Biagio Magelli made one trip back to Italy nearly six years after he first set foot in America.  His father, Angelo (born in 1853) passed away in 1912. The following year, Biagio made a brief return trip, ostensibly to settle his father’s affairs.

His stay, it is believed, was only a few days.

Aunt Rose said Grandpa left in such a hurry because Italy was conscripting all eligible men into its  military. He hastily sold a small land inheritance and quickly crossed over the Alps to France.

In the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, he booked passage on The Nieuw Amsterdam, and arrived on Ellis Island a second time. It was June 2, 1913. 

Young and traveling on a shoestring, Biagio was likely among the 2,200 third-class passengers; another 440 traveled in first and 246 in second class.

The ship regularly made the rounds from Rotterdam to New York under the Dutch flag.

Hidden among his few belongings was a giant kitchen knife, a gift his bride used to cut pasta into everything from wide noodles to spaghetti and tortellini squares.

When he departed, Biagio left behind two younger sisters, Concetta (1893-1960) and Cleofe (1896-1957).

Their descendants still welcome us in Italy when we’re lucky enough to slip away ourselves.