13 Facts About Mary Treglia

Mary Joanna Treglia was an American social worker who was the director of a community house in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mary Treglia was born on October 7,1897, to two immigrants from Italy, her father Tony and her mother Rose.

Mary Treglia's father died when Treglia was a child and her mother, who sold confections at a store in Sioux City, died in 1945.

Mary Treglia was known for her athleticism when she attended Central High School in Sioux City, and she later became a part of an all-girl California baseball team named the Bloomer Girls.

Mary Treglia was inspired by her family and their ethnic traditions as a child.

Mary Treglia was aware of poverty and what immigrants had to deal with.

In 1920, Mary Treglia moved back to Sioux City at a time when the city was flourishing due to its packing plants.

Mary Treglia became an employee at the community house in 1921 and she became the director in 1926.

Mary Treglia helped immigrants in the community house for close to 40 years with her casework, helping them become American citizens, receive a fair education, and instituting proper flood control.

Mary Treglia introduced the immigrants to the American Association of University Women and the Junior League.

Mary Treglia helped gather needed funds by receiving donations from people and businesses.

Mary Treglia later discovered in 1959 that part of the flood control plan was to divert the river channel through the East Side neighborhood which would result in the community house being destroyed.

The neighborhood worked together to try to stop the demolition without Mary Treglia helping due to her death on October 10,1959.