La Bella America: From the Old Country to the North Country

In 1987 John B. Johnson, Sr., editor, and publisher of the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times, suggested to Frank P. Augustine, a 38 year Times employee, that he research the Italian community of Watertown. Augustine's work resulted in an 18-week series published in the Times from September 1988 to March 1989, and a book, La Bella America: From the Old Country to the North Country published by the Watertown Times. In the course of his research Augustine, himself a child of Italian immigrants went into the homes of members of the Italian community in Watertown. He tape-recorded over three dozen interviews, primarily with Italians who had come to the United States as young people in the early twentieth century. Most of those interviewed were in their late 70s, 80s or 90s. Assisting as interpreter was Henry V. Cumoletti, a Watertown resident who had served as an interpreter and court reporter at the Nuremberg Trials in 1946.