The Ferlita Macaroni Co. in West Tampa

 1912 - 1924

While a teenager in Santo Stefano Quisquina, Sicily Giuseppe Rosario Ferlita fell in love with Paolo Ficarrotta, the oldest daughter of Giuseppe Ficarrotta whom he later married on November 11, 1911 in Tampa.

GIUSEPPE ROSARIO FERLITA

Giuseppe Ferlita first partnered with [name] to produce macaroni.  Shortly after working together, Giuseppe discovered his partner was defrauding the other employees earnings' so Giuseppe bought his partner’s share of the business and opened the Ferlita Macaroni Factory in 1912.  His first factory was located at 640 Main Street in West Tampa.  Giuseppe and Paolo lived at 518 Green Street with his mother-in-law who was a recent widow.

THE FERLITA FAMILY, CIRCA 1921 VINCENTA, MARY, ROSARIO, PAUL, GIUSEPPE, JR., AND GIUSEPPE

Giuseppe and Paolo had four children, the oldest Rosario, Mary Louise, Giuseppe “Baby Joe”, and Paul.  Two months after Paul was born Paolo died of Yellow Fever on November 3, 1918.  With four young children Giuseppe received help from family and even neighbors.  Paul was raised by a neighbor  [name].

 Three years after Paola's death, Giuseppe remarried his late wife’s sister, Vincenta Rose Ficarrotta, on September 19, 1920.  Although Vincenta was born in Tampa she lost her citizenship once she married and assumed his nationality of Italy.  It wasn’t until 1938 that Vincenta became a nationalized citizen again and in 1942 Giuseppe received citizenship.  Giuseppe and Vincenta had four more children, Florence, James, Ernest and William.  Vincenta worked with Giuseppe in the macaroni business and was recorded as an officer of the company.

In addition to some of the family the Ferlita Macaroni Factory employed many people and the business outgrew the West Tampa factory.  By 1924 the Ferlita Macaroni Factory was moved to Ybor City.   Click here for the Ybor City Macaroni Factory. 

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