Hays is a neighborhood on the southeast side of Pittsburgh. It is named after James H. Hays who operated a local mining industry. In the 1920s, many Italian immigrants moved to Hays to find work at Jones & Laughlin and US Steel Mills. 

Most of these immigrants came from Controne, Italy. Controne is a small town that is south of Naples.  My grandparents on my dad’s side were from Controne.  I always wanted to know why they settled in Hays.  My grandmother would tell me stories about Controne.  She told me the town was located in the mountains and had a good farming area.