main St's. It's kinda forgotten now but Sicilians had a thriving colony there as early as the 1850's. It evidently was large enough by 1860 for Valerio Lanzirotti and Charles La Fata, staunch Lincoln supporters, to form the Italian Garibaldi Republican Wide-Awake Club. Compagnans began arriving in the 1870's and used Mulberry Bend as a landing point, in time many left for Jersey, others went to Italian Brooklyn and shared the area with the larger Sicilian population. None of these streets or neighborhoods were 100% homogeneous.

Very nice info, very good it tells alot. As you say non of them were homogenous. One more question please, the area close to "south slope" around 3rd ave and 9th st, 4th ave and 12th st for example, the are benith the canal was it italian also? Was it sicilan or neapolitan, or? Were there any indications? It maybe a stupid wuestion and I appologize, but I haven't found it anywhere online so im asking you. Thanks.

[Angelo Santino]

I believe that area was mixed with various Itals. Depending on the era going that south west from Red Hook you would be venturing into Russian/Polish Jewish and Irish dominated neighborhoods but it wasn't a black and white thing and all these groups shared the area. Even deep Italian Elizabeth in Manhattan or Sacket St Brooklyn still had some Irish sprinkled in here and there. Elizabeth St in 1890 was an Irish neighborhood, by 1893 there were only a few families remaining but they were there.

[AlexfromSouth]

I believe that area was mixed with various Itals. Depending on the era going that south west from Red Hook you would be venturing into Russian/Polish Jewish and Irish dominated neighborhoods but it wasn't a black and white thing and all these groups shared the area. Even deep Italian Elizabeth in Manhattan or Sacket St Brooklyn still had some Irish sprinkled in here and there. Elizabeth St in 1890 was an Irish neighborhood, by 1893 there were only a few families remaining but they were there.

Thank you Christie very much, we could open a topic about the history of the Italian neigbourhoods in NY. That would be very cool. Do you recomend any online read about this kind of thing? Thank you.

[Angelo Santino]

I believe that area was mixed with various Itals. Depending on the era going that south west from Red Hook you would be venturing into Russian/Polish Jewish and Irish dominated neighborhoods but it wasn't a black and white thing and all these groups shared the area. Even deep Italian Elizabeth in Manhattan or Sacket St Brooklyn still had some Irish sprinkled in here and there. Elizabeth St in 1890 was an Irish neighborhood, by 1893 there were only a few families remaining but they were there.

Thank you Christie very much, we could open a topic about the history of the Italian neigbourhoods in NY. That would be very cool. Do you recomend any online read about this kind of thing? Thank you.

Sadly no, Brooklyn was only incorporated into NYC in 1898, and given that Manhattan is the most widely recognized borough of NY, history wasn't as scrutinized until that point. Brooklyn's pre-1890 Italian history is often overlooked.

[AlexfromSouth]

I believe that area was mixed with various Itals. Depending on the era going that south west from Red Hook you would be venturing into Russian/Polish Jewish and Irish dominated neighborhoods but it wasn't a black and white thing and all these groups shared the area. Even deep Italian Elizabeth in Manhattan or Sacket St Brooklyn still had some Irish sprinkled in here and there. Elizabeth St in 1890 was an Irish neighborhood, by 1893 there were only a few families remaining but they were there.

Thank you Christie very much, we could open a topic about the history of the Italian neigbourhoods in NY. That would be very cool. Do you recomend any online read about this kind of thing? Thank you.

Sadly no, Brooklyn was only incorporated into NYC in 1898, and given that Manhattan is the most widely recognized borough of NY, history wasn't as scrutinized until that point. Brooklyn's pre-1890 Italian history is often overlooked.

Just to ask, are you in the know and Interested about the South Brooklyn/The docks Italian american gangs?

[Angelo Santino]

I believe that area was mixed with various Itals. Depending on the era going that south west from Red Hook you would be venturing into Russian/Polish Jewish and Irish dominated neighborhoods but it wasn't a black and white thing and all these groups shared the area. Even deep Italian Elizabeth in Manhattan or Sacket St Brooklyn still had some Irish sprinkled in here and there. Elizabeth St in 1890 was an Irish neighborhood, by 1893 there were only a few families remaining but they were there.

Thank you Christie very much, we could open a topic about the history of the Italian neigbourhoods in NY. That would be very cool. Do you recomend any online read about this kind of thing? Thank you.

Sadly no, Brooklyn was only incorporated into NYC in 1898, and given that Manhattan is the most widely recognized borough of NY, history wasn't as scrutinized until that point. Brooklyn's pre-1890 Italian history is often overlooked.

Just to ask, are you in the know and Interested about the South Brooklyn/The docks Italian american gangs?

"In the know" as in personally connected- not in the least. My Brooklyn bonafides, if we can even call it that lasted three months and was limited to Bensonhurst. I do consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about the area but for every one thing I know there's certainly 100 things that I don't. I reckon Antiliar probably knows more than all of us and his take would be interesting. Currently he is working on a project that relates to this exact topic, although perhaps more Manhattan centered as it revolves around the 5 Points Gang.

[AlexfromSouth]

Oh okay Ill make a tread of it and we will maybe intrest Antiliar to join in. Thank you very much