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Page: e.d. 258, sheet 4A, line49.
Note: Joe Romeo, owned his home at 328 8th Street N.W., valued at 10,000, owned a radio, age 36, born Belpasso Italy, parents born Belpasso, imm. 1910, naturalized, shoemaker in own shop, veteran of the World War. Enumerated with wife Carmela and children Nellie and Grace.
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Page: copy of clipping sent to submitter without a citation.
Note: Probably from a Washington D.C. area newspaper. Joe Romeo, born in Sicily, immigrated 1912, settled New York City and formed a small marching band, served in Army in Europe during WWI, moved to Washington 1921, opened a shoe shop; during the 1930s worked as special police officer with Veterans Administration, transferred to GSA and retired 1960; orgainzed Holy Rosary Band in 1930, retired 1978 after annual concert at church's Villa Rosa Festival;
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Page: Notes from oral interview conducted by Angela Thaden Hahn.
Note: Had an older brother who died when he, Joe, was born. Had two other sisters. Lived on a farm. Father well off. Elementary schools: grades 1-5. After elementary, college to learn a trade. Scared of marching bands when young. Would hide under the bed. Fear went away. Took lessons to play drum. Music lessons were free. Prcticed once during siesta. Crooked teeth, carpenter pulled one out with plyers. Could not play a mouth instrument. Did not tell his dad because musician was not considered a good living. Expressed desire to come to U.S. when 14. Dad didn't want him to. Joe got sick because he was unhappy so father let him go. He went over with a friend from the and. 20 days. Became seperated when arrived in New York. Nice man helped him. He was not allowed to stay because he was a minor. Was turned back like many others. Did not like the soup. Bought a big chocolate bar for $0.05. When 16, he went back to U.S. Brother-in-law sent him the ticket. Lived with sister and husband. Slums. Brooklyn. Worked in a furniture place, moving stacks of lumber 10 hours a day. 6 days a week. $5.00 a day. Bread $0.01. Celery $0.01. Pound of veal $0.04. Friend organized a small band. Joe played symbols. Traveled around locally. Went to Florida. Brother-in-law bought Joe a drum and ticket to Florida $20.00. Stayed a few months. Went back to Brooklyn. Joined a carnival. Joineed a circus and traveled to Oklahoma. Met an Italian family. Into shoes. Went back to Brooklyn. Won $30.00 in a game. Went to visit his Oklahoma friend. Clarendon, Texas. Lived with a family. Man taught him cobbling and shoe business. Was trusted and well liked. Organized a four piece orchestra. Asked to play at churches and funerals. Organized a band. Asked to join army to play bugle in town militia. Could not play bugle because of mouth. Thought to be loyal to Germans. Friends turned against. 1917 joined Army WWI. Was almost turned down because 1 inch too short. Was able to join because musicians were needed. Horse named Tex. 5th Cavalry Ft. Bliss, Texas
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Page: Deed Records, Vol. 42, p. 5, Donley Co., Texas.
Note: Joe Romeo, Enlistment Record, Musician 2nd Class; accepted for enlistment at Clarendon, Texas; enlisted Aug 2, 1917 at Fort Bliss Texas; served for one enlistment when discharged; good horsemanship; no battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions; musician; no wounds received in service; good physical condition; single; very good character, honest and faithful service; no A.W.O.L.; travel pay to Clarendon, Texas; paid $97.62 to include bonus $60.00 by C. A. Brown, Jr. 2nd Lt. Q.M.C., El Paso, Texas, Mar. 19, 1919. Joe Romeo, Honorable Discharge, 1002846, Mus. 2nd Class, Hdgrs. Troop 5th Cavalry, US Army, Mar 12, 1919; born Belpasso, Italy, at time of enlistment was 24 3/12 years old, musician, brown eyes, dark brown hair, dark complexion, 5' 1". Signed by A. C. Gillner, Coloner 5th Cavalry, Commanding on 19 Mar 1919 at Fort Bliss, Texas.
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Page: roll 1790, e.d. 62, sheet 1A
Note: Oringinal townsite of Clarendon, Block 10 of First Street, Joe Romeo, boarder, age 26, immigrated 1910, naturalized 1918, born Italy, salesman in a shoe shop, boarding in boarding house kept by E.W. and Zadie D. Adam, and their 7 year old son, also boarding to a printer and a photographer. Joe was enumerated a second time on Jan 5, e.d. 61, sheet 4B, same county, Precinct #2, Clarendon, 71 Kearney Street, boarding with Fred Rathjon and his aunt Katie Rathjon, both of Germany, owners of a shoe shop, Joe, age 26, single, immigrated 1905, naturalized 1918, born Italy, was a shoe repairman.
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Page: no. 41137
Note: Application made in Donley County, Texas. Joe Romeo born Belpasso Italy, 11 May 1893. Father, Mario Romeo, born Belpasso and residing Belpasso. Joe emigrated to U. S. sailing from Naples about 18 Apr 1910. Resided in U. S. from 1910 to 1920. Was a traveling musician for the first six years. Was naturized in the District Court of Western District of Texas, El Paso, 29 May 1918. Resided in Clarendon, Texas from 29 May 1918 to 14 Apr 1920. Occupation: Musician. Needs passport to visit parents. Will be leaving New York on the Giuseppe Verdi on 10 Aug 1920. Signed by Joe Romeo. Age 27, 5' 2", medium forehead, brown eyes, regular nose, regular mouth, regular chin, black hair, dark complexion, regular face. W. R. Patrick, president of the First National Bank in Clarendon, knew Joe for four years and swore to his identification. Photo included.
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Note: List of United States Citizens: Giuseppe Romeo, resides Washington D.C., age 28, married, ship Giuseppe Verdi out of Naples 22 Oct 1921, arrived New York Dec 5, 1921. Passport issued 22 May 1920. Address in U.S. 416 E. Capitol St., Washington D.C. [This is the address of his father-in-law.] Traveling with his wife Carmela Romeo.
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Note: Joseph Romeo. Age 21. Residence Clarendon, Texas. Born 11 May 1893. Citizenship status--Declarant. Born Belpasso, Catania, Italy. Clerk in shoe store at Rathjen shoe store in Clarendon. Dependants: father and mother "(old people)". Single. Short, slender, brown eyes, black hair, not bald.
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Note: Copy of clipping was sent to submitter by Joe's daughter, Mary Jo Hahn. Joe Romeo born Belpasso, Catania, Sicily on 11 May 1893. "Music has always been his love since his young age." Attended Conservatorio di Musica di Catania in 1910 and took lessons in drum, clarinette and saxophone for two years. Immigrated in 1912 and lived in New York City where he formed a small band with immigrants of different nationalities. Toured the country with them until he reached Texas. Attended the Taco Conservatory of Music. Joined the Army at the outbreak of WWI, was snet to France, injured, and sent back to USA. Married in Oct 1921 in Italy. Settled in Washington, D.C. operated a small shoe shop. In 1930 he founded the Holy Rosary Band with other amateurs. Given countless performances over the years at Americanization School, Veteran General Administration, Chamber of Commerce, Holy Rosary Church social events, and Villa Rosa Fall Festival. Received numerous commendations, onve from Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and one from the Veterans Administration for long association with the Red Cross and his performances at Christmas parties. Last concert was at Vila Rosa Fall Festival 1978. [Some of the facts in this clipping have not yet been verified.]
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Page: pg. 785, line 22
Note: S. S. Oceania sailed from Napoli 21 Apr 1910 arrived N. Y. 3 May 1910. Romeo, Giuseppe, age 16, single, shoemaker, literate, Italian. Residence Catania, Belpasso. Nearest relative Romeo Mario in Belpasso. Final destination NY. Paid for own ticket. $25.00 in pocket. Joining his brother-in-law, Pappalardo Concetto [could be 5 Market St., hard to read]. 5' 4", brown complexion, chestnut hair and eyes. [Appears to have been traveling alone.]
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Page: accessed; 25 November 2013; 1928 Romeo Joe (Carmela) shoe repr 328 8th ne h do
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Page: 197; sheet 14B; household 246; Joe Romeo; accessed; 19 January 2014
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Page: accessed; 23 June 2014; Geuseppe Romeo arrival 1909
Note: Nono told the story of how he came to America the first time, only to be sent back because he was underage. The individual listed above him, Salvatore [Spina] also came from Belpasso and was destined to meet up with the same friend, Orazio, in New York. Submitter suspects Salvatore and Giuseppe were traveling together. However, Salvatore was 22 years old and he was not deported. A little less than a year later, Giuseppe was back, and this time he was allowed to stay.
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Page: accessed; 23 June 2014; Joe Romeo arrived 1935
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Page: accessed; 25 March 2015; Joe Romeo; 29 May 1918, no. 255
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Page: Register 1893, no. 120
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Page: 1893, atto n. 120, parte I
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Page: 1892-1904, pg. 39.
Note: Joseph Romeo, born 11 May 1893.
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Page: Reg. no. 22622
Note: Joe Romeo, died 2:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland; born 11 May 1893, in Italy, age 91; citizen of USA; married; retired US Govt.; residence 11107 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, Montgomery County, Maryland; father Mario Romeo, mother Veneranda Rapisarda; veteran of WWI, SS# 579-50-0467; Emma Romeo (Wife), informant; died after 5 min. of Cardioresperatory Arrest due to Arterosclerotic Heart Disease; Howard S. Goldstein, attending physician; burial 8/30/84 at Ft. Lincoln, Brentwood, PG, Md.; arrangements by Hines/Rinaldi Funeral Home.
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Page: copy of clipping sent to submitter without a citation.
Note: Probably from a Washington D.C. area newspaper. Joe Romeo, age 91, retired special police officer with the General Services Administration, founder of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Band, died of cardiorespiratory arrest, Aug. 27, at Holy Cross Hospital, resided in Kensington; born in Sicily, immigrated 1912, settled New York City and formed a small marching band, served in Army in Europe during WWI, moved to Washington 1921, opened a shoe shop; during the 1930s worked as special police officer with Veterans Administration, transferred to GSA and retired 1960; orgainzed Holy Rosary Band in 1930, retired 1978 after annual concert at church's Villa Rosa Festival; first wife Carmelina Romeo died 1962; survivors wife Emma of Kensington; two daughters by first wife: Grace G. Romeo of Washington, and Mary J. Hahn of Rockville, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
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Page: no. 68807, sec 314, row 2, crypt D
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Page: accessed; 4 December 2013; Joe Romeo; 579500437; Washington, District of Columbia (1955)
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Page: no. 22622
Note: Joe Romeo, burial 8/30/84, Ft. Lincoln, Brentwood, PG, Md.
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Page: no. 68807, sec 304, row 2, crypt D
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Page: Book 1892-1904, pg. 39
Note: Notation written in margin of his marriage 29 Oct 1921 to Carmela Motta, parents Antonio and Grazia Chite' of Catania, child residing in Belpasso; and to Emma Retica at Holy Rosary Church parish, 3rd and F Sts, N.W., Washington, DC, 2-7-1964.
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