1501 Empire Rd History - Joe's Metal Shop

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Between 1904 and 1916, Felix and Michelina Tomeo had at least eight children. The second floor of the two-story building, became the home to their family. The first floor was rented out for businesses, including a shoe repair business at one point. Felix died in 1918, leaving Michelina with eight children and three buildings. According to newspaper coverage, she received financial assistance from the County's "Poor Fund." In 1930, Michelina remarried to Joe Biella, a widower. In 1937, Michelina conveyed her ownership of Lots 1-4 to her seven surviving children. In 1945, four of them transferred their interests to their siblings Gene, Dominic, and Joe. (However, Gene Tomeo lived elsewhere starting in the 1920s and does not appear to have been directly involved with the property.) Construction and Original Usage of Joe's Metal Shop The two members of the Tomeo family who were associated with the construction and operation of Joe's Metal Shop were Joe Tomeo (1910-1950) and Dominic "Dom" Tomeo (1907-1983). They had grown up on the property, first in the Tomeo House and then in the "Big House." The following photo shows members of the Tomeo family gathered together in the early 1940s, with Dom Tomeo in the back row, first on the left, and his brother Joe Tomeo, also in the back row, first on the right. 2