Southern Soul Quest: Disappointment in Derry

Family History

My great-great grandparents, Roberto and Marietta Bucci, arrived in the United States in 1911. They left family and friends in the Abruzzo region of Italy for a new life. They brought with them a few kids too – one of them being my great-grandfather, Anthony (Tony). The family settled in Derry, Pennsylvania. Tony would find and marry another Italian, Margaret. They would have three children, Theodore (my grandfather), Robert, and Phyllis. Anthony worked on the railroad until it modernized and he moved to Massachusetts with his family. My great-uncle Pat was the mayor of Derry, PA for several years in the 1960s.

From a book on our family’s personalities:

” Roberto was quiet, gentle, softspoken, and very understanding. He listened to his childrens’ problems and was there to help. A deep thinker who never complained, he spent many hours playing solitaire while waiting for everyone to return home. He often read the Italian papers to a blind friend. This helped him keep up with news of his homeland. He was a great father, family man, and friend. The opposite of Marietta’s personality, but they complimented each other. “

” Marietta was very outgoing and personable. She was quite an entertainer and was in demand at wakes, births, or sitting with a sick friend. She was a great storyteller. Marietta spoke fractured English so she never went into the stores. She enjoyed having coffee with a host of friends and was always the center of attention. She was a midwife who helped all the Paisans (countrymen) with their deliveries, day or night. Roberto, her husband, never objected and did all the household chores when she was busy. She never turned away a Hobo who was seeking food. She loved to crochet at leisure. “

A trip

When I was younger, perhaps ninth grade, I recall bits and pieces of a trip to Derry. At the time, my grandparents and several great aunts and uncles were still living. Two of my great-aunts lived to be in their 90s! I wish I had been able to document some of their life stories. In any case! In a convoy of two vehicles, my family (dad, brother, three cousins, aunt, uncle, grandfather, and myself) journeyed down to participate in the 100th anniversary of Mastrorocco’s Market. This grocery store was opened in 1910 by Samuel Mastrorocco (great-great-uncle). Since then, it has been run by a Mastrorocco.

Despite one flat tire in my uncle’s big van, we arrived in Derry after a 12-hour haul. We visited my great-aunt Vit, who was around 88 and spry as a 50-year-old. She lived in the house where my great-great-grandfather raised her family. To pick up some food, we checked out Mastrorocco’s Market, which was just a grocery store, but it felt different knowing that it was a family establishment. I learned about the helicopter crash in 1978 that killed eight people, including a relative. Tim Deglau pushed his son out of the way of the falling helicopter, saving his son’s life but sacrificing his own. In a town so small (and it continues to shrink each year), such an incident impacted everyone.

Finally, we visited a hunting lodge – Twin Maples. As a teen, I didn’t stay for long. But I did get a bright orange cap with “Twin Maples” in black bold letters. There’s a lovely picture with my grandfather in the bar. He’s got his head thrown back laughing. I’ve forgotten what his laugh sounds like, but that picture makes me smile.

Present Day

All of that to preamble to say that when I pulled into Derry on my road trip, I was disappointed. I recalled crowds, color, and excitement from my trips as a kid. And here I was, 30 years old, trying to conjure some nostalgic memories. It was desolate and dark. I passed by my family’s old house, still inhabited by a cousin or someone. I searched for food in the “downtown” – everything was closed. Finally, I headed for the almighty Twin Maples. I had heard you needed a member to let you in, but I had family that were members. All I needed was to drop my last name and it would be fine.

I drove down into the parking lot, hopped out, and excitedly approached the main door. It was locked. The door and windows were essentially blacked out, but I heard people inside. I knocked. Nothing. I called the club.

“Hello?”

“Hi! I’m Nick and I’d like to just check out the club. My family are members – the Buccis- I used to visit here.”

“Sorry, you need a member to sponsor you.”

I listed off three family members who were involved in the club.

“Are they with you?”

“Well, no…”

“Then we can’t let you in. Sorry.”

And that was that. My dreams of drinking a beer where my family had in generations past was crushed. It sounds extremely silly typing that out. But I felt a connection to the club, mostly because I wanted to sit where my grandfather had. I wanted someone to tell me a joke so I could throw my head back and laugh heartily. Instead, I left with a feeling of…

Disappointment.

I hadn’t planned on staying in Derry long; there’s really not much to do. But I had hoped to feel something familiar. I wanted the beer at Twin Maples. I wanted to walk in the house where my family grew up so I could sit in the basement where there had been card games and singing. And I wanted to check out where Mastrorocco’s Market was (it closed in 2017 due to shrinking sales).

I hope Derry grows one day. I hope it has some miracle job boom that entices more people to move in. Right now, Derry is a sliver of what it once was. Formed in 1852 to serve the railroad, Derry had its peak from 1920 to 1950, according to population statistics on Wikipedia. Happy to hear more from Derry natives! I’ll visit Derry again, perhaps with family. I’ll make sure to bring a Twin Maples member so I can get in. And maybe with some company, Derry will be more fulfilling.