80f-The Serrapede Family in America: The Three Year Plan, Part 6

Introduction

Emily and Frank enjoyed sharing with EmilyAnn the happy memories of their Honeymoon in Bermuda.  After their wedding in May 6, 1950 they travelled by air to Bermuda.  It was the first time Emily was ever in an airplane.  That memory of the trip was the one she spoke of the most.  In an effort to get a fuller picture of what Bermuda was like in 1950 we have combined a YouTube video with summaries of New York Times travel reportage from 1947-1950, along with  information from forums focused on the delights of vacationing in Bermuda. 

Relationship Notes

Emily L. Serrapede was born in 1931 to Sam and Josie (nee Muro) Serrapede.  She met Frank J. Terry* during her junior year at Bay Ridge High School.  Frank lived about 1/2 mile away on 14th Avenue near 70th Street on the borderline of Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY.  Frank’s father Al worked as an executive for an importing company and his mother, Blanche, was a full-time home maker.  Emily called Blanche a great hostess and the silent partner in her husband’s networking and socializing success.  As cruise ship and Caribbean travel enthusiasts we think Blanche and Al may have had an influence on Frank and Emily’s choice of a honeymoon destination.

Emily had a younger brother named Junior (Sabbatino, Sammy)

Frank’s youngest sibling was his sister, Maureen.

*See Note before Resources section.

Family Story:  The sun above the clouds

When the plane took off Emily was not as fearful as she thought she would be.  It was the most amazing sensation to look out the window of the plane and see the city below become smaller and smaller.  Emily said that once they were higher up the landscape began to resemble the little village that was part of Junior’s Lionel train set. 

The sun shined brightly.  The wispy clouds he plane went in and out of did not diminish the effect the light had for Emily.  It was this sight she remembered whenever she needed a boost.  When EmilyAnn began to have many challenges and pressures at school Emily recalled the day she actually saw the sun shining above the clouds.  There may have been rain falling in the lower altitudes or cloudy skies over the countryside below but all during the flight the sun, the glow and the fine veil like clouds remained constant, until they started the descent to land on Bermuda.

Of the sights themselves, Emily and Frank enjoyed the beachfront property of the Castle Harbor Hotel where they stayed.  When they weren’t enjoying the beach, Frank and Emily loved have a driver take them along the winding roads into the town of Hamilton.  There they visited Trimingham’s Department store.  Emily found the porcelains and collectibles sold at Trimingham’s lovely to look at but she felt no need to make any purchases.  There were so many gifts from her bridal shower to pick up from her parent’s apartment. 

And that was pretty much it.  While on their honeymoon Frank and Emily did the kinds of things they enjoyed back home:  going to the beach, long drives and discovering unusual shops or restaurants along the way.  What made Bermuda different was not only that it was their honeymoon but it was a place they felt at home in.  It wasn’t a tourist spot.  It was a well kept secret that the rest of the world had yet to discover.