Efkeretzi: A person born in Efkere, or a descendant of such a person
While the village of Efkere had some relative affluence owing to the presence of the monastery and the influx of pilgrims, it was not immune to the economic woes that plagued the Ottoman Empire in the years leading up to the First World War.
Most of the men in the village worked as tradesmen, especially blacksmiths. Increasingly, they found the need to leave their village in the Spring months to earn a living, and then return to the village in the fall. Some went to other cities in Anatolia, particularly Constantinople. Others went abroad, with the United States becoming an increasingly attractive destination, particularly the cities of Detroit, and New York.
It is difficult to say with certainty who the first immigrants from Efkere to the United States were, although an unpublished manuscript mentions three men from Efkere arriving in the mid-1890’s. These included Garabed Sahagian (Jeknavorenk) and Vahan Minasian.
An unpublished biography relates that, between the years 1910 and 1913, 60 or 70 people from Efkere went to America.
Three young men from Efkere, shortly after their arrival in the United States. Karnig Bahadurian(l), Hovaness Solakian(m), and Garabed Kojaian (r)
On June 25, 1912, Haroutiun Kojaian in Efkere wrote to his son Garabed in Detroit:
Haroutiun Kojaian, circa 1914
“Five days ago we saw off Mgrdch Shahanoglu, the blacksmith, and several others—they are leaving for there (America). Today, a cart full of men—Garabed of Belegesi, Hachig the felt-maker, and His father-in-law, Torosoglu the druggist—are leaving. May God keep them safe. If it goes on like this, Garabed, a hundred me will leave Efkere for America.”
Garabed Kojaian in Detroit, circa 1913.
Those Armenians working in the United States not only sent money to their loved ones in Efkere, but they also raised money for larger projects in the village. In New York, an Efkere Educational Society was formed toward the end of 1913, with another chapter of the organization in Detroit. Hundreds of dollars were raised, and sent back to the village for the construction of the girls school.
Inevitably, some of the men from Efkere stayed for longer periods of time. Sadly, many also returned to Efkere, some as late as 1914, and did not survive the events of 1915.
The steady flow of men from Efkere to the United States increased in the years leading up to 1915. Some of this was encouraged by the priest at Surp Stepanos Church (der Mesrob Sahagian), who had been to America, and who urged the young men in his flock to go to America, earn money, and return home.
By the fall of 1915, those Efkeretsis living in the United States found that they had no reason to return to their village, as, by then, the Armenian population of Efkere became almost non-existent.
This era is very well documented in my book, My Dear Son Garabed, which consists of over 80 letters written between the years 1912 and 1915. All of the letters originate in Efkere, and are sent to loved ones in the United States. The economic uncertainty of the times, the need to find jobs outside of the village, and the process of moving abroad are uniquely discussed in these letters. The book is probably sold-out by the time you read this, but it is well worth searching for.
Those who remained in the United States generally continued to reside in the Detroit and New York areas. Small numbers also settled in St. Louis and Boston. Many found success in business. They married Armenian women, although because so few Efkeretzi women made it to the United States, the women they married were often from other villages and towns.
The compatriotic organizations that these men formed before 1915 continued to exist afterwards. Funds were raised to help those Efkeretzis in need, be they in America, or abroad.
“The Orphans of Efkere”—A benevolent Detroit organization.
In Detroit, a group of Efkeretzi men formed “The Orphans of Efkere”, a benevolent organization for Efkeretzis in need.
Parnak Paulian, one of the founders, was instrumental in bringing to the United States many Efkeretzis who survived 1915, and remained in Turkey.
These philanthropic groups also assisted Efkeretzis in America who were in need.
These descendants of Efkere would remain loyal to the memory of their village. They would continue to associate with Armenians from Efkere, and hold events for their fellow Efkeretzis.
Various Efkeretzi gatherings in Detroit, 1950s. Silent film
While the first generation of Efkeretzis living in America has died, they have left behind subsequent generations that now have an increased ability to learn about their ancestral village, and document it.
Out of Turkey—The Life Story of Donik “Haji Bey” Yessaian: A Family Memoir was published in 1994, and dealt with the experiences of an Armenian family living in Efkere.
This website, (www.Efkere.com) first went online in 2001, and has grown as our knowledge of the village has grown.
I was pleased to be able to present a paper at the University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA) on the Armenian community of Efkere, in May, 2003.
The Silent Generation, by Haig Sarajian, was published in 2009. Haig Sarajian is the son of Avedis Sarajian, who was born in Efkere in 1890. The book provides an amazing glimpse of life in Efkere.
2018 saw the publication of My Dear Son Garabed, edited by myself and Şükrü Ilıcak. This is a collection of over 80 letters from villagers in Efkere, written between the years 1912 and 1915, to loved ones in Detroit. The book generated a great deal of favorable press, and contains the only surviving example of the Armenian dialect of Efkere. I was interviewed by William Armstrong for his Turkey Book Talk podcast shortly after publication, and an entire podcast was dedicated to this book.
Amazingly, there are at least three unpublished manuscripts that have surfaced over recent years that were written by Efkeretzis in America.