Discovering an Old Photo and with It, Some Family History
by Janine Tegu I always thought that there weren’t that many Greeks/Vlachs in the Vermont area (I guess my mistake). I always thought that there were a lot more in the Massachusetts and the New Hampshire area. Well, some time ago, I found this photo taken July 26, 1931 at Lake Hortonia, Vermont. It would ...
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Dr. Margaret Felis on Icon Painting
In March I was able to interview SF member Dr. Margaret Felis about icon painting. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Thanks to Margaret for her generosity of time and editing help. elissa mondschein elissa: Tell me where you were living at the time you started painting the icons, and how did ...
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Discovery: an Amazing Family Odyssey
L to R: Shuka, Vangele, Cosmachi, Ahilea, Licha (Nick) Fatsy (missing: Thanas) By Rebecca M. Townsend A first cousin, twice removed, “was a true modern day hero,” and I was amazed to learn more about him. My husband Tom is the genealogist in our family, and, having documented his own family thoroughly, took on the ...
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HARALAMBIE GEORGE CICMA Autobiographie Part V
A Vlach’s Life in His time PART V NEW YORK CITY We were subjected to a severe inspection and intensive interrogation at the immigration office; everyone was trembling, afraid that they would be rejected. We were sent through a gate, where two physicians examined us, paying special attention to our eyes, another person there made ...
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An exhibit of handwoven tapestries in Samarina
By Maria Psomiades During my visit to Samarina village in Greece last summer, I visited a fascinating exhibit with hand-woven tapestries. They were temporarily lent for the exhibit by the residents, who preserve them and pass them from one generation to another. Although I was familiar with the art of weaving, I was blown away ...
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Haralambie George Cicma Autobiographie part IV
A Vlachs’s Life in His Time (Continued from last issue) In an attempt to avoid a confrontation with Uncle Dimitri regarding my feelings towards Pusha, as well to avoid family pressure to choose Maritsa, I decided to spend the 1912 summer vacation at the Lyceum. Ten days into my vacation, I was aston- ished to ...
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Haralambie George Cicma Autobiographie Part III
PART III (Continued from last issue) Student George Cicma in Turkish Lyceum’s uniform On the tenth of September, 1908, five girls and I started for Monistir- Bitolia; the girls were to attend the Romanian Normal School there; we traveled by horse in a caravan. We rode all day, spent the night at Grebena, the following ...
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Michael Costulas
Michael Costulas was born in Sourpi in the Greek province of Thessaly, the son of Adam and Theodora Maze Costulas. He was one of five children. His parents farmed tobacco and bred horses. His father died when he was three years old. Young Michael Costulas was able to attend grammar school where he thoroughly learned ...
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Haralambie Cicma Autobiographie Part II
We had a large garden at home, a wooden rail fence surrounded it. Part of my duties was to keep this mended;I would find the tallest, straightest trees in the forest, cut them, trim them, and drag them home. The size and weight of these rails aroused the curiosity of the townspeople—no one could understand how ...
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Haralambie Cicma Autobiographie part 1
A Vlach’s Life in His time Part I. Family My grandfather, Costa Cicma and his wife, Despina, had eight children; four sons—Dimitri, George, Nicholas and John, also four daughters— Maria, Kiratsa, Theodora and Hrisa. He was not wealthy, his pay as a leader of the Armatoli (protectors of the town) was not sufficient to support ...
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