The Grace Scovotti Family
Grace Scovotti Family
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Grace LiVolsi, 1959 |
18 November 1934 |
Joseph LiVolsi, 1959 |
We can mention at this time that Joseph was a third generation upholster by trade, musician and an avid story teller.
Linda sent me the story of the "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse" as told by her father. This was a tradition established by Uncle
Joe. After the holiday meal at grandma's house, all of the children would gather around the piano in the basement and Uncle Joe would play
the piano and tell us the story of the Country Mouse and the City Mouse. Aunt Grace told me that he modified it from time to time
and the children didn't seem to mind.
I believe ALL the cousins loved to hear the story and to listen to the story teller, Joseph LiVolsi.
"The Country Mouse and the City Mouse"
by Joseph LiVolsi, ..... "Uncle Joe"
Once upon a time, there were two mice. The Country Mouse and the City Mouse. They were both cousins. One day, the Country Mouse invited
his cousin to spend a few days with him in the country. "We can have lots of fun together," said the Country Mouse. The City Mouse accepted
his invitation. The day before the City Mouse arrived, the Country Mouse went to the store and bought a lot of food and loaded up his refrigerator.
The day came, and the City Mouse arrived. The two mice had a playful day and sat down to a delicious dinner that the Country Mouse
had prepared. That night while the Country Mouse was sleeping, the City Mouse got up and tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator
and ate everything all up. The following morning, when the Country Mouse got up to make breakfast, he noticed that all the food was gone.
"Well, thought the Country Mouse, I better go back to the store and buy more food." When the City Mouse got up that morning, the Country
Mouse asked, "do you know what happened to the food that was left in the refrigerator?" The City Mouse answered, "I don't know what happened
to it." The same thing kept on happening for the second and third nights. The food was disappearing and the Country Mouse was puzzeled. The
City Mouse still continued to get up during the night and eat all the food. Finally one morning, the Country Mouse noticed that the City Mouse
was getting fat. His stomach was getting very big. The Country Mouse got an idea. I bet that the City Mouse is getting up during the night
and sneaking to my refrigerator and eating up all of my food. There is only one way to find out the truth. So, while the City Mouse
was sleeping, the Country Mouse tied a rope around the City Mouse's ankle. The other end of the rope was tied to the Country Mouse's ankle.
During the night, when the house was quiet, the City Mouse got up and tiptoed to the refrigerator. All of a sudden, the rope pulled, and woke
up the Country Mouse. The City Mouse was caught eating food. "I thought it was you," said the Country Mouse. "You are the one stealing my
food. " "I don't ever want to see you again." So in the morning, the City Mouse packed his suitcase and headed back to the city feeling
very sad.
Commentary by Cousin Linda LiVolsi Garufi....
This is how I remember the story. I remember my father telling me how all the grandchildren of the family would ask, "Uncle Joe, would you
please tell us the story of the Country Mouse and the City Mouse?" My father used a lot of hand and body gestures to illustrate the story.
No doubt, he had a captivated audience. Most of all, my father received the most pleasure and had the greatest fun! I could still picture
him laughing now!
THANK YOU LINDA FOR SHARING THIS
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The following is information received from Grace LiVolsi on one visit to New York.
The Codington Avenue brick house to the left is where Joseph LiVolsi lived
before meeting Grace. The house next door, the house to the right,
just happened to be the home of Luigi Merola, Grace's grandfather. It is worth noting because it is the home were the story of music
and romance begins. Grace would often visit her grandfather and his daughter who became Grace's best friend. On one particular family get
together, Joseph was invited to join in the festivities. As it turned out, Grace started playing the piano and Joseph joined her. Grace
said that Joseph loved to sing. One thing led to another and the rest is history.
After being married Joseph and Grace moved into a small apartment were they had their first child. After Joseph's father died, Grace
and Joseph moved into the red brick building occupying one of the 3 apartments. Their next two children were born there. Some years
later, an opportunity arose to purchase a home of their own. This house was also located in the Bronx amd soon after their move,
Grace's mother-in-law moved in with her sister who lived nearby.
This house on Arnow Place is were the
children grew up. Sunday visits took
place and many holidays were celebrated in this
home. On a trip to the New York area in early
2002, Aunt Grace consented to pose for a
picture on her front steps.
Talking about posing, Aunt Grace was not a stranger before the camera. This picture was taken in 1966 while Grace was enjoying
the sun and pool at a Dellwood Resort. At the time of this contest Grace LiVolsi was 51 years young. The bathing suit
competition was just for grandmothers. Grace entered. Well as it turned out, she won.
As was mentioned earlier Joseph LiVolsi was a multi-talented person and a third generation upholster. He however went one step futher. He took
classes in upholstery and curtain makeing to learn the newest techniques. In high school he won a "Best Sofa" award which also came with a twenty
five dollar cash award. He spent his adult working career as an upholster. This would bring to most people's mind a person who cut and sewed fabric
for chairs and curtains and things like that. Well this is what an upholster does. Uncle Joe was that, and much much more.
Joseph LiVolsi was an artist and recognized as such by those that hired him to do work. He had a small shop downtown New York on 175 - East 87th
Street which he opened when the person he was working for died. He spent the remainder of his working years at this shop. Uncle Joe did work
for the Metropolitan Musuem of Art; many of the sites located in historic Williamsburg, VA; the "Blue Room" at the White House; Henry S. Dupont
of Winterthru, Delaware and many other notoriety's. In addition, Uncle Joe filled all of the family requirements for curtains, slip covers
and upholstering of chairs and sofa's.
One job Aunt Grace remembered with particular fondness was a commission which started under the Kennedy administration and which was completed
during the Nixon administration. It was the remake of the 'Blue Room' in the White House. When it was done, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph LiVolsi received
an invitation to a dinner and dedication at the White House. At this occassion, Joseph and Grace had the opportunity to meet and shake hands
with the President and Mrs. Pat Nixon.
My wife and I visited Uncle Joe's studio once or twice in the late sixties,just before moving west. The work area contained a number of
exquisit pieces of furniture. Uncle Joe took the time to talk about some of the projects he was working on and to show us some of the fabric
pieces that were left over from jobs completed. Sure I heard of fabric costing 40, 50 or sixty dollars. BUT, $100 or more per yard! Some
of the material used was imported. Some of the designs used were one of a kind or were reproductions of long ago. My wife and I
talked about those visits a number of times over the years. In the short time I have been doing research I have discovered it is rare in these
days for a father to pass onto a son a business that he spent his whole life creating. I have realized that this tradition must have died
somewhere between the 1930's and the 1960's. It's not a fault thing. It is or was, the effects of the times. I wonder if Uncle Joe was still
around, how much he could have taught to someone wanting to become an upholster.
Even after Uncle Joe retired, Henry S. DuPont, continued sending him work. He could find no-one with the technical ability and craftsmanship of
Joseph LiVolsi.
I misplaced the information on this
picture, but no-matter. It shows
Uncle Joe and Aunt Grace
enjoying themselves.
Mary Scovotti with her daughter Grace Li Volsi.
Robert LiVolsi standing and Eddie LiVolsi in hand.
This picture was taken at 1749 Jarvis Avenue,
Bronx, New York.
Robert, Eddie and Linda Li Volsi.
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