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The Bachelors
I remember them all so fondly, those elderly Armenian bachelors back in the 1950’s when I was a teenager. They were survivors of the Armenian Genocide who had found a home and social acceptance at the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) “Raffi” Gomideh agoump on 223 Ferry Ave. in Pontiac, my hometown. The agoump is forever a place of fond memories, never to be equaled in my lifetime. It was our home away from home.
Their surnames and burial places have been forgotten, but parent
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a very touching story. Well done Betty for telling the story of forgotten little heros of our communities. annie
What a wonderful article that takes me back to my boyhood days at the Armenian summer picnics in Fresno CA back in the 60’s and 70’s. Not sure which of these old-timers that smoked BIG cigars (loved the smell) were bachelors, but what great characters they were, playing Tavloo or cards, speaking quietly and loudly in the Old Country Armenian language – all completely fascinating to me.
One old-timer I especially remember was my grandfather’s good friend Aram. Like my grandfather, he was a Fresno farmer that had come over from the Old Country around the time of the Genocide. He would yell and shout in Old Country Armenian. Aram would joke and tease my sister and I, always in good fun that made us laugh. Wow… what a great guy he was.
To this day when I smell a strong cigar I tend to drift back to those days of the old-timers in Fresno. They were I think the connection to the Old Country that we later generations can hold onto, as long as we remember.
What a heartwarming story, especially so since you mentioned my grandfather, Hovakim Hovakimian and stirred very vague memories I buried of the agoump in Pontiac. I was born and raised in Pontiac. My parents came from the DP camp and were sponsored by the Azoian family in Pontiac. I have a few photos of me and other children putting on some kind of performance in the agoump. I must have been around 4 years old so all my memories are extremely vague. Thank you for remembering this wonderful piece of history and paying tribute to the people that brought the agoump to life.
Dear Betty- Thank you very much for a splendid article which not only caught the ambiance of your agoump in Pontiac, but also described the way I remember our ARF club on Carnation Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in the late 1930’s- early1940’s. Even though the candy bars which our club had in inventory also included Old Nicks, your portrait could well have been that of our club.
I loved your story and it’s amazing that it may be the same story in numerous Armenian communities around the world.
I remember a similar club in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. It also had pictures of the Armenian military heroes. There was an old Coke machine with soda in glass bottles. Must have closed in the late 70s or early 80s.