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Period: to
Alexandra Howe's Immigration Timeline
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Journey to America
My family (mother, father, two older brothers, and myself) left Greece because of taxation and better economic oppertunities in America. -
First Job
My brothers got jobs at a shoeshine stand with my father and my mother and I got jobs at a candy cart as a street vendor. -
Moving and Finding New Jobs
When fluctations in the American economy put street vendors out of bussines, we moved to Rhode Island. In Rhode Island there was a large Greek population, we chose a neighborhood where the Greeks made a living off of lobster fishing. -
Bill of 1909
When the Bill of 1909 attempted to ban all non-citizens from lobster fishing, along with the danger of the work, my mother decided that the Oklahoma Territory would be a good place to move. -
Father dies
After three years of lobster fishing, my father was caught in the ocean during a summer storm and drowned. Fearing for my brother's lives and the threat of the Bill of 1909, my mother forbade them to enter the fishing industry, resulting in our family moving to find other work. -
Opening a Buisness
My mother, two older brothers, and I moved to the Oklahoma Territory to open a restraunt with Greek food. -
Starting West
Using most of our saved extra money, we bought train tickets for the journey west. -
Buying Land and Building
I remember waiting outside the building as my mothe and eldest brother bought a small piece of land in the town. -
Opening Day
After two months of hard work, my mother and I cut the ribbon and let the crowd of townspeople into our restraunt. -
Comfortable Living
A favorite in town, our Greek restraunt has made a sizable profit, enough to live out our lives comfortably in town, and even enough to gift my brothers with land to farm and raise their families on, and as for me, I will inheirit the restraunt and become caretaker of my mother.
