Tommy Camillio - Winchester's Most Dedicated Basketball Fan
News-Gazette, 1979
by Paul Gibby
Tommy CAMILLIO was 16 years old when he left Ratta Mare, Italy and joined the waves of immigrants seeking prosperity and freedom in America. Camillio, now 92, has called Winchester home ever since December of 1915.
The $75 for his passage was provided by his parents. He had to carry $50 cash with him to satisfy immigration authorities that he would not become a burden on U.S. society once he stepped off the boat.
The trip took "13 days and 13 nights," Tommy says, emphasizing the length of the passage. He marvels at the brevity of the trip today by plane. Asked if he got sick, Tommy smiles broadly, "I got sick, no question about that."
Why did he come? 'Because it was a free country," he said.
At Ellis Island, which, in the midst of the immigrant inundation, processed some 4,000 persons per day, Tommy would have received no better, no worse, attention than any others. Immigrants received a tough once-over from a doctor who looked at hands, hair, and faces and would ask questions quickly and monotonously in English.
He held a piece of chalk and would write on their bodies, for example "H" for heart disease, "F" for facial rash. Eyelids would be pulled back while the doctor looked for the then common European disease trachoma. If the immigrant had it, an "E" would be chalked on his or her back, and that would be the end of that immigrant's experience of the "land of the free."
After a catechism of questions: "Who paid your passage?" "Ever been in prison?" etc., an inspector would check names against a roster from the ship and would write the name on the immigrant's landing card. A good Italian name like Campopiano would become at the hand of a tired Irish inspector, "Combopiano." Perhaps Tommy's name is really Camello, instead of Camillio. At any rate, the immigrant at that stage was probably willing to take a new identity and get out of the Ellis Island processing center. Of the 4,000 per day processed, some 2,000 had to stay overnight in the large room, corralled in pens with people of the same nationality, all wearing identification tags. Those, especially, must have longed to be allowed to pass through the door marked "New York."
Tommy, like many immigrants, went to the city and lived with people he was familiar with. He had come alone to the U.S., he spoke no English, and he had no money.
Tommy speaks some English now. He has forgotten how to speak Italian from lack of practice. "I can understand everything they say, but I can't give the answers."
In Chicago Heights he began working at a glass factory and stayed at that profession, though he worked in glass factories also in Cincinnati and various other towns in the Midwest.
"Back then," he said, "people was more sociable. If you had a dime and I had a nickel, we would share the fifteen cents." "Now people are all for themselves," Tommy says, taking a look at then versus now. But he is not bitter.
Many fellow Italian immigrants were, and returned to Italy-roughly one third of those who came over on the boats. Tommy did something different, though. He escaped from the big city slums and eventually came to Winchester, where he worked at Anchor Hocking. Tommy has many friends in Winchester. "I came to Winchester to make myself a home," he says.
He has never married. But he doesn't seem immune to Cupid's arrow. Tommy once was engaged to a girl in Chicago. "But she was no good." Now, he says, "I'm an old bachelor."
Tommy is Winchester's oldest veteran, having served in the 5th Company, 2nd Infantry Training Battalion stationed in Chilicothe, Ohio during WW I. He was in training for six months, he says, but the war was over before he went overseas to fight.
Tommy is an old basketball fan-one of the oldest, and certainly one of the most dedicated. He has been awarded a lifetime pass to Winchester Community High School basketball games. He recalls seeing the games in the early twenties which were played in the second floor gym above Overmyer's Furniture store at 132 N. Main street. He remembers the games being played above McGee's Hardware store on W. Washington street, and witnessed the first games at the old Winchester High School gym erected in 1924. "It used to be a slow game," he said looking back on the old hoopmakers. Back then there were 18 teams in the county, Camillio says, "Everybody used to be afraid of Winchester. Now, too, everybody is afraid of Winchester. It's a mean team. They got no height, but they're fast.
Last year he missed a few games due to bad weather. This year though, he has seen all eight home games, as of this writing, and plans on attending the last one. He is driven home from the games by his friend Bill Davis.
Tommy has lived above Turner Printing (120 E. Franklin) in Winchester for some time. He has held numerous jobs, helping Arthur Purdy survey in the county, odd jobs around town, bartender at the American Legion and delivery driver for Engle's Music store. He's taking it more easy now. At 92 he is not out to break any speed records. But he still gets around, walking up and down the stairs to his apartment and visiting at the courthouse. Gertrude Marston, at Turner Printing, has known Tommy for a long time. Her father is about Tommy's age and she sort of looks after the "two boys."
"Tommy's a one person person," she says. He is proud, independent and reluctant to accept charity. He tries to look after himself, but as Mrs. Marston pointed out, Tommy's stubbornness is indicated by the fact that he has glasses but he often doesn't wear them.
Tommy Camillio seems to still have many of the qualities he had to bring with him from Italy-the qualities required for a life in the new world where a life of prosperity was not just hanging up there ripe for the picking. Tommy Camillio stayed with it when he came to America, and Winchester became home to him.
Memories shared by Mick Holloway:
by Paul Gibby
Tommy CAMILLIO was 16 years old when he left Ratta Mare, Italy and joined the waves of immigrants seeking prosperity and freedom in America. Camillio, now 92, has called Winchester home ever since December of 1915.
The $75 for his passage was provided by his parents. He had to carry $50 cash with him to satisfy immigration authorities that he would not become a burden on U.S. society once he stepped off the boat.
 |
| "Tommy" |
Why did he come? 'Because it was a free country," he said.
At Ellis Island, which, in the midst of the immigrant inundation, processed some 4,000 persons per day, Tommy would have received no better, no worse, attention than any others. Immigrants received a tough once-over from a doctor who looked at hands, hair, and faces and would ask questions quickly and monotonously in English.
He held a piece of chalk and would write on their bodies, for example "H" for heart disease, "F" for facial rash. Eyelids would be pulled back while the doctor looked for the then common European disease trachoma. If the immigrant had it, an "E" would be chalked on his or her back, and that would be the end of that immigrant's experience of the "land of the free."
After a catechism of questions: "Who paid your passage?" "Ever been in prison?" etc., an inspector would check names against a roster from the ship and would write the name on the immigrant's landing card. A good Italian name like Campopiano would become at the hand of a tired Irish inspector, "Combopiano." Perhaps Tommy's name is really Camello, instead of Camillio. At any rate, the immigrant at that stage was probably willing to take a new identity and get out of the Ellis Island processing center. Of the 4,000 per day processed, some 2,000 had to stay overnight in the large room, corralled in pens with people of the same nationality, all wearing identification tags. Those, especially, must have longed to be allowed to pass through the door marked "New York."
Tommy, like many immigrants, went to the city and lived with people he was familiar with. He had come alone to the U.S., he spoke no English, and he had no money.
Tommy speaks some English now. He has forgotten how to speak Italian from lack of practice. "I can understand everything they say, but I can't give the answers."
In Chicago Heights he began working at a glass factory and stayed at that profession, though he worked in glass factories also in Cincinnati and various other towns in the Midwest.
"Back then," he said, "people was more sociable. If you had a dime and I had a nickel, we would share the fifteen cents." "Now people are all for themselves," Tommy says, taking a look at then versus now. But he is not bitter.
Many fellow Italian immigrants were, and returned to Italy-roughly one third of those who came over on the boats. Tommy did something different, though. He escaped from the big city slums and eventually came to Winchester, where he worked at Anchor Hocking. Tommy has many friends in Winchester. "I came to Winchester to make myself a home," he says.
He has never married. But he doesn't seem immune to Cupid's arrow. Tommy once was engaged to a girl in Chicago. "But she was no good." Now, he says, "I'm an old bachelor."
Tommy is Winchester's oldest veteran, having served in the 5th Company, 2nd Infantry Training Battalion stationed in Chilicothe, Ohio during WW I. He was in training for six months, he says, but the war was over before he went overseas to fight.
 |
| New WHS Gym, 1924 |
Last year he missed a few games due to bad weather. This year though, he has seen all eight home games, as of this writing, and plans on attending the last one. He is driven home from the games by his friend Bill Davis.
Tommy has lived above Turner Printing (120 E. Franklin) in Winchester for some time. He has held numerous jobs, helping Arthur Purdy survey in the county, odd jobs around town, bartender at the American Legion and delivery driver for Engle's Music store. He's taking it more easy now. At 92 he is not out to break any speed records. But he still gets around, walking up and down the stairs to his apartment and visiting at the courthouse. Gertrude Marston, at Turner Printing, has known Tommy for a long time. Her father is about Tommy's age and she sort of looks after the "two boys."
"Tommy's a one person person," she says. He is proud, independent and reluctant to accept charity. He tries to look after himself, but as Mrs. Marston pointed out, Tommy's stubbornness is indicated by the fact that he has glasses but he often doesn't wear them.
Tommy Camillio seems to still have many of the qualities he had to bring with him from Italy-the qualities required for a life in the new world where a life of prosperity was not just hanging up there ripe for the picking. Tommy Camillio stayed with it when he came to America, and Winchester became home to him.
Memories shared by Mick Holloway:
Tommy ate lunch every day at the A & B Café. He was always there at 11 o'clock and always sat on the end stool next to the kitchen doorway. If someone had his seat, he would stand there looking at them and say "You got my seat!", and they would move over. Jerry Gullett was the owner and he would bring Tommy whatever the days special was, plus bread and butter and coffee. Tommy never said anything, no "Thank You," nothing. When he was finished he would reach in his shirt pocket and pull out a $1 bill and lay it on the counter, put on his coat and start for the door. The special was around $4 at that time but Jerry liked the old fellow. Jerry and I were talking one day as Tommy was leaving and he said "watch Tommy." Just as he got to the door he stopped. On a counter beside the door there was a Seyfert's potato chip rack and Tommy reached up, pulled off a bag of chips, put them under his coat and walked out. I looked at Jerry and said "every day?" Jerry laughed and said "every day." He liked Tommy. MH
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Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society
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______________________
Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society
Visit the website.
Here is a link to the website: https://rchsmuseum.org
Follow the blog.
Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded. This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.
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