Members of the Crolla family collecting blocks of ice from the factory of ice merchants R White in Laird Place in Bridgeton during the 1930s. The Crollas ran the Premier Cafe in Bridgeton's Main Street.
As can be seen from the picture, family members of all generations contributed to the business. This meant long, anti-social hours, and only limited contact with people from outwith the Italian community. Italian was spoken in the home, where the family dined together and Italian dishes were preferred. There was strict observation of religious festivals. Children went directly into the family business once formal schooling was completed. It was only after the Second World War that marriages with persons without an Italian background became commonplace.
The Casa d'Italia club in Park Circus provided a focus for the Italian community from 1935 to 1989, and generations of Scots-Italians in Glasgow have maintained their links with Italy and their interests in Italian language and culture.
Reference: Glasgow City Archives, P7687
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
cafes, Casa d'Italia, children, Crolla family, ice blocks, ice merchants, immigrants, Italians, mixed marriages, Premier Cafe, R White, women
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