Good Morning Gloucester

By Jude Seminara

Recently, Anthony Martignetti — “Anthony!” from the Prince Macaroni commercials — passed away. Martignetti was a local celebrity, court officer, and Italian immigrant. 
The following is the story of another Italian immigrant, my great grandfather Giuseppe Seminara, one of the founders of the Prince Macaroni Mfg. Co.  Prince Macaroni got its start less than half a mile from the North End tenement on Powers Ct. where Anthony burst panting through the door for supper in the advertisement. Antonino Seminara, Giuseppe’s father, ran a bakery at 92 Prince St.

The Seminara family arrived in the United States aboard the SS Trave in 1901 and settled in the North End, Boston’s Italian neighborhood. Following Antonino’s death in 1911, Giuseppe Seminara (who earned his citizenship in 1905), his brother-in-law Gaetano LaMarca, and LaMarca’s cousin Michele Cantella began Prince Macaroni with some baking equipment, a horse and cart, and $150. Their macaroni was sold from the storefront at 92 Prince St. to the Italians in the neighborhood. By 1917, these three “off-the-boat” immigrants had so much success that they purchased a lot on Commercial St. to erect an eight story plant in order to keep up with the growing demand for semolina pasta. 
During this time, anti-Italian sentiment ran high in the United States. Known as “guineas,” “wops,” and “dagos,” Italians were regularly discriminated against. In fact, the largest mass lynching in American history occurred when eleven Italians were murdered in New Orleans in 1891. Louisiana would see two more mass lynchings of Italians in the 1890s. Anti-Italian prejudice was not limited to the South either. The KKK held a mass protest in Vineland, NJ in the 1930s, and even closer to home, in Boston, Italian immigrants were suspected of causing the Molasses Disaster of 1919; and Sacco and Vanzetti were subject to an unfair trial which resulted in their execution in 1927 for a crime they did not commit. Prejudice certainly touched Giuseppe as well  In 1919, he, LaMarca, Cantella, four other Italians, and one German and one Jewish applicant were all denied gun permits. Almost forty permits were issued, all to applicants with Irish and English surnames. 
Despite the obstacles presented by bigotry, the Seminara, Cantella, and LaMarca held their course towards the American Dream. Twice, tragedy struck the Seminara family (Giuseppe and his wife Elvira lost their second son Salvatore to jaundice one day after he was born; and Elvira herself died after a long illness in 1923 when she was only 28 years old), yet Giuseppe persevered. 
Prince Macaroni continued to grow through the Roaring Twenties and survived the Great Depression. In 1939, the business moved to Lowell. In 1941, despite having done $600,000 in business, LaMarca, Cantella, and Seminara were seeking new management, which came in the form of Italian immigrant New Yorker Joseph Pellegrino, who purchased a controlling share in the corporation. By 1955, Prince was turning out a million pounds of pasta per week and doing ten million dollars in business. Prince Macaroni was a household name. 
Giuseppe Seminara died in 1961 at age 76, nine years before Anthony Martignetti burst through the door for supper at Powers Court, He was survived by his wife Rosalia, his oldest son by Elvira (my paternal grandfather) Antonino, and a son Joseph and daughter Elvira, as well as several grandchildren of which my dad was one. 
Part of Giuseppe’s legacy is that anyone, despite their circumstances or the obstacles they face, can achieve the American dream with perseverance and hard work. 

Are the whitewalkers coming to Gloucester? Is John Snow roaming East Gloucester? It’s Friday, where are all the beach goers?

This Saturday September 12, 2020 from 11-1 we will be having a drive by feast to honor the Mother of Grace.  Our lady will be moved to the front of the building for people to drive by to honor our Patron Saint, Maddonna Delle Grazie for her 76th feast.  At this time members will be able to pay their dues and donations will also be accepted.  Dues must be paid by check for our records.  In order to continue future feasts and to keep our traditions alive these donations and dues are vital for our organization.  Covid-19 protocols must be followed, masks must be worn, social distancing must take place, and no entry into the building .

If there are any concerns please feel free to private message  me on face book at Gus L Macintosh      

Viva Maddonna Delle Grazie

September 11 2001. Where were you when you heard the news?

Paul Korn AKA Grasshopper (the crazy guy that does Kung Fu At Good harbor)

The Cape Ann Artisans are pleased to announce that the well-loved 37^th Annual Fall Open Studios will be held this October on two days, Saturday and Sunday, October 10^th and 11^th from 10AM-5PM.  The summer Mini-Tours were well-received and as such, the group will consist of eleven of the artists who are able to accommodate visitors within the parameters of Covid-19.  

The participating artists include artists from many genres that will appeal to art lovers and adventurers who look forward to weaving their way around the coast.  In the category of Ceramic Arts, the Fall group includes David Archibald, Cynthia Curtis, and Erin O’Sullivan & Scott Place (Twin Lights Studios).  With 43 years under his belt, David continues to explore combinations of two to four glazes yielding unusual forms of reds, celadons, and blues.  Cynthia’s popular ocean-inspired creations include coral vases, undersea lamps, berry bowls, lobster and starfish ornaments, scallop and clamshell dishes, mugs, and wedding platters, some with melted beach glass.  Erin and Scott look to the ocean’s creatures for their inspiration and serve up pottery and sculpture with a contemporary flair.

Visual artists include Jillian Demeri, watercolorist, and Sinikka Nogelo who creates in several media – as a painter and sculptor. Both Jill and Sinikka are located at Cripple Cove Studios in East Gloucester.  Rockport-based painter Deb Schradieck works in watercolors and oils.   Linda Hogan and Sara Wright represent the fiber arts.  Linda has created under the name Blueberry Cove Quilts for forty years but is new to the Artisans group.  Sara Wright will display her handwoven and original handknit accessories for wardrobe and home, created using contemporary application of color and texture with traditional textile techniques and novelty yarns.  Mosaic and nature lovers will enjoy exploring Pam Stratton’s beautiful garden, Koi ponds, and Mosaic studio.  Pam uses stone, glass, and other materials to create wall pieces, jewelry and sculpture.  

Jewelry artists include Marcie Rae and Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco of Cape Ann Designs.  Marcie’s jewelry and small wall pieces of glass enamel and fine silver use ancient and contemporary techniques and tools to transform metal into evocative forms and images.  Using historic sea glass and pottery shards, Jacqueline creates distinctive, functional wearable art that celebrates the natural characteristics of the materials and reflects the natural beauty of the region,

Visitors can easily group the tour into geographic proximity by visiting the Gloucester artists and Rockport artists in sequence by neighborhood using the tour map which can be downloaded at CapeAnnArtisans.com.    Appointments are strongly encouraged and will be given first priority.   The full list of Artisans and their contact information is found below.  Weather permitting, artists will take advantage of their outdoor spaces to offer a waiting area and additional viewing of the work.

Visitors will be expected  to be Covid-Compliant, wear facial coverings, practice social distancing, and use hand sanitizer which will be available at each studio.