- Little Italy, Connellsville
Little Italy, Connellsville is an area on the west side of
Connellsville , in Fayette County,Pennsylvania .Between 1880 and 1930, a flood of
immigrants fromItaly and many other European countries arrived inConnellsville, Pennsylvania , and its vicinity, primarily to work in the coal, coke, steel, and locomotive industries. Many of the Italian immigrants, mainly from the regions ofNaples ,Calabria ,Avellino ,Abbruzzo ,Basilicata , andSicily settled in the neighborhoods of the west side of what is now known as the city ofConnellsville . Originally, the part of Connellsville west of theYoughiogheny River was incorporated as the borough of New Haven, but by a charter of 1909, New Haven was annexed by the city ofConnellsville . The neighborhood, formerly known as "New Haven Hill," and now as "West Side Hill," was heavily populated by Italian immigrants, and theirItalian-American descendants. Because of this, the area has earned the title "Little Italy ." In theRoman Catholic tradition, the neighborhood has a patron saint, that beingSaint Rita of Cascia (IT:Santa Rita da Cascia).Little Italy inConnellsville is formally bounded by West Crawford Avenue to the south, Maple Street to the north, North 12th Street to the west, and West Crawford Avenue (which makes a 90 degree angle) to the south, though theItalian-American population has always had a strong prensence beyond the formal boundaries, including Brookvale, Trotter, Hickory Bottom, Robinson Falls, Limestone Hill, and the lower West Side, where one of the most central places of the Italian-American culture inConnellsville is situated: Saint Rita of Cascia Roman Catholic Church ("La Chiesa Cattolica Romana di Santa Rita da Cascia"), located at the merging of South 2nd Street and South 1st Street. Each year on the weekend prior to the Feast ofOur Lady of Mount Carmel ("La Beata Vergine di Monte Carmelo"), the church hosts its annual Italian festival, known famously throughout the city as "Saint Rita's Street Fair." There, you will find traditional Italian delicasies, such ascavatelli ,manicotti ,pasta fagioli , sausage and peppers,pizza , and fried dough "(zeppole )", as well as other festivities, such as games of chance, bingo, a large 50/50 drawing, and traditional Italian and Italian-American music. Thousands of people from all over come each year to enjoy the festivities.Note: There is also a strong
Italian-American presence in the city's Association Grounds and North End neighborhoods, on the east side of theYoughiogheny River .Every year in July,
Little Italy on West Side Hill inConnellsville , is the scene of a large festival to celebrate theItalian American heritage, known as the "Annual West Side Hill Italian Bash." The celebration is held on Banning Avenue, between North 11th Street and North 10th Street. Highlights include a flag raising and singing of the Italian National Anthem,Il Canto degli Italiani , commonly known as "Inno di Mameli," to signify the commencement of the festival, traditional Italian food, wine sampling, selections by the Molinaro Band (formerly the Royal Italian Band), a 50/50 drawing, traditional Italian music, a prize raffle, and a display of fireworks, to signify the end of the celebration.Similar festivals are also celebrated on popular Italian Feast Days, such as the Feast of
Saint Rita of Cascia ("La Festa di Santa Rita da Cascia"), which is held on May 22nd, the Feast ofSaint Anthony of Padua ("La Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova"), which is celebrated on June 13th, and the Feast of Our Lady ofLenola ("La Santissima Madonna del Colle"), which coincides with the Feast ofOur Lady of Sorrows ("La Santissima Madonna Addolorata"), and is celebrated on September 15th.The Feast of
Saint John the Baptist ("La Festa di San Giovanni Battista"), which is celebrated on June 25th, the Feast ofSaint Rocco ("La Festa di San Rocco"), which is celebrated on August 16th, and the Feast of Saint Amato ("La Festa di Sant'Amato"), which is held on September 30th, are also popular amongst the Italian-Americans of Connellsville, especially amongst those whose ancestors originated in theAvellino province of Italy.
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