"Just after the turn of the century, a 16-year-old immigrant boy from Caulonia, Italy, came to the United States.  He stopped off at Rome, NY, Freeport, PA, and Luke, MD.  When he got a job with the B&O Railroad, he moved to Keyser.

"His leg was crushed in a railroad accident on the 17-mile grade and he spent 18 months in the Hoffman Hospital.  The late Mrs. E.V. Romig was more than his nurse during those months, she was his teacher.  He learned to read, write and speak English.

"He took up a new occupation, shoe mending and opened a shop on Armstrong St., the site where his son Guerino is now in business.  However, he was lonely, so he sold his shop and went back to Italy.  Shortly after his arrival he met Teresa Calemine (no relation).  They fell in love and were married.

"The memories of Keyser and his friends here soon brought him (with his bride) back -- about eight months after he left.  He opened a new shop in the building next to what is now Peoples Pharmacy.

"When World War I came along, Calemine was turned down by the Army because of his injured leg.  But he joined the war effort nevertheless.  He was active in the campaigns to sell Liberty Bonds and other such efforts.

"For many, many years he wore his Uncle Sam costume in every parade.  He, along with the late Carl Siever on his high-wheeled bicycle, and the late Gene Cross tootling his clarinet, became a tradition, especially on patriotic holidays such as the 4th of July.

"Here is a picture of that young immigrant boy after he became an all-American who wrote in 1930:

"'Words cannot express the grateful feeling that comes from the heart of one who can weep with you in your sorrow and distress, and smile with you in your hours of victory, happiness and love.  I shall always cherish a feeling of pride, whether here at home or abroad, when I hear the name of Keyser or hear people who helped to take away the loneliness from my heart and helped me to feel that I was not a boy in a strange land.'"

Bloomington Bridge is the seventeen-mile grade between Piedmont, West Virginia, and Oakland, Maryland.  At this grade is where Domenick Calemine seriously injured his leg while working on the B&O Railroad.  The injury resulted in an amputation many years later.

Hoffman Hospital was run by Dr. Hoffman.  Here is where Domenick Calemine recovered from his railroad accident and learned English from a nurse, Mrs. E.V. Romig.  During his 18-month stay, he learned to read, write, and speak English.

Wedding photograph of Domenick and Teresa Calemine, taken in Caulonia, Calabria, Italy, circa 1914

Domenick Calemine and his three oldest sons, circa 1927, in Keyser, West Virginia

Sons of Italy Meeting, Keyser, West Virginia, undated

Pictured in the center foreground is Domenick Calemine.  Also pictured is Congressman Harley Staggers, Sr. (D-WV), seated at the center table behind the cake.  Congressman Staggers is flanked by Calemine's on either side, Mary and Reno on his left, and Frank on his right.  Mickey Calemine is seated up and to the left of Domenick, at the next table.

Clipping from 1974 "Special Historical Days Edition IV" Keyser Tribune:  "Uncle Sam Lived in Keyser"

The 1920 Census shows Domenick, age 33, and Teresa Calemine, age 25, living on North Main Street.  Domenick is listed as a shoe cobbler, owning his own shop.  Also living with Domenick and Teresa were Teresa's father Domenick, age 64, a "track man" with the B&O Railroad; Domenick's brother Louie, age 31, a farmer; Louie's wife Rosa, age 25; and Louie and Rosa's sons, Frank, age 9, and James, age 8.  Everyone in the household had been born in Italy.  Italian was spoken in the household.

The 1930 Census shows Domenick, age 43, and Teresa, age 35, living on Mozelle Street.  Domenick is listed as a shoemaker, owning his own shop.  Living with Domenick and Teresa are their four sons and Teresa's mother Carmela (Papari) Calemine, age 64, and Teresa's brother, Larry Calemine, age 23, both of whom immigrated to the U.S. from Caulonia in 1921.

Domenick Calemine's World War I Draft Card, dated September 12, 1918

The Regina d'Italia, which brought Domenick and his new wife Teresa to Ellis Island, New York, on April 3, 1914

Built in England in 1907, the ship flew under the Italian flag, for Lloyd Sabaudo, and provided Italy-New York and Italy-South America service.  It carried 120 first class passengers and 1,900 third class passengers.  Powered by steam triple expansion engines, its service speed was 14 knots.

Domenick Calemine's Application for a Social Security Number, dated August 21, 1952