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Fresno Bee (California)
April 14, 2005, Thursday FINAL EDITION
More on the Armenian Town neighborhood
Paula Lloyd, The Fresno Bee
Armenian Town in downtown Fresno has no hard boundaries, but the core
of the old neighborhood is bordered by Inyo, O and Los Angeles
streets and Broadway.
Once a thriving ethnic neighborhood packed with Victorian homes,
churches and small businesses, it now is mostly a commercial and
industrial area, although some homes survive.
Annual events: Author William Saroyan was born and grew up in
Armenian Town, and many of his boyhood experiences appear in his
books. The William Saroyan Society stages an annual walk around the
neighborhood. This year, the walk will begin at 11 a.m. April 23 at
Saroyan Theatre on M Street.
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in the heart of the old
neighborhood holds an annual food bazaar, selling lunch, dinner and
baked goods. This year's event is Oct. 21. The church also holds the
Blessing of the Grapes and Picnic, this year on Aug. 7.
Landmarks: Holy Trin- ity Armenian Apostolic Church at M Street and
Ven- tura Avenue was built in 1914 and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Several houses and a busi- ness are listed on the Local Register of
Historic Resources.
History of the neighborhood: The five Seropian brothers were the
first Armenians to settle in Fresno in 1881. Drawn here because the
land and crops were similar to their homeland, they built a fig
packing plant.
By 1894, there were 360 Armenians in Fresno County. By the 1920s,
about 8,000 more Armenians arrived, fleeing genocide and persecution.
Armenian Town grew through the 1930s and was centered around M Street
and Ventura Avenue.
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church members began meeting in a
rented hall in 1895. A church built in 1900 at Monterey and F streets
was destroyed by fire in 1913. The present red and white brick and
masonry church at M Street and Ventura Avenue was built in 1914 for
$22,500.
The David of Sassoon statue standing in front of the Hall of Records
in Courthouse Park was given by Armenian residents to Fresno County
in 1970, "with profound gratitude to this land which received them in
their darkest hours and provided them with the opportunity to be
reborn," the statue's inscription states.
Closest city park: Holmes Park at 212 S. First St. is a nearly
10-acre neighborhood park with recreational programs. There is a lawn
bowling court and outdoor stage, barbecues, playing fields and
courts, and a social hall/gym with a kitchen.
Where people gather: People from throughout Fresno meet at Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and at the Armenian Community
Center, both on Ventura Avenue.
Community issues: Pre- serving the history of Armenian Town is a
concern of people who grew up or work in the area and local
historians.
"I don't want it to be lost," says Janet Saghatelian, owner of Valley
Lahvosh bakery in the heart of Armenian Town. "It was too special. It
needs to be preserved. It's too big a part of Fresno."
Saghatelian, who grew up in Armenian Town, wants to see the city
"restore a beautiful home with fruit trees and garden, to show people
what Armenian homes were like."
"What I would like to do is capture all those memories and put them
in a museum," says Lucille Gahvejian, who grew up on L Street.
Two developers are planning a 7.8-acre development between O and M
streets, Ventura Avenue and Freeway 41. To be built in phases in the
next 10 years, the plan in- cludes a new state appellate court
building, three office towers, two parking structures and an Armenian
cultural center.
"What we're fighting for is a tourist attraction that would have
Saroyan in it," says Mabelle Selland, a member of Heritage Fresno.
"Heritage tourism is the hottest thing right now, and what's hotter
than Saroyan right now?"
George Bursik says he is saddened that Armenian Town has lost so many
homes.
"What I'd like to see here is to see the houses go right back where
they were. But what has been destroyed is gone," he says. "We can
keep some little reminder of the past."
April 14, 2005, Thursday FINAL EDITION
More on the Armenian Town neighborhood
Paula Lloyd, The Fresno Bee
Armenian Town in downtown Fresno has no hard boundaries, but the core
of the old neighborhood is bordered by Inyo, O and Los Angeles
streets and Broadway.
Once a thriving ethnic neighborhood packed with Victorian homes,
churches and small businesses, it now is mostly a commercial and
industrial area, although some homes survive.
Annual events: Author William Saroyan was born and grew up in
Armenian Town, and many of his boyhood experiences appear in his
books. The William Saroyan Society stages an annual walk around the
neighborhood. This year, the walk will begin at 11 a.m. April 23 at
Saroyan Theatre on M Street.
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in the heart of the old
neighborhood holds an annual food bazaar, selling lunch, dinner and
baked goods. This year's event is Oct. 21. The church also holds the
Blessing of the Grapes and Picnic, this year on Aug. 7.
Landmarks: Holy Trin- ity Armenian Apostolic Church at M Street and
Ven- tura Avenue was built in 1914 and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Several houses and a busi- ness are listed on the Local Register of
Historic Resources.
History of the neighborhood: The five Seropian brothers were the
first Armenians to settle in Fresno in 1881. Drawn here because the
land and crops were similar to their homeland, they built a fig
packing plant.
By 1894, there were 360 Armenians in Fresno County. By the 1920s,
about 8,000 more Armenians arrived, fleeing genocide and persecution.
Armenian Town grew through the 1930s and was centered around M Street
and Ventura Avenue.
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church members began meeting in a
rented hall in 1895. A church built in 1900 at Monterey and F streets
was destroyed by fire in 1913. The present red and white brick and
masonry church at M Street and Ventura Avenue was built in 1914 for
$22,500.
The David of Sassoon statue standing in front of the Hall of Records
in Courthouse Park was given by Armenian residents to Fresno County
in 1970, "with profound gratitude to this land which received them in
their darkest hours and provided them with the opportunity to be
reborn," the statue's inscription states.
Closest city park: Holmes Park at 212 S. First St. is a nearly
10-acre neighborhood park with recreational programs. There is a lawn
bowling court and outdoor stage, barbecues, playing fields and
courts, and a social hall/gym with a kitchen.
Where people gather: People from throughout Fresno meet at Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and at the Armenian Community
Center, both on Ventura Avenue.
Community issues: Pre- serving the history of Armenian Town is a
concern of people who grew up or work in the area and local
historians.
"I don't want it to be lost," says Janet Saghatelian, owner of Valley
Lahvosh bakery in the heart of Armenian Town. "It was too special. It
needs to be preserved. It's too big a part of Fresno."
Saghatelian, who grew up in Armenian Town, wants to see the city
"restore a beautiful home with fruit trees and garden, to show people
what Armenian homes were like."
"What I would like to do is capture all those memories and put them
in a museum," says Lucille Gahvejian, who grew up on L Street.
Two developers are planning a 7.8-acre development between O and M
streets, Ventura Avenue and Freeway 41. To be built in phases in the
next 10 years, the plan in- cludes a new state appellate court
building, three office towers, two parking structures and an Armenian
cultural center.
"What we're fighting for is a tourist attraction that would have
Saroyan in it," says Mabelle Selland, a member of Heritage Fresno.
"Heritage tourism is the hottest thing right now, and what's hotter
than Saroyan right now?"
George Bursik says he is saddened that Armenian Town has lost so many
homes.
"What I'd like to see here is to see the houses go right back where
they were. But what has been destroyed is gone," he says. "We can
keep some little reminder of the past."