This northern end of the city, adjacent to the property of the Susquehanna Museum of the Lockhouse, was known for a time during the early 1900s as Little Italy—families with names like Tarquini, Cianelli, Retrossa, Bernardi, Lanquis, DiMauro, and Reginaldi settled here and became extended families and friends. Some of them even served as immigration “sponsors” of relatives in Italy.

However, it appears that in the latter half of the 1800s this parcel of land, with a home on it, was owned by a Harford County man named Owen Connor. A 1909 deed shows that when Owen Connor died, his heirs deeded the property to Harriet A. Connor (his widow) with the following language: “. . . it being all the same and all the land of which Owen Conner of Harford County died seized and possessed; and which said premises have been owned and occupied by the said Conner and his descendants for more than half a century.” About six months later, in 1910, Harriet Connor sold the property to three brothers, John Donnelly, Bartholomew M. Donnelly, and Thomas C. Donnelly. In 1924, however, an ownership dispute arose (Rose Donnelly v. John Donnelly) causing the Circuit Court to order a Trustee to sell the property at private sale.

In October 1924, this property was purchased by Bernadina Levi Leonardi (1884-1961). She was the wife of Vincenzo Leonardi (1882-1940) who had immigrated from Italy and in 1915 had sent for Bernadina and their daughter to join him here in Havre de Grace. Bernadina left Italy out of the port of Naples on May 15, 1915, aboard the "Principe Di Udine" and arrived at Ellis Island May 28, 1915, with $75.00 between them. That daughter was Teresa Leopolda Leonardi (1906-1985) who later married Angelo “Reds” Vincenti (1899-1986).

It is most likely that the Leonardis built this home for their family, replacing the former residence of Owen Connor. Due to its design, and the time period in which it was built, it seems very likely that this vintage craftsman home was built with a Sears Roebuck Catalog Home kit. Between 1908 and 1940 Sears Roebuck sold about 75,000 home kits with different designs by mail order nationwide, and several in Havre de Grace (one can be seen at 840 Ontario Street; another at 308 South Union Avenue). The owner would select a model from a catalog after which two boxcars containing about 25 tons of materials, more than 30,000 parts, 750 lbs of nails, along with an instruction book were shipped directly to the purchaser.

The Leonardis had several children including Samuel Leonardi, Anthony Leonardi, Margaret Laye, Teresa Vincenti, Yolanda “Viola” Cianelli, and Angelina Bernice Leonardi, their last child born in 1927. Most of their children married and settled nearby, some on this same street.

Bernadina and Vincenzo Leonardi opened the very popular bar-restaurant known as “The Blue Room” at the opposite corner of Erie and North Adams Streets but their daughter, Teresa, and her husband Angelo “Reds” Vincenti, took it over during the 1930s and ran it into the 1970s. Teresa and Reds did that while raising eleven children. One of their daughters was Bernadine Louisa “Betty” Vincenti (1925-2014), who was the mother of Patrick Vincenti, a well-known duck decoy carver and now President of the Harford County Council. Another daughter was Rose Marie Vincenti, who married James W. “Jim” Hamilton, Sr.

Yolanda “Viola” Leonardi Cianelli (1909-1981), married Gustino “Gus” Cianelli (1903-1984), who also had been born in Italy. They also made their home on Erie Street and had three children—Carmella Cianelli in 1928, Bernadine Scroggins in 1931, and Gustino Cianelli, Jr. in 1932. In 1946 the Leonardis sold the property at 717 Erie Street to Gus and Viola who began what became known as Cianelli’s Sub Shop in the basement of the home (with its separate side entrance on Locust Lane). Many locals (near and afar) still rave about the incredible experience of a Cianelli sub. 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. Stories abound of Viola and Carmella watching soap operas on their little TV while making the incomparable subs. The shop closed in 1984.

After the death of Vincenzo Leonardi in 1940, Bernadina added Angelina Leonardi’s name to the deed, reserving a life estate for herself but ensuring that this home would be Angelina’s after she died. Angelina Leonardi inherited this home in 1961 and lived out her life here until 2012 when she died at the age of 84. Angelina never married but a Havre de Grace resident in late 2021 discovered a bundle of love letters that had been written to Angelina during WWII by a merchant marine named Carmin Buoncuore.

Angelina Bernice Leonardi’s personal representative sold this home in 2015 to Roger L. Luhman and Gayle Luhman Lacey.

County Records
2192 sq ft, 1.5 stories with basement, 2 baths, 7,650 sq ft lot.