FRANKLIN, Mass.—As buildings go at Camp Haiastan, one unfamiliar with the mission and goals of the camp might quickly conclude that the Kitchen/Dining Hall is one of the most important buildings at camp. After all, it is where campers and staff or those visiting the camp during the off-season receive sustenance and nourishment. Plainly said, everyone must be fed three times a day all summer—an important and necessary function and purpose for such a facility.
The Gladys Fermanian Hall at Camp Haiastan, however, serves an equally important function, and like the Kitchen/Dining Hall, it also performs its main function several times a day for all campers and staff. The teaching of Armenian culture and language as a broad-based program is held there every day during the camp season. Camp Haiastan’s most important mission statement is “To be a vehicle for the preservation of Armenian culture, heritage, and identity for Armenian youth in the U.S. and worldwide.” The embodiment of this mission statement is the sole purpose for Camp Haiastan and has been what has sustained its existence for the past 58 years. With this noble purpose in mind, it can easily be understood why Fermanian Hall is as important a building as the Kitchen/Dining Hall. Through the core camp program “Hye Time” centered in Fermanian Hall, and all of the activities that emanate from Hye Time, even an unfamiliar observer comes to understand the importance of our campers gaining cultural nourishment from learning about and exploring our culture. This cultural nourishment is accomplished through the “feeding” of camper’s minds, hearts, and souls, and at Camp Haiastan this ranks right up there with their need to eat food.
Fermanian Hall was one of the few original buildings when the property for Camp Haiastan was purchased in 1940. In the years prior to the opening of the first camp session in July 1951, faithful volunteers took on the task—one of many—of enlarging the original building in size to accommodate large groups for meetings, classes, and recreational activites. Hence the name “Rec Hall” stood for many years as the building’s first name. During 2003-04, the well-known Fermanian family of Providence, R.I. approached the camp’s Board of Directors to present the camp with a wonderful gift, The Gladys Fermanian Charitable Trust Endowment. In her youth, Gladys was one of many loyal “founders” of the day. In the 1940’s, founders came in groups on weekends to help build and improve the camp. Founders came from Armenian communities all over New England and the East Coast, namely Providence, Worcester, Boston, Watertown, Springfield, Hartford, and from the greater New York City area. Gladys, her family, and many from Providence worked hard to help build the foundations of what we today are so proud to call Camp Haiastan.
When Camp Haiastan opened in 1951, Gladys continued to volunteer her services in many ways to benefit the camp. After her passing, it was revealed by her sisters Mary and Queenie that Gladys was most interested in Camp Haiastan continuing to educate its campers and staff through a broad and comprehensive Armenian cultural program. In 2004, the Board of Directors, in gratitude of Gladys’ “living” donation, rededicated the Rec Hall as the Gladys Fermanian Hall, in memory of Gladys and in honor of her deep interest in the cultural education of our Armenian youth at Camp Haiastan. Proceeds from the Gladys Fermanian Charitable Trust annually are targeted for the Hye Time program, as well as other activities that further the cultural education of Camp Haiastan campers.
Everything has its life cycle, and camp buildings do not escape the aging process any more than anything else. During the 2007 off-season, the board and executive director determined that the deck and railing system around the three sides of Fermanian Hall had deteriorated to unsafe condition from rot and termite damage. The cost to correct this situation was found to be in the neighborhood of $20,000 and there was the urgency to complete the renovation before the first campers and staff arrived in June 2008. As is evidenced by the many recognition signs on and around the buildings and facilities of Camp Haiastan, the Armenian Youth Foundation has been a godfather to the camp. In 2008, once again the Foundation came to the rescue and donated $20,000 through a grant to the camp to fund the Fermanian Hall deck renovation. The work was completed in the spring and Fermanian Hall was ready for the opening of the 2008 camping season. The timely construction work was accomplished by RBP Construction of Whitinsville, Mass., owned and operated by Rick Bedrosian, a camp parent and alumnus.
As previously mentioned, one can hardly walk from one area of the camp to another without understanding the importance of the Armenian Youth Foundation to this institution historically. The “new” swimming pool, the Hye Hope Pavilion and the equipment in it, the Uncas Pond waterfront, the amphitheater, the arcade games in the rainy day center, and the audio/visual equipment have all been made possible by Armenian Youth Foundation grants over recent years. This does not even take into consideration the many earlier improvement projects funded by the Foundation, dating back to its inception in 1973.
The next chapter in the saga of Fermanian Hall was written this past summer and fall by the Koobatian family of Madison, Conn. Gregor and Nadine Koobatian brought their nine-year-old son John for his second season of camp along with their seven-year-old daughter Elizabeth for her first camping season on Sun., July 20 for the Session 2 check-in. After getting the kids settled into their cabins, the family went to the picnic grounds to have kebab dinners and enjoy the good times at the AYF-YOARF Eastern Region Picnic for a few hours before returning home. It was at the picnic that the Koobatians learned of their good fortune. Their “Big Fat Armenian Raffle” ticket was pulled and they were the winners of the $5,000 cash prize. As many parents do, Nadine and Gregor had purchased the raffle ticket in the name of their three children, John, Elizabeth, and little brother Nicholas.
Last summer was the second successful season for the Big Fat Armenian Raffle, sponsored by the camp Board of Directors. Only 300 tickets are sold for $100 for a chance to score $5,000 at each of the three drawings during the popular Summer Sunday Picnics held at the camp. In two seasons, the Big Fat Armenian Raffle has raised over $30,000 in revenue for the camp. Raffle proceeds go directly to camp programs and activities such as the Hye Time Program, creative arts programs, aquatic programs, capital improvements, and camperships and financial aid for families that demonstrate the need for financial assistance in order for their children to attend camp.
Soon after the Koobatian kids returned home from their two-week stay at camp, Nadine and Gregor Koobatian notified the board that it would be their honor and pleasure to donate their Big Fat Armenian Raffle winnings back to Camp Haiastan. They wanted to follow the example of Koobatian family members before them whose names can be read on donor plaques in the Cabin Circle and elsewhere at camp. It was the desire of the Koobatians to direct their $5,000 donation specifically toward Fermanian Hall to support the Armenian cultural education and appreciation program.
As they say, “timing is everything.” Now that the deck outside Fermanian Hall has been renovated thanks to the Armenian Youth Foundation, the Koobatian’s donation will sponsor interior work that is scheduled during this off-season. Over the winter, an interior makeover of Fermanian Hall will include drywall repairs, a fresh coat of paint along with refinishing the hardwood floor. Plans also call for the dedication of wall space for the proper display of historical photos of past campers, staff, and founders of Camp Haiastan that are now archived but not framed and available for all to enjoy. The important function and purpose of one of our most treasured camp buildings is enhanced and improved for all to enjoy thanks to the Koobatian family, the Armenian Youth Foundation, Inc., and Gladys Fermanian. It goes without saying that the regular outpouring of generosity of the Camp Haiastan family will continue to ensure the realization of the vision of its founders.
Thank you for the inspiring, positive article. Gladys, Mary, and Queenie were “extra aunts” to my brother and me, and were best friends of our mother, Rosalie (Kolligian) Ahlijanian and aunt Sylvia (Kolligian) Varadian. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting them quickly realized that these 3 beautiful “girls” (as Grandma Bessie would say) embodied the best of the Armenian spirit: preservation of our proud culture and people, hard work/self-sacrifice, dedication to the church, and importance of family. Hopefully we can continue to pass these virtues to our children, though they are certainly a tough act to follow. All members of the Greater Fermanian family should be incredibly proud. Thank you again for reminding us in challenging economic times that there are more important things than buying the new iPhone or modifying vacation plans. Gladys, Mary, and Queenie would be focused on very different priorities today!