Italian-American Neighborhood Memorial

Italian-American Neighborhood Memorial. Tiffin University. , At the turn of the 20th century, a large number of Italians immigrated to this site and the surrounding neighborhood seeking a better life and a better means of supporting their families. Before long, the area that included Miami, Sandusky, Jackson, Clay, Wall, Adams, Grace, and Hudson Streets was dubbed Tiffin's "Little Italy"., "Little Italy" was a vibrant neighborhood where the Italian-Americans carried on traditions of their native country such as wine making, three-day weddings and fresh-baked bread and pizza in the brick outdoor ovens. Because the Catholic faith was so important for many of these immigrants, St. Mary's Church became the primary base for worship., They bonded together as a famiglia to strive to become Americans in this new land and specifically in this fun-loving, exciting neighborhood filled with the pleasant aroma of bread/pizza from the outdoor brick ovens, lush gardens in the summer, card playing in the winter and music all year round., Most of the families that settled on these streets were from southern Italy who knew each other from the Old Country. While many earned their livelihood as laborers, some established their own businesses to support their large families., This Neighborhood Memorial pays homage to the area formerly known as "Little Italy" and the families who were a part of the rich history of this neighborhood.