Sons of Italy Lodge No. 941
Included here are articles and pieces concerning the history of the Glassport Sons of Italy Lodge No. 941, taken from various sources.
Information Taken From Daily News on 50th Anniversary of Feast of Assumption Celebrations
McKeesport Daily News August 8, 2006
SOI to mark golden anniversary of feast
By JENNIFER NORELLI-BURKE Daily News Staff Writer jnburke@dailynewsemail.com
The Feast of the Assumption is an important event in the Catholic religion and the Italian community. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary and commemorated by two events, the departure of Mary from her life on Earth and the assumption of her body into heaven.
The event is celebrated annually on Aug. 15. Locally the event is celebrated with a weekend feast at the Sons of Italy Lodge 941 in Glassport.
This year is no exception. The lodge will be observing its 50th year anniversary of the celebration Saturday and Sunday with bands, homemade Italian foods, games, a parade and Zambelli International fireworks display.
Funds are donated each year by local businesses, patrons and lodge members to help defer the cost of the fireworks display and festival expenses.
The festival began five decades ago when “Little Italy” thrived in the 700 to 900 blocks of Monongahela Avenue. But as Glassport’s fortunes declined, the increasing number of deaths and the younger generation’s lack of involvement caused a decrease in membership and feast participation.
Four of the auxiliary’s original members — Virginia D’Angelo, 86, Elizabeth
Angelo, 87, Rose Gladkowski, 85, and Hilda Przywarty, 86, — gather a few
times a year and reminisce about “the good old days.” “We did all the cooking,”
explained D’Angelo. “We worked for free and never got paid. Once in awhile,
when we made enough to cover costs, 
we
each got paid $3. Most of the money went back to the club.” Przywarty continued
by saying, “We used to have everyone eating at one time and we did the
dishes.” “We worked our butts off and I would not have changed a thing.
You could have given me a million dollars and I would not have taken a
thing,” D’Angelo said. “We did it all by hand, too! Today no one wants
to work. It was a lot of hard work.”
All four women agree all the hard work was worth it. “We have so many good memories. Good clean fun,” D’Angelo said. “We had lots of laughs,” Przywarty chimed in.
A couple of the lodge’s traditions included the crowning of the queen and parading around town. Once the queen was crowned, a procession would go to St. Cecelia Church for Mass and continue through the town, making stops along the way to eat and drink wine with fellow lodge members and friends.
“My favorite memory of the feast is everyone stopping at the house and being in the front yard just having a good time,” Louis D’Angelo, past lodge president, recalled. The first queen was crowned in 1956. A selection of a queen and her court of four recent communicants to rule over the celebration was one of the weekend highlights.
The last queen to be crowned was in 1972. Since then the parade has been downsized to a couple of blocks and no stops. “After the fireworks, people used to march back down to the club and stay all night,” Przywarty explained. “Now everyone just goes home.” “All of Glassport would be out. The place was jammed,” she continued.
Serving on this year’s festival committee are Tony Campano and Tina Farine, chairpersons; Lou D’Angelo, Joe Borrelli, Tommy Reynolds, Duane Molinari, Nick Borrelli, Chris Machi and Gary Farine.
Entertainment will feature Bo Reynolds performing a Frank Sinatra show beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday, Egidio Faiella will provide dinner music beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Red Coat Band from New Castle at 7:30.
The annual feast is an opportunity to celebrate community and religious spirit. People from all over come to the annual festival hoping to see familiar faces and reminisce about past festivals.
Even though the feast is not celebrated like it used to be, the newer generations still are coming back for that piece of nostalgia.
History of Sons of Italy lodge includes many families
The history of the lodge is truly a story of the times.
Italian immigrants coming to this country at the early part of the century found a need for communal living and self-preservation. This need expanded into the realm of insurance and fringe benefits, which in turn led to the formation of the Sons of Italy Order in the United States.
Local chapters began when colonies of Italians became aware of the organization. In 1918, Italians in Glassport became aware of the organization and began laying the groundwork for the charter. The first meeting of the group took place at 742 Monongahela Ave.
Elected as the first president was Nicola Borrelli and the first set of officers included Luigi D’Angelo, financial secretary; Guiseppe Schillance, recording secretary; and Filippo Fasano, treasurer.
Each member of the group was to contribute $5 to cover the initial cost of the charter. At that time, $5 was a considerable amount.
With the establishment of a membership and elected officers for government, the application was submitted to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for admittance into the Order of the Sons of Italy in America. The charter was granted June 8, 1919, under the official name of Loggia Libera Italia No. 941.
Elected at the first chartered meeting of the lodge were Borelli, venerable; Guiseppi DiTommasso, assistant venerable; Firorindo DiLullo, ex-venerable; Pasquale DiCioia, orator; Pasquale Tiberi, recording secretary; D’Angelo, financial secretary; and Giovanni Orlando, treasurer.
Trustees were Francesco Salvi, Antonio DiDesaro, Antonio Moranelli, Antonio Fanti and Fedele D’Antonio. Luigi Como and Antonio Campano were in charge of ceremonia and Raffaele Rossi was voted sentinel.
The lodge originally began with 43 members and grew to more than 100 in the next few years. One of the lodge’s greatest achievements was the Columbus Day Celebration in 1928. A standout feature of the parade was a replica of Columbus’ flagship, the Santa Maria. It gave the illusion of the boat floating up Monongahela Avenue.
The cultural side of the lodge was not overlooked. The lodge sponsored the Glassport Community Band, under the direction of Edward George, and also conducted a short-lived Italian language school for two years. The idea for the school was the brainchild of Frank Molinari and Paul Trunzo taught classes. Insufficient interest caused the school to close.
Molinari also motioned to celebrate the Feast of Assumption. Anthony D’Angelo was in charge of the event, assisted by Vincenzio Spagnola, Tom Reynolds, Joe Borelli, Tony DeVito, Anthony DeSimone, Al Ferrara and other members.
Another community service project was a “Welcome Home” party sponsored by the lodge for the servicemen returning home from World War II.
In 1940, a building fund committee was composed to raise money for a new building at its present location at Allegheny Avenue and Sixth Street. Serving on the committee were Molinari, Dom Borelli and Arch Buano. The group moved to its new building in September 1951. At that time, an auxiliary was formed and played a key role in the success of the lodge. The women were involved in raising funds by sponsoring dinners, preparing the food and catering weddings and community events. Through their dedication and hard work, the complete kitchen and dining rooms were furnished.
Their financial help also was instrumental in eliminating the mortgage debt. Honored for the efforts were Carmella Reynolds, president; Elizabeth Truby, vice president; Mary Martino, treasurer; Esther DeJulius; Jane Dragoski, recording secretary; Jean D’Angelo, financial secretary; and Elizabeth Angelo, Rose D’Angelo and Flo Bonadio, trustees.
The next step taken by the lodge when business was good and the mortgage debt gone was to grant free dues to all members over the age of 65 with 25 years of membership. Free dues were granted from 1953 to 1969. Because of poor business, endowed members were asked to pay half of their dues ($1) per month until the financial situation was cleared. I
n the mid 1960s, the financial structure of the organization was beginning to collapse. Business still was declining and the auxiliary was unable to pay the $35 per month to help defer costs. Sick benefits continued to be a problem and drained a non-existent treasury. The monthly minimum charge by the Grand Lodge Mortuary was $1.65 and the member’s dues were $1.50. Money was borrowed to pay the sick and the Grand Lodge, causing corrective action to be taken.
Troubleshooters were sent in 1966 and as a result, Joseph Borrelli volunteered to run the organization. His officers were hand-picked and they assumed the responsibility of the heavy bank debt, unpaid property taxes and several months of unpaid bills. Because of the state of the organization, sick benefits were eliminated, dues were raised to $2 per month and free dues were partially eliminated. Within the next two years, all debt was eliminated.
The lodge was in need of renovation to compete for entertainment dollars. A program was initiated in 1968 to completely revamp the clubroom. Borrelli was responsible for the financing, planning and supervising of the entire remodeling process.
To this day, the lodge remains active whether it is gathering to reminisce about the good old days or to celebrate a feast.
Lodge History
Taken from the Program of a
Banquet Honoring Past Venerables
June 14, 1964
The Glassport Sons of Italy Lodge No. 941 was granted its charter June, 1919; thus the dream of a handful of foreign-born Italians was realized. They had been successful in bringing together in one organization a small segment of the Italian population of Glassport. They had the high hope of bringing the membership of the Lodge from the pitiful small number of forty-three charter members to a high percentage of the eligible Italians; and now, forty-five years later, boast a membership of over three hundred members.
Each of these original charter members was obligated to donate $5.00 for the formation of the Lodge. At that time the sum of $5.00, for some nearly a week's wage, was enough to discourage many of the would-be donors. Their first meeting was held at 742 Monongahela Avenue, in August, 1918; at which time the first election of officers was held. These officers served until the charter was granted in June the following year when the first meeting of the official organization was held.
Many excellent administration of officers served the Lodge faithfully during the past forty-five years. Space is too limited in this program to acknowledge each and every officer, but the Lodge wishes to express its sincere words of gratitude to all officers and members who served so faithfully.
A Ladies Auxiliary was formed by the women of the organization during the year 1949. They have been very successful in raising funds for the erection of the new building, for furnishing the building with many of its present niceties, operation of the kitchen, and financial support of the Lodge.
It became apparent twenty-four years ago that the Lodge and Club were growing too large for any available quarters in Glassport. A Building Committee was formed in 1940 to start plans for raising money and to purchase property. Three lots were obtained on the corner of Sixth Street and Allegheny Avenue. The Committee raised money by raffles, picnics and other means which included the sale of 3% Five-year bonds; and each year the fund grew larger and larger. Membership of the Committee changed with the passing years, and the Lodge owes these men and all those who served so ably its undying gratitude for a job well done.
Consturction was begun in August, 1950; because of many serious shortages of building materials which necessitated many delays, the building was completed in September, 1951, The doors were opened for business for the first time on Labor Day, September 6, 1951. Since that time, the building and all the equipment and furnishings have been paid in full by the untiring efforts of the Lodges working members.
It would be humanly impossible to thank each and every member who helped the Glassport Sons of Italy Lodge No. 941 reach its present peak. Our present building shall ever be a monument to those who gave so much to achieve our high position in the Borough's civic life.
The Glassport Sons of Italy Lodge No. 941 will not cease striving for a greater Lodge and a continued high ranking among the civic organizations of Glassport and Western Pennsylvania..
Charter Members
Enrico Alvino, Andres Bazellone, Nicola Borrelli, Antonio Bottigliere, Antonio Campano, Pasquale Campone, Carmine Como, Giuseppe Cipallone, Falco Como, Pasquale Como, Luigi D'Angelo, Fedele D'Antonio, Angelo D'Appolito, Angela Di Carlo, Cesaro DiCecco, Antonio Di Cesaro, Filippo Di Felicebus, Fiorindo Di Lullo, Antonio Di Martino, Luigi Di Martino, Antonio Fanti, Filippo Fasano, Angelo Ferrante, Michele Ferrara, Serafino Giamberardino, Pasquale Di Gioia, Pasquale Yocco, Antonio Moranelli, Giovanni Orlando, Alfonso Peluso, Carmine Peluso, Giuseppe Razzetti, Raffaele Rossi, Antonio Salvatore, Francesco Salvi, Giuseppe Schillaci, Piccolo Sebastiano, Pasquale Tiberi, Domenico Ticchiarelli, Frank Truby.
Past Venerables
Extract of Lodge History taken from the Program of the
Mortgage Burning Banquet
Sunday, October 26, 1958
Milestones of Sons of Italy Progress:
The charter was granted to the Glassport Lodge on June 8, 1919, and during the first meeting of the new official group the following officers were elected:
More coming in this history...
Page last updated August 12, 2006