THE SPIRIT OF 1925

The genesis of the Buoncammino Society in 1925, began in the months following the armistice in 1918. The Altamurani community at large, preceding, during and after World War II, was basically situated in three enclaves. The largest was in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Westchester.

Historically, the Patron Saint of Altamura is Saint Irene and Saint Joseph and annual feasts in her honor are traditional. La Madonna Del Buoncammino is also venerated with an annual feast in her honor.

Transplanted to the new world, the Altamurani longed to have a feast in honor of Saint Irene. To this end, with the cessation of hostilities in 1918, the impetus began with the formation of the society of Saint Irene, in Hamden, CT. Lacking the requisite paesani population, the new Saint Irene Society never gained the prominence hoped for. South Brooklyn was destined to be the birthplace of the Buoncammino Society. World War I was over, many of the Altamurani were returning war veterans: they were young and vibrant, with a youthful dynamism. No challenges too great or insurmountable.

These new immigrants were young, hardworking, with a religious tradition for La Madonna Del Buoncammino. Into the mix, was the yearning to begin and perpetuate their religious tradition in their new country.

The spring of 1925 in South Brooklyn found a small group of close friends, some related to each other: They saw each other on a daily basis. Michele Guglielmo, John Massaro,
Gianbattista Ferrandino, Domenico Visconti, Sante Petraro, and Vito Vitale discussed the concept of forming a society almost on a daily basis. The concept took hold; in a few
weeks other paesani were drawn into the fold, J. Caputo, A. Natalichio, and Joe Miglionico.

Their zeal to formulate a Buoncammino Society culminated with the articles of incorporation in June 1925. The first feast was held in Jackson Heights in 1925. During World War II, no feasts were held for the years 1942-1945. In 1955 the park property was purchased, and all feasts since then have been in North Bergen, NJ.

As with their fathers, after World War I, returning war veterans of World War II returned to civilian life and the society experienced the largest influx of new members. The replacement rate has not diminished over time, with the membership roster holding steady through the years.

SUMMER OF 1925 – GETTING STARTED

By mid July 1925, the Certificate of Incorporation was received from Albany. The myriad tasks of building an organization had begun. This included the formulation of new bylaws and electing officers with the responsibility of assigned areas such as dues collecting, and treasury. It was during this early period that the posts of “consiglieri” were set up. “Consiglieri” or counsellers served as liaison between the membership at large and the officers, in an advisory capacity. Their primary duty was to interpret the by-laws and to mediate procedural disputes.

But throughout this formative period, the society members faithfully adhered to the strict letter of the by-laws in force at the time. The early members respected the by-laws. They firmly believed that a systematic code of by-laws in force would be the cement that would hold the new society together. To ensure that the by-laws would be reviewed and maintained, clauses were included in the by-laws, to the effect, that the by-laws must be updated every 10 years. The by-laws of today are largely the same as originally set up. The by-laws were updated in 1935, 1945, 1955, and more recently in 1990. The by-laws committee in these early days included: Sante Cannito, Dominick D’Ambrosio, John Massaro, Michele Guglielmo and Joe Ferrandino. Included were such modern innovations as quorums for meetings, and lines of authority were included in the early codes, and still exist today.

GROWING PAINS

As the summer months passed and autumn approached was discussed the matter of setting up regular meetings, not only “where”, but “when”. At what frequency? There was also the need to address the problem of members traveling to attend meetings. Many of the members believed that the location of the meeting should be situated in Brooklyn. The founding members fairly believed this, since the society was formed and implemented in Brooklyn. Other Italian Societies did not have this traveling problem. The Buoncammino Society, on the other hand, had members residing in New Jersey, Connecticut, Bronx, and Westchester, and even one member in Hollywood, Calif.

In addition, there was the problem of what facilities to use? Do we rent a hall? If so, where? Early on, meetings were held in the homes of some of the members.

In due course, meetings were held at the Dublin Palace, on 5th Avenue and Baltic St., in Brooklyn, until the late forties.

Years later, the monthly meeting was switched to the K of C Hall in South Brooklyn, on First Place. Meetings would be held here until 1968. It was at this time that they set the monthly meeting to be held on the first Thursday of the month. In the Fifties, this was changed to the first Wednesday of the month. Since mid 1968, meetings were held at Buoncammino Park.

The new administration now turned to formulating plans for the first feast. The popular preference among the members was to have “una festa campestra” a field feast. Street feasts were not popular among the members. Street feasts were too public.

In popular use at that time were several picnic parks available for rental. One was Ulmer Park, on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The grounds could park 200 cars. Tables could be rented for a nominal fee, which was refunded when the table was returned. Also in use at this time, was a picnic park in Jackson Heights, Queens. This park was even more accommodating.

It was during this period that it was decided that the Feast Director should be independent of the administration and any interference. They mandated that the Feast Director would be appointed by the President and approved by the members. To this day, the Feast Director is not elected, being the only post to have this distinction.

It was also during this period, that carrying the Saint was done by competitive bidding. There were no spot numbers painted in the roadways now in current use. In those days the women would join together and chip into a fund to be used in the bidding at the next feast.

The first feast directors included: Sante Ninivaggi, Sante Cannito and Domenick D’Ambrosio. These men were dedicated to the purpose at hand. They had no prior experience to guide them. All they had was a commitment to having a successful feast.

MUTUO SUCCORSO

In October 1929 with the crash of the stock market, an event that was catastrophic, the U.S. was in the grip of a severe economic depression, and times were hard. The Society was just 4 years old, but from the beginning, the Society was formed with the concept of Mutuo Succorso or mutual aid. The members tried early on to address the hardship of the members by establishing death benefits for members and their wives. The new Society had meager resources and could not afford to do much more than this. But in those harsh times, this death benefit was very welcome indeed. Sick benefits were also set up. The early Society never had the resources to pay sick benefits of any magnitude.

Sadly only the death benefit remains on the books today. In the early years, the family of the deceased member received the use of a limo, a funeral wreath, and a memorial
banner. A floral wreath and memorial banner is still provided.

THE ITALIAN RED CROSS

With the rise to power of Mussolini in the late twenties and early thirties, the fascists began their military adventures into Eritrea Somaliland and Ethiopia. World opinion was against Italy for attacking a defenseless native population in particular and against fascism in general.

In a desire to help, the society members decided to donate $5000 to the Italian Red Cross. At the meeting when this motion was made, there was a very vocal opposition to this donation. The opposition to this donation was spirited but in the end the donation was made. The society would not experience such turmoil again until some 25 years later, when they would purchase the Orchard Grove property.

ORCHARD GROVE

The Society first heard of a property for sale located in North Bergen, NJ generally known as Orchard Grove, which had been in popular use in the pre-world War I era. It was in use as a picnic ground well into the twenties. The property included a house, and a dance pavilion to the rear of the house. After the purchase, this dance pavilion would be torn down. The house included a bar on the ground floor, and a rentable apartment on the second floor.

Any expenditure of money brought before the society is required to be added to the agenda under new business. In due course, the item is debated and eventually a motion is made to purchase. All motions must be communicated to the members in the monthly letter. This is only fair and proper. But this was not done, even though members had the right to be notified. This omission only served to embitter the members who were already opposed to buying the property to begin with. This bitterness found its way into the meetings, where the debate became very vocal and led to dreadful animosity. Members in opposition were shouted down and refused the opportunity to speak. This entire incident was a sorry episode and led to the resignations of dozens of members. All of this could have been avoided, since those in favor had enough votes to pass the motion.

Hopefully this will never be repeated.

THE SOCIETY IN THE 80’s, 90’s AND BEYOND

The Society had always been interested in drawing in new members especially the younger generation. It has been successful in this regard as the Society of Buoncammino has reached its fourth generation of membership as the great grandsons of the founders have joined. As health and death insurance became commonplace in the United States, the Society sought new and innovative ideas to benefit and attract members. This gave birth to the Cultural Exchange Program whereby the Society selects two students through a competitive program, to visit Altamura for a two-week stay at the home of our brother and sister members in Altamura. The Society pays for the complete visit while the Society in Altamura selects two of their young people to live at the homes of our members in the United States. This program has brought about lasting friendships and re-informed the bonds with our land of origin. This bridge building was culminated in 1997 and 1998 when a contingent of officers from the United States participated in the Feast in Altamura followed by the Officers from Altamura participating in our Feast in 1998. A first and a historic event indeed.

So that we may pay homage to the ladies of our Organization, the Society holds an annual Ladies Day Brunch at which all female friends of the Buoncammino Society are the Society’s Guest at formal brunch. At this Brunch, another recent innovation takes place. For five years, the Society has been electing a Miss Altamura. The victorious Miss receives a $1000 cash prize and goes on to compete in the annual Miss Puglia contest representing Altamura.

LEST WE FORGET

With the advent of the new millennium, one tends to look back on the past, to recall the events and efforts that brought us to the present. In our journey through life, we live each moment but once. During this trip, there will be memorable experiences. There will be mistakes and lessons learned. What greater gift could we leave our descendants, but a written record of what we know of our past, of where we came from and our traditions? Of what we can learn from this as we face the future? In our younger years, we tend to have little concern for matters of the past. The present is too urgent and the future too uncertain. Yet, as time pursues its inexorable course, as our candle burns shorter, we tend to look back and wonder. What was it like when my father or grandfather lived? What type of people were these, who passed on to their children and grandchildren this wonderful legacy for all to experience?

Who can describe all this? If someone does not record these happenings; if we not do our part-no one in the future will ever know the grand effort made by these founding members.