Building Memories: 218 State L

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/07/04/local_news/news/news05.txt

An article about the family hoistory of my Friend

Building Memories: 218 State Line: The Milazzo's
Monday, July 4, 2005 10:13 AM CDT

"The Milazzo brothers worked hard to achieve the

'American dream.'"

Dominic Milazzo, an Italian native, and his older brothers, Samuel and Chris, came to Texarkana during its earliest days, hoping that the American Dream would extend to them. I wonder what they thought of our new town as they stepped off the train here sometime around 1880. I'm sure they saw the bustling activity going on up and down Broad Street as timber business buildings were being built as fast as they could be, and housing districts were expanding to accommodate the booming population growth.

Once here, they had to open businesses that would fit into this developing town and that would have a steady demand for what they offered. The first time the Milazzo brothers appear in Texarkana records is in the 1882-1883 list of businesses. According to this list, Dominic had opened a cigar and tobacco shop while Samuel had opened a saloon.

Earliest city directory entries in 1899-1900 show that Dominic's business was located at 218 State Line Ave. Sam's saloon was not far away at 116 W. Broad St. Texarkana's men frequented both types of businesses, so not only were their services in demand, but it gave the brothers a chance to meet the husbands and fathers of nearly every family in town at that time.

Dominic was born in 1872 in Italy. Chris was born a year earlier, and the eldest brother, Samuel, was born in 1864. Once established in Texarkana, these families thrived. Dominic and his wife Caroline (b. 1880) had four children: Lee Christopher Milazzo (b. 1900), Marie Milazzo (b. 1901), Joseph Milazzo, and Camille Milazzo (b. 1904). Samuel and his wife Annie S. (b. 1872) had two children: Marie G. Milazzo (b. 1898), and Samuel Milazzo Jr. (b. 1905). It appears from the records that Chris Milazzo did not take a wife and had no children of his own.

By 1910 Chris and Dominic had set up their shop at 218 State Line Ave., where they made shoes. Samuel Milazzo sold cigars at the former address of his saloon, 116 W. Broad St., hiring Dominic's son, Joseph, as a clerk there. It appears that the Milazzo family had chosen St. Edward Catholic Church and were members there from 1912-1917.

Another member of this extended family made an appearance about 1910, as well. Vincent Milazzo set up his own shoe shop at 218 W. Broad St., though I don't know how he is related to the others mentioned here.

In the 1920s, Texarkana, like nearly every town in America, was going through a period of "social housekeeping," trying to clean up the Swampoodle District, saloons and gambling dens that had thrived on Front and Broad Streets from the town's very beginning. The Milazzo family had seen this trend coming and had concentrated on new endeavors that would keep them in good community standing.

There were many Milazzo family members mentioned in the 1920 Texarkana City Directory. Dominic had moved his shoe shop to 414 State Line Ave. and appeared to be working alone at that time. Chris Milazzo opened a separate shoe shop at 212 State Line Ave., living nearby at 214 1/2 State Line. Samuel Milazzo had become a grocer with a store at 423 N. Oak Street. Camille, Joseph, and Lee were listed as being students and four single women were listed under their own names-Emma, Lillian, Marguerite and Marie. Camille, Joseph, Lee, and Marie were all living at 830 Hazel St. with Dominic Milazzo. Emma, Lillian, and Marguerite were all living with Samuel Milazzo at 413 N. Oak Street.

As America descended into the Great Depression in 1930, the Milazzo family held steady. Dominic and his wife, Caroline, operated a shoe repair shop at 414 N. State Line. Their children, Camille, Joseph, Lee, and Marie were still living at home at 830 Hazel. Samuel Milazzo and his wife, Annie, lived at 413 N. Oak, and Samuel Milazzo Jr., and his wife, Lillie, lived at 312 Jerome. At this time, Sam Jr., was a salesman for the I. Schwarz store downtown. Chris Milazzo had converted his shoe making store into a shoe repair store and had moved into the Avenue Hotel closeby. It was interesting that all branches of the Milazzo family had learned to roll with the economic punches.

In the 1940s, Americans watched as Europe was drawn into World War II and I'm sure the Milazzo family worried about family members who had remained in Italy. During this decade Dominic moved his shoe shop to 208 W. Broad St. His brother, Samuel, became the secretary of the Knights of Columbus Texas Council, and he and his wife, Annie, moved to 3410 Boulevard. Then, tragedy struck in quick succession as the elders of this large family died. Chris Milazzo died in 1937, Samuel in 1943, and Dominic in 1944.

Competent second-generation Milazzo men stepped up and watched over the gains their parents had made. Lee Christopher Milazzo became the head of the Dominic Milazzo family while Samuel Milazzo Jr. became the head of the Samuel Milazzo family. It appears from existing records that Camille and Marie were still living in their parental home at 830 Hazel for many decades. Lee Christopher Milazzo managed his father's shoe store and his wife, Kathlyn, opened the Plaza Beauty Shop in the basement of the Plaza Apartments at 402 Pine St. Their home was located at 2119 Hickory St. Samuel Jr. and his wife, Lillie, moved into a home at 3318 Boulevard and Sam became the manager of the insurance department of Mayo-Hawley & Co.

Then, beginning in 1977, the second generation Milazzos died. Samuel Milazzo Jr. died in 1977, Camille died in 1988, Marie died in 1992 and Kathlyn died in 1999. The Dominic Milazzo family and his brother Chris are buried at Calvary Cemetery; the Samuel Milazzo family is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, both in Texarkana.

The grandchildren of Dominic and Samuel Milazzo continued to flourish in Texarkana until about 2004, when the Milazzo name disappeared from our phone books and city directories. I'm sure there are probably remnants of this wonderful family nearby, but they are more than likely daughters who have married and taken new last names.

It is sad that the only remnant of this founding family is a picture of Dominic's name in hexagonal tiles taken before the building was demolished to make room for a parking lot.

(Dr. Beverly Rowe is a professor of anthropology, history and sociology at Texarkana College. She can be reached at [phone] or [e-mail])