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Prince of Piedmont Lodge
603 North Lincoln Street - Wilmington, Delaware 19805

Welcome to the Prince of Piedmont Lodge #475 Web Site

Culture of the O.S.I.A.

At the turn of the 20^th. century, a growing tide of Italians, largely from the south, immigrated to the United States where work was plentiful and land was cheap.

They left Italy in search of opportunities their homeland denied them. In southern Italy, for example, noble families owned half of all the farmland. As a result, millions of peasants were sharecroppers, lucky to find work six months out of the year because the landowners were careless about farming and productivity suffered accordingly.

When they did work, the peasants had to give as much as half their crops to the landowners. At the same time, these peasants were taxed by the government of a newly united Italy, had their sons drafted into the Italian military and watched their children die from poor nutrition and inferior medical care.

The exodus of Italians from their villages more than a century ago has no parallel in history. Out of a population of 14 million southern Italians, an estimated five million left by the outbreak of World War I.

It is the largest recorded exodus of a single ethnic group in history.

Most of these immigrants came to the United States during “The Great Migration” between 1880 and 1922. In 1923, the United States restricted the immigration of southern and eastern Europeans, but by then more than 3 million Italians had become permanent U.S. residents.

The Italians who immigrated to the new country needed to be with people of their own ancestry, who could share thoughts and ideas and to better themselves in this new land. Those who attended needed to affiliate themselves with the heritage and culture of the Italian people thus came about the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). This organization started in New York City in 1905 by a group of Italians with the same needs as the founding father, well known and renowned Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro. He, along with a small but intelligent group, set the groundwork and rules for this organization. Soon this OSIA organization's appeal, cultural popularity and fraternal spirit spread to the surrounding states.

Today, the descendants of those early Italian immigrants number nearly 16 million, according to the U.S. census of 2000, although through intermarriage, the number of people in the United States with at least one Italian grandparent is estimated to be about 26 million.

The U.S. Census Bureau also reports that Italian Americans are the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group with two-thirds of them in white-collar positions in business, medicine, law, education and other professions.

Social scientists strive to explain how so many millions of Italian immigrants achieved success in America despite the challenges of a new language, foreign economic and commercial practices, and the initial prejudice and hostility of an American society unfamiliar with Italians and their customs.

Despite these barriers, the Italian immigrants and their children became part of American society in less than 100 years. Their story is remarkable and inspiring…and is carried on by their ancestors, today’s Italian Americans.

History of the O.S.I.A.

The Order Sons of Italy in America is now the oldest, largest and most geographically represented organization of Americans of Italian heritage on the North American continent. The OSIA encompasses more than 100,000 active members in over 1,000 filial lodges throughout the United States, District of Columbia, Canada, Bermuda and Guam. (Contact the OSIA at www.OSIA.org)

The objectives of the OSIA, as conceived by its founders, are to enroll men and women of Italian heritage under one banner in order to preserve and to disseminate the large cultural heritage of Italy; and to promote and to advance their progress everywhere within the framework of American society. The OSIA continues to thrive, meeting the initial objectives of its founders through a wide variety of community, cultural, social, charitable, educational, patriotic, youth and civic activities.

We are a national organization of men and women who represents the estimated 26 million Americans of Italian heritage, dedicated to promoting our culture, our tradition, our language, the legacy of our ancestors, and our contribution to the U.S. and the world. We are sons and daughters, grandmothers and grandfathers. We are corporate executives and we are union members…young students and retirees…teachers and attorneys…doctors and firefighters…bakers and Wall Street brokers…and everything in between. We are philanthropists and we are model global citizens with purpose beyond ourselves. And we are proud and patriotic Americans of Italian heritage. We exemplify the very best of what it is to be Italian American.

History of the Prince of Piedmont Lodge #475

The Prince of Piedmont Lodge was one of the early filial lodges to join the OSIA organization. Our Lodge was chartered on February 23, 1916 and became the first Filial Lodge in the state of Delaware.

The Piedmont Lodge first assembled in the old West End Neighborhood House on Lincoln Street in Wilmington, which at the time was the centering place for all community activities. The meetings were held at this community center and after the Second World War; Joseph A. L. Errigo was elected the Venerable or President of the Lodge. With Mr. Errigo's vast organization experience, he led the Lodge through many difficult times, especially during this time of vast worldwide turmoil. Through his efforts, the Piedmont Lodge grew in strength and numbers and eventually moved to their own permanent meeting location, which was the Ventresca property located at 1909 West 6th. Street.

The Lodge thrived for over 40 years at this location. Several forward thinking Venerables served during this period and the Lodge grew in prominence in the neighborhood and also in their membership. Finally outgrowing this original meeting location, in 2001 the Lodge moved to their present location at 603 North Lincoln Street. Although the location has changed, the Lodge members are still very much involved in the community by awarding school scholarships, church affiliation, children events, and many social gatherings for the members and their families. In 2003 the ladies Auxiliary was formed at the Lodge, bringing forth another aspect of involvement by the ladies of the Lodge within the community.

Eligibility

To be eligible for regular membership in the Prince of Piedmont Lodge, one must have been born in Italy or be a descendant or spouse of a person of Italian lineage or have been adopted by individuals of Italian descent and be at least 21 years of age.
A social membership is also available for those who are not eligible but believe in the goals and beliefs of the OSIA and are approved by the Administrative Council of the Lodge.

Contact Us

The best method to contact the Prince of Piedmont Lodge is to email us.
pop475@comcast.net