Throwback Tuesday....

I am taking liberties with Throwback Thursday and am moving it to Tuesday.

Some of you may have seen some of these photos before, but Joe's folks and his family have been on my mind lately.  Probably because our nephew and his family are coming this weekend.  We love them so much and always have such a good time with them.  As our generation gets older, we are turning it over to this next generation (who are in their 50s, for goodness sake!).

Joe's dad came here from Italy in 1924.  He became a butcher, and had his own meat market, first in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and then he bought property in Harmenville/Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, where he had the meat market built.

Joe tells me that this was taken at the Wayne business.  His dad looks so young!!

Joe's mom was born in the USA, but her folks came here from Italy.  Her dad owned a small grocery store in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  These LEGAL immigrants were hard workers. Hard. Workers.  And they had to have a sponsor and a job to come to the USA. Joe remembers helping his Aunt Lucy learn English...and they WANTED to learn English and assimilate.  Times have sure changed.

The property below included a very large house, where the family lived and shared with other family members as they were able to come over from Italy.  I never got to see the inside of the house, but was fortunate to be able to tour the meat market, thanks to the people who bought the business from Joe's dad and still ran a meat market there when Joe and I were dating.  I've heard so many great stories and it was wonderful to get to see where they all took place.  This photo is of Joe's parents and their dalmatian, Jack.  The store front is obvious. The attached building behind is the stables and slaughter house.

Here is a photo of Joe's dad with Joe (tall) and younger brother, Nick.

When Joe spoke with his brother, Lou, last weekend, Lou told him that the house and the meat market have now been torn down and an assisted living home has been built there. Kind of sad that it is gone and only the photos and memories are left....but the memories are rich!!

Our son, Jeff, is a meat manager for Safeway stores.  We always say he stayed with the family business.  A couple of Jeff's friends call him The Butcher.  Could be scary unless you understand the history!

That's my walk down memory lane.  Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.