December 5th 1908,

Dear Greta,

Life’s different here in America. We had to go on a ship that took a month until we knew we were in America. The beds were uncomfortable. We didn’t get much food. When we did, it was not filling or good. We welcomed ourselves to America by jumping on the ship’s deck. We were all so relieved.  We knew we were in America because we saw a famed statue that we had learned about from gossip on the ship, the Lady Liberty who welcomes immigrants to America. I made a friend on the boat, but no one can replace you, Greta. Her name is Anita, and she’s from Poland.

When we walked off the boat, we saw it was a windy day. The water was churning like someone took a big spoon and mixed it up. We got hit by a wall of water trying to get off. I was carrying me little basket of my needles and such, and my pillowcase of clothes. I was so tired! I was so hungry I felt like I might die of hunger. We huddled together for warmth in the cold, cold air like little penguins. It wasn’t as cold as the Alps back in Switzerland of course, but I was surprised by the cold. We walked into an enormous building. Then, I shuffled in the crowd, holding tight to Liesl’s hand; Mother and Jonush just behind us. We walked into line with millions of others. We saw other’s eyes lifted with a metal buttonhook, and then it was our turn. It hurt! It was kind of scary. I looked as people get marks on their coats with a funny thing called chalk. I watched families get ripped apart sobbing for them. There are so many languages being spoken at the same time! There must’ve been a million! Not that many, but a lot. Maybe even 30! More than anything in my life, Greta! It smelled like sweat, sick people, medicine, rubbing alcohol, excitement, and nervousness.   

There were more inspections! So many! They go on forever! We walk up the stairs. I help support Mother as always. Then before I know it she has a big L on her coat and is being taken away. We cry for her, but we must go on! I say, “We will visit her later.” We walk into a large room. It is noisier. The ruckus is multiplied a million times. We wait in line for 30 minutes. Then we get to a desk with an inspector and a translator. Liesl asks, “Svitsa Deutsch?” The translator shakes his head. Then we wait another 15 minutes for a translator. The inspector says something in English. Remember they taught us some English in school Greta? I caught, “test” and, “intelligence.” Finally the translator speaks, “Hello there. Welcome to Ellis Island.” He seemed nice enough. “This is an intelligence test. Take the three blocks and stack them on top of each other.” I do as he says and pass with ease. So do Jonush and Leisl. We find our way across the room. There are tall desks at the other end, and benches on the side. We sit and wait to be called. When our numbers are called, we come up, shivering in the sudden cold. The same translator comes over. The inspector fires questions at like bullets. The translator slows them down. Leisl goes first. “What is your name?” “Leisl Preisig,” “How old are you?” “16,” “Do you have family here?” “Yes, my father,” “How much money do you have?” “$25,” “Have you ever been arrested?” “No,” “What did you do there?” “I worked on a family embroidering business,” “Did you get an education?” “I was homeschooled,” … They went on with things like that for a good while. She passed, then it was my turn. I passed, and then Jonush. We then went to find Mother. We found ourselves in a hospital. We found Mother. The nurse said to us in Svitsa Deutsch, “She’s free to go. She’s fine.” We cried with joy and skipped out. We found a staircase that had three sections: New York, detainment, and New Jersey. Father was in NY, so we went there.

That leads me to now. I’m writing this letter on the boat to Manhattan. I’m excited for this adventure. I miss you, Zumdorf, school, the Alps, wurst, svetska kochen, balalechaly, and svitska broth. I overheard someone talking about tasting a “sandwich”. They served it to us for lunch. It was so good. He said, “It tasted like a nice piece of cake.”

 

I’ll write more soon.

Sincerely,

Elsa (Sarah)

---

December 5, 1908

Dear Rieke Rabinowitz,      

I was in steerage for the ship ride, it was disgusting and smelly. All day I played marbles in one of the halls with some marbles I found on the boat,  It was time consuming but slightly boring. I stayed away from sick people because I did not want to get sick too. There were six people from Kozlov on the boat. The food tasted like paper, and the beds were uncomfortable because they were hard and rough. Finally after two weeks on the very bad weathered and ruff sea, we all came up on the deck in a big crowd. There it was, the Statue of Liberty. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen,  it was so beautiful. Then we pulled in to New York, but only the first and second class got off. I was very confused because they said the rest of us had to go to Ellis Island and I thought we would just get off and start our new life.

    Our ship pulled away from New York and we went to Ellis Island. We got off the ship and went through the doors. At first, I was very, very scared. Then I saw how big it was. It was colossal, the ceiling was enormous with a lot of tiles. It was also very crowded, smelled like dirty feet and was bustling with movement. There were so many languages being spoken, it was just indescribable. The first thing the inspectors did was take a hook and roll my eyelids back and the inspector said he was checking for Trachoma (a very bad eye disease).

    Next, we went up this huge staircase. The sack you gave me was very heavy and it was hard to walk up the stairs. When we got to the top, the inspectors said they were checking our physical abilities and some people I saw from my ship were limping. I think they were sent back home because America does not want people who cannot work. I also heard  a Russian woman say “NO DON’T TAKE HER, I WILL NEVER GET TO SEE HERE AGAIN! I was feeling very bad for her. After that I got in this line and they had me do a wooden puzzle in less than two minutes. There was a translator because I did not know English. I did the puzzle very fast! After the puzzle, I went to an inspector who asked me some questions about myself, which was very stressful. When I was done he said it will take me 5 years to get a passport and then I will be an American citizen. After that he told me to take the left side of the staircase which meant I was to take the ferry to New York City.

    I am very hopeful for my future in America. I heard that fur trading is a good business here so I might do that. I miss you very much.

 

              Sincerely ,                  

                                   Wolf  Kozlow (Bo)

Dear Mother,

The journey as a steerage passenger was scary. I was sick and I thought the boat would sink. There were so many people from so many different places. The girl near me was from England. One uncomfortable moment was when the girl near me was upset. This was uncomfortable because I didn’t know why she was upset, and I thought it was my fault. A positive moment was when I got fresh air. It was so windy and I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. When I first entered New York Harbor, everyone was very anxious and we were all so cold and wet. My back and head hurt and I was scared that I would be deported at Ellis Island.

Arriving at Ellis Island, I was carrying my vest, some food, and 30 dollars. The medical inspectors pulled our eyelids back with a button hook to check for trachoma. This was uncomfortable because I didn’t know if I’d have trachoma or not. And it hurt a lot more than I thought it would. When I saw the medical inspectors, they seemed like they wanted us to have something wrong with our eyes. And the people that did, got big “E”s on their coats. People told one girl to turn her coat inside-out so that you couldn’t see the E. She seemed  like she didn’t care though.

For our mental test, there was a black square and blocks, and we had to fill the black square with the blocks within three minutes. For the legal test, we were put into three lines, and one by one were asked our names, how we were going to take care of ourselves, and how much money we had. One person wanted to be deported. I think he was forced out of his home country. There was a “staircase of separation” which was three staircases, and each determine where you went .I went down the staircase that took people to New York.

I think I might have a nice life here in America and New York will have a lot of opportunities. If it doesn’t, at least I’ll be with dad.

Sincerely,

Anastasia (Harley)

December 5, 1908

Dear Baba joon,

We had a restless boat ride along the choppy waves of the Atlantic. Maman got seasick and stayed below deck for most of the bumpy journey. I knew the exact moment we got to New York Harbor because I could see the wonderful lady rising proud, towering over the bouncing waves. Everybody was cheering and raising their caps in the air because we had finally arrived. We had arrived to the golden land.

The boat landed at the dock. We didn’t know where on earth to go because the island was jam-packed with people. People from all different countries were walking this way and that. Finally someone directed us to this wide building. I heard someone say in Farsi, “I hope we pass the tests.” Tests? What tests? I thought nervously. But it was too late to say anything because I was whisked away into the building. All of the tests were so nerve-racking but, we all thankfully passed the mental and physical tests. It was chaotic with all of the of the people getting checked, getting chalked and getting detained. Ali almost stayed back when we took the back test (no pun intended). We had to stay at the Ellis Island dormitories for a few nights because the doctor who checked us didn’t speak any Farsi, so he couldn’t understand that it was just a minor injury.   

The eye exam was so scary! They take a hook and pull up your eyelid to check for trachoma. So we get over there and everybody has to pass and I’m on the floor screaming. Other immigrants finally got me to calm down after a while but it still hurt as bad as a paper cut to the eye!

The Great Hall is a vast, cramped space filled with different languages echoing through the air. All the chatter makes the large room seem so small. It seems like a bunch of birds screeching together as a predator comes in sight.

On the stairs of separation we were lucky to be sent to the 1st stairway and we got to stay in the city! I met this Greek boy named Alexander. We played with each other until his grandma was detained because of a suspicious looking ingrown toenail and Alexander was miserable after that. I remember one amazing moment in the Great Hall very well. Ali and I were pulling our wooden chests on a wagon when we heard a yell. We turned around and we saw an inspector scream, “Help! That immigrant snuck in!” The immigrant was so busy looking behind him that he barreled into our cart. Chests went flying! It was said that Ali and I had supposedly caught the criminal. We were rewarded in enough money to buy the first month’s rent!

This evening it didn’t feel right to eat the strange new dinner without you. How are you? We wish you were here. We all love you so much and hope to see you soon. You mean the whole entire world to me.

 

                                                         Love, Cyrus (Cy)

                                            

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Mathilde (my grandmother),

I have arrived in America, a beautiful place, and the “grand statue of liberty”is right in front of me. However, sadly the streets are not paved with gold and I’m not a millionaire yet. It was cramped in the cold boat and I wish I would have had enough money to go in at least second class because in steerage there was horrible food and a “complete lack of sanitation”. Second class was inspected on the boat and got off the boat earlier and went straight to New York. I had to go to Ellis island where the inspectors were rude and mean.

Many other immigrants on the boat were my age, probably about 36 of them, which was really surprising. I became friends with a Italian girl named Maria. When I was on the ship I got to see the statue of liberty with Maria that our country was proud to give to America. Many people around seem to feel just as  cold, wet, tired, uncomfortable, scared and hungry. It was really nice to feel that I was not the only one feeling this way. I also felt happy to be in America.

When I entered Ellis island I was happy to be there because everybody said it is so amazing and because it took a lot of hard work and effort to make it here. It just feels so good to have arrived. The building is very big, it is probably the biggest building I have ever seen. We walked into the Great Hall full of different people talking in different languages, German, Polish, Italian and Japanese and more. We went upstairs for the inspection to start.

The medical inspector was old he had red hair, dark green eyes, an oval face, a pointy nose, orange teeth, a black and blue striped shirt, black pants, dark green socks and black shoes. He was aggressive and scary. He frightened me.The mental inspector was exactly like him, same behavior the same clothes and same age. I think that they were twins.

When I was at Ellis island many things happened. For the medical inspection the doctor took a metal pointy hook and used  it to lift up my eyelid to see if I had a bad disease which is called trachoma. For the medical inspection they also examined me to make sure I did not have a physical disability and they watched as I walked up the stairs. For the mental inspection they wanted me to stack blocks and use five blocks and then make them into a square in three minutes. The tests were easy the inspector also asked my mother 5+5 she could answer that easily and so could I. I know that the answer is ten. However, evan with easy tests I was stressed that I might get it wrong. I was starting to get very tired.

Everybody in my family passed the inspection after we were done we went to the staircase of separation which are three staircases that separate people from each other into three groups people going to New Jersey and people going to New York and people going back to their home country.

 

I had:

• 6 changes of clothes
• The sewing kit that you gave me
• 1 stuffed animal
• Family
• Memories
• Something to eat
• Pictures
• Hope
• Happiness

The people around me all seemed just as scared as I was and very nervous as if they were about to explode. They seemed so shy and so scared, yet they talked so loudly. It felt like I was in a crowd of people trying to talk as loud as they can, actually it sounded like they were screaming as loud as they can. After all that screaming my ears hurt.

Ellis island smelled of sweaty stressed people. It also smelled of a warm spring morning the morning I got there even tho it was midsummer. Inside it smelled of food it made me hungry so my mother told me to eat the food I had packed. I had packed a ham and butter sandwich and water.

I hope that America is a good place to live in and that I will be happy there with my family. I hope that nothing bad will happen to us and that we can make enough money so that we can live happily and have a better life.

I hope things are good back at home and you are doing well. I hope the family is good. I hope all of my friends and I hope that nothing bad has happened.

                                               

                                                From,

                                                Camille (Palma)

 

P.S Please write back.

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Papa,

When Mama and I arrived in America I was so excited but it is not what I imagined it would be. The journey was very long and difficult. The air was thick there was not one cloud in the sky. There were thunderstorms and lightning over the rough seas. In the storm Mama wrapped my blanket over me very subtly to help me keep warm. There was food but it was not very good. I made a friend, her name is Camille and she is from France. The trip was too difficult weeks but Mama and I are safe and warm.

The streets here are not paved with gold nor are there any rainbows which lead to a pot of gold. Next we came to this big house and I realized it was the immigration office! Then we had to walk up stairs so they could know if we were limping. Then I fell but thank God the inspectors did not see me.

I have one pair of clothes and rain boots. I also have the teddy bear that you gave me for my 5th birthday. I was so nervous even my teeth were chattering. The inspection was terrible. They had to lift my eyelids up with a metal hook! They gave me blocks that had numbers 1 2 and 3. I had to stack them from 1 to 2 to 3. Everyone was speaking different languages. I saw families huddling together talking under their breath. I heard people screaming when they were being separated from their families.The only thing I could smell was the tears of people crying for mercy. I wonder if me and Mama were the only Italians there? I saw people getting chalk marks on their clothing. I was praying that Mama and I would pass the test. Waiting in a line for hours we eventually passed the inspection.

Later in the day in the Great Hall they gave Mama and I another test. We had to solve a puzzle under three minutes. I was sweating from head to toe. The legal inspectors asked me, “Where are you from?” Then he searched me and Mama’s suitcases for weapons and other illegal things. Luckily Mama and I were not detained. We finally got past all the tests!

We are hoping to find a home when we get to New York and we will try to find some food. I want to become a baker because Mama and I always made Italian wedding cookies when we were home.

Then we left Ellis Island and we were on our way to America. As soon as I stepped on the American floor I knew this was my true home.

Sincerely,

Your daughter Maria (Giselle)

 

 

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Father,

I am hope things are well back in Nigeria with the family. The way I got to the port in Italy was I took a train through north Africa and then I took a boat to to France then hooped on another train to Italy and then fovla I am on the boat. Now I am about to tell about my experiences on the boat to Ellis Island. I had to go to Ellis Island in steerage with all the third class passengers.

There was so many different cultures like Hispanic, English, Dutch, Swits, Japanese, German, Persian, Russian, Polish but I could see why, after all America is the plachfe with equality for all. There were a few uncomfortable moments on the boat. One thing that stood out is on the boat ride there were small kids who were with their families but it looked like they were suffering which got me a little scared. What if those little babies were going to die and that made me uncomfortable. After that sad story I have some optimistic positive things like how all the different people were being kind except the Germans. But there was one German man who was surprisingly nice and he was helping the elderly. When I finally arrived to New York I felt a little relieved but also perplexed because I saw people getting off before we were even at Ellis Island they were getting off in Manhattan. So I wonder if that slogan about equality is true?

You know how we heard about the streets are paved in gold I have a theory about why that rumor was created. I think it was made to make people come to the country which would mean more tax payers and that would lead to more money so people in the government can spend more on personal needs. I think that is a major government scandal. So when I finally got to Ellis Island I sort of felt like I was missing something but I couldn’t place my finger on it. I also felt excited, I was also scared because I can get deported if I don’t pass  the inspections. When I got there I was only carrying a few things like the Michel Platini French  soccer jersey ,my fútbol and mother’s coat that still has a smell of Nigeria. When I saw the first medical inspectors I felt very nervous the doctors were very intimidating though I had nothing to be nervous about after all. I was very healthy and my whole family was healthy and the only reason why I left my home country was there was a disease going around called meningitis. My family wanted me to leave so if they got infected I could have enough money and bring them to America to get better medical care. The medical inspection wa very disturbing because they used a button hook to lift your eyelid. It made me feel a little scared because I thought the button hook would poke my eyes. Another thing is if you didn’t have twenty five dollars you couldn’t get the exam at all. If your eyes were red or if there was anything wrong with you they would give people chalk letters on their clothing to tell other doctors they had a problem. So a way immigrants would get through without another doctor finding out that they had a sickness (letter). Is they would turn jackets inside out so you couldn’t see the mark. luckily  I was so healthy it was quick and easy so I could get out of there. I heard lots of crying, weeping, some from joy and some from fear and distress because they were separated from their family and could be deported. Ellis Island smelled like rotten garbage because the sewers and trash were let out into the water, which surrounded the island.

There were more inspections to come even though I already did my medical one. For my next test I had to pass a mental test, they sat us down and gave us a rectangle to fill in with shapes. I could see most people getting through it quickly, which was no surprise because I completed it in no time. That was only the first one, there were so many they began to blur together, but the first was the most important. Next was the legal tests, they just asked us a few questions about our past and home country. They asked questions like, Were your parents in jail? How old are you? Do you have someone here? I felt a little weird  because I wasn’t expecting this and even though I had no reason to lie it made me feel nervous. After I finished all my tests I arrived at the staircase of separation. There was a dense crowd of thousands of people trying to go to New York. I felt so small but I was ready and excited to go to New York. So many people walked up each aisle, but if you were walking in the middle aisle you were being detained. This was the hardest part of my journey, starting my life in the land where the streets were paved with gold.

At this point I think I have a good future here but that could change any day.

Sincerely,

Kylian Ariel Ety Maathey (Bayo)

December 5, 1908

Dear Grandpa,  

I have reached Ellis Island and it took 2 weeks to get from Italy to America. The water was very choppy. I was with my friend Maria and my sister because they also came from Italy. The boat seats were very uncomfortable, they had spaces in between the back of them, where you put your back. The good part was that I got to spend time with my sister. I was so amazed when I arrived, my mouth was wide open as i saw the Statue of Liberty. I thought I was going to fall down.  

You’re sort of lucky you stayed back because it was a tough trip. I got to Ellis Island and it was huge! There were two American flags and a lot of people. Once I saw the American flag I said, “Oh my god I’m in America”! I was carrying the wedding cookies that you gave to me and wearing all the extra clothes as layers. I reached medical inspectors and my heart was racing, the inspector took the button hook and… I passed the trachoma test. That is a disease that you get in your eyes. I was so scared. The legal inspector was tricky because I told them that I was meeting grandma, but we couldn’t find her, so that’s what got us detained. It was so intense to go through the inspections. I saw people getting detained. I heard a lot of voices around me. It didn’t smell bad at all, it was all fresh air. I smelled food from people eating, and I heard people talking. It took a long time to get here, and the food was not that good. “At breakfast  they were handing out these yellow fruit called a banana, I’ve never tasted them before.” They tasted like a juicy candy, they were so sweet.

I passed the mental test, it was easy because all you had to do was figure out a puzzle and count. It was so boring, all you did was have food play and sleep, but lucky me I was there for only 2 days! Some people had to stay there for weeks.

We just did stuff like playing and eating until grandma came. When I got detained for those 2 days it was the most boring thing in my life. I did nothing. Finally I went down the stairs of separation and went to New York. It felt amazing! Remember paking, it was so hard. You will be happy to know“We still celebrate jewish culture and I still go to hebrew school.”

Sincerely,

Theo Rossi (Theo)

P.S. I miss you so much. In the future I wish you will come.

 

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Rio,                                               

I’ve missed you so much. I MADE THE INSPECTION! My heart is dancing it feels like I’m walking on awan (clouds). My dad, mom and I are all good but a friend I met on the ship Novita didn’t pass inspection, that was the last time I ever saw her. It was hard taking it all in. Now let me explain to you how it was with the inspectors.

I walked into a giant Great Hall with the roof that is the size of 20 elephants ringing with noise but then I wished I could be part of the first class. I remembered the things people have told me about the third class inspections. First, the inspector asked us our names, where we were from, what we will be doing and some other questions. Then the legal inspector made sure we didn’t have a criminal record or anything illegal with us. While that happened I could hear the loud ringing of people’s voices making the place look so small even though it was so big and it was so much nicer than anything I’ve ever seen. It did not remind me of home, it reminded me of a new life ahead. Finally we were off to the medical inspection to see if we had trachoma, scarlet fever, or were mentally ill in any way. It was nerve cracking at the time, now I’m just happy I made it. When I got to the end of inspection I had to stay in that building for the night. It was almost impossible to sleep knowing that I might be separated from my family for the rest of my life. It was traumatizing and sickening. 

I can see a good life in America for us. Oh my god just got a bad thought: I remember when the medical inspector had to flip our eyelids ugggghhhh! It hurt so much! The experience at Ellis Island was so scary, they told me to fit a bunch of shapes in a square then told a person in front of me to  translate the inspectors words in an another language. I was forced to sleep in a small dormitory with what looked like 200 people and the beds where cots.  Then there was a renovation and I had to sleep with my mom. The blankets were heavier than me and it was hard enough already to sleep but knowing the fact I could be separated from my family forever it was even harder.

By the way got your message. I’m so sorry that that happened. I forgot to ask is your arm ok. I can’t believe you fought with Arief, I mean the guy’s giant and you won the fight, it’s crazy!

Sincerely,

Suharto Kusumo (Alejandro)

 

December 5, 1908

 

Dear Grandma,

On the boat there was a young girl who kept staring at me and whenever I looked at her she would look away! On the boat there were three girls named Anita, Elsa, and Anastasia and we visited each other’s cots in steerage. I felt scared when I saw New York Harbor because it was so big and there were so many people on land. What if I fail? What if I get kept at Ellis Island? I also saw a big green lady in the middle of the river. I think she’s there for a symbol of the protection of America. It’s a lot of new and big things, but at least I had Hana.

When we arrived at Ellis island it was HUGE!!! I had never seen such a big building before! I had my pillowcase with me and since I was sitting down for a long time it feels even heavier than before I got on the boat.  I saw a person had an X written on their coat and then they got rushed away to another room. I didn’t want that to happen to me, Grandma, do I have anything wrong with me that you didn’t tell me about? I guess it’s too late now Grandma. I  passed medical inspection! Hana  passed too. The medical inspection was scary.

They checked our eyes for something called trachoma. It is a disease that makes your eyelashes curl into your eyes and then it makes you go blind. There were all these people talking in all sorts of weird languages. There were a couple of people who were Japanese but most people didn’t speak Japanese. It smelled like all sorts of food from different parts of the world.

Me and Hana had to take a mental test where we had to fit some blocks into a square. We were asked a couple simple questions about ourselves. There was a man eating a thing that was a piece of meat in between two pieces of bread that he called a sandwhech or something like that. I tasted something called pezzza and it tasted really weird. Then we were asked to walk down the left staircase of three.

We are going to New York! I miss all of you guys and I hope you write back soon. I’m scared about moving to New York but I have a feeling that I’ll be successful someday.  I miss you a lot and I miss the rest of the family too.

Love,

                                                                                                                                 Kiyomi (Hanako)

P.S. Can you put the bouquet of flowers  that I got in front of my brother’s grave?

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Dad,

I miss you. I am going to tell you about my experience as a steerage passenger. The boat did not smell good and we had to sit there for 2 extra hours. The food awfully bad and really different than Poland’s food. There were a lot of people on the boat and I saw a familiar face. I made a friend named Joey. She is a immigrated from Germany, Berlin She is really nice. We played hand games while we were waiting for the boat to leave. Joey and I had a good time with each other.

When we arrived at Ellis Island and in New York Harbor we saw the big Statue of Liberty. Wow, was my first reaction. It was bigger than I imagined. The big green body with the flaming red torch and the big beige bottom all put together, it made a wonderful lady. As we got off the boat we went to the inspections lines. There were about 30 people in front of us. But the line was growing behind us. When it was our turn we walked up the stairs to the inspector report room. While we were walking I overheard a man said that, “the inspectors were watching you while you when you were walking so you have to be your best” So I straightened my back and walked into the inspector room. The inspectors examined me and Mother, and we both made it through inspections thankfully.

If you got detained you would go through a lot more than me and mother. You would have a lot more tests for what you need to get better or your problem. Like if you had a eye problem you would get eye drops or something. Next is during the legal inspection  you need to show 25 dollars. That’s a lot of money that would take me at least 1 month and a half to get from my job. I saw a man giving money to strangers then the people would pay the man back. The man offered mother some but she said no. We got through that after we left and we stepped on a boat to Manhattan. “Wspaniale wyladowac !{wonderful land}” I shouted.

I miss the smell of Poland, the taste of the food and being in my nice bed and warm room. I miss you, by!

 

                                                    Sincerely,

                                                Balwina Putka (Macy)

December 5, 1908

Dear Mariko,

Traveling in steerage was rough. I had to go from Japan to Italy to NY. It was even more difficult because the water was super choppy and wild and very windy and drizzling. I also felt like the boat was unstable and it was going to fall, especially because the boat rocked around so much. I’m glad I made it to Ellis Island safely.

My good friends that I just met on the boat were Romain (ro-mane) from Switzerland & Theo (te-o)  from Italy were journeying with me in steerage to Ellis Island for inspection. And of course my 7 year old sister Kiyomi (kee-o-mi) and myself Takeshi (ta-kesh-e). I brought a lot of things in my heavy trunk like the picture of my great grandma Hiroshima (hero-shi-ma). My mom, Mariko Nakanishi (mar-iko) (naka-nishi), made me a sweater that I’ve had since I was three. I also packed all of my favorite clothes like my green and black happy coat. My most uncomfortable moment on the boat was before we started moving the boat was so shaky it felt like it was going to tip over. My good moment on the boat was when I went outside and it was so windy it felt like I was floating across the water. I felt nervous about passing inspections. For some reason I had a weird rush of excitement and happiness at the same time.

Arriving at Ellis Island was exciting because I have never been and I was excited to see all of the other immigrants. I was carrying a heavy trunk filled with junk that I love from Japan and my clothes. I was nervous when I saw the inspectors because I hoped I’d make it through and I heard they flip your eyelids back with a metal hook. That’s got to hurt so I was scared for that. The medical inspection was so stressful but good. Stressful because I wanted to pass so badly and I hoped the eyelid thing didn’t hurt. Good because I passed the test and I didn’t get detained. I was so sad my friend from the boat Romain did not pass. I don’t know why, but he had to go to the hospital next door. I heard so many inspections going on. I heard a lot of people pass and few got a chalk mark. There was so much clanging of footsteps. I noticed the different shoes you wear the different sound they make. I smelled the smell of a lot of different smells like the smell of the salty water. And the smell of leather coats that many other immigrants were wearing.

When I realized we had more inspections I got scared again. But I’m super smart so I passed the mental tests easily. The legal inspections were hard because the legal inspectors fired questions at you so fast it’s hard to answer them. Sadly I was detained. The Staircase of Separation was the most nerve racking of all because I knew this would tell me if I’d stay or go. There were three staircases left, right, middle. I took the middle waiting to see what comes next. When I got down to the end of the staircase the inspector said, “Middle you are staying with me.” My heart was broken, all of that transportation for nothing. I thought to myself, “I came here to go to New York now I did all that for nothing. I wonder how long I will stay in the hospital? I had to hear a bunch of cries of many immigrants like me who got detained.

I feel like the future will still be bright because in my family we never back down or give up. I miss a lot of things at home like all of my friends I had. And all of the things I didn’t have enough room for in my trunk.

Sincerely,

Takeshi Ekken Momii

(Sebastian)

 

 

                                                                                                     

Dear Lizzy,

Steerage

There were a lot of people on the boat. I traveled in steerage with my mom, my dad and my sister, Rose. There were some kids and some adults. Some people were happy and fun to play with. Others were boring and grumpy and all they wanted to do was sleep. I made some new friends, but none of them are like you.

I am still on the boat, waiting to get off. I was bored, so I decided to write you a letter. I just wanted to say, that I am really sorry that I had to move. By the way  my sister says “Hi”. I miss you so much. I brought all of the bracelets you gave me. I am wearing one right now!

Arriving At Ellis Island

We finally got off the boat and onto Ellis Island! I felt so sea sick I felt like i was going to die. I’m just happy to be off the boat, I was carrying a big case with some clothes, my stuffed animals and some snacks. We were going through medical inspections. The guys who inspected us looked really rough and scary. But my  whole family made it through. I heard so many different languages, you don’t even know. It was like there was a talkathon. It smelled like stinky feet and old people. But then we got up stairs and I smelled flowers and perfume.

Inspections

We had to do the mental test. The mental test is when the inspectors ask you a bunch of questions about yourself, like: what’s your name? where did you come from, do you have more than 25 dollar and stuff like that. Then we went down the Staircase Of Separation. The Staircase Of Separation is when you go where you need to go. If you are going to Manhattan you go down the right staircase. If you are getting detained you go down the middle staircase. And if you are going to New Jersey you go down the left staircase. I went down the right staircase, which meant I was going to Manhattan!

Sincerely,

Katherine (Saffron)

 

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Grandpa and Grandma,

The journey over the seas was not so bad but the bathroom smelled like horse manure. On the boat I met a girl named Anastasia she was really nice to Kate and me. My least favorite part was when my mom washed my hair and had to hold my head over the boat and poured water on my head to clean my hair. Something fun that Kate and I did was play hot potato. Hot potato is when you have something in your hand and you sing a song . When you sing the song you pass the thing that you chose back and forth and at the end of the song the person who has the thing you chose at the end loses. When we were pulling up to drop the people in first and second class off in New York,  I was sad because I thought America was a fair place because a lot of people in my home country said a lot of things about America and how everything was fair.

On the boat I brought my pillowcase and the quilt that you made for me. I got really scared when I first saw the medical inspectors because they looked really tough and I heard them yelling at people and I hate when people yell at me. When we arrived in Ellis island I saw hundreds maybe millions of people walking around. Kate, mom, dad and I were a big chain because we did not want to lose each other. I was surprised by how many people were there and how busy Ellis Island was. Our first inspection was the eye test. They would take a hook and see if there was anything wrong with your eyes. Kate, dad, mom and I all passed but I heard and saw families crying because something was wrong and they thought they were going to get sent back to where they used to live. We walked up the stairs. They used the stairs as a test to see if you could walk up the stairs.

They tested me to see if I was smart too, and of course I passed. They used a puzzle and other materials to test people and sometimes pictures. The inspectors asked a group of children to explain what is happening in the picture. The picture was a group of kids digging a hole and a dead rabbit on the ground. Many children said that they were going to eat the rabbit but the doctor thought they were going to say they were burying a pet. While we were waiting to be inspected Kate and I played patty cake which was really fun but it made two hours feel like ten. Then we  had to go through three staircases you got to choose which one. My family stayed together so we would not get separated. If you went to the left you would get railroad tickets if you went straight  you would go to the detention rooms if you went to the right it led to the ferry to Manhattan. When people heard they were going to the detention rooms they started screaming of fear. We went on the ferry.

Something I really miss is the fish and chips that you used to make for me. I miss all of my friends and neighbors. I miss the smell of the stands on the streets but I miss you two the most.

Sincerely,

Rose (Cece)

 

December 6, 1908

To Mom,

I have just passed the inspection at Ellis Island. It took 2 weeks to get there. I packed my prized possessions like the $25 we need to pass the legal inspection and The Puck of Pook’s Hill book you gave me. I left, I traveled in steerage, and I got very seasick. I threw up 10 times. But I got food from my friend. It was a hard journey. It rained a lot and sleeping was uncomfortable because it was crammed. But we finally reached the harbor. The first thing I saw in America was a statue of who I think was Christopher Columbus. He was holding a book that said, “July IV MDCCLXXVI.” He also had a torch in his hand.

I was kind of sad to say goodbye to the friend I made on the boat. And once I reached America I thought, “Maybe the streets are not paved with gold.” I went inside the building and I heard the inspectors barking at me. It was complete chaos!!! I was carrying heavy suitcases. I was so surprised by how I was treated because I thought the medical and legal inspectors would be so much nicer.

The medical inspection hurt so much. The medical inspector stuck a hook in my eye. I was so scared. I thought I would be rejected. I felt exhausted. I felt like I could not open my eyes. I was waiting for the legal inspection. I was so hungry I thought that at any minute I would die of hunger. I was so cold. I was almost frozen. I know English and I heard an inspector exclaim, “Deport him!” Luckily he was talking about another immigrant, phew. I got to the front of the legal inspection line. My feet were burning from waiting for two hours. The legal inspection was easy. I already practiced for it. It was such a relief. The interpreter made it even easier. But it was a bit too personal. He even asked me why I came to America.

Then I went down a staircase that looked like freedom and some inspector stated “you’re going to New York City  phew I almost went down the wrong staircase. The inspectors on Ellis Island are mean and greedy. I saw someone get detained because they did not have “American culture” by answering a question about a rabbit wrong.

But I will just have see what this place called the Lower East Side is. My boat was delayed by 2 hours. I was so terribly hungry that I went to the restaurant. All the food was free, but I did not recognize the names of any of the items so I ordered a thing called a sandwich. It was delicious. If only I knew what it was. I was not sure if the food was Kosher. Then through the window I saw a man being detained, and he shouted “YOU LIED TO US AMERICA!!!” All I know is that “I NEED to fit in.” I heard rumors that America is actually worse than Switzerland. I am starting to regret going to America. I should have stayed home. For some reason I wanted to get rejected by both inspectors. Please help me Mom.

Sincerely,

Romain Zurich Osendarp

Diary and letter of Romain Zurich Osendarp      c.1906 Ellis Island  

 

 

December 5, 1908

Dear Alice and Philip,

Oh, how I wish you could be here with me. I wish I could have one more taste of the air back in Limmared. The day on Ellis Island was horrific yet eventful. I am so excited because I will soon be at my new home with Aunt Lisa. I am so relieved I made it through the tests. I’ve never seen so many people in a room before. The trip had been hard. It was hard when I thought of the things I was losing. I thought of the restaurants, I thought of the glass factory, I thought of the beautiful water, I thought of the streets, I thought of my past life, and I thought of you. I tried to think of the things I would have in America but it was just too hard to picture what may never happen. I asked myself what felt like too many questions; Will I be deported? How hard will the trip become? Will I ever find a job so I can help Aunt Lisa?                             

There were so many other passengers on the ship with me. There was one family with a mother and a father, an eleven year old boy and a seven year old girl. They said they were from Romania. They were really nice to me but I couldn’t stay with them because their family was detained because the father had a little bit of trouble walking. We communicated by English and Swedish because they spoke English and some of the practical Swedish words are similar to English. During one part of the trip I was really uncomfortable because the first and second class passengers get off the ship in Manhattan and third class (steerage, me) had to go to Ellis Island. This made me wonder if there really was complete equality. It was like invisible equality. I was thinking this because we are coming to a country with (supposedly) complete equality but yet already, just as we enter the country, we see an example where equality does not apply. Putting aside that topic, there were two parts of the trip that felt really good. One was when I met that Romanian family. I believe their surname was Funar. The other really nice part of the trip was getting off the ship and feeling the fresh feeling of solid ground again. When I first saw New York Harbor a great sigh of relief came out of my lungs. I looked up at the sky and whispered “Thank You God”. It was one of the best feelings I could ever remember. There was so much I had to think about for my great future ahead. Around me there were people on their knees. There were people praying. There were people like me thanking God for the safe journey from Europe. I just grew happier and happier when I saw the Statue of Liberty. I was thinking “We have truly arrived in America”. But there was one thing that eventually darkened my mood. The adventure that awaited me at Ellis Island.   

Then we arrived. When we got off the ship there were people already there waiting for us. They were wearing black uniforms with white buttons and they had a gold badge on their left shoulders. The other passengers and I were directed off the ship and into a large castle-like building. They said make sure you have all of your belongings because the ship was not coming back to return your lost properties. So with this said I looked at what I was carrying in my hand. I had my small trunk, check! Then I looked inside my trunk. I had my pepparkakor (Swedish gingerbread cookies) check!  I had my dress, check! And I had my stuffed animal, check! I had everything so I wouldn’t need the ship that would never return to bring me my non-existent lost properties. The people that were there (which I believe were direction people or something professional like that) directed us to a room where we would leave our bags. Then, we walked up a huge marble staircase into a vast room filled with people and benches. As I walked up the stairs, I could see more people wearing the same uniform. They were waiting for us at the top of the staircase. I noticed that they were all men. Another example of invisible equality! Why is there so many examples of invisible equality in America? Once we were all at the top of the stairs they told us “We are a group of inspectors here at Ellis Island. We and several other people will be examining you today. Welcome to the Grand Hall. Now I would like you to find one of these rows and go into them. As you wait to get to the end of the hall to be inspected, you may sit on the benches separating the rows.” I couldn’t exactly understand what he was saying but several other people were going into the rows and sitting down on the This made me feel good that they were actually giving instructions, maybe not in a kind way but they certainly weren’t barking at us. Maybe there was some equality in America after all! Once they said this I knew what to do and I knew what I was going to do. These people were dead serious. They meant what they said. So this made me feel excited and nervous because I knew I could continue on to Aunt Lisa or I could get deported and get sent back to you. I knew there was a possibility of both. I came to a part in the line where there was a man with a buttonhook in which he was pulling people’s eyelids up. Oh how much would this hurt?! Do I really have to go through this? I couldn’t. This would hurt too much. But soon enough I was at the front of the line and this man was pulling up my eyelids! He started so fast I didn’t even have time to notice what he was doing to me. When I finally noticed it was over but it hurt so much that I could feel the pain for at least 5 minutes after. The room was filled with people speaking in different languages, and the sound was combined with the sound of the inspectors barking at newly (not quite, but hopefully soon) immigrants. All of these nervous and unkind tempos made the room sound as if it were a concert for a band that desperately needed practice. One thing that was really not encouraging was the fact that I could see hundreds of people every 30 minutes being escorted by the inspectors out of the Grand Hall and into other rooms to be further examined. The room smelled like different style cuisines and somehow I could smell my own fear. I guess it was because I was so nervous that there was a bonus to my feelings and that bonus just happened to be one of our 5 senses.

While I was waiting in the next line (which I had very recently -15 to 20 minutes ago- entered) an inspector came to me with a basket of blocks. He wasn’t one of the inspectors that was talking to us at the beginning of my Ellis Island journey. Some of the blocks were triangle shaped and some were square shaped blocks. I guess someone told him that I didn’t speak English because he came with another man and he whispered to me that he was the translator and whatever the inspector said he would translate for me. I saw the inspector’s mouth move and I heard sounds come out, but i just couldn’t make out what he was trying to tell me. He told the translator “she needs to stack the 3 blocks on top of each other within 3 minutes.” But I knew soon enough the translator would step in and he would tell me what I needed to do. And sure enough he did: du måste stapla de 3 blocken ovanpå varandra på 3 minuter. The translator gave me those square blocks that came from the basket and I did it. I (without any trouble) stacked them perfectly. Then the inspector gave me a face that I couldn’t exactly read. I was guessing that it was happy face but I still wasn’t sure. At this point he had put the square blocks back into the basket and was pulling out a collection of triangular blocks. Again, I saw a moving mouth, I heard sounds come out, but I couldn’t understand anything. This time when the translator came to tell me the directions he started with the sentence, ”Detta kommer att bli lite svårare” (this is going to be a little bit harder). This got me quite nervous. My stomach started to ache and there were real butterflies. The translator didn’t stop there. He kept explaining. He said, ”Du kommer att ordna de 5 kvarteren på ett sätt så att deras konturer är en fyrkant. du har 5 minuter. gå!” (you will arrange the blocks in a way so the outline is a square. You have 5 minutes. Go!) When this man said go, I went. I didn’t take any chances. I was determined to get into this country and if I stopped now it wouldn’t happen. I had to try harder. I had to go on. I finished at 2 minutes and the translator said. ”du har klarat provet ” (you have passed this test). When he said this, I couldn’t believe my ears. I had passed another test! It was so loud I wondered how I could focus. Now I was at the front of the line. I had come to a place where there were 5 high desks (one for each row or line) and high stools behind them. On each stool there was an inspector. Above our heads attached to the wall there is a mezzanine where the dormitories are. They need dormitories for the newcomers if they are detained overnight. Hanging behind the desks from the rail of the mezzanine is the American Flag. All 46 states. Wow! I had just a few seconds to look at this before the inspector behind the desk barked “Miss!” This is when I jerked my head toward the desk and saw that the inspector was waiting for me and was getting a little frustrated so I quickly shuffled forward and gave the inspector my full undivided attention, and I showed him that by making eye contact. He also had a translator. I gave him my Inspection Card and he quickly scanned it. Then he looked down at me and asked “What is your name?” I tilted my head to the side in confusion. That’s when he noticed that he was going to  need the help of a translator. He very very loudly yelled “Swedish translator!” I guess he knew I was Swedish because of my Inspection Card. It took a few minutes for a Swedish translator to get to our station but one finally did. So he repeated himself to the translator and he came close to me and quietly said “vad heter du?” (what is your name?). “Anna Bengtson’’ I answered. Then the translator said a few English words to the inspector. The inspector again looked down at my card and nodded his head. Then he spoke again to the translator and he came back to me “vart kommer du ifrån?” (where are you coming from?). “Limmared, Sweden” I answered again. The translator again spoke to the inspector. The inspector nodded. He spoke to the translator and he again came to me “hur gammal är du?” (how old are you) “10 och 1 månad. ” (10 years and 1 month). He went back to the inspector. Same agenda he looked at my card and nodded. More English words. Then the translator came back for the 4th time he asked “reser du ensam?” (are you traveling alone?), “ja” (yes) I answered. He went back to the inspector. English… card… nodding… English…. the translator asked me “vem plockar dig upp från Ellis Island?” (who is picking you up from Ellis Island?), “min faster Lisa” (my Aunt Lisa). English… card… nodding… English…. the translator asked “vet du var hon bor?” (do you know where she lives), “Nej. men jag vet att hon bor i New York City” (no. but I know she lives in New York City). English… card… nodding… English…. Then the translator came back and said “gå ner i den här trappan och gå in i vänster dörr och vänta tills någon eskorterar dig till cafeterian. du har gått över provet. du kommer att vilja äta lunch eftersom din pråm till Manhattan kommer att gå om 2 timmar. Välkommen till Amerika.” (go down the staircase and go through the left door. Wait till someone can escort you to the cafeteria. You have passed the test. You will want to eat lunch because your barge to Manhattan will leave in 2 hours. Welcome to America.). “Tack! tack så mycket!” (thank you! Thank you so much!). I started to walk toward the staircase he directed me to when he yelled “vänta!” (wait!). I walked back a few steps to see what he needed to tell me. “Ja” (yes?). “ta ditt inspektionskort din faster kommer hämta dig på stationen på Manhattan.har du 25 dollar?”, “ja”  (take your Inspection Card. your aunt will pick you up at the station in Manhattan. Do you have 25 dollars? yes.). I went down the staircase and went through the left door like the man had instructed me. There was another man waiting for me downstairs. He did not need a translator because he himself spoke Swedish. “vi ska gå till cafeterian, få dig lite mat och då kommer jag att lämna dig där. när din pråm kommer kommer jag att hämta dig.” (we will go to the cafeteria, get you some food and then I will leave you there. Once your barge comes, I will come get you.)

Now I am in the cafeteria and I am writing this letter to you. My future I am unsure about. I miss everything from Limmared but I hope to have a strong life in America.

Love,

Anna (Sonia)

 

                                                                                                                         

December 5, 1908

My dear Ana,

We have arrived safely to New York on a boat called “Miss New York.” Over here we were in steerage as you know, I made friends there,their names are Kiyomi, Elsa, and Anastasia. They are very nice.The food there was terrible, it was stale and chalky. It killed me to see how the people in first and second class got to get off the boat in  Manhattan and we had to go to Ellis Island.

When we got to Ellis Island I didn’t pass one of the inspections,and we got detained. In fact I am writing to you from the dormitories right now. Luckily I got a bottom bunk, and a blanket, so I’m very lucky. There is one thing that upsets me though, and that is all the kids are staying with their mothers. I thought you would like to know what’s going on. I cannot wait until dad raises enough money to bring you over here.

The reason we got detained was because the inspectors thought I had a very contagious disease called favus. Favus is a nail and scalp disease. They took me to a hospital in NY. The doctors said I was fine, so I  was  sent back to E.I. There was one person who was sent back to their home country, I heard them screaming! Another thing they made me do was very annoying, they made me read in English even though they knew I could not read it. I heard an inspector whisper to a doctor, “ someone has Ebola, get

all the African immigrants to further inspection. NOW!!!!!” I was scared, I did not want to get Ebola. Elsa had to go to the hospital because they thought she had trachoma!

I miss you and Krakow Poland and our little village. How are you? I saw in a newspaper that Poland just had a major problem with T.B. I hope it did not affect you.

                                                            

Love you always,

Your sister Anita (Libi)

                                                               

 

December 6th, 1908

 

Dear Grandma,

 

Today is my first time in America. The boat ride was two whole weeks. I am very happy that I did not get seasick. Many other people got seasick. I saw people throw up and it was very gross.  I saw a lot of birds on the ride and I gave the one bird a piece of bread and now he/she is my new PET!  I really wanted a pet because I was lonely after leaving all my friends in Germany.  Also my mommy and daddy were BOTH on the boat with me.

Finally I am at New York I said to an ANT for  some reason. When I arrived I had to go through inspection. I was very nervous. It was very crowded with other immigrants. I was really lucky that I got an inspector who was more interested in finding already chewed gum on the ground than doing his job that he didn’t notice my bird hiding in my suitcase. I had a sandwich and a basket, two changes of clothes, and… a hat. The woman behind me said, “I’ve never eaten a tomato before” as she ate one for the first time. I traveled with my mom and dad. I felt scared that my family would get separated from me. They checked my eyes and how I walked. Every person around me was also getting inspected but of course the inspectors were not getting inspected and I thought that was not fair!

It was SO LOUD because people were yelling at each other in line for the bathroom in different languages!!!! The air did not smell fresh and clean.

There were many more inspections. They tested me with PUZZLES!!! To make sure that I am smart enough to participate in America! They asked me where I was from and what my job would be. I passed and wasn’t detained. Then we went on the staircase of separation, which takes us to our next destination.  I got to go to NYC.

 

I feel excited to be in America. I Hope you’re feeling well Grandma and I really miss you.

 

From, Henrich Heightman!!! (Henry)
    

 

 

 

 

 

Can you tell us how to get to Orchard Street?