Ballestero 1

Marissa Ballestero
Dr. Kamahra Ewing
HON 1000-520
10 October 2016
A New Beginning
Giuseppe Ariganello was determined to get his family out of New York and into better
living conditions. Giuseppe, along with with wife Alessandra and their two kids, Catarina and
Greta, arrived to Ellis Island1 in 1912. The family settled in Yorkville2 along with some of the
other Italian families who had arrived to the city. There, Alessandra was lucky enough to find a
menial job in a tailoring shop3 supporting the family of four on a small salary, while Giuseppe
was unable to find work due to numerous barriers. In early 1914, Alessandra was let go from her
job at the shop, which sent the family packing, taking their life savings, and heading towards
Detroit. The family, mainly Giuseppe, selected Detroit after catching wind of talks about Ford
Motor Company and a very enticing $5.00 a day salary.
Are you sure this is the best option? Maybe I could find another job. I heard theres a
bakery4 down the street hiring! Alessandra told her husband.
It wont hurt to try, I heard theyre hiring thousands of new employees to work in the
factory. Im sure I can get in or at least find something in the city. Giuseppe assured his wife.
However, he was unsure if this was the best choice. Would he find a job? Is this a good idea? If it
1 For many Italian immigrants, their first steps taken on American soil, were at Ellis Island between 1880 and 1920.
See "Italian - L'Isola Dell Lagrime - Immigration..

2 Many Italian immigrants settled along Baxter and Mott streets, in Eleventh Street, in Yorkville, and in Hoboken
(Adams 77).

3 Few Italian women were able to either find employment in tailoring shops or textile factories (Kessner 20).
4 Some immigrants opened pasta shops, Italian bakeries, restaurants, and pizzerias (Adams 77).

Ballestero 2
came down to it, he was sure either him or his wife could find some sort of work. So, the family
packed up what little they had accumulated over the two years and boarded the first train to
Detroit.
In no time, the family arrived to Detroits version of Ellis Island5, Michigan Central
Station. Here, there were hundreds of people bustling around, trying to find their luggage, hoping
they could be reunited with what little they had brought to the city. Gathering their bags, the
family set foot into the city, watching as shiny cars drove by in the streets, all Ford. Soon
enough, the Ariganello clan found themselves in front of a small house on Gratiot6, east of
Downtown. It was nothing special, but it was definitely better than the cramped apartment back
in Yorkville.
Is this ours papa? Greta asked her father.
Sure is. Its what we have for now, at least until I start making Mr. Fords $5 a day.
After that we can move into an ever better house! Exclaimed Giuseppe.
Both children squealed in delight, finally having a home of their own in this foreign land.
Now, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. We dont even know if youre going to get
the job. Alessandra added into the conversation.
Well, according to the paper, Mr. Ford is giving employment to several thousand more
men by employing three, eight hour shifts7. Giuseppe told his wife as he read the now crumpled
New York Times paper. This, this right here will get me the job. I can do this. He said holding
up the shiny, new Ford Manual.

5 See Michigan Central Station from Historic Detroit.

6 The historical center of the Italian community was along Gratiot, east of Downtown (Delicato 8).
7 See "Ford Gives $10,000,000 To 26,000 Employees from New York Times.

Ballestero 3
A few days later and multiple read-throughs of the manual, Giuseppe felt sure of himself
and his ability to get into the Ford plant. One morning, he set out and headed towards the
Highland Park8 plant, the place where the ever so coveted Model-T was being produced. Many
anxiety filled hours later, Alessandra, Greta, and Catarina heard the front door open. Giuseppe
entered the house, with a somber look on his face, causing the smiles on his familys face to
instantly drop into flat lines.
Youre looking at the newest employee at the Highland Park Ford Plant! Giuseppe
exclaimed breaking into a smile that spread throughout the faces on everyone throughout the
house. The kids screeching, proud of their father, while Alessandra ran over to her husband for a
much needed embrace. That night the family indulged in some of their favorite Italian dishes and
celebrated what they thought would be the new beginning in this city.
After being hired into the plant, Giuseppe found himself beginning to change more and
more about his personal background, in order to fit in. After all, the Ford Manual pushed an
extremely American way of life onto him and his family. The family often found themselves
speaking more English at home than Italian. This had a negative effect on the whole family, each
member often finding themselves forgetting a certain word in Italian every so often.
Giuseppe was now working an eight hour a day shift, leaving in the morning, returning
just around dinner time, exhausted. It seemed as if most days he worked, ate, and slept. He rarely
had enough time, or energy, to play with his daughters like he used to back in Yorkville.
Papa, Greta and I want to play outside with you! Catarina exclaimed.
Not right now, honey. Papa had a long day at the plant.

8 The Ford Model-T was produced in Highland Park at the Ford Assembly Plant from 1913 to the late 1920s
(Ernst).

Ballestero 4
The plant this, the plant that. Thats all you ever talk about anymore. Per quanto riguarda
la famiglia? Greta said to her father as she grabbed her younger sisters hand and walked
outside to play.
That phrase, What about family? What about family. Giuseppe wasnt sure if he should
be upset at his children for not realizing the sacrifices he is making for this $5 a day or if he
should sympathize with them. Sure, he hasnt spent any quality time with them lately, but he was
only working to ensure that his children and wife had a shot at a decent life. Giuseppe, headed
towards the bedroom and decided sleep would help dissipate all of the thoughts going through
his head.
As the months passed, there was a definite tension building in the house between all of
the family members. This tension was most prevalent during dinner time, when everyone was
present. Work was getting harder for Giuseppe, seeing as production boosted to 300,0009 cars
annually. The girls were forming a slight resentment towards their father and Alessandra was
quite frankly tired of hardly seeing her husband.
We need to talk. Alessandra told her husband as she was clearing away the dishes from
dinner.
About? Giuseppe questioned his wife, a million thoughts running through his head.
About how much you work. You know the kids really miss you.I miss you. I know
you like working at the plant, but its taking a toll on everyone.
You know Im doing this all for you and the kids, right? Every hour I work and every
shift I complete, is all for you. He told his wife, needing her to know that he was trying his best
to give his family a comfortable life in this city.
9 See Model T Facts from Ford Media Center.

Ballestero 5
I know, I know. Its just that Ive never seen you so irritable and tired in all of the years
that Ive known you. You snap at the kids all the time, and if youre not working or eating,
youre sleeping. Alessandra told her husband, feeling a pang of sympathy as she saw how his
face fell. She didnt want to tell him this, but he needed to know how his family was feeling.
I understand. I dont mean to snap at the kids. Its just that so much has happened, so
fast. Giuseppe told his wife.
It was true, ever since the family had moved to the city, everything had been a whirlwind.
A whirlwind of change. From having to adopt all of these new American ways, to working a
steady job with a steady income. Giuseppe could tell that everything was becoming too much for
his family. He had changed, in ways he wasnt fond of, and his family had changed in ways he
was barely aware of. This was a wake up call. He wasnt sure how much longer he could keep up
with the whirlwind around him. So, he decided that in two weeks he would quit his job at the
Ford plant. Sure, the $5 a day salary was nice, but he had to think of his family.
Im quitting. Giuseppe told his family one night after dinner.
What do you mean, papa? Is everything alright? Greta asked out of shock in curiosity,
confused as to why her father would give up something he loved so much.
Its becoming too much for me to handle. I miss you, your sister, and mom. We have
enough money saved up to last us a little while. He told his family.
Are you sure this is what you want to do? Alessandra questioned her husband.
Ive never been more sure of something in my life. Maybe you could pick up a job at the
pasta shop down the street, and I could spend more time with the kids. Giuseppe told his wife,
earning giant smiles from the three women around him.
That sounds perfect. Ti amo. Alessandra said to her husband.

Ballestero 6
Ti amo. Giuseppe told his wife.
Two weeks later, Giuseppe took one last glance around the factory as he headed to pick
up his final check. This place had been a symbol of change in his life, and he would be lying if
he said he wasnt going to miss it. So, walking out of the factory for the final time, Giuseppe felt
as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He no longer had to conform to these
extremely American ways of life, although some of them had been ingrained in his life at this
point. Once again, he was ready for a new beginning.

Works Cited
Delicato, Armando. Italians in Detroit. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2005. Print.
"Ford Gives $10,000,000 To 26,000 Employees." New York Times, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
Hemmings.com. "Highland Park Plant, Birthplace of Fords Moving Assembly... | Hemmings
Daily." Hemmings Daily News for the Collector Car Enthusiast RSS. N.p., 13 July 2013.
Web. 13 Oct. 2016.

Ballestero 7
HistoricDetroit.org, By DAN AUSTIN of. "Historic Detroit." Michigan Central Station -. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
"Italian - L'Isola Dell Lagrime - Immigration...- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources Library of Congress." Italian - L'Isola Dell Lagrime - Immigration...- Classroom
Presentation | Teacher Resources - Library of Congress. The Library of Congress, n.d.
Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
"Italian Life in New York." Immigration and Multiculturalism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed.
K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale,
2006. 76-78. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Kessner, Thomas. "Journal of Ethnic Studies." New Immigrant Women At Work: Italians and
Jews in New York City 5.4 (1978): 19-31. Print.
"Model T Facts." Ford Motor Company Media Center. N.p., 05 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.