Rocco Graziadei

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: (1900–1926), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Histoire D.Ottawa par Georgette Lamoureux
• Name: Rocco Antonio Graziodi
• Immigration: 1875
• Census: 1921, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Address:
  Ottawa (City/Cite) Ottawa (ward/Quartier) D-110 Sub-15
• Fact: 1921; Italian
• Fact: 1921, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Married; Address:
  63 St-Andrew Street
• Occupation: 1921, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Residence: 1921, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Address:
  63 Augusta Street
• Occupation: 1935, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Retired Musician

Notes:

Fact:
GRAZIADEI — Pendant la période qui nous intéresse, il existait à Ottawa, un excellent orchestre dirigé par un Italien, Rocco Antonio Graziadei, et je me plais à relater ici les incidents d'une vie entièrement consacrée à la musique, tel que relaté
par le petit-fils de Rocco, Sylvio.

Ne à Laurenzana, en, Italie le 16 février 1859 le petit Rocco étudia la harpe et, avec son père, donna une série de concerts à travers l'Europe, jouant du violon, du violoncelle, de la flûte et de la harpe. Éventuellement, Rocco émigra en Amérique,
gagna sa vie comme musicien et épousa sa cousine et amie d'enfance Carmella Nicolini. Le jeune couple vint s'installer à Ottawa où il donna naissance à dix enfants: cinq garçons: Sylvio, Dominic, Joseph, Michael et John et cinq filles, Annie, Rosie, Matilda, Stella et Lena.

Les enfants étaient tous doués pour la musique et, bientôt, ils formèrent un orchestre connu et apprécié, en grande demande pour les événements sociaux de la capitale.
L'orchestre jouait aussi sur les bateaux faisant les croisières de la rivière Ottawa, à la salle à dîner de l'hôtel Russell, aux clubs de golf et de canot. Vers le début du siècle, les Graziadei jouèrent sur les bateaux de touristes faisant la navette aux Mille
Ile pendant Fêté. Un des enfants, John, n'avait que huit ans, mais jouait avec ses frères.

En 1907, Rocco fut nommé par le Consul général d'Italie, agent pour tous les Italiens d'Ottawa. Il devait s'occuper de leurs besoins et voir aux immigrants. Il s'acquitta de cette charge jusqu'en 1929.

Au début, les Italiens entendaient la messe dans la chapelle de la rue Murray, incendiée il y a quelques années seulement. Le Père Fortunato, capucin, récemment arrive à Ottawa, persuada les Italiens de construire leur propre église et, en 1910, l'église St-Anthony fut installée rue Booth avec l'aide de bazars, d'encans et des argents amassés dans des concerts par les Graziadei.

En 1915, Rocco fut chargé de recruter des volontaires pour combattre pour l'Italie, travail difficile car la publicité qui circulait n'encourageait guère le recrutement.

Les enfants Graziadei; devenus adultes, (les fils étant tous employés comme fonctionnaires) continuèrent leur carrière de musiciens. Sylvio, harpiste, épousa Lena Viniello de New York. Dominic, violoniste, épousa Hectorine Aubé. Joe,
flûtiste, se maria avec Grâce Graziadei, de Port Huron. Il joua dans l'orchestre philharmonique d'Ottawa et dans les fanfares de la ville. Le plus jeune fils, John, jouait le tambour dans le 38ième bataillon.

Sylvio A. Graziadei m'a aussi parlé de la,Société, de culture italienne avec son propre drapeau: une feuille d'érable à fond vert su le drapeau blanc et rouge de son pays d'adoption. La Société procurait à ses membres une salle de lecture, une bibliothèque et des conférenciers. En 1924, le Premier ministre Mackenzie King parla à l'inauguration des Filles de l'Italie.

Les Italiens tenaient souvent des magasins de fruits: les Mandia, Chiocha, la famille Imbro, excellent restaurant, Nicola Surto, Calderone, Paul Bova et beaucoup d'autres.

Lorsque Rocco Graziadei mourut en 1935, il laissait 26 petíts-enfants.

Source: Georgette Lamoureux-- Histoire d'Ottawa--Tome IV-- Ottawa--1900-1926.
page 281-82


MUSIC FROM THE BALCONY
This restored Juliet balcony of this 1908 duplex has a great musical past.
This property was purchased by Rocco Antonio Graziadei, one of the very first Italians to settle in Ottawa & one of it’s first professional harpist. Born in Laurenzana, Italy, on February 16th, 1859, he began his musical career at the age of seven. He toured most of the principal cities of Europe with his father, also a musician. By1866,he had not only mastered the harp, but the flute, cello and violin.
In 1870 he travelled to New York city and became a travelling musician visiting nearly all of the major cities in Canada & USA. He returned to Italy in 1880 to marry his childhood sweetheart Maria Carmelia Nicolini. In 1884 he took up permanent residence in Ottawa. You can see him here in this photo in front of the old structure at 63 St. Andrews Street before the new house was built. The sign reads “Available for Balls, Parties and Receptions” (Pic #3).
He also owned co-owned a small grocery store /travel agency/lending agency at 85 George street in the market called Banco Graziadei.

Census:
Name: Roico Graziadei
[Rocco Graziadei]
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1858
Birth Place: Scaly
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Carmela Graziadei
Father Birth Place: Scaly
Mother Birth Place: Scaly
Year of Immigration: 1875
Racial or Tribal Origin: Italian
Province or Territory: Ontario
District: Ottawa
District Number: 110
Sub-District: Ottawa Ward
Sub-District Number: 15
City, Town or Village: Ottawa - Ottawa Ward
Street or Township: 63 St Andre
Municipality: Ottawa Ward
Occupation: Merchant
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
Roico Graziadei 63
Carmela Graziadei 63
Stella Graziadei 24
Mathilda Graziadei 22
Lina Graziadei 19

Residence:
He also owned co-owned a small grocery store /travel agency/lending agency at 85 George street in the market called Banco Graziadei.

The 3rd pic ca. 1910 is the Graziadei family House at 61-63 St Andrew St. NW corner of St Andrew/Parent. One of the earliest Italian families in Lowertown, they still have descendants living in the area. The signage on the right side of the building suggests a musical connection with a reference to Italian Orchestra (more on that below).
The 4th pic was taken today The building was replaced in 1908. The building to it’s left could be the same as previous photo. You can see the Elizabeth Bruyere Hospital (Old General) in behind it
The 5th photo was taken from the following article and shows the family in front of the newer house.

Buried:
Notre Dame - Section B, Ontario

Family/Spouse: Carmella Nicolini. Carmella was born about 1858 in Scaly; died on 19 Mar 1922 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; was buried after 19 Mar 1922 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Dominique Vincent Graziadei was born in 1881; died in 1963; was buried in 1963 in ON, Ottawa, Notre Dame, cimetière.
2. Silvio Carmen Graziadei was born on 17 Dec 1884 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and died.
3. Christopher Graziadei was born on 11 Aug 1886 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; died on 11 Aug 1886 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
4. Rose Agnes Graziadei was born in 1891; died on 19 Sep 1954 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; was buried in 1954 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
5. Stella Guiliana Graziadei was born on 19 Jun 1895 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; died on 12 May 1975 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; was buried after 12 May 1975 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
6. Giovanni Battista Graziadei was born on 25 Jun 1897 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; died on 9 Jul 1975 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; was buried after 9 Jul 1975 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
7. Mathilda Graziadei was born about 1899 in Ontario, Canada; and died.
8. Joseph Graziadei
9. Anna Theresa Graziadei
10. Micheal Paul Graziadei was born on 25 Jan 1899 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and died.
11. Lena Graziadei was born about 1902 in Ontario, Canada; and died.