Italian Lives, Cape Breton Memories by Sam Migliori A. Evo Dipierro

Author:Sam Migliori, A. Evo Dipierro [Sam Migliori, A. Evo Dipierro]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781772060720
Google: I1pwswEACAAJ
Amazon: B0721K9ND7
Barnesnoble: B0721K9ND7
Goodreads: 57729185
Publisher: Cape Breton University Press
Published: 2017-01-15T03:28:12+00:00

Memories of Papa Jimmy: The Tubetti Family of Inverness

Edited by Sam Migliore

The western shores of Cape Breton are not noted as a centre of Italian immigration and settlement. The Tubetti family, however, was able to carve a special place for itself in Inverness thanks to the efforts of Papa Jimmy (Giacomo Tubetti, 1893-1957). Presented here are some of the memories and experiences of three of Papa Jimmy’s grandchildren—Maureen Cameron; Daryl MacDonald; and, Frances Penney.1

Too Young to be a Grandfather

[Maureen]: Papa Jimmy. I used to ask my mother why we had to call him Papa. I said: “he’s a grandpa.” “Oh,” she says: “don’t ever call him grandpa; he doesn’t like that word. He said it’s got to be Papa ’cause he’s too young to be a grandpa.” That was why it was always Papa Jimmy and Grandma Neese. We never said Denise; it was always Grandma Neese. Yeah, and then with Daddy’s people it was Grandma Donald and Grandpa Donald. They were MacDonalds.

Grease Monkeys, Movies and Ice Cream

Giacomo Tubetti was known as a shrewd and energetic businessman. During his lifetime, he operated a gas station and garage, the Victoria Theatre and an ice cream parlour. These business ventures were the source of many fond memories for Giacomo’s grandchildren.

The Garage. [Daryl]: A high point for me was sneaking down to the garage and asking Papa Jimmy, “Can I get into the grease?” He would walk over with me, and we would get into the grease they used to lubricate the cars. I would get some on my hand, work it around. I just loved the feel of it, but my mother was always afraid I was going to turn out to be a grease monkey. She didn’t want that for me. [pause] After Papa Jimmy died, I kept really interested in mechanics. Uncle George [Tubetti] was really good when he ran the garage. He would let me pump gas in the summer. I’d meet lots of tourists. In fact, Lorne Greene. I shook his hand one time.

The Victoria Theatre. [Maureen]: Papa Jimmy rented a hall to show penny movies. They’d only cost one or two cents to see. He’d have a little projector and someone to play piano. They had silent movies, eh. Then, during the war, Papa Jimmy built the theatre; but, there was not enough money at the time to complete it. So he used to have dances and bingo, that’s how he got going. Then he got enough equipment, and he started up the theatre. It took him awhile, but he always got his cut. Whatever plans he had, they came true.

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