Family Friends Friday – Del Carlo Family of Readington Township, New Jersey

Elia "Al" Del Carlo is in the center between sisters Mary and Gen Mirota — Elia “Al” Del Carlo is in the center between sisters Mary and Gen Mirota

Family Friends Friday today is about the Del Carlo family of Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. I love this photograph taken in 1933 on the Mirota farm showing the girlfriends having fun together with arms interlocking. It looks like Al has just stopped over to visit sisters, Gen and Mary. I love their bright smiles!

Elia must have shared this beautiful photograph below of her First Holy Communion, saved by her girlfriends. Elia and Edward Del Carlo had lived in Hoboken, NJ, before moving to Readington Township, so possibly the photo was taken at a church there.

This picture below shows the Del Carlo and Mirota children in 1926 by the Mirota farmhouse. Joseph Mirota has his arms around his sister, Mary.

Friends and neighbors - Front, R to L - Elia Del Carlo, Mary and Genevieve Mirota. In back - Edward Del Carlo and Joe Mirota - 1926 — Friends and neighbors – Front, R to L – Elia “Al” Del Carlo, Mary and Genevieve Mirota. In back – Edward Del Carlo and Joe Mirota – 1926

When you find a picture lovingly taped together you simply know it was a cherished keepsake. I’m not sure who the youngster in between the siblings was.

"Elia and Edward Del Carlo - 10 years old - 1925. — “Elia and Edward Del Carlo – 10 years old – 1925”

When Gen Mirota married Ted Lubas, her girlfriend Elia was one of her bridesmaids. Elia married Angelo Campana and moved to Neshanic Station, in Somerset County, NJ.

From the 1930 Federal Census for Readington Township. Hunterdon County, NJ, dated April 10th, you will find the two families on the same sheet living on nearby farms in Whitehouse Station. The road was then called Cushetunk Road, later named Mountain Road. Elia Del Carlo was 14 years old and her brother Edward was 13 years old, both born in New Jersey. They were living with their uncle, Orgio Del Carlo, age 44, single, born in Italy, a farmer, who immigrated in 1900. Listed as his sister was Theresa Del Carlo, age 46, who was widowed, also born in Italy, and she had immigrated in 1911. The farm was owned by the family. The next family enumerated was the Bartolomei family, also a farming family. Then, the Mirota family was listed under the misspelling “Mirotos” on their farm, also owned, with father, Joseph, age 47, occupation – section gang for the Railroad, and his wife, Sophia, age 46, and their four children: Genevieve, age 20; Stephen, age 19; Mary, age 16; and Joseph, age 13. The parents were born in Poland and the children in Pennsylvania. Both the Del Carlo and Mirota farms were valued at $4,000.00 [Source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Readington, Hunterdon, New Jersey; Roll: 1361; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0030; Image: 620.0; FHL microfilm: 2341096, accessed on ancestry.com].

Here is a photo showing the two life-time buddies and neighbors, Joe Mirota and Edward Del Carlo, standing side-by-side in front of the Del Carlo home, taken in 1969. Most likely the photo was taken by Joe’s wife, Stefie, or by Eddie Del Carlo, Jr.