Sons of Italy hosts weekly fish fry
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WELLSVILLE -- Normally the village's Sons of Italy chapter is the place to be on the first Friday of every month, as they host their fish fry. However, due to the start of the Lent season leading up to Easter, diners even have more to celebrate as it becomes a weekly occasion.
Friday marked their inaugural weekly fry, where members cooked 220 lbs. of cod, four cases of shrimp plus the sides for more than 400 customers takeout style.
Social distancing, face masks and overall pandemic protocol was on full display, as members battered and fried fish and prepared meals for preordered dinners, as patrons waited for their meals.
Joe Traina, whose job it is to man the fish fryer, spent several hours deep frying beer-battered cod, while customers also could choose to get the fish baked. Shrimp and chicken dinners were also available, as well as fish sandwiches. All dinners included cole slaw and either fries, macaroni and cheese or baked rices.
The fish fries are one of the ways which the SOI celebrates its Italian traditions while giving back to the community. Traina explained that the Wellsville group, which had just celebrated its centennial several years ago, is known for its fish fries and periodic benefit pasta dinners.
Like many non-profits and social organizations, the pandemic has taken its toll on those fundraisers that are needed to help that good cause as well as sustain its operations.
The building is located on Main Street in downtown Wellsville, where the SOI rents out its hall and already is getting booked heavily for June with the optimism regarding the virus. They also can cater those events and have two large halls available for use by individuals doing everything from having a birthday party to a wedding reception.
Their main hall is about 2400 square feet and they have a second side that is about 1500 square feet, which also includes their portable bocci court, that can be rented.
The Wellsville chapter is part of L'Ordine Figli d'Italia in America (The Order Sons of Italy in America), which was founded in June 1905 by an Italian physician and his friends in New York. Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro and his friends sought to create the organization to unite men and women of Italian heritage under one banner to preserve, protect and disseminate the large cultural heritage of Italy.
Now "we are not an Italian organization by means," Traina said. "We used to have a three-day Italian festival for around 23 years, but we don't have the kind of help we need to pull that off. We kind of exist now to raise and donate money, as we are a registered 501(c) 3."
To belong to the chapter, members pay $40 per year, which are primarily split between the national and state organizations.
The Wellsville chapter relies on their fish fries to "keep (their) doors open," Traina explained.
For more information about the Wellsville Sons of Italy Lodge 657, which is housed at 327 Main St., one can visit their Facebook page or call 330-532-1927.