At the turn of the 20th century, many Italians immigrated to this site and the surrounding neighborhood seeking a better life and a better means of supporting their families. Before long, the area including Miami, Sandusky, Jackson, Clay, Wall, Adams, Grace, and Hudson Streets was dubbed Tiffin's "Little Italy." "Little Italy" was a vibrant neighborhood where Italian-Americans carried on traditions of their native country such as wine making, three-day weddings, and fresh-baked bread and pizza in brick outdoor ovens. Because the Catholic faith was so important for many of these immigrants, St. Mary's Church became the primary base for worship. They bonded together as a famiglia to strive to become Americans in this new land, specifically in this fun-loving, exciting neighborhood filled with the pleasant aroma of bread and pizza from the outdoor brick ovens, lush gardens in the summer, card playing in the winter, and music all year round. Most of the families that settled on these streets were from southern Italy and knew each other from the Old Country. While many earned their livelihood as laborers, some established their own businesses to support their large families.