Catherine Remembers Her First Day in America

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Catherine Remembers Her First Day in America (Transcript)

Interviewee: Catherine Hannon English
Date of Birth: May 3, 1910
Date of Interview: November 17,1991
Interviewer: Paul E. Sigrist, Jr.
Immigrated from Poland in 1920 at age 10
Ellis Island Collection: EI-116

English (First Impression of America):

There were children coming from school. And they were so sloppy looking. I thought they were orphans or something. I had visions of beautiful ribbons on their hair and the kids didn't have uniforms or anything. Then we got out at, we came up to 63rd Street and then they, the streets were so dirty. Garbage all around the place and I couldn't get here fast enough, that everything was so beautiful and clean and all this. But it, I soon broke in with the whole thing.