Sixth Street Shanty
In June 1903, Natali Masteranni (Mastroianni) of East Liverpool, Ohio, purchased one of the first residential parcels made available in the newly created town of Trafford City (the town officially founded in June 1904). He constructed a 2 ½ story home at the corner of Homewood Avenue and Sixth Street, the parcel was given the address 529 Homewood Avenue. In addition to the main dwelling, he constructed a small outbuilding at the rear of the property that lovingly became known to the family as the “Sixth Street Shanty.”
Natali immigrated to the United States from Nocera Terinese, Italy, at age 22, and married Giuseppina (Josephine) Valentine at age 30. Natali was a “car oiler” for the Pennsylvania Railroad and the couple raised five children in this home. Tragically, on March 14, 1914, Natali was crushed by a rail car while working at the Pitcairn Yards, leaving Josephine to raise five children. At that time, there was no Social Security safety net, and it is unclear if there was a settlement provided by the railroad. However, the following year, Josephine would marry Angelo Mastroianni, a nephew to Natali, who also immigrated to the US from Nocera Terinese in about 1902. Josephine and Angelo went on to have five children of their own. These photos were shared with the Trafford Historical Society by the Mastroianni family, one photo has Josephine sitting outside of the shanty with her husband Angelo; the other photo showing Vic Mastroianni standing outside the shanty the summer before he enlisted in the Army in 1942. It’s unclear what year the shanty was removed from the property, but asking the family about the property, it was clear that there were many fond memories of times spent there with family and friends.
(Left photo) Angelo Mastroianni (1894-1969) and Giuseppina Valentine Mastroianni (1884-1960) taken 1941.
(Right Photo) Victor Mastroianni (1922-2015) photo 1942.
Former location of the "Shanty" in Dec 2000.
