Little Italy, Syracuse Explained

Little Italy
Settlement Type:Ethnic enclave
Pushpin Map:New York
Coordinates:43.06°N -76.153°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:New York
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:Syracuse
Established Date:Early 1880s
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Density Km2:auto

Little Italy Syracuse is an ethnic enclave in Syracuse, New York that contains several bakeries, cafés, pizzerias, restaurants, beauty salons, shops, bars and nightclubs. The main street in the neighborhood is North Salina Street.

Italian immigrants began to settle in the Northside of Syracuse in the early 1880s, however, the neighborhood was not officially designated as Little Italy until 2003.

History

See also: Italians in Syracuse, New York.

Immigrants

See also: Northside, Syracuse.

Italian immigrants first came to the area around Syracuse, New York in 1883 after providing labor for the construction of the West Shore Railroad. At first, they were quite transient and came and went, but eventually settled down on the Northside.[1]

By 1899, the Italian immigrants were living on the Northside of the city in the area centered around Pearl Street.[2] The Italians all but supplanted the Germans in that area of the city and had their own business district along North State and North Salina Streets.[3]

Local businesses

Early residents in the neighborhood worked in for Learbury Suits, Nettleton Shoes and other Northside factories.[4]

Italian foods

The Columbus Baking Company has been a mainstay on Pearl Street for over a century. The bakery is family-owned and specializes in four types of bread.[5] Thano's Import Market, located on North Salina Street for over 90 years, sells Italian delicacies such as aged provolone cheese, olives and homemade pasta.[4]

Lombardi's Fruits & Imports, another fixture on the Northside for several decades, carries hundreds of items imported directory from Italy.[5]

Produce market

August 15, 1899 was the last day local farmer's were allowed to use the area between West Genesee Street from Salina to Clinton Streets as a public produce market. Commissioner of Public Works Meagher saw to it that those "having produce to sell" were kept away from Clinton Square.[6]

The old Hay Market on North Salina Street near the Erie Canal lift bridge had been approved as a public market after a delegation of local businessmen, members of the North Side Business Men's Association visited Mayor McGuire and appealed to the Common Council asking for a produce market on the Northside.[6]

The Common Council passed a resolution in June 1899 directing those having hay to sell "vacate the plot of land enclosed by the fence." The result was loads of hay were lined up along Pearl Street and Fulton Street, however, the old market was ready for farmers.[6]

By 1900, the Northside Produce Market supplied fresh fruit and vegetables from farmers in Cicero and North Syracuse to local residents.[7]

Hospital

St. Joseph's Hospital is a major employer in the neighborhood, which also includes the St. Joseph's College of Nursing.[4]

Recent years

By September 2009, Syracuse's Little Italy district received millions of dollars of public and private investment for new sidewalks, streetscapes, landscaping, lighting and to set up a "Green Train" program, which trains men to work in green construction and renovation industries.[8]

In recent years, the neighborhood is a mix of Italian shops, restaurant and businesses that cater to the area's South Asian and African population, and vacant storefronts. Although the neighborhood is far less Italian than in past years, banners throughout the district still read Little Italy.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: North Salina Street Historic District, Syracuse City . October 23, 2010. The Gombach Group, 2010.
  2. News: Syracuse: Among the Babies, "Bambinos," "Kinters" and Pickininies of Syracuse . The Syracuse Sunday Herald . Syracuse, New York . October 29, 1899 .
  3. Web site: New York, Syracuse . November 3, 2010 . Atlantis, 2010.
  4. Web site: Changing times in Little Italy . October 24, 2010 . Bryan . Hayden . NewsHouse, 2010.
  5. Web site: Central New York. October 24, 2010. David Metraux, 2010. Syracuse, New York. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100830222536/http://www.davidmetraux.com/centralny.html. August 30, 2010.
  6. News: Must Leave the Square . . Syracuse, New York . August 16, 1899 .
  7. Web site: Street Views of Syracuse . October 24, 2010 . Rootsweb, 2010.
  8. Web site: Syracuse's Little Italy at a Tipping Point . October 23, 2010 . Alex . Dunbar . Barrington Broadcasting Group, LLC September 25, 2009 . Syracuse, New York . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719062711/http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=355151 . July 19, 2011 . dead .