A Long Unknown Backstory to My Grandparents' Nuptials

The above photo of Nonni and Nonno's wedding day was taken in Providence, Rhode Island at the Church of the Holy Ghost.  Nonni and Nonno are seated with their witnesses on July 8, 1932.  The bridesmaid and best man are Jenny and "Espanol," but there is a previously unknown backstory to this ceremony.  But let's first explore how this New York waiter and came to meet his Providence based bride. 

Luigi Ancora came from a family of means and had three children. His wife died at some point later, and Luigi then married his wife’s sister. As could be imagined, the new arrangement probably didn’t go so smoothly and later had an impact on Ballasario Ancora (Nonni’s Father).

Nonetheless, Ballasario grew up, went to professional school and developed an interest in music. He took lessons and learned to play the violin and the trombone.  As such, Ballasario became a conductor and provided music lessons to students.

                             Ballasario's Passport

But his fortunes turned when the three children from the Luigi’s first marriage swindled Ballasario out of the family wealth.  Still, he continued to make a decent living, but was lured by the promise of America.  Carmela Ancora (Nonni’s Mother) wasn’t so sure of the far off prospects.  Why would you want to go to America she frequently lamented to her husband.

You see Carmela had good reason for wanting to remain in Italy. She also came from another family of means. Nonni’s grandmother was a business woman who bought olives and tobacco from farmers and sold to Olive Oil and Cigar manufacturers. 

Nonetheless in 1911, Ballasario embarked for Providence, where he had friends in the music business. The plan was to send for his family once he had established himself.  1914 turned out to be the year, but also marked the start of WWI.  Thus, Carmela feared German UBoat attacks, and the family was not reunited until 1925. 

Ballasario eventually became a tailor, and after Nonni graduated from college, she was accepted to Brown's all woman's school at Pembroke College. So Amanda Gisonni was not the family's first Ivy Leaguer.  (Unfortunately, the depression hit, and her family didn't have the necessary $600 to send Nonni).

Nonno's WWI Medals

As for Nonno, his family in Italy wasn’t quite as affluent as Nonni’s - his father making a living as a baker.  At 17, Nonno served in WWI and was a doctor's assistant in the trenches.  After the war, he worked a construction job, but didn’t really like all the pounding. He left that life and got a position in King Victor Emmanuel’s Royal Guard.

Nonno with his father Vito and his brothers

Outgoing as he always was, Nonno made connections, landed a job in a Genoa bank and worked as a teller and bookkeeper.  With his hard work, Nonno sent money home, and this allowed his family to purchase two plots of land - one which was an olive grove. 

So the same question could be asked. Why would he want to go to America?  Well, as fascism emerged in the mid 1920s, his brother Dominic got caught up in the movement and was arrested by Emmanuel’s government. Fortunately,  Nonno was able to use his connections with the old guard to secure his brother's release, but that was all he could take of his homeland.

Dominic with Nonno

He got a job a cargo vessel that shipped lumber around the world, and his plan was to disembark once arriving in NYC.  That journey last 2 and a half years, and when it was over, he entered NYC with only a few dollars to his name.  He had to leave the vast majority of his money behind, because the captain and company knew what it meant if you asked for a lump sum to take shore leave.  

Not much to jingle in his pocket, Nonno would get a job at the Hotel Stadler and then the Waldorf Astoria.  The Astoria had him share the surroundings with one Ettore Boiardi.  We know him as Chef Boyardee today.

As fate would have it, The Waldorf got a visit from immigration, and Nonno’s boss confirmed for the official that Angelo’s papers were at home.  The man obviously lied, and Nonno was off to Long Branch, NJ.  He worked in several vacation resorts and eventually met his long time employer, Giovanni Pramaggiore. 

In between all this, Nonno spent time in Rhode Island. He had friends there, and on one occasion, the Ancora family happened to be at the same get together.

Nonni and Nonno were attracted to each other, but other forces were in play. The Ancora family had their eyes on another young man for Nonni.  But this was the new world, and Nonni was influenced by American friends who didn’t go for the old ways. 

Nonni and Friends

Even so, the young man had made his intentions known to Nonni’s parents, and the Ancora’s were on board. Nonni held firm, though, while an ongoing dialogue with Nonno persisted.  They corresponded with letters and occasionally saw each other. 

Four years in total, Nonni and Nonno took a courageous step. The Ancora family was about to accept the young man's advances. So Nonni forced her family's hand and eloped to New York.  Nonni stayed with Giovanni’s family, and after a month, they got a marriage license at City Hall. Giovanni and Elvira Pramaggiore bore witness. 

Giovanni in Center, Nonno behind

Of course, Nonni’s parents knew what was happening, and they were not happy.  But things were mostly made right when the couple came back to Providence for the ceremony. On the other hand, the elopement was a secret long kept. Carmela Ancora told her granddaughter in the early 50's, and Ada never told a soul until now.