Setting the Stage New York Times Gazette Saturday NEW IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION BUILDINGS Issue 7 Volume 11 January 2 1892 OPENED YESTERDAY New buildings for the Immigration Bureau on Ellis Island are now ready for use Officials of that department moved yesterday The employees in reported early and each was shown to his place by the superintendent or his chief clerk Colonel Weber was on the island at 8 o clock and went on a tour of inspection to see that the department was ready to receive its first group 4 immigrants of
Immigrants arrived at Ellis Island with only what they could carry From 1892 to 1954 Ellis Island was America’s main entry station for new immigrants During that time over 12 million immigrants entered the United States through the island Some of them came to escape political oppression in Europe and Asia Some came to escape war and violence Others like the characters of this story came to escape poverty and an unfair class system They came to find work freedom and a better life The United States government built Ellis Island so that it could control who was allowed into the country The government was afraid that criminals and people with dangerous diseases might try to enter At Ellis Island such immigrants were sent back to their native countries Very few people who passed through Ellis Island were sent away but everyone worried about the possibility Their time on Ellis Island was mixed with dreams of a new life in America along with the fear that those dreams might not come true For this reason Ellis Island became known as the Island of Hope Island of Tears 5
Saying Farewell Hi My name is Anna and my story is the story of the American immigrant I was born in a village in southern Italy My older sister Rosa my younger brother Peter my father mother and I were happy together But we were very poor When I turned seven my baby brother Massimo was born It was January and we never had enough food I’ve got to go to America to try to work and make money Your grandfather and uncle will lend me the money for my ticket on a steamship 6
Bye Papa I'll miss you Write me a letter Tell me all about America I’ll write you hundreds of letters My father did write letters In one he told us about his job at a factory in Pennsylvania and sent money for new shoes 7
