This land on the northeast corner of Erie Street and Locust Lane was owned by three Donnelly brothers in 1910. Over the next 14 years ownership was disputed twice in the Circuit Court and finally resolved by a Trustee’s decision in 1924 to sell it to Bernadina Leonardi, wife of Vincenzo Leonardi. The Leonardis had immigrated from Italy and settled in the north end of Havre de Grace in the early 1900s. They are also remembered for having opened The Blue Room, a restaurant-bar on Erie Street some years later. They had several children including their daughter, Yolanda (1909-1981), called Viola, who married Gustino Cianelli (1903-1984), who had been born in Italy.

In 1946 the Leonardis sold this property to Gus and Viola who had three children—Carmella Cianelli in 1928, Bernadine Scroggins in 1931, and Gustino Cianelli, Jr. in 1932. In the early 1950s the basement (with its separate side entrance on Locust Lane) became well known as the entrance to Cianelli’s sub shop, about which many locals (near and far) still rave. People recall that as they walked down the steps into the shop, they would immediately salivate at the aroma of Italian spices, onions, and olive oil greeting them.

Stephanie Scroggins Klein says, “It is always nice to see that people remember my grandparents’ Cianelli’s Sub Shop! Fond memories of growing up working in the store with them. Gus, his wife, and Carmella made the best subs known to mankind.” Many others also have fond memories of Viola and Carmella making Italian subs while watching their soap operas on a little TV. Danya Williams said, “Cianelli’s was the best sub I have ever eaten in my life! I was blessed to live on Erie Street and have access to such wonderful food! ” while Ham Channell’s warm memories are of going to Cianelli’s with his Dad on Saturdays in the 1960s and getting subs, moonpies, a stick of pepperoni, and Nehi sodas for hunting trip lunches up around the Rock Run and Deer Creek areas. Alonzo Walker recalls, however, that “You had to go early because they only ordered so many rolls and when they ran out, they closed up.”

Gus helped the ladies with the food occasionally but mostly after he returned from his day job. Gus Cianelli, Sr. was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers and worked on construction of the Conowingo Dam in 1926-1928. He and Gus, Jr., were also part of the 1970 team that moved the gigantic nuclear reactor from its barge on the Susquehanna River at the Marina on Water Street up Route 155 in slow motion to the Peach Bottom Nuclear Generating Station.

When Hurricane Agnes in 1972 caused the river to flood the town, the Cianelli sub shop suffered serious damage—the door was blown open, and heavy freezers and cash registers were knocked over by the water pouring into the basement. They renovated and opened again and, after Viola died in 1981, Gus and Carmella ran it. However, it closed for good in 1984 with the death of Carmella and then her Dad, Gus, later in the same year. Gus’s Estate deeded this property to his other daughter, Bernadine Scroggins, in 1986. She, however, lived in Florida with her family and sold this corner property to David T. and Mary A. Mershon. The Mershons have owned this home for more than 35 years.

It’s interesting to note in one of the photos (taken in 2017) that several sandbags are piled against the basement door. Flooding may continue to be a problem for this location.

County Records
Built 1940. 1864 sq ft, 2 stories with finished basement, 6750 sq ft lot, 1.5 baths, detached garage.