Ben Calitri and Grandson Paul Easterling, Bonnyman, KY 1933

This photo was taken in the summer of 1933 in Bonnyman, Ky. This is one of the only pictures my father has with his grandfather, Ben Calitri - age 66 here. I'm posting this for my father, Paul Easterling -who was born 09/08/32 in Hazard, but not quite a year old in this photo. This picture stands alone in its quality, while capturing a priceless moment between a proud, hard-working, strict Italian man posing in the yard with his grandson safe in his arms. Thanks Dad!! : )

Ben Calitri married Ernestina Calitri, they were both Italian, but only Ben spoke English. He taught his wife over the years to speak our language, but she raised her 7 (more??) children speaking in Italian. My dad's mother was their youngest daughter Frances Calitri (Easterling) I know friends called my grandma "Frank" for short. And finally their youngest, Johnnie Calitri a boy with 6 older sisters to baby him. My dad remembers speaking Italian as a young boy in Kentucky.

If anyone remembers Ben Calitri and his family in Bonnyman please e-mail me, Alison Easterling, seeing as my great-grandfather was 66 in 1933, and my great grandmother 62, this might be difficult. I know Ben was a well respected man in town, he was intelligent reading and writing English before living in this country. He worked for the railroads, and was building the foundations and structures to which train travel depended upon. Don Calitri, my dad's cousin (Johnnie's son) told me that Ben was a perfectionist in his work, much of which remains in excellent condition around Perry County.....I forget the specific locales of my great grandfathers contribution to the building of modern life in Kentucky. Responses, comments, stories??

Photo Sent by Alison Easterling

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