Families are friends for four generations
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History for 01-27-2024
Salvatore Morrella, Joseph Sapia and John Russo told police they were fruit merchants on their way back to Amsterdam from New York City with what they said was a load of grapes when they were stopped by authorities in Hudson, New York, according to the Daily Gazette on September 3, 1921.
The police, being curious. looked under the grapes and found the men also had 100 gallons of distilled alcohol.
The alcohol was covered on all sides by crates of Malaga grapes. Malaga grapes are grown in Spain and can be used to make a sweet fortified wine.
After the alcohol was discovered the trio of Amsterdam men admitted their guilt and were charged with felonies.
Pasquale DiMezza, a friend of Russo and Sapia and a prominent Amsterdam banker, went to Hudson and furnished cash bail of 500 dollars for each after the men were held for the grand jury on the charge of violating the Volstead Act. Five hundred dollars in 1921 would be worth $8400 today because of inflation.
Those charged under the Volstead Act faced expensive bail but usually were able to make bail and then were released.
The Volstead Act was an act of Congress that enforced the 18th amendment which established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks starting in 1921. Andrew Volstead was a Minnesota Congressman who championed prohibition.
Amsterdam Town Supervisor, and retired Amsterdam city detective chief Thomas DiMezza said, "Russo's Grill (on West Main Street) has been in business for 103 years now. The Russo and DiMezza families go back four generations."
DiMezza explained, "The four generations comes in being that our grandparents were friends, our parents were good friends, I played golf regularly with Jim Russo. I continue to be friends with the children, and our children are friends. In fact Dan Russo's daughter works with my son Michael (in education). What a small world."
Banker Pasquale DiMezza, a native of Melizanno in Benevento province, also published an Italian newspaper and sold real estate and products ranging from steamship tickets to macaroni.
In 1916, the DiMezza Bank, originally on the South Side, relocated across the river to 75 West Main Street at the corner of Mohawk Place. When Pasquale DiMezza closed the bank in 1930, state examiners said his adherence to state banking laws had been perfect. He was known for serving customers at any hour of the day or night.
DiMezza even wanted to erect a merry-go-round in 1908 on Railroad Street, a project humorously deplored by the Recorder newspaper whose offices were nearby, "It is sincerely hoped that some natural phenomenon destroys the aforesaid music before the first shrill blast of the whistle stuns the fish in the river."
As pressure mounted to repeal Prohibition in 1932, local Methodists continued to advocate for continuation of the ban. Meeting in Saratoga Springs, ministers from throughout the area argued that the anti-alcohol law had not been given a fair chance of success.
When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the bank became a liquor store operated by Pasquale DiMezza's son Alphonse starting in 1945. Hundreds paid their respects when Pasquale DiMezza, at age 75, died in1947. The DiMezza Bank was torn down for urban renewal highway work in 1966.
Once Prohibition ended, the government issued beer and wine licenses to some establishments and full liquor license to others.
Amsterdam Mayor Arthur Carter was reported to flip flop on enforcing that law.
At first, Carter told local police to leave enforcement to federal undercover agents. But after pressure from the state, Carter changed his mind and told local uniformed police to enforce the law.
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