May 17, 1995.

Dear Margaret & Clark

Good Morning. How are you both, enjoying good health and prosperity? I guess you're surprised with this note. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you and your boys & Tracey for helping us at Mary Ann's funeral. Thank you again.

I'm going to give you a little history concerning your grandparents, my parents from the start of their lives. Your grandfather Mariano was born on Nov 6, 1887 in Sicily. Your grandmother Maria was born on Feb 22, 1895. All I can remember is your grandfather saying he came here when he was 15 years 6 months old.

I don't know anything until they were married, it was a match affair. They were married in New York city Oct 13, 1912 and then came to Kingston. Then their children were born -- Frank Aug 1, 1913, William Dec 4, 1914 & James Oct 28, 1916, all in Kingston.

Your grandfather was part of the fruit business at 240 Princess St., with Michael Amodeo & Edward Cancilla. Now I don't know who was the boss or whether they were partners, this was all going on about 1910 to 1919. One year your Grandfather Biaggio was in Kingston visiting his brother, your grandfather Mariano, and he didn't like the way they were using Mariano, so he told him to come to Toronto. We came to Toronto about 1919-1920.

A store was bought at 646 Queen St. West. Biaggio had his store at 564 Queen St. W., east of us. That store is still going. 564 wasn't the original store, but a few stores away. We stayed at 646 Queen St. until 1928. Your grandfather wasn't well so we went to 214 Livingstone Ave.

While living at 646, we boys attended St. Mary's Church & went to St. Mary's School. The Lanzarotta family lived at 624 Queen St. and that's when the friendship started. We lived at 214 Livingstone until 1933 when your grandparents bought 1090 Bloor West. They bought the store because your father, uncles Bill & Jim were ready to go out in the work force and they didn't want us doing that.

It was hard work when we started because it was the depression time, but we hung on, by this time we were holding on.

Then Boom was declared. It didn't affect us at first, but when Italy declared war on the Allies, it was disaster. They boycotted us, customers turned their backs on us and we had the "Wop" remark and Musselini thrown at us. We survived, getting our business on the roll, getting married, having families & living happily ever after?

Love,

Uncle Bill & Auntie Margaret

P.S. I hope you make this out because I don't write often

P.S. If further information is needed, ask and I might be able to give it to you

Bye