Scalenghe Family History

This information was put together by Jim Balma on Nov 4, 2002
(with some help from Steven Scalenghe)
- THANKS to Jim for this!

Scalenghe Family History

This information supplements the detailed history ''The Immigration Record of the "Bazusca Founders" which Peter Balma had assembled.
The four "Moirano" girls were born in Albiono di Ivera, Italy - Savina (Marietta), Clementina (Mentina), Emesta (Nota) and Tereza (Gina).
Early on while the young girls were still in Italy, they would walk: to France each week and work as seamstresses. They would be boarded for the week and walk back home for the weekend.

When Emesta first came to US, she lived at 429 W. 46th Street. After a while, Nona's youngest sister, "Gina" came to the U.S. (she had been married in Italy prior to coming here ~ the husband's name was Quinto Zucchino). Gina was pregnant while coming over on the boat - she had a miscarriage on the boat. When she arrived - she had to spend time ''recuperating'' on Ellis Island (the officials wanted to see that she was healthy enough to enter the country). Quinto had to find his way alone to 46th St. Francesco was the one who was went to accompany Gina off of Ellis Island back to Manhattan.
Francesco had given Quinto ajob at the bakery as an apprentice (cleaning pots). Quinto did not care for the job and quit. Quinto decided to work in construction ~ Quinto also had a brother in Fairview, NJ.

Marietta married Pietro Balma (in the US) and had a son "Halo" - they took a quick trip to Italy and dropped him off with his grandmother in Albiono d'Ivera (the same grandmother as Malvina, Johanna and Frank).
One story of how Italo's grandmother had spoiled him - when Italo was a boy - his grandmother would call him in for lunch; !talo would refuse to come in; Halo's grandmother would then come out to him. with a couple of boiled eggs in a cloth napkin for Halo to eat on the curb. Marietta and Pietro returned to Italy. Pietro was very strict - Italo and his father never got along. While in Albiono d'Ivera, Marietta and Pietro also had a daughter (Ida). At age 16, Halo returned to the US (there was no problem with him entering because he was as US citizen since he was born in the US). Sister Ida had married Eusebio Andomo and had a son (Guilio). Pietro had died and Italo attempted to arrange for them all (Marietta, Ida, Eusebio and Guilio) to move to the US - he was initially unsuccessful because the national quota had already been filled. Italo had to arrange for them to come to the US via Canada. They lived in Cliffside Park, NJ. Then they bought a house in Secaucus.
At one point, Clementina (in Fairview, NJ) became very sick. Gina and her family moved to the same apartment building to take care of her. Emesta had talked her husband, Francesco, to move to Fairview in the same apartment building to help.
When Halo arrived, he lived with the Scalenghe's in Fairview, NJ. Francesco would have to drive every day to the Bronx to his bakery. Since Italo (a baker's apprentice) started later than Francesco, Italo had to ride his bike every day to and from Fairview, NJ to the Bronx.

Italo Balma married Adele Tortoitus (spelling?), a Lithuanian from Scranton, PA. They lived on Bronx River Parkway - they had two children Carol and Robert. After Italo died, Adele remarried "Phil". Carol married Louis Pandolfo and had 3 boys. Robert married Carol Caputo - they had 2 girls. They live on Long Island.
Clementia Moriano married Michael Balma (the brother ofPietro Balma). They live in Fairview, NJ and had 2 children - Nina (married "Porio") and Ferrucio ("Fred") (his family was from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region of Italy). Nina had one girl- Michelle (married "Moulton"). Fred married Dorothy Stancher and had 3 boys - Allen, Peter and James. They all lived in NJ.
Gina Moriano married Quinto Zucchino. They live in Fairview, NJ and had 2 children Bruno (married Inez - no children) and Johnny (married Virginia - had 3 children Joanne, Linda, Johnny).

Francesco Scalenghe / Emesta Moirano Family History
Francesco emigrated to the US in 1913 at age 16. He had worked as a "confectioner" in Italy. He and his father wanted him to speak English. His father wasn't sure whether to send him to England or to the US. In speculation, it was also the time just before WWI many young men were sent to the US to avoid the draft. The original "plan" for Francesco was for him to return to Italy after he learned English (obviously, he never did because he fell in love with Emesta and built a life in the States). When first emigrating to the US, he worked at the "Biltmore Hotel" ~d "Algonquin Hotel". He also worked for a fancy French chocolate bakery in NY ("Mainaird" - spelling?). At times, the bakery would have him demonstrate making chocolates while in the store window. Franceso and Emesta both initially lived and met and fell in love on 46th St. between 9 and 10th.

Franceso and Emesta were married in New Jersey - had the reception at a facility on Patterson Plank Road in NJ. They had 3 children, Malvina ("Mal"), Johanna ("Jo") and Franceso ("Frank"). Malvina married Elso Masiero - three children - Ronald, Marilyn and Raymond. Johanna married Nicolas DelGrosso - two children ~ Dennis and Robert. Frank married Barbara Ann Wendell- three children - Steven, Richard and Paul. Mal was born at home in Hell's Kitchen - 37th St. and 9th Ave. in Manhattan. She was Baptized at St. Clair's Church (St. Clare's?) on 42nd St (the church is no longer there). Scalenghes moved to 66th Street, Coney Island, Brooklyn. Johanna was born in Coney Island Hospital and Frank was born at home. Frank (and maybe Johanna??) was baptized at St. Rosalie Church.

Created on 5/8/2003 9:35 AM

Scalenghes moved to Manhattan - 50th street opposite to the old Madison Square Garden.
Frank remembers going to a neighbor's front apartment to see the arrival of the Barnum and Baileys Circus animals to the MSG.
Scalenghes moved to Washington Heights (l52nd St.) - Franceso and Emesta had a boarding house.
Scalenghes moved to Fairview, NJ to assist Clementina who was ill. They lived in Fairview for 2-3 years. While in Fairview - Francesco ran for mayor as socialist / communist member - he did not win the election.
Scalenghes moved to Park Ave. in the Bronx (near Tremont Ave.).
Took a trip in 1930 to Volvera, Italy for 3 months. Took the Conte Grande boat -landed in Genoa where Nono's father met them.
Francesco had several bakeries:
• Francesco opened a "Chateau Thieroy" a French and Danish Bakery Shop - 2850 W. 15th St., Coney Island, NY. He went broke.
• "The White Star Bakery" on White Plains Road
• "The Riverdale Bakeshop" on 231st St. and Broadway, Riverdale was opened in 1944 or 1945 and closed in 1958.
• "The Riverdale Bakeshop" (same name as the other one) on Mosholu Ave (not parkway) and "258th Street" was opened about 1947 and closed in 1960.
In 1930, Francesco bought a house at 3978 Bell Ave., Bronx, NY 10466. Franceso and Emesta retired when the Bakeries closed and Frank went to work for the Wesson Oil Company.

Created on 5/8/2003 9:35 AM

Wendell Family History
This information supplements the detailed history which Steven Scalenghe has assembled.
Lewis Wendell (sr) was born and raised on Highbridge Ave ofthe Bronx. He had 7??? siblings (Elsie, Hattie, and the rest boys...Fred). Lewis was a baseball player - the NY Giants. Lewis (sr)'s father was a police captain in the Bronx - in charge of the mounted police - they would train the horses underneath Highbridge) - his first wife (Papa's mother) had died. Papa's father had remarried and moved to Palm Beach, FL (West Palm Beach?). He was a police chief down there.
Lewis (sr), Alice, Lewis (2nd), and Barbara lived on University Ave - rented a private house - Barbara was raised there.
Barbara was born in Flower 5th Ave. Hospital in Manhattan (no longer there - along Central Park - near the Frisk Museum).

Frank Scalenghe / Barbara Wendell Family History
Frank married Barbara Ann Wendell- 1949 - three children Steven, Richard and Paul.
After Marriage ~ lived with Lewis ("Papa") and Alice ("Mama") Klein Wendell- 2694 Briggs Ave in the Bronx. Had Steven and Richard. Steven was born in Westchester Square Hospital in the Bronx.
Paul was born in the Bronx Hospital. Papa had Burgers disease (different name now). Louis died of a heart attack on release from the hospital.

Created on 5/8/2003 9:35 AM

The Immigration Record of the "Bazusca" Founders Listed below is information regarding the four Moirano sisters (Children of Giovanni Moirano and Anetta Sala) from Albiano d'Ivrea who emigrated to the United States between 1912 and 1920.
The information listed is primarily drawn from the Ellis Island database of shipping passenger manifests. This information mayor may not be correct but it is the information presented. Also, included is information regarding their aunt, a sister-in-law of two sisters, and the tombstone in Albiano.

The name "Bazusca" is a contraction of the last name of the husbands of the sisters: Balma, Zucchino, and Scalenghe.

The four Moirano Sisters and their spouses are listed below. The names used in this report are the ones shown on the passenger manifests. As you read this, you may find it confusing, because the two Balma brothers used the same first name. The older brother whose first name was Giovanni chose to use Pietro as his first name; while his younger brother whose first name was Pietro preferred to use the name Pietro; however, was called Michele.

Savina (Marietta) wife of Pietro Balma (First Name Giovanni) Clementina (Mentina) wife of Pietro Balma (Michele) Ernesta (Nota) wife of Giuseppe Francesco Scalanghe (Cheqin) Tereza (Gina) wife of Quinto Zl.Icchino 1. Savina Moirano and Pietro Balma a. Savina and her huspand Pietro (aka Giovanni) left Genoa, Italy on July 8th 1912 and arrived in New York on July 23rd 1912. They were aged 24 and 25 respectively. Pietro's occupation is listed as Baker and Savina's as Housewife.
Their contact Person in Italy was Pietro Balma (Father) in Biella, Italy. They arrived with $58 which was probably the Minimum allowed by the steamship company as the steamship company would have required sufficient funds to provide for a return trip incase of deportation.
Their destination contact in the US was a cousin Martino Lantero at 429 West 46th~Street, NYC. Their physical descriptions indicate they both had dark complexions and chestnut eye sand hair. Also they were both 5' 3",inches tall.
Their birthplace is shown as Albiano.

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b. There is a second voyage listed for Savina. It is the same voyage as described in the section for her sister Ernesta and future brother-in-law Pietro. In all likelihood, this is the return trip after she brought her son Italo (Born February 14th 1913 in the US) to Albiano to be cared for by her parents. In the manifest entry, she lists her father Giovanni Moirano as the Albiano contact point.
She lists her husband Pietro as the US contact point; however the address is now 433 West 46th Street. Further, her physical description now indicates she is 4' 11" and her complexion is natural and her eyes are brown.
(Note to find this entry in the Ellis Island data base you must search under the last name Moirana Balma)
2. Clementina Moirano
a. Clementina, age 18, arrived in New York on April 17th 1913 on board the Cincinnati which left Genoa on April 2nd
• Her occupation is listed as housewife. Her contact in Italy is her father Giovanni Moirano. She had $30.00 with her.
The contact address on the manifest is 27 W229 St with her brother-in-law Pietro Balma being listed as her contact point. However, she was discharged at the pier to her cousin Giovanni Lantero of 429 West 46th Street.
She was 5' l" tall and had a natural complexion with chestnut hair and eyes. On this voyage she may have been traveling with a cousin Antonietta Vigna (nee Mokano).
This cousin was traveling with her husband Domenico Vigna and they were going to Chicago where the contact point is his Father-in-law who is also named Giovanni Moirano.
b. Pietro Balma, future husband of Clementina, age 20, came to the US on the 'ship (Duca degli Abruzzi) as described below for Ernesta. His occupation is listed as waiter and he left from his home in Biella. where his father Pietro is listed as his contact point. He had $30.00 with him. His contact point was his brother, Giovanni at 433 West46th Street. He was 4', 11" tall and .had a natural complexion
and brown eyes and hair. While he left from Biella his birthplace is shown as Albiano.
3. Ernesta Moirano
a. Enlesta arrived in NewVork on April 19, 1915 having
sailed from Genoa on April 6, 1915 aboard the Duca Degli Abruzzi. She wasi7 years old. Her occupation is listed as a house-woman. Her contact point in Italy is her father

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Giovanni Moirano of Albiano. Her contact and destination address is her sister Savina and brother-in-law Pietro Balmaat 433 West 46th Street. She had $25.00 with her. Her physical description indicates she has a natural complexion, has brown hair and eyes and she is 4' II" tall. Also, traveling with her is her future brother-in-law Pietro Balma (see above), and what appears to be a cousin by the name of Adele Manfredo who is going to her cousin Pacifico Revel Chion at 18 Macdougal Street in NYC. Lastly, as indicated above she is traveling with her sister Savina.
b. Giuseppe Francesco Scalenghe, future husband of Ernesta, arrived on October 21, 1913 aboard the Berlin which left Genoa on October 9, 1913. He was 16 1/2 years old and his occupation was listed as a confectioner. He left Volvera, Italy where his father Batista is listed as his home contact person. He had $50.00 and his destination contact person was his Untie, Giacomo Rallla whose address was 810 6th Avenue in NYC. His physical description is shown as 5' 4" tall, fair complexion dark hair and brown eyes. On this same voyage he traveled with a Giuseppe Scalenga from Volvera who was also16years of age and was a baker. His father was Batista Scalenga. His destination address was the same as above with a contact person by the name of GiacomoRacca. (Note: A question to ask is this a brother. of Giuseppe Francesc: and the entries represent misspellings by the German pursers on board the ship or is this norelatioh).
c. It also should be noted that Giuseppe Francesco's father came to visit his son in July of 1922, at 2850.west15th St Coney Island' ..NY.. It specifies that his stay was to be for 6 months. Ln April of 1923, he returned to the same address and the manifest indicates he intended to stay permanently. His wife in Italy is listed as either Giovana Plassio orOlassio.
4. Tereza Moirano
a. Tereza and her husband Quinto Zucchino aged (25 and 21 respectively) arrived on the Roussillon on February 1st 1921. They left from Piverone where the contact person was Quinto's mother Maria Barotti. The ship left Le Havre, France on January 19th
• This was a 13-daytrip, which is exceptionally long for a .North Atlantic crossing that at the time was typically 6 to 8 days. Tragically, a child Maria

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Anna was born on board and did not survive. It is difficult to read on the manifest but she appears to have died on February 1st, the arrival date. Perhaps the stress of a long stormy winter voyage may have contributed to her death. Their contact point is shown as cousin Maria Moirano at 429 West 46th Street. They had $100.00 with them. Quinto was 5' 5" tall and Tereza was shown at 5' 4" tall. They both were Of fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes. Quinto's health is shown as good while Tereza's is shown as bad. There is a notation that shows that Tereza was discharged from the hospital (I assume Ellis Island) on February 16th at 11:20PM. Thus she spent nearly two weeks in the hospital before she was released. Their birthplaces are both shown as Piverone; however, in all likelihood Tereza was born in Albiano.
5. Clementina Sala·
a. Clementina Sala apparently came to the US to visit two of her nieces; she was 45 years old was single and her occupation was cook. She arrived on the Rochambeau, on April 17th 1914, which sailed from Le Havreon April 8th 1914. Her contact in Italy was her sister Anetta Moirano (mother of the 4 sisters). Her destination contact was her nephew Pietro Balmaat 429 West 46th Street.
b. Accompanying Clementina Sala on this voyage were two other Albianese. They were brother and sister Giuseppe and Giovanna Basano. Their destination was also 429 West 46th Street however; their contact was their brother in-law Martino Lantero. Also, with them was a Ernestina Boratto, from Piverone. Further,there is a Boratto family including Germans, Celesta and children Carmelina and Emma.
6. Maria Balma
a. Maria is the sister of Giovanni and Pietro. She arrived in the US in 1920 at the age of 19. She left from Albiano where her father Pietro now moved back from SieUa. The address is Villa Royale. Her occupation is listed as a tailor.
Her contact points are her brothers Giovanni and Pietro. The address for Pietro and Giovanni who both picked her up is listed as 433 West 46th Street. Interestingly, the address that is originally listed on the manifest is Macdougal St./ the address of the Revel Chion family.

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7. The Giovanni Moirano family gravestone in Albiano has the following information:
a. Giovanni Moirano 1865- July 24, 1929
b. Anna Sala in Moirano 1868- March 10, 1934
c. Clementina Sala'1866- September 9, 1934
d. Pier Giovanni Balma 1860- June 8, 1947
e. Rosa Rolla v. Balma 1886- October 28, 1953
The information on this gravestone seems to make sense with family history with the exception of Rosa Rolla. If Rosa Rolla is the mother of Giovanni arid Pietro Balma she could not have been born in 1886. Perhaps there is an error on the stone and the date should be 1866; or this Rolla is from the same generation as Giovanni and Pietro.

Jim Balma
November 4, 2002