From the 1880s to 1920, the number of Italian immigrants to the United States rose from 300,000 to over four million, with Italian immigrants representing over 10% of the nation’s foreign-born population, according to the Library of Congress. During this “Great Italian Migration,” in 1905, Ordine Figli d’Italia, the Order Sons of Italy in America® (OSDIA) was created as a support system for Italian immigrants, to assist them with citizenship, provide health/death benefits, educational opportunities and to assist them with assimilating into American society. Franklin’s Order Sons of Italy in America, which would be renamed Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America® (OSDIA) in 2016, was created in March 1926, just over a century ago. This spring, “Quattro Eroi” Lodge #1414 will celebrate this milestone.

“Quattro Eroi” means “four heroes.” Franklin’s lodge, part of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (www.osiama.org) and the Supreme Lodge of the United States (www.osdia.org), is named after four Italian-American residents of Franklin killed in World War I, Emilio Daddario, Alfred Mucciarone, Alesandro Patete, and Patrick Ristaino. Relatives of these men still live in Franklin. 

Quattro Eroi Lodge 1414’s creation celebration was a grand affair at the Morse Theater on May 2nd, 1926, with officials from the Grand Lodge and members from the neighboring Mansfield Lodge welcoming and initiating the group. About 500 attended.

While the original mission of the Lodge was to assist immigrants adjusting to life in a new country, today, Quattro Eroi President Gino Carlucci says, “The objectives now are mainly social and cultural. It is a great fun way for those wishing to connect with their roots, celebrate Italian achievements, and pass along cherished traditions to future generations. The Lodge also sponsors an annual scholarship and supports several charities.” The lodge aims to:

• Preserve and promote Italian culture, traditions, and language in America.

• Support educational, charitable, and social initiatives that benefit our members and the local community.

• Unite men and women of Italian descent, fostering pride and solidarity through shared heritage.

• Encourage civic involvement and volunteerism, making a positive impact together.

Lisa Oxford joined Quattro Eroi Lodge 1414 with her sister, Roberta Trahan, a few years ago. 

“My great uncle, Alesandro Patete, was my paternal grandmother’s brother, and he fought in WWII and was killed in action,” says Oxford, “My parents became very active in the lodge probably around the 1980s, and it was very vibrant,” says Oxford, adding, “At one point, my father was the president. They’d have dinners, and they could cook. They were happy to engage with people who shared their culture.” Nowadays, she believes the culture has become diluted as generations have become more Americanized, and people are busier than they used to be.

The group, however, is still active, recently sponsoring an Italian film festival at the Franklin Historical Museum, taking a trip to a Red Sox game on Italian Night at Fenway, and presenting a Senior Center roundtable discussion about the Italian immigrant experience. Past events have included dinners, shows, cooking demonstrations (available on Franklin TV’s YouTube channel) and trips.

To celebrate 100 years, the Quatro Eroi Lodge welcomes the community to the following:

Beginning Saturday, April 11, the Franklin Historical Museum, will host an exhibit in honor of this anniversary which includes many photographs and memorabilia of the Lodge and the local Italian community and will kick off related events. Organizers are also hoping to conduct oral history interviews and to gather old photographs for scanning and sharing! 

Next, the Lodge is sponsoring the Historical Museum’s “Second Sunday” speaker series with author and historian Stephen Puleo on April 12 at 1 p.m. Mr. Puleo is the author of many books, including Dark Tide, documenting the events of the great molasses spill in 1919 the North End as well as The Boston Italians, in which he describes how Italian immigrants and their families overcame poverty, illiteracy and prejudice to became an important element of civic, business and cultural life in Boston and the region. 

Finally, a celebratory Pasta Dinner will be held at the VFW Hall on Pond Street on Saturday, May 16. The event will include great Italian food, conversation, a remembrance of the men for whom the Lodge is named, and raffle baskets and auction items. Tickets are $20 ($15 for members).

Follow Quattro Eroi Lodge #1414’s activities on Facebook. For more information, reach out to [email protected].

Thanks to Alan Earls for his contributions to this article.