Have you thought about how your ancestors in Puerto Rico came to New York in 1923? I must admit I hadn’t really thought about 1923. My father, Raul Resto Y Mijon, and my grandfather, Etanislao Resto Y Lopez arrived on a DC-4, Pan American World Airways, Flight 526, San Juan, Puerto Rico to New York, New York, on 26 June 1951.

I imagine my father must have been excited for this next chapter of his life. The hustle and bustle of New York City must have been overwhelming. The people, the smells, the buildings, the cars, the buses, the trains, the bridges, after living on a farm 18 years of his life he must have been a shock!

My father’s oldest sister Ana Maria Resto Y Mijon, was the first one to arrive to New York City. She paved the way for the rest of her family. Titi Ana did not arrive on an airplane. She arrived on the Steam Ship Boriquen which left San Juan, Puerto Rico 18 November 1937 and arrived in Ellis Island, 22 November 1937. Titi Ana and her two young boys, ages 3 and 1 1/2, traveled for 4 full days. I wondered why she was traveling without her husband? What did she pack for her trip? How did she entertain her two young sons? What did they eat? I was imaging all sorts of hardships. Hunger was my only thought. Did they have enough to eat? Were the boys hungry?

***BTW – Borinquen, the Taino language name for Puerto Rico***

Here is Ana Maria Resto Y Mijon, Vicente Delgado, Restituto Delgado Y Resto, Robert Delgado Y Resto. They were living in New York City. Titi Ana was the most photographed and most beautiful of my Aunts and this is by far a statement I don’t take lightly. My father and his siblings were and the ones which still remain are still very attractive.

What I do know is Titi Ana used the address, 600 West 144th Street, New York City, on the ships manifest. Here is an image of the still standing building.

Let’s get back to 100 Years Ago Today, 23 Jan 1923 – BUT…

I can’t stop thinking about Titi Ana, and her boys traveling on a steam ship. So I look up Steam Ship Porto Rico Line traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico to New York City, 1923.

Of course being a hot blooded, Puerto Rican, I’m usually cold. So I think about traveling to New York City from Porto Rico in January, and February. Average temperatures in Puerto Rico in January and February are between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Average temperatures in New York City 30 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I think about how persons who had never traveled prepared for such a journey. A journey to a big city with cold weather. So what do I do? I Google “Porto Rico Steam Ship Menu”

I found this menu on Ebay. This is an actual dinner menu for the S. S. Borinquen. Why was I so concerned about Titi Ana and her boys? They were eating very well based on this menu.

“The Boriquen” arrived in New York 22 February 1931 and began her working career with a maiden voyage from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sometimes a “Rabbit Hole” takes you on a journey you didn’t expect. I started out 23 Jan 1923 and ended up with a entirely new perspective of how my Titi Ana and her boys traveled to New York City. A voyage I never expected to take.

Hasta Luego Primos,

Lilly Resto Gunderman