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Lucia Borgna: Is a question there. They can, if you can tell is any
difference on you work if they want you is any problem to find work of
course dressmaker they know they are all Italian. That's why they don't.
They can find no other kind, you know. Uh huh.
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D'Angelo: What about your husband? Um. Did he have a job already lined up
when you came back after you were married?
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Borgna: Well.
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D'Angelo: What was it like for him?
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Borgna: Well, when he came in this country in 22, he was lots of work in a
mine. No other. Because, of course, you don't know the language. And he was
tough. And they just put him in a mine and he went in what, his brother in
law, you know, but he work eight years before I came, which he make a
little bit money that time, you know.
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Borgna: But after we came in, this country was the depression. He was
there and course, they say living in a mine, he was a little bit different,
too, you know, and the kind you don't know the language, so they just put
you there and work like a jackass, I would say, you know, But they got used
to and things go on. You know, he got to this point, you know what, his
health and everything.
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D'Angelo: I guess it was hard for him working in the mines then.
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Borgna: Oh, yeah. Cause that time I think he was good many times, you
know. But still, the boss was American or whatever it was, you know, he.
But everything is going. And that's all. You forget.
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D'Angelo: Did you send money back to Italy when you first came?
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Borgna: Not much. Little bit. They don't need them. And we don't. We are
too many to send. A few sent one. The other one Don't like it, you know.
D'Angelo: Well, they.
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D'Angelo: Weren't poor, were they?
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Borgna: Not that exactly. Uh. Uh. But feel is, you know, we spent some
some time like the mother, because we know she needed more than anybody
else because her husband died. And we used to send money every once more to
our mother, more than mine, because my mother was on a farm. And I think
they had. And let's see, as they. Used to send a gift maybe for someone as
a baby or something like that, you know. Oh, and another thing. When the
war was on there, I my youngest brother, I know he write to me he was an
army.
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Borgna: Then I send him some money. And, you know, when I went back to
Italy, the first thing he told me, I never forget here, Lucy, because you
send me some money, boy. They come in, they surely need them. And we laugh,
you know, I said, Well, now you can send them to me. Is the one or those
swine, you know is the one who has the money today. And now I tell him to
send them to me. Now United States is supposed to come and visit us, but
he's always something happen. I mean it. He likes to come. He write and he
say he still wants to come to visit. D'Angelo: Come before? Borgna: No, no.
D'Angelo: How about the rest.
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D'Angelo: Of the family?
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Borgna: No, Only one niece and Pete side. The one I told you is that big
business? She was here, but only for 3 or 4 days. But she promised us she
will be back. But I don't know when. Because sometimes, you know, this
happened, that happened, and, you know, you just let things go and never.
It is. Any other questions? Go ahead.
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Borgna: For the holiday, you know, because and this country, I always say,
is Christmas for us. Every day we eat what we want to eat, you know, But
over there, some people don't eat meat maybe all week and then they meat on
Sunday and maybe some cookie or cake, which they don't have those things
through the weeks. Bay, when I was there, I don't know about now maybe they
had a little bit more, you know, and wine is always on the table every day.
One things we are used to that you know lots of vegetable vegetable.
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D'Angelo: Why did you start making wine? Was was that something that.
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Borgna: We make.
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D'Angelo: Everybody did.
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Borgna: Yeah. And make some in October and then he'll be good. Mm. Yeah,
that's right. We like our homemade wine, Pickler. No matter if he was a
blacksmith in Italy, he turned out to be a good wine maker. Yeah, but you
have to be careful because something goes on there, you know? And if you
ever want any. Oh, yeah. If you make any mistake, you always can correct
that, huh? Yeah. What are these? And, of course, I think one glass of wine
a day is good for us. We don't, you know. Pretty are, but they pretty good,
though. His mother was a good cook. She used to make so many good things
out of nothing. Not like here, you know. We need lots of things to make
this and that. But over there, his mother, she was the best cook in that
city.
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D'Angelo: What sort of special ceremony the Italian people have at, say,
Christmas time or Easter?
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Borgna: Well, it's like Christmas here, I would say, you know, it's to
change. And we don't see too many candy or too many gifts like we get here
for Christmas. They are that time. No, no. Every time we bring orange
oranges or a couple candidates for no gift or nothing.
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D'Angelo: What about at church?
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Borgna: Church is almost like, yeah, they were singing Christmas song and
all that. Midnight mass.
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D'Angelo: What about being a woman and being Italian? Were there any
problems because you were a woman.
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Borgna: In this country? Well. I don't think you make that much difference
is it would be the same for me. And I think, you know, same problem. You
know, what do you think?
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D'Angelo: How times have changed a lot.
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Borgna: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And now, like I say, you know, they was
against like those colored people and all that, which a long time ago when
I came in this country, things already changed. But he was at the time
living for the Italian opera or whatever they was doing was too easy. They
was almost straight like color. We always used to say he was the second,
the next one after the color, you know. But now, since people are born in
this country and they get all mixed together and one can do one things, the
other one can do another one, and they get along better too. You remember
when President Ford said and what he did to be friendly and get mixed up
together?
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Borgna: And then is when you can do something together, no matter what
kind of people, because some dumb and smart or different kind. Did you feel
that way? I know that myself, living for work for people like this, you
know, of course, for what I'm doing here. My job is nice, though. I have
lots of nice people and they treat me real nice. That's why I enjoy myself
working. Unidentified speaker: To nice progression. They make big progress
in this country because. Smarter people, too. But I still say, wait a
minute. Wait a minute. Yeah. Never. Well, we don't want to live that long,
but I. You're going to remember this. You never going to be an Italian
president in the United States. Listen to me. Remember? D'Angelo: No.
Borgna: Never.
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D'Angelo: Why do you say that?
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Borgna: Because I have that on my mind, and I never. I don't know about
the police or whatever they are to ungaria or wherever they are so far is
nothing. You know that. I always laugh about that, you know, because
sometimes some one try to get in and they just going to make it that far
and that's all which the other one, no matter if they are not that smart
they might make it with the-- Unidentified speaker: if he change his mind.
Borgna: Oh well but I'm talking about Italian Italian. Unidentified
speaker: Italian chamber nine. Okay.
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Borgna: Remember, because you're young, you still have to. You're just the
start of your life, which mine is almost over because, you know, my age and
everything. But things go on, you know, the way we are. And. But I want you
to remember what Lucy told you, okay? You're going to tell you us, not you
want your boyfriend and you go home about the president. I always tell
that, Pete, you know.
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D'Angelo: Why do you think that the people wouldn't elect an Italian as
president even now?
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Borgna: Still is something there? I would say I can exactly explain to
you, but it's the name and maybe something else, you know, you think.
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D'Angelo: People feel that Italians still aren't-- Borgna: that good.
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Borgna: They are better than somebody else, you know. Live Sao Paulo or
whatever they are. I give a lot of credit to someone, you know, Washington,
whatever they are. But I always laugh and I always tell people when I see
the president, you know, you know that of course, we try to be good
citizens, too, because. We have to fight in this country. You know, we
don't want any communist or any because it'll be bad, don't you think? Is
there any other questions?
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D'Angelo: Well, during World War two, what was it like then for you and
your family?
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Borgna: You mean here?
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D'Angelo: Here?
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Borgna: Well, it was too bad because we didn't go to the war and we was
working pretty good. You know, we have enough money to get along and all
that. Now we don't have too much. To say or, you know, what is. I think he
was the day when they give you the stamp to go and buy meat and butter. But
we always got along pretty good. You know, we don't have any trouble. We
always have enough meat, enough cheese and all that, huh? Yes. Yeah.
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D'Angelo: Did you feel any pressure when you came here to become more like
an American than an Italian?
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Borgna: Well. One thing they used to tease me about this, they say, Lucy,
the way you dress, you look like an American lady all the time and
everything. But when you is the only time when you open your mouth, then we
know you are. You know, that was funny. We just joke and royal. That's what
they used to tell me and we laugh. But I always feel I just was good like
anybody else. And while I was doing my work and being nice with people,
that was the main thing to try to please them. And of course, I have some
people I worked for about 40 years already.
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Borgna: You know, for example, you cousin Ellen, the one she was married
to, Roy Speciale. I worked for her when she was going to high school. I
used to make her clothes coat over the from the big girl, big sister. I
make them for her. Then I fix her wedding dress. The first one and the
second. And I still fix her clothes today. Uh huh. Yes. Look, how many
years is that? She'll tell you. And she's so nice to me, you know? And she
can tell you. And even your mother. You know how many years I know your
mother when she was a little girl? Your hand. I used to make her dresses.
You know that. In some people, they even tell me sometimes they say, Lucy,
you did this.
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Borgna: You did that for me. I don't even remember because maybe I did so
much and I don't live and, you know, and then working 22 years over here
and really at work at home, that was a good bit. You know, of course I
after things go out for my health and all that. D'Angelo: Mhm. Borgna:
Because even in that job it's not so easy. Some people, they are so picky,
they can maybe send you to the, you know, crazy house, you're not careful
or nervous breakdown all that because I already hear some woman was working
in accounting floors.
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Borgna: They told me they quit because their nerves got so bad but I don't
let mine get that bad. Never. I go to sleep. I can sleep all night. Nothing
bother me. D'Angelo: That's good. Borgna: The day after I get up, I start
again. And I try to do the best I can for people. And so they are
satisfied. Okay. If it's not, they don't have to come back. What are you
going to do? You know? Uh huh. I always try to make people look nice, you
know? And now I don't have to work. And now I enjoy myself doing little
bit, you know? Cook for my grandson twice a week. I cook for my grandson.
They like my cooking and all that.
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D'Angelo: When you first came to this country, Roosevelt was president,
right? Franklin D Roosevelt. Borgna: Yes. D'Angelo: Did you feel that he
was a good president? What did you like about him or didn't like about
him?
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Borgna: I liked him about everything. I thought he was a good president
for working people.
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D'Angelo: During the Depression.
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Borgna: Yes. And that's why we started to make really progress at that
time. And when we did, we did big. We went after every big progress in this
country for everything turned out to be so big. Now, you know, factory and
lots of people, smart people look. For example, that we have and a house
one time we don't have it. You know, when I came in this country, we have a
toilet outside and a coal stove than basement course we have a coal stove
upstairs. When I came in this country, then we buy an electric one.
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Borgna: Then we have a furnace, coal stove, then a basement, an electric
hot water tank. But we always was at war, never much. And of course, when
we move in Greensburg, it was better our together, you know. Oh, yes. Now
we have enough for what we have in our house is enough for everybody. Don't
you think? I always used to say when I was going to work, when I get up, I
just have to push the button and say, wonder what kind of button will be
next. But now is enough. I don't think they can make any more than what we
have. Don't you think for cooking, making coffee and all that? I always
remember when we lived in Crabtree, my brother in law, my nephew, they come
to play cards once or twice a week, you know, because that time we don't
have no television.
00:18:34.000 --> 00:19:06.000
Borgna: And my brother in law, they call us up. They say we come and visit
us. But you know what we like there? The coffee's ready Soon it gets there.
But sometime my coffee pot never turn up to be to boil, you know? And we
laugh because I say, oh, my gosh, today you just put the plug in and four
minutes you have your coffee made. You know, it's a big difference.
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D'Angelo: What else did you do for fun back then besides play cards?
00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:43.000
D'Angelo: Were there? Borgna: Well, we used to go to Picnic and Sunday and
visit our friends once or twice a week. You know, they come over and visit
us. We used to have lots of friends coming in, visit. And one year, you
know, the fireworks and Crabtree, we had about 40 people one night over
there coming and going. I never forget that. You have enjoy yourself,
though.
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D'Angelo: You mentioned that you were never sick except when you had your.
Your daughter.
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Borgna: Yeah, And my appendix out after 22 months after. Mhm.
00:19:55.000 --> 00:20:03.000
D'Angelo: What about your husband and what kind of medical care was
available then to you?
00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:48.000
Borgna: Well, it wasn't in her mind once or twice. He lost his finger,
which they caught him on time because he almost lose his arm because the
skin was coming off already was, you know. And the doctor, he come over and
I said, if you don't know what what to do with him, send them to the
hospital. And someone would take care of him. Then he called the ambulance
and send him to the hospital. And Dr. Burks, he cut his finger the day
after and he told me if he was waiting one more day, he would lost his arm.
He was lucky.
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.000
D'Angelo: Was that a company doctor? Borgna: Yes.
00:20:51.000 --> 00:21:23.000
Borgna: That he was a company from the mine? Yes. Uh huh. And I thank God
every day for that. I think you see him. He lost one finger, huh? D'Angelo:
Uh huh. Borgna: Yeah, but he was lucky. And then. But he is pretty good for
his age and everything, too, you know? He's doing good. It is regularly.
Three meals a day. Never miss one for a long time.
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Borgna: These are regular meals every day, you know, in the morning. I
don't. But he does see you in the morning and juice. And then at 11:00, we
we have our lunch soup, whatever sometime is leftover from the day before
or. Salad. Not dog or sausage for lunch. And then he'd go and take his nap
every day, which I do, too, if I can. But sometimes the telephone wakes me
up so many times cause I don't care. I'm used to it, you know? Uh huh.
Yeah. And is there any other question? Okay, Now.
00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:16.000
D'Angelo: What church do you go to here in Greensburg?
00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:20.000
Borgna: To the cathedral. Since we moved here in Greensburg.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:22.000
D'Angelo: Are you involved in any church activities?
00:22:22.000 --> 00:23:01.000
Borgna: Well, a couple of societies I belong to Catholic charity and
Catholic daughter. And I go to the meeting every once in a while. Sometime
I go to the bingo, but not too often. Are they going to still visit my
nephew friend sometime? We keep ourselves busy. I tell him you and I can
make pizza in five minutes. And you know one thing I forgot.
00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:56.000
Borgna: When your mother called me yesterday, I said, I'm going to take
the dough out of the freezer. Forgot to take the dough out of the freezer
and make you a pizza and five minutes. And I'm not lying. And I forgot. 32.
31. Andrina was born in 1933. That one was born dead. You want to know
that? Or. And then a couple years after the dinosaur, you know, which was
nice to take her because she was healthy and all that, you know? And then
she grew up and send her to school and all that. Uh huh.
00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:59.000
D'Angelo: And you still continued to work when she was a little girl.
00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:46.000
Borgna: Oh, yeah. And a house at home. Yeah, because, you know, I never
leave her. I don't have anybody to leave her, which I don't mind, you know.
And then she went to school on Crabtree for a while and the there Salzburg
School and then high school in Greensburg. The time go. That is all the
question we have to ask.
00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:51.000
D'Angelo: Was your husband in the labor union when he worked in the mine?
And how?
00:24:51.000 --> 00:25:32.000
Borgna: Well, when the union came, yeah, it was pretty good down there.
You know, he liked the union? Yes. He tried to help him because he thought,
of course, Roosevelt was the one who started that, I think. And he always
believed in a union, which was nice because, look, you know, is a big help
even for ourselves to keep going and never thing easy because, you know,
that helps every month when you get that pension and you don't have to
worry about, you know, paying your bill and go to the store and all that,
you know?
00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:54.000
Borgna: Oh, yeah. Now we have it real nice. We can complain. I wish this
going to last forever, even for you young people, you know, which I hope
so, because he was saying they don't have no pension and all that. I don't
know how people can keep going, you know, a long time ago.
00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:58.000
D'Angelo: Was the coal company fair to its workers?
00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:43.000
Borgna: Oh, yes, I think so. Oh, yeah, I think that's Of course they get
paid like everybody else, you know. I think. And like I said, if we don't
move in, a company has that time, we don't have any job. We are supposed to
move in a company house. That's what we need. And buy food from the company
house because they let him off one time from work because he said, You
don't leave. We used to live in DeLuca's house and for 22 months. And then
we move in company house, which we never was our job since then.
00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:52.000
D'Angelo: So the company didn't let you work there unless you lived in one
of their houses? Borgna: That's right. Uh huh. D'Angelo: Why do you why did
they do that?
00:26:52.000 --> 00:27:33.000
Borgna: Because you have to give you the money back to the company. That's
what I would figure, you know? Yeah, but we got along pretty good. I don't
have it too tough like some other people, you know? I don't know if it was
my job and, you know, my job was easy, though. Was that easy? But I always
try to do the best I can. Then you're going to tell your mother. What I
tell you today is almost a book made. No, it's a couple things. And there's
lots of other things besides.
00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:44.000
D'Angelo: You have an interesting story to tell. Right. What about, um,
uh, communism? Were you afraid that it would come to this country?
00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:57.000
Borgna: Oh, yeah. I'm against Communist. I don't want to see him because
he'll be a different life. I hope they don't get him an airplane either,
you know?
00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:01.000
D'Angelo: There are a lot of them now. Borgna: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:37.000
Borgna: I hope we never see that because now we are in a free country. You
can? Well, of course they say it's not like it used to be. To go out in the
night by yourself is Lady Danger. That is not that bad yet. You know what I
mean? But for those people, come will be hard. And the class of the year
never made much progress. Neither. D'Angelo: the Ku Klux Klan? Borgna: Ku
Klux Klan. You see them sunshine.
00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:49.000
D'Angelo: What about the Black people living in your neighborhood? Were
there many? And how do you how were they treated back in the 1930s and
40s?
00:28:49.000 --> 00:29:07.000
Borgna: Well, we didn't make any difference. There used to be neighbor,
you know, and we don't make any fuss or anything because I find them there.
And you know, of course I tell you the truth.
00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:14.000
Borgna: I know. Well.
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:42.000
Borgna: Real couple there. They was nice, you know what I mean? And of
course, maybe it was some bad, too, because it's the some those kind of
people, they are all over, you know. No, only the Black. But is the other
one, too, don't you think? White. And. No, we don't have any trouble with
the color.
00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.000
D'Angelo: But most of the people in Crabtree were Italian and Slovak.
00:29:47.000 --> 00:30:18.000
Borgna: And Hungarian, and we have a neighbor for 20, 20 years. He was
Serbian, which we got along real good because they was talking their own
language. We talk our own language. Nobody understands us, no matter if we
was talking about them. You know, one good thing when you know more than
one language, you can talk about people well, next door, I would say, but
we never had too much to say. We always got along real good.
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:46.000
Borgna: They moved to Philadelphia after we sold our house and they still
come and see us almost every year from there. And they write us for
Christmas all the time. They want to know how we get along. And everything,
you know, is one thing. We always. We have a neighbor for 20 years and we
never have anything, any trouble or anything to say.
00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:54.000
D'Angelo: When you when you first came from Italy, how did the people
treat you When you first came here, you were just married and starting
out.
00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:54.000
Borgna: Oh, they treat me good. I can't complain. Yes, they have some
friends here. They come and visit me. I always remember it was Mrs. Gentine
or Lilly for girls. They was little. They will come and visit me and they
stay there for a good while. And.
