Ellis Island, New York

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:27 pm

Ellis Island the gateway to America, what does it mean to you? I don't expect much!

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:29 pm

fantastic history there Paula! all the immigrants who came through, from every country...there is no place to begin! my antecedents were Italian, when they came through the lines the designation "WOP" was given...'without papers'. that could have applied to many nationalities. but it stuck to Italians. Lady Liberty welcomed the tired and the poor back then. the streets were paved with gold and new york was the melting pot. irish need not apply, chinese worked on the railroads, and America was born.

greydeadhead · Post by **greydeadhead** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:34 am

well you are wrong there Paula... My grandparents came thru Ellis Island. When I visited there I had a strong feeling of connection with them as I walked thru some of the same hallways and thru the entrance hall that they walked thru nearly 100 years ago. There is some of the most amazing pictures along the walls. The ship manifests are incredible.. and it is very easy to imagine the immigrants gazing across the water at NYC.. dreaming of actually becoming part of this country..

So no.. Ellis Island means alot to me.. and my family..

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:34 am

I have records of my family coming thru Ellis Island thats why i mentioned it. I was taken when i viewed the records the ship and who they went to upon arrival? My fathers parents came thru Ellis and my father was born in New York City...

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:42 am

Paula wrote: Ellis Island the gateway to America, what does it mean to you? I don't expect much!

Ellis Island? I thought that was a high-security prison?

greydeadhead · Post by **greydeadhead** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:47 am

not quite.. you might be thinking of Alcatraz in California

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:30 am

Bill Sikes wrote: Ellis Island? I thought that was a high-security prison?

hahahahahaha, that is friggin hilarious.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:27 am

Bill Sikes wrote: Ellis Island? I thought that was a high-security prison?

Isn't it Riker's Island that's the prison?

:-3

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:42 am

valerie wrote: Isn't it Riker's Island that's the prison?

:-3

Yep!!