Interview with Carmelo J. Brutto
IntervieweeInterview with
Carmelo J. Brutto
(Italian American, 1922 - 2016)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2007 January 19
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 57 Minutes, 49 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.20.1
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Carmelo J. Brutto. He was interviewed on January 19, 2007 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at his home in Enfield, Connecticut.
Carmelo Brutto was born on May 22, 1922 in Sicily. His father immigrated to the United States when he was 18 months old. Carmelo and his mother followed in 1930, after his father became a U.S. citizen. His father worked at a mill in Enfield, and his mother stayed home. After he graduated high school, Carmelo got a job at G. Fox & Co. in 1941. In 1942, he served in the U.S. Army in the Infantry 88th Division for three years. He was stationed in Italy. He stayed at G. Fox until his retirement in 1987.
He worked at G. Fox with his two cousins, Charlie Vella and Charlie Brutto. Carmelo worked in Maintenance, Charlie Vella worked in Delivery, and Charlie Brutto worked in Women's Shoes.
He discusses his training in the Maintenance Department for working with the business machines. The Maintenance Department consisted of electricians, workers for the escaltors and elevators, plumbers, workers with business machines, oiling, and other tasks.
Carmelo was initiated as a member of the Moses Fox Club in 1966. He discusses the events he attended. He describes his interactions with Beatrice Fox Auerbach. He describes Hartford in the 1940s. He discusses changes that took place after the store was sold to the May Company and the branch stores. He talks about the attempts to unionize. He ends the interview talking about the closure of G. Fox and his friendships with colleagues.
Carmelo Brutto was born on May 22, 1922 in Sicily. His father immigrated to the United States when he was 18 months old. Carmelo and his mother followed in 1930, after his father became a U.S. citizen. His father worked at a mill in Enfield, and his mother stayed home. After he graduated high school, Carmelo got a job at G. Fox & Co. in 1941. In 1942, he served in the U.S. Army in the Infantry 88th Division for three years. He was stationed in Italy. He stayed at G. Fox until his retirement in 1987.
He worked at G. Fox with his two cousins, Charlie Vella and Charlie Brutto. Carmelo worked in Maintenance, Charlie Vella worked in Delivery, and Charlie Brutto worked in Women's Shoes.
He discusses his training in the Maintenance Department for working with the business machines. The Maintenance Department consisted of electricians, workers for the escaltors and elevators, plumbers, workers with business machines, oiling, and other tasks.
Carmelo was initiated as a member of the Moses Fox Club in 1966. He discusses the events he attended. He describes his interactions with Beatrice Fox Auerbach. He describes Hartford in the 1940s. He discusses changes that took place after the store was sold to the May Company and the branch stores. He talks about the attempts to unionize. He ends the interview talking about the closure of G. Fox and his friendships with colleagues.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view2000 May 10