At the age of 13 Salvatore LoSavio of Alia, Sicily
embarked on the ship SS Giova from Palermo, destination
New Orleans, Louisiana (USA). It was the month of
June 1892.
On the same ship traveled also from Alia was Domenico
(Damiano) Catalano and his wife Rosalie Puglisi. He,
Salvatore left in Alia his father, Rosolino Lo Savio
and mother, Maria Sagona and two brothers Antonino
and Giuseppe and a sister (name unknown). Antonino
followed him to America few years later. Giuseppe
remained in Alia.
We assume that Salvatore LoSavio worked on the sugar
plantations in St.James Parish, Louisiana where Domenico
Catalano was an overseer.
From civil records in our possession Salvatore LoSavio
purchased property in the year 1907 in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana at 2254 Highland Road, street called then
Louisiana Ave. Few blocks away Domenico Catalano was
operating a Dairy Farm on East Polk St. then called
Jefferson St. He, Salvatore established a business
of Black Smith. For years he was the only Black Smith
in this Baton Rouge area.
The year 1911 Salvatore married Vincenza Catalano,
daughter of Domenico Catalano. She was only 17 years
old. Because of his sense of Duty and Honor to Italy
The day after his wedding he went back to Italy. He
was called to military duty by the Italian Government
because of the war between Italy and Turkey which
Italy won. There he remained for almost a year. In
December 1912 he was back in Baton Rouge and became
American citizen.
He opened again his Black Smith shop were he made
horseshoes, repaired wagons and built trucks bodies,
installed trucks frames with parts he imported from
Detroit, Michigan. Salvatore LoSavio and Vincenza
(Virginia) Catalano had 10 children. See attached
photos. Salvatore built another building for his wife
to operate as successful LoSavio Food Store in Baton
Rouge at 2254 Highland Road. See attached photo.
Few years later after he purchased another piece of
property and opened a successful Laundry Business
for his children to operate as Highland Dry Cleaners
for many years.
Salvatore LoSavio was an avid fisherman. He was known
as the best fisherman in Baton Rouge. He was always
in touch with his family in Italy. We are in possession
of correspondence letters with his brother, Giuseppe's
children Salvatore, Maria, Giuseppina, Angeli in Alia
and his niece and Godchild Sister Teresa, Mother Superior
of the orphanage institute in Caronia (Messina) Sicily.
The family of Salvatore LoSavio was a very religious
family. One of his daughter became a Domenican Nun.
Sister Mary Madeline. They were parishioners of St.
Agnes Church in Baton Rouge. They never charged the
Church for the laundry for the Church, the priests
and the Convent, til the business closed about 1990.
Historical informations were provided by Salvatore
LoSavio grandson, Victor Musso, son of Rosalie LoSavio
in Baton Rouge.
