During 1900's and to 1960 a high number of families from the town of Pianopoli, providence of Catanzaro, Italy emigrated to Herkimer, N.Y. for jobs at Standard Furniture Company. Records shows that up to 1929, the request was so high that Pianopoli people who already working in Herkimer, had offered themselfs to sponsor immigrant and family members, relatives and friends that would accept jobs at Standard Furniture Co. in Herkimer. A number of Pianopoli people that worked before the WWII were; Giuseppe Maida and wife Concetta Notaro, Gregorio Chirico (returned to Pianopoli), Tommaso Nanci (Iudice)returned to Pianopoli, Antonino Miceli (returned to Pianopoli), Michael Torcia, Francesco Loschiavo, Adamo Catroppa, Francesco Fazio, Dominick Casale, Agostino Pugliese, Pietro Cristiano, Agostino Cristiano (returned to Pianopoli), Antonio Malta, Tommaso Casale, Tripolino Casale, Tommaso Ceneviva, Giuseppe (Joseph) Aiello, Francesco Casale, Francesco Perri (returned to Pianopoli), Francesco Pugliese, Antonio Scardamaglia, Tommaso Scardamaglia(returned to Pianopoli, Achille Donato, Saverio Varano e fratello Tommaso Varano, Dot Pugliese, Franco Scalise (nicknamed-sopranome Carubellu), Famiglie Caligiure, Famiglie Guzzo, Antonio Malta, Giuseppe Cristiano, Michele Torcia, Raffaele Madia, Raffaele Cuda, Fratelli Chirico that immigrated in Herkimer with their father Francesco; Giuseppe Chirico Perfetto Chirico (returned to Pianopoli), Minotti Chirico, Angelino Chirico (returned to Pianopoli), Antonio Chirico, Giuseppe Maida
After WWII Immigration reopened, in early 1950's, again manpower was required so other families from Pianopoli came to Herkimer, they were; Agostino Nanci (later moved to California and in 1968 returned to Pianopoli), Francesco Nanci (moved to California), Agostino Faga, Massimo Fazio, Agostino Pugliese, Frank Ceneviva, Silvio Ceneviva, Tommaso Cuda (moved to Hartford ct), Raffaele Madia (moved to Schenectady NY), Francesco (notaro) Madia (returned to Pianopoli), Antonio Donato (survivor of the Andrea Doria- after retirement returned to Pianopoli), Remoaldo Fazio-moved to Pittsburgh, Francesco Torcia (moved to Hartford ct).
Herkimer Standard Furniture Co.The Company founded in 1886, was located on South Washington St. and King Street It was red brick buildings with land extending to Route 5. and having the railroad extended to the loading dock. From the West Canda Creek to Mirrow lake a water canal was created to generate electricity for the factory.
It was the largest wooden furniture in Herkimer that produced office equipment; desks, library cabinet, bookcases, chairs, tables, custom made conference tables ect..The furniture made by experienced craftsman had a fine hand-rubbed finished that made the product the best in the marked.
Their craftsmanship was so well known throughout the world that business was booming and extra people were added to the workforce mainly during the WWII years as thousands of desks were produced for the government..
Many European immigrant arrived in Herkimer a high percentage they all worked at the Standard Furniture.
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After the WWII, extra people were added to the Standard Furniture Co. workforce therefore, again a number of workers from Pianopoli emigrated to Herkimer, .My father, Agostino Faga, arrived in Herkimer in 1954, worked at the Standard for several years at several production jobs. He then was assigned to the night shift at the boiler room maintenance in addition doing watchman performances with the key-clock that had to be marked during routine controlling at all floors and all departments.When business declined, my father was laid-off and was offered an eletrician job at the Library Bureau Co. where he then retired
From State Street Route 5 looking towards the boiler rooms location- and the building on King Street side.
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In early 1970, business eventually declined to a point that the factory was closed in 1978.Most of the original building was torn down to make way for the K-mart Store.One remaining building on King Streed was sold to two separate business
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