Oral History Interview with Michael and Vincent Faiella: Brooklyn Navy Yard oral history collection: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

In this joint interview, Michael (1928- ) and Vincent Faiella (1960- ) look back on the Reliable Naval Tailoring, Co.'s history in Brooklyn before Vincent Faiella moved the business to Red Hook, New Jersey in 2006. Michael Faiella talks about his Italian background, growing up in Brooklyn close to his extended family, and his fondness for the area around the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Michael and Vincent Faiella also discuss the commercial and social activities on Sands Street and how much the neighborhood changed after the Navy Yard was decommissioned and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway was built. Michael Faiella was also interviewed in 1987. Interview conducted by Daniella Romano.

Biographical / Historical

Michael Faiella (1928- ) grew up in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn on Sands Street. His father opened Reliable Naval Tailoring, Co. in 1927 at 191 Sands Street. The shop moved several times, but always remained close to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Michael Faiella's son, Vincent Faiella (1960- ) grew up in Gravesend, Brooklyn and currently lives in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Conditions Governing Access

This interview can be accessed onsite at Brooklyn Historical Society's Othmer Library and online at the Oral History Portal.

Subjects

Organizations

New York Naval Shipyard

People

Faiella, Vincent

Topics

Business enterprises; Family-owned business enterprises -- New York (State) -- Kings County; Italian Americans |z New York (State) |z Kings County; Local transit -- New York (State) -- Kings County; Military uniforms; Shipyards |z New York (State) |z Kings County; Tailoring |z New York (State) |z Kings County; Transportation -- New York (State) -- Kings County; Yacht clubs |z New York (State) |z Kings County; World War, 1939-1945

Places

Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Downtown Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Gravesend (New York, N.Y.); Sands Street (New York, N.Y.); Vinegar Hill (New York, N.Y.); Flatbush Avenue (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) |x Emigration and immigration

Oral History Interview with Michael and Vincent Faiella, January 23, 2007, inclusive