Stories from Prewar Bari

Fresh Milk

One of the best things that I learned from my cousin when talking to her about her stories from prewar Bari, was clarification about the cow. We all knew growing up that great grandpa Francesco Nicoletti owned a cow. What is so cool is the cow story is that he would go door to door with my uncle with the cow. You would put in your order and he would deliver fresh milk straight from the cow!

Francesco Nicoletti, Maria Chiarappa and Giovanni Nicoletti c1915

Pre War Toritto

What was amazing to hear was that my cousin actually knew and remembered our great grandparents. They were probably both in their mid 70’s so that’s something! She said that he had a bum leg, and she remembered walking behind him. She said that he was a good guy and would bring a piece of candy when he could.

The house she and her brothers and sisters grew up in is still there. It was originally the home of our great grandparents and was left to my uncle, who was only four when my grandparents came to the US. She said that it was small, 2 rooms. One bedroom and a large room with an open fireplace for cooking and a curtain to make a bedroom for the kids. She said that times were tough, but that they were better off than most because of the house and that my uncle owned some land.

Normally you went to school for about 5 years, if you wanted to go on, you had to go to a larger town, but that was difficult as you needed to have money to take the train, which most families could not afford. During the war school pretty much stopped. Uncle John spent sometime in the army, but did not serve during the war as he had several children. She remembers the Germans coming into town very quietly and that her town was never bombed, but they would see the planes overhead and hear the bombing. They would gather up the younger kids and go into the fields, or if in Bari go to an underground shelter. At night they would keep clothes next to the bed in case of an air raid.

She said food was very scarce, no meat, flour was brown if you could get it and they lived on beans mostly. After the war Uncle John would plant and they had a goat and would make cheese. The people would give the Americans and the Brits wine and she said they were not nice at all as they would get drunk and throw things, and chase the girls. They would bring the Americans eggs and they would give the Italians Spam or other canned goods. She also said that there was a black market and she would go with a neighbor to get food, but it was very dangerous and you would be in deep trouble if caught. Just fascinating.

The War Years

My uncle spent sometime in the army, but did not serve during the war as he had several children. She remembers the Germans coming into town very quietly and that her town was never bombed, but they would see the planes overhead and hear the bombing. They would gather up the younger kids and go into the fields, or if in Bari go to an underground shelter. At night they would keep clothes next to the bed in case of an air raid. She said food was very scarce, no meat, flour was brown if you could get it and they lived on beans mostly. After the war my uncle would plant and they had a goat and would make cheese. The people would give the Americans and the Brits wine and she said they were not nice at all as they would get drunk and throw things, and chase the girls. They would bring the Americans eggs and they would give the Italians Spam or other canned goods. She also said that there was a black market and she would go with a neighbor to get food, but it was very dangerous and you would be in deep trouble if caught. Just fascinating.

Bombing of Bari 1943

I’ll have another post on prewar stories from Bari soon!