Migration Memorials - Greek

Statue of the Greek Immigrant

branmkam@unc.edu — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 22:45:35 +0000

LocationMem:

Park Ave. and Jean-Talon Street, Montreal, Canada

Institution:

The Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal and the Hellenic Congress of Quebec

Official/Unofficial:

Official

Group Acknowledged:

Greek immigrants to Canada

Historical Subject:

Montreal has a large Greek community, once based in the area of Montreal where the statue was set to be placed. A Hellenic sculptor, Giorgos Houliaras, created the sculpture free of charge. Money to place it was raised from three organizations enthusiastic to leave a permanent imprint of Hellenism on the city. The statue was unveiled to the city in the presence of Montreal's mayor on its 375th anniversary since its founding.

Physical Aspects:

Photo by Zois Marinos

This statue depicts a traditional Greek family of a father, mother, and child arriving in the New World and looking outward at what Canada has to offer them. They have "Hellas," Greek for Greece, emblazoned on their suitcases as a symbol of their homeland.

Date of Dedication:

June 2017

Place Location:

Themes:

Greek

Canada

Montreal

immigration

settlers

Tarpon Springs Sponge Industry

georgkos@unc.edu — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 05:32:43 +0000

Description:

City dedicated sign signifying the importance of Tarpon Springs to the Greek immigrants and Florida's sponge industry.

LocationMem:

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Institution:

City of Tarpon Springs, Florida

Official/Unofficial:

Official

Group Acknowledged:

Greek Immigrants

Historical Subject:

Greek immigrant settlement in Tarpon Springs, Florida and the rise of the Florida sponge industry.

Physical Aspects:

Government funded green copper sign stating:

"The Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange was incorporated in 1908 as a shareholding organization to provide for the storage and sale of sponges. The peak of prosperity for the Tarpon Springs sponge industry came in the 1930's. In 1939 the sponge beds in the area suffered from a disease which substantially reduced the crop of healthy sponges for several years. In spite of the decline in the sponge industry, the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange has continued to serve as a focal point for the Greek community."

Reverse side:

"The Gulf waters off the west coast of Florida north of Tampa Bay comprise one of the few areas of the world where the species of natural sponges suitable for commercial use are found. The natural sponge industry in Tarpon Springs dates from about 1890 when John K. Cheyney launched his first sponge fishing boat. Sponges were retrieved by hooking until the technique of diving for sponges was introduced in 1905 by John Cocoris, a recent immigrant from Greece, where the practice of sponge diving was common. Within a few years, many Greeks had arrived in the area to work in the sponge industry."

Date of Dedication:

1973

Place Location:

Files:

Themes:

Greek

immigrant

sponge industry

Cassimus House

georgkos@unc.edu — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 04:46:00 +0000

Description:

The Cassimus House is a registered private property under the National Register of Historic Places dedicated to the first Greek immigrants in Montgomery, Alabama. The builder of the house, Speridon Cassimus known as the "father of the Greek community" was one of the first Greek immigrants to the state. The Greek communities in the state have little or no physical heritage dating much earlier than the early 20th century, when their churches were built; and the Cassimus House is possibly the oldest remaining landmark associated with the early history of the Greeks in Alabama.

LocationMem:

110 North Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36104

Institution:

Alabama State Employee Association

Official/Unofficial:

Unofficial

Group Acknowledged:

Greek immigrants

Historical Subject:

The house not only reflects the newly-acquired prosperity of its Greek immigrant builder, but is one of the earliest landmarks associated with the Greek community in Alabama. When Speridon Cassimus built his home at 110 Jackson Street in 1893, he was a newly successful businessman and he wanted his neighbors to know it.

Speridon Cassimus, a married man with two children, left his native home of Othonior, Corfu, and his family, with the promise that once enough money was earned, he would return to bring them to America. He came to the United States on December 28, 1888. From the profits of the successful wholesale fruit business which he operated on Bibb Street in Alabama, he accomplished this goal in 1892 and was successful enough to have purchased the lot and begun construction of the home. When he returned from Greece with his family, he brought with him fig trees, flowering Sparta bushes and many other garden variety plumb to use around his home.

Physical Aspects:

The Cassimus House is a two-story frame structure with a hipped roof with several gables extending from it. Stylistically it is highly eccentric late Victorian combining an asymmetrical, domed front porch with articulated Greek Revival detailing on cornices and bay windows. There has been some alteration to the exterior of the house, but the interior is in excellent and original condition. All moldings, hardware, doors, mantels and floor are either intact or in storage.

The building sit is one of the most prominent in Montgomery, being on-the crest of a hill which rises two blocks above and behind the State Capitol. Much of the original landscaping remains along with many of the plants brought by Cassimus from Greece. An iron fence surrounds the front yard which is divided by a front walk. Two brick octagons flank the walk and are surrounded by a border of grass and flowers. The back yard was terraced, featuring an upper terrace devoted to grass and flowers, and a lower terrace separated by a brick wall which still remains, given to the growing of vegetables.

Date of Dedication:

August 13 1976

Place Location:

Files:

Cassimus House - National Register Of Historic Places Inventory ~ Nomination Form

Themes:

Greek

immigrant

first immigrants

Tarpon Springs Sponge Diver Memorial Statue

georgkos@unc.edu — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:29:52 +0000

Description:

The bronze copper statue stands in the heart of Tarpon Springs, a Greek community that started the center of Florida's sponge industry in 1890. It was erected to commemorate Greek immigrants that moved from Greece to become sponge divers as generations before them have done so in America.

LocationMem:

746 Dodecanese Blvd Tarpon Springs, Florida

Institution:

Mr. & Mrs Luis G. Lignos, Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Lignos

Official/Unofficial:

Unofficial

Group Acknowledged:

Greek Immigrants

Historical Subject:

Greek immigrant sponge diver

Physical Aspects:

Bronze statue of man in diver costume, helmet in hand standing on a bronze plate surrounded by flower bushes. Metal memorial plate in front states "In Memory Of The, SPONGERS of TARPON SPRINGS, MAJOR DONORS, Mr. & Mrs. Louis G. Lignos, Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Lignos, 2002"

Date of Dedication:

2002

Place Location:

Files:

Themes:

Greek

immigrant

sponge diver