Name/Title
BedspreadEntry/Object ID
2024.25.1Description
Hand-crocheted bedspread made by Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi of Enfield, CT, an Italian immigrant and textile worker, in the 20th century. Donated by her niece. Crocheted of white, nonmercerized cotton thread.Use
Bedspreads were decorative covers for beds.Context
According to the donor, Frances's niece: The following information is what I have learned about Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi and her father, Raffaele Fiore, who was the first person in the Fiore family to come to America in the early 20th Century. He wanted abetter life for his family, so he knew the only way to make that happen was to immigrate to America.
Raffaele Fiore lived in Naro, Sicily with his family and worked on a wealthy man’s farm. He received wages for his service, and he was also given the leftover vegetables, which he sold for extra money. When Raffaele had saved enough money, he traveled by ship to America in the early 20th Century (exact date unknown). He found a job at the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company in Enfield, CT. He was a short man, but he was very hearty and carried bales of carpet in the factory. He was a valued worker because of his incredible work ethic.
When Raffaele had saved enough money from his factory job, he sent for his wife and family who were still in Naro, Sicily. Maria (Ruggiano) Fiore and Raffaele Fiore had eight children, five boys and three girls. Some of these children were born in Naro, and some were born in Enfield, CT. The boys’ names were the following: Charles, Louis, John, Sam, and Joseph. The girls’ names were Frances, Anna, and Josie. ALL eight children
worked in the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company PLUS Raffaele, their father. Total = 9 Fiores were employed by the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company.
Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi: Frances immigrated to America from Castelnuovo, Sicily (near Palermo, Sicily). She traveled on the ship Venezia, which sailed from Naples, Italy, and arrived at Ellis Island, New York, New York on May 12, 1909, at the age of 13. (Ellis Island record). Frances married Anthony Rinaldi in July 1924 or 1925. They had four children: Ralph, Josephine, Maria, and Joseph (affectionately known as Iggy).
Frances crocheted beautiful bedspreads for each of her children and her grandchildren. The design and intricate lacey pattern that she crocheted is amazing! [Her mother, Maria Fiore, also crocheted bedspreads, but her design was simpler and not as complicated.} The cotton thread they used for the crocheted bedspreads was inexpensive cotton thread NOT mercerized thread because they could not afford the later. Frances died on October 23, 1996, and was buried in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Enfield, CT.
I hope this creates a “history” to go along with the crocheted bedspread. I certainly learned new information about Frances Rinaldi and her family that I never would have known otherwise. Both Frances’ granddaughter, Lisa, and Frances’ daughter, Josephine (now 99 years of age) shared many of these facts about Raffaele and his journey to America as well as information about how this bedspread was created and for whom.Collection
Rinaldi CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Rinaldi, Frances (Fiore)Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
City
Enfield, CTState/Province
ConnecticutCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaCrocheted Textile Details
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
BedspreadNomenclature Primary Object Term
BedcoverNomenclature Class
BeddingNomenclature Category
Category 02: FurnishingsLocation
Location
Exhibit Room
Mill Worker's Bedroom Exhibit* Untyped Location
Main Museum BuildingCategory
ExhibitDate
September 8, 2024Condition
Overall Condition
ExcellentDate Examined
Sep 8, 2024Examined By
Eves, J.Provenance
Provenance Detail
Donated by Lois Rinaldi of Darien, CT. Hand crocheted by her aunt, Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi of Enfield, CT. Lois writes: The following information is what I have learned about Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi and her father, Raffaele Fiore, who was the first person in the Fiore family to come to America in the early 20 th Century. He wanted a better life for his family, so he knew the only way to make that happen was to immigrate to America. Raffaele Fiore lived in Naro, Sicily with his family and worked on a wealthy man’s farm. He received wages for his service, and he was also given the leftover vegetables, which he sold for extra money. When Raffaele had saved enough money, he traveled by ship to America in the early 20 th Century (exact date unknown). He found a job at the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company in Enfield, CT. He was a short man, but he was very hearty and carried bales of carpet in the factory. He was a valued worker because of his incredible work ethic. When Raffaele had saved enough money from his factory job, he sent for his wife and family who were still in Naro, Sicily. Maria (Ruggiano) Fiore and Raffaele Fiore had eight children, five boys and three girls. Some of these children were born in Naro, and some were born in Enfield, CT. The boys’ names were the following: Charles, Louis, John, Sam, and Joseph. The girls’ names were Frances, Anna, and Josie. ALL eight children worked in the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company PLUS Raffaele, their father. Total = 9 Fiores were employed by the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company. Frances (Fiore) Rinaldi: Frances immigrated to America from Castelnuovo, Sicily (near Palermo, Sicily). She traveled on the ship Venezia, which sailed from Naples, Italy, and arrived at Ellis Island, New York, New York on May 12, 1909, at the age of 13. (Ellis Island record) Frances married Anthony Rinaldi in July 1924 or 1925. They had four children: Ralph, Josephine, Maria, and Joseph (affectionately known as Iggy). Frances crocheted beautiful bedspreads for each of her children and her grandchildren. The design and intricate lacey pattern that she crocheted is amazing! {Her mother, Maria Fiore, also crocheted bedspreads, but her design was simpler and not as complicated.} The cotton thread they used for the crocheted bedspreads was inexpensive cotton thread NOT mercerized thread because they could not afford the later. Frances died on October 23, 1996, and was buried in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Enfield, CT. I hope this creates a “history” to go along with the crocheted bedspread. I certainly learned new information about Frances Rinaldi and her family that I never would have known otherwise. Both Frances’ granddaughter, Lisa, and Frances’ daughter, Josephine (now 99 years of age) shared many of these facts about Raffaele and his journey to America as well as information about how this bedspread was created and for whom.Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
September 8, 2024Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
September 28, 2024
