The first Italian name to appear in Kingston was Rafael Cantor, in 1899. Rafael opened a fruit and candy store on the corner of Evergreen and Summer Streets.
After that, in 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Merlino became the first Italian Protestant minister and wife to live in Kingston. They also conducted the first "Americanization Classes" at Cordage Kindergarten. The Merlinos, when asked, would say they came to America because it gave them room to work, freedom to find their way of life, a chance to educate their kids, and to own land and homes. In Italy, land was only owned by nobility. They were quoted as saying, "In America, one had everything. In Italy, the poor had so little." Cordage Company and the Puritan Mills were the first jobs for Italians in the area. The Italians brought with them their knowlege and love of fine music, and the operas were known to most of them. Many a baby was rocked to sleep by and opera aria sung by their mother. Today, there are two major Italian restaurants in town, Mama Mia's and Carmella's, locally owned by the same family, and sponsor many local youth sports teams. They also welcome any opportunity to support the town community, opening their doors to any community issues that need support or fundraisers seeking help. |