Product Description

Using vintage photographs, interviews and archival material, this text tells the story of a remarkable American neighbourhood, Newark's old First Ward. Boasting the nation's fifth largest Italian population, the First Ward was a quintessential urban community.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #662435 in Books
• Published on: 1999-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
"It's a story that twines the American dreams of immigrants, postwar follies of urban planners, and appreciation of what was lost in the rush to the suburbs." -- Asbury Park Press

"Re-creates a visual history of an era and a way of life long lost." -- Hackensack Sunday Record

"The publication... has sparked a wave of pride among Italian Americans." -- North Jersey Newspapers

From the Back Cover
Michael Immerso traces the history of the First Ward from the arrival of the first Italian in the 1870s until 1953 when the district was uprooted to make way for urban renewal. Richly illustrated with photographs culled from the albums and shoeboxes in the private collections of hundreds of former Firs Ward families all across the United States, the book documents the evolution of the district from a small immigrant quarter into a complex Italian-American neighborhood that thrived during the first half of this century.

About the Author
Michael Immerso is a writer, publicist, and social activist who frequently serves as a media consultant for nonprofit organizations.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Contribution
This book is an excellent contribution to both Italian American history and the local history of Newark, New Jersey. I was sceptical in ordering this book via the mail as there are probably only a handful of quality works documenting the Italian experience in America. (Blood of My Blood being one ). Most books, unfortunately, are either embarrassingly superficial or reflect a typical, morbid emphasis on organized crime.

Michael Immerso has crafted an intelligent, well written account of a once vibrant Italian American neighborhood in Newark. His careful tracing of the changes within the First Ward during the first 50 years of the 20th century and then its ultimate demise is complemented by numerous excellent photographs, many of which no doubt came from private family albums. Immerso's examination of the central role of the Catholic Church in the neighborhood is particularly noteworthy. The author's effort is timely as well in view of the fact that all the Depression Era residents of the neighborhood are now aging and as they pass from the scene so will their yet untapped insights.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the immigrant experience in America. It's hoped that books like this will encourage other scholars to explore the countless other local histories waiting to be documented.

A keepsake of Italian culture in New Jersey
I thank Michael Immerso for putting this book together. He puts together a history of the Italian-American culture that flourished in Newark. This culture that was so strong that despite the fact that the First Ward is vanished (as the title points out), its legacy still lingers in New Jersey (anyone remember 'Nicky Newark'?)

For fans of this book, there was an New Jersey Network documentary that accompanied it, which airs occasionally on NJN and WNET/channel 13. A copy of the video is available.

Also, the Newark Public library ran an exhibit concurrently with the release of this book, and if I am correct, the exhibit is now part of their archives.

Great job Mr Immerso!
My parents are first generation Italians who lived in Newark. I was born in Newark and lived there until I was five years old. To this day my parents still talk of how great Newark was back in those days. I read the book and loved it. I gave it to my mother who also loved it. Great work. I hope Michael Immerso writes a follow up book.