The Tomato Smuggler Who Survived a Disaster

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In today’s episode, I uncovered an extraordinary tale that intertwines the 1915 Eastland disaster, an heirloom tomato, and a present-day artist in Maine. This story, unearthed in the Franklin Journal and Farmington Chronicle from August 2023, is a beautiful reminder of how the Eastland’s legacy continues to emerge in surprising ways.

Meet Henry (Enrico) Inciardi, a Sicilian immigrant who arrived in America in 1898 with tomato seeds secretly sewn into his clothing. Though Henry survived the Eastland disaster in 1915, his first wife, Antoinette, tragically did not. Yet his smuggled seeds carried forward a legacy that lives on in the “Inciardi paste tomato.”

Why This Story Captivates Me:

• Henry survived the Eastland disaster, but his first wife, Antoinette, tragically perished.
• He passed his treasured seeds to his son, John, who preserved them with simple yet ingenious methods.
• Gardener Vicki Nowicki received the seeds in the 1980s and introduced them to her seed library, ensuring their survival.
• In 2023, printmaker Anastasia Inciardi stumbled upon her connection to these tomatoes through a chance Google search.
• Anastasia and her partner now grow the tomatoes in Maine while working on an artist’s book inspired by their history.

A Glimpse Into Henry’s Life:

• Born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1880.
• Immigrated to America in 1898 and was naturalized in Chicago in 1919.
• After Antoinette’s death, he married Jenny in 1916.
• Together, they had three children: John (1918–2010), Nilo (a Guadalcanal WWII veteran), and Mary.

This story illustrates that the Eastland disaster isn’t about numbers—it’s about lives and legacies. Here, an immigrant’s journey, a family tragedy, and a simple tomato variety link us to a modern-day art project and remind us how history thrives in unexpected places.

What’s Next:

I’ve ordered Inciardi tomato seeds to plant in my Minnesota garden, and I’ll be sharing their progress in future episodes. These seeds symbolize more than just plants; they’re a living connection to the Eastland disaster’s enduring story.

Links:

• Inciardi Paste Tomato
• Downer's Grove Seed Library
• Inciardi Prints

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