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From L. to R.: Ernie Genoozis, Sam Genoozis, Gus Petropoulos,Tom Zaglanis.
Second row L. to R.: Billy Karres, Gust Karres, Jim Demopoulos, George Petropoulos, George Brown, Louis Kotsivas
Third row L. to R.: Christine Chakeres, Marina Chakeres, Mary Kotsivas, Erasmia Kussurelis, Fotini Stathos, Stamata Kotsivas, Loula Chakeres
Top row L. to R.: Helen Kotsivas, Bess Karres, Anna Roumeliote, Fr. Geogiades, Mary Karres, Esther Brown, Lula Zaglanis
In the uppe corner is the Psalti, known as Vassili.

Most Greek-American communities maintained some sort of Greek School, and ours was no different. The early schools were usually taught by the priest, the papadia, or a parent volunteer within the community. In time, teachers from Greece who were living in Columbus were asked to teach. Classes were taught at the church each afternoon when public school was dismissed. The first Greek School in Columbus was grouped together for a picture with Fr. Georgiades in 1928.

Fr. Georgiades was warmly remembered by the children in this picture. He carried an enormous burden in keeping his little flock organized. Fr. Kyrillo, (as the children called him), not only conducted regular services, but ordered all materials, paid the

 

 

bills and the laborers, took care of all administrative details, and taught the Greek School. He was the only one capable of doing so, yet he was in his 80s at the time.

Need, as well as the will to survive, are very cohesive forces. Fathers and mothers wanted very much for their sons and daughters to succeed in America. The bitter irony that they could not know is that with success would come mobility, financial independence, mingling with outsiders which would lead to inter-marrying, and a dispersion which would break up the old neighborhoods. Old World practices would be abandoned; the Greek language would be heard less and less, and a sense of history would be lost.

 
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