Italian American Museum Opens in Little Italy

GRAND OPENING: The ribbon cutting ceremony for The Italian American Museum in Little Italy on Wednesday was attended by a large group of prominent Italian American officials and businessmen. (Katy Mantyk/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—The Italian American Museum (IAM) officially opened its doors on Wednesday, with a special blessing from his Excellency Celestino Migliore, the Permanent Observer to the United Nations.  He was joined by many prominent Italian and Italian American officials for the ribbon cutting.

“This is a stellar day for Italian Americans in New York and all over the country. This is the heart of Italian Americans all over the world,” said State Senator Serphin Maltese, who grew up a few blocks away from the new museum.

Situated right in the heart of Little Italy, on the corner of Grand Street and Mulberry, the museum occupies the former Banca Stabile (pronounced STAH-bee-lay). The bank was the community’s financial engine from the 1880’s to 1932. The Museum’s debut exhibition, “The Immigrant experience; Banca Stabiile—Cornerstone of Little Italy,” runs through Nov. 21. The bank’s tellers’ windows, huge vault (including former customers’ bankbooks and records) are well preserved.

According to IAM President and Founder Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa there are some elderly locals who still remember using the bank, and love the fact they can now come in and go on the other side of the tellers’ window to revisit history.  But the main reason for the museum is to preserve history for future generations.

“This ensures that future generations will have a place to study and explore the rich contributions of their ancestors,” said Dr. Scelsa.

Earlier this year the IAM completed its purchase of three tenements at 189, 187, and 185 Grand Street from Dr. Jerome Stabile III, whose family has owned the property since the 1880’s. Grants from the city helped with the acquisition, as well as for future plans to restore an adjoining old store to it’s original state, to be included as part of the museum.

The museum plans to expand over the next three to five years as they have 3,000 pieces of memorabilia and artifacts in storage.

The expansion plans are contingent on incoming funding, and the health of city finances and the market.

“Cash those checks fast Joe, that’s my one piece of advice for the day!” said Thomas diNapoli, New York State Comptroller, in reference to city funding.

John Rossi’s grandfather, a sailor from Naples, immigrated to New York in 1900. He opened a store next door to Banco Stabile, Musica Libreria Calendari. Rossi imported Italian knick-knacks, like coffee pots and music rolls. The store moved a block up the street and is now run by his cousin Earnest, whose grandfather had a barbershop in the area in the late 1800’s (which is still be open for business nearby).

Photos and memorabilia donated by the Rossi family have a prominent place in the exhibition.
“They (their grandparents) stayed on Grand Street for almost a century,” explains the enthusiastic grandson. “I think it’s great that they’re keeping the history here. It’s really amazing, they have the photos I gave them of my Aunt Concceta Rossi, and last month they found her bank book in the vault.”