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KEGHI COMPATRIOTIC UNIONS-1934
by Betty Apigian-Kessel
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/03/20/keghi-compatriotic-unions-1934/
March 20, 2012
With their villages and inhabitants decimated by the Turkish
government, the scant survivors of the 1915-23 Armenian Genocide
moved forward to establish compatriotic unions in the United States
in an effort to maintain their noble Armenian identity.
The following list was created from material recently discovered by
area resident Asbed Papakhian among his father's-Arch Priest Souren
Papakhian-numerous books and papers. Asbed translated the Armenian
into English, thereby bestowing upon us a treasure of a gift.
His father, the beloved Der Souren, was drafted from his Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) membership to be trained for the
priesthood, and served the vibrant Armenian community of Detroit
from 1946-74, passing away in 1976. He was a Mushetsi. His wife,
Yeretsgin Shoushanig Papakhian, was from Latakia, Syria, and served
here as an Armenian language teacher.
Our thanks to Asbed for re-creating this list as a permanent record
for those who may have an historic interest in our legacy. Our
appreciation to Der Souren, whose contributions to the advancement
of this community were many. He is long remembered for the hundreds
of baptisms, marriages, blessings, and funerals he presided over.
Clergymen continued these traditions in every corner of the world
where Armenians settled, always establishing churches and community
centers to keep the spirit of Armenia alive, never to die.
Locally, well-known Keghetsi/historian Esther "Stitch" Vosgerchian,
a spry octogenarian with a remarkable memory going back to her very
early childhood days, remains a valuable resource with stories harking
back to the evolution of the Detroit Armenian community.
It is vital that succeeding generations know their genealogical roots,
regardless of the province their ancestors came from.
Bardaganoutioune mnatz mezi (the responsibility remains with us).
***
Detroit Chapter. Founded June 10, 1934, at 440 S. Green. Executive
Committee: H. Vosgerchian (Stitch V.'s father), president; S.
Gerjekian, executive secretary (in Armenian, adenatbir); D. Kakligian,
treasurer; H. Yenokian, co- or alternate president; H. Mossoian,
co-executive secretary.
Highland Park. Founded 1934, 13932 Woodrow Wilson. Executive: Khzar
Mouradian, president; Hamazasp Aslanian (Berge's father), executive
secretary; Ardashes Bozoyan, treasurer.
Pontiac. Founded Sept. 17, 1934, 13 Wessen St. Executive: Missak
Kevorkian, president; Mesrob Hoogasian, executive secretary; Hamazasp
Hagopian, treasurer.
Chicago. Founded July 1934, 5604 W. 21st St. Cicero, Ill. Executive:
H. Aloian, president; Mrs. A. Haroian, executive secretary; T.
Kalajian, treasurer.
St. Catherine's, Ontario. Founded Sept. 23, 1934, 288 Ontario St.
Executive: Arshag Kaloustian, president; Antranig Sirounian,
executive secretary; Aghajan Papazian, treasurer; Armenag Derderian,
co-president; Gabriel Ashekian, co-executive secretary.
Guelph, Ontario. Founded Oct. 12, 1934, 446 York Rd. Executive: A.
Toorigian, president; H. Hairabedian, executive secretary; Abkar
Yekmalian, treasurer.
Hamilton, Ontario. Founded Oct. 13, 1934, 229 Gibson Ave. Executive:
Garabed Arakelian, president; Toros Ohanian, executive secretary.
Preston, Ontario. Founded Oct. 1934, 505 P.O. Box Preston. Executive:
Boghos Derderian, president; Arsen Partanian, executive secretary;
Krikor Derderian, treasurer.
Brantford, Ontario. Founded Oct. 14, 1934, 129 Market St. Executive:
Garabed Mouradian, president; Mardig Apigian, executive secretary;
Hampartzoum Apigian, treasurer; Tomas Manoogian and Manoog Manoogian,
advisors.
Windsor, Ontario. Founded Nov. 11, 306 Felix Ave. Executive: Kaspar
Aghajanian, president; Khatchig Haroutounian, executive secretary;
Vahan Morlian, treasurer.
Niagara Falls, N.Y. Founded Dec. 25, 1934, 541 9th St. Executive:
Mamigon Krikorian, Aristakes Shakarjian, Boghos Garabedian.
Lockport, N.Y. Founded Dec. 27, 1934, 268 Genesee St. Executive:
Soghomon Der Zakarian, Yervant Babigian, Levon Kalajian
Toronto. Founded in Dec. 1934, 85 Seaton St. Executive: Setrag
Maghakian, Hairabed Mateosyan.
Granite City, Ill. Founded Nov. 17, 1934, 809 Pacific Ave. Executive:
Nishan Varadian, Arsen Haroian, Aslan Khachigian.
Meadeville, Pa. Founded Dec. 8, 1934, 1157 Water. St. Executive:
Garabed Aloian, Abraham Papazian, Arsen Haboian, Bedros Khvoian.
East St. Louis. Founded Nov. 18, 1934, 17105 Missouri Ave. Executive:
Hovaness Doumanian, Janig Kloian, Tavit Melkonian.
Erie, Pa. Founded Dec. 9, 1934. Executive: Sarkis Andonian, Yeghishe
Sirounian, Sarkis Margosian.
Waterveliett, N.Y. Founded Dec. 13, 1934, 311 25th St. Executive:
Megerdich Vosgerchian, Israel Derderian, Hrant Yekmalian.
by Betty Apigian-Kessel
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/03/20/keghi-compatriotic-unions-1934/
March 20, 2012
With their villages and inhabitants decimated by the Turkish
government, the scant survivors of the 1915-23 Armenian Genocide
moved forward to establish compatriotic unions in the United States
in an effort to maintain their noble Armenian identity.
The following list was created from material recently discovered by
area resident Asbed Papakhian among his father's-Arch Priest Souren
Papakhian-numerous books and papers. Asbed translated the Armenian
into English, thereby bestowing upon us a treasure of a gift.
His father, the beloved Der Souren, was drafted from his Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) membership to be trained for the
priesthood, and served the vibrant Armenian community of Detroit
from 1946-74, passing away in 1976. He was a Mushetsi. His wife,
Yeretsgin Shoushanig Papakhian, was from Latakia, Syria, and served
here as an Armenian language teacher.
Our thanks to Asbed for re-creating this list as a permanent record
for those who may have an historic interest in our legacy. Our
appreciation to Der Souren, whose contributions to the advancement
of this community were many. He is long remembered for the hundreds
of baptisms, marriages, blessings, and funerals he presided over.
Clergymen continued these traditions in every corner of the world
where Armenians settled, always establishing churches and community
centers to keep the spirit of Armenia alive, never to die.
Locally, well-known Keghetsi/historian Esther "Stitch" Vosgerchian,
a spry octogenarian with a remarkable memory going back to her very
early childhood days, remains a valuable resource with stories harking
back to the evolution of the Detroit Armenian community.
It is vital that succeeding generations know their genealogical roots,
regardless of the province their ancestors came from.
Bardaganoutioune mnatz mezi (the responsibility remains with us).
***
Detroit Chapter. Founded June 10, 1934, at 440 S. Green. Executive
Committee: H. Vosgerchian (Stitch V.'s father), president; S.
Gerjekian, executive secretary (in Armenian, adenatbir); D. Kakligian,
treasurer; H. Yenokian, co- or alternate president; H. Mossoian,
co-executive secretary.
Highland Park. Founded 1934, 13932 Woodrow Wilson. Executive: Khzar
Mouradian, president; Hamazasp Aslanian (Berge's father), executive
secretary; Ardashes Bozoyan, treasurer.
Pontiac. Founded Sept. 17, 1934, 13 Wessen St. Executive: Missak
Kevorkian, president; Mesrob Hoogasian, executive secretary; Hamazasp
Hagopian, treasurer.
Chicago. Founded July 1934, 5604 W. 21st St. Cicero, Ill. Executive:
H. Aloian, president; Mrs. A. Haroian, executive secretary; T.
Kalajian, treasurer.
St. Catherine's, Ontario. Founded Sept. 23, 1934, 288 Ontario St.
Executive: Arshag Kaloustian, president; Antranig Sirounian,
executive secretary; Aghajan Papazian, treasurer; Armenag Derderian,
co-president; Gabriel Ashekian, co-executive secretary.
Guelph, Ontario. Founded Oct. 12, 1934, 446 York Rd. Executive: A.
Toorigian, president; H. Hairabedian, executive secretary; Abkar
Yekmalian, treasurer.
Hamilton, Ontario. Founded Oct. 13, 1934, 229 Gibson Ave. Executive:
Garabed Arakelian, president; Toros Ohanian, executive secretary.
Preston, Ontario. Founded Oct. 1934, 505 P.O. Box Preston. Executive:
Boghos Derderian, president; Arsen Partanian, executive secretary;
Krikor Derderian, treasurer.
Brantford, Ontario. Founded Oct. 14, 1934, 129 Market St. Executive:
Garabed Mouradian, president; Mardig Apigian, executive secretary;
Hampartzoum Apigian, treasurer; Tomas Manoogian and Manoog Manoogian,
advisors.
Windsor, Ontario. Founded Nov. 11, 306 Felix Ave. Executive: Kaspar
Aghajanian, president; Khatchig Haroutounian, executive secretary;
Vahan Morlian, treasurer.
Niagara Falls, N.Y. Founded Dec. 25, 1934, 541 9th St. Executive:
Mamigon Krikorian, Aristakes Shakarjian, Boghos Garabedian.
Lockport, N.Y. Founded Dec. 27, 1934, 268 Genesee St. Executive:
Soghomon Der Zakarian, Yervant Babigian, Levon Kalajian
Toronto. Founded in Dec. 1934, 85 Seaton St. Executive: Setrag
Maghakian, Hairabed Mateosyan.
Granite City, Ill. Founded Nov. 17, 1934, 809 Pacific Ave. Executive:
Nishan Varadian, Arsen Haroian, Aslan Khachigian.
Meadeville, Pa. Founded Dec. 8, 1934, 1157 Water. St. Executive:
Garabed Aloian, Abraham Papazian, Arsen Haboian, Bedros Khvoian.
East St. Louis. Founded Nov. 18, 1934, 17105 Missouri Ave. Executive:
Hovaness Doumanian, Janig Kloian, Tavit Melkonian.
Erie, Pa. Founded Dec. 9, 1934. Executive: Sarkis Andonian, Yeghishe
Sirounian, Sarkis Margosian.
Waterveliett, N.Y. Founded Dec. 13, 1934, 311 25th St. Executive:
Megerdich Vosgerchian, Israel Derderian, Hrant Yekmalian.