Marash Girl's Old Friend, Architect Rostom Voskanian, Gains Fame On The Avenue!

A street in Tehran has been named after well-known Iranian-Armenian architect (and Marash Girl's long ago friend), rahmetli olsun Rostom Voskanian. The avenue adjacent to the H.M. ‘Ararat’ organization in Tehran, formerly Aftab, was renamed in honor of architect, sculptor, painter Rostom Voskanian, ParsToday reports.

According to the website, the authorities of the capital city and the representatives of the political council, made the decision on the renaming, when last year they visited ‘Ararat’ sports ground and got acquainted with the historical building of the chapel Holy Cross, the architect for which was Voskanian. Rostom Voskanian was born in 1932 in Iran and passed away in 2013 in the United States of America. He received his degree from the Department of Architecture of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Tehran University in Iran. He is an honorary doctor of Yerevan State University of Engineering and Construction. There are many buildings in Iran designed by Rostom Voskanian -- public buildings and apartment buildings, including the Ararat Sports Complex, the Armenian Club, the Armenian Kindergarten in Tabriz, the construction of the Central Park of the Tabriz Prelacy, and other structures. NOTE: Marash Girl thanks author Davit Muradyan for the above photo and article. . . And I'm sure rahmetli olsun Rostom Voskanian is thanking Davit, as well!

One Shed Left From The Old Days . . . In Falmouth!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

One Shed Left From The Old Days . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Looking To Purchase A House In Newton?

Here's a house that you might be able to afford . . . although it may not offer adequate protection from the guns that are available for sale in Newtonville, less than a half a mile away!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

The Way It Was, Watertown, Massachusetts

                                                                                                  iPhone Photo by Marash Girl

Oh!  Almost forgot!  Happy first day of Spring!!!!

Frank Gehry Bulding, 8 Spruce Street, New York City

                  Frank Gehry Building, 8 Spruce Street, New York City - Photo by Marash Girl

New Photos from the Armenian Community in Alexandria, Egypt

Nicolas, one of our blog followers, after reading http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/alexandria-egypt-thru-eyes-of-native_05.html 
requested more photos of the Armenian Church in Alexandria, Egypt.   Visiting blogger KID FROM ALEX obliged with the  following photos, never before posted.  Kid from Alex writes, "These were sent to me by a friend of a friend when he was visiting Alexandria a few years ago. Pictures are of Sourp Boghos Bedros (St. Paul and Peter), and of property around the church."

 

Goodbye, Rostom, Goodbye: Remembering Rostom Voskanian

"Goodbye, Rostom, Goodbye!"  

Those are the words Marash Girl wrote in her journal in the August of her youth, as she was leaving Tehran for her home in the USA.  

Those are the words Marash Girl writes today as she learns of the passing of her good friend, Rostom Voskanian who, in the August of his old age, left this world for his new home with the Lord.  

"Goodbye, Rostom, Goodbye!"

ԱՍՏՎԱծ ՀՈԳԻՆ ԼՈՒՍԱՎՈՐԵ:

http://asbarez.com/114145/rostom-voskanian-and-an-architectural-legacy/

Borrowed Landscape

Borrowed Landscape.  Have you ever come across the term?  After many years of gazing out of her kitchen window, Marash Girl heard a visitor comment, after peering out of the same kitchen window, "borrowed landscape, ey?"

Certainly the house being built butt up against the fence at the Y takes advantage of a "borrowed landscape", wouldn't you say? (See photo below and yesterday's blog post.)

Cincinnati Ed meets Newton Corner

Heading for her morning walk at the Y, Marash Girl saw the man that she thought was the builder for the new duplex growing up next to the Y track.  "Are those garages at the front of the house?" she asked the man that she thought was the builder.  "Yes, I suppose so.  I was just walking around looking at this structure.  I'm a builder staying over there at the hotel, just taking a walk, and I saw this going up.  I was surprised.  All the lumber is helter skelter. In Cincinnati, I make sure that when my men are building a house, they put the lumber in neat stacks."

Ed from Cincinnati grew up on a 100 acre farm where they raised cattle, hay and corn.  His father, now 93, gifted him 5 acres where he and his wife built a house and brought up their kids who are now in college.  After eyeing the lumber from the construction of the new house going up on Richardson Street (see Marash Girl --http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2013/05/through-chain-link-fence.html),   Marash Girl took Ed for a tour of the Newton Corner mansions during which Ed pointed out many a detail (matching slate, non-matching grout, etc.) that would help date the structures.  An instructive morning, and all before 7 AM.

The Finnish in Takoma Park

Around the corner from Forest Park (where, by the way, there was no forest to be seen), on Elm Avenue in Takoma Park, a resident shared a small piece of Takoma Park local history with Marash Girl.

My bungalow was built in 1929 by a man from Finland, she said . . . Finnish people settled in these parts.  Those little out-buildings in the back were Saunas.  The Finnish man who built this house first lived in the little building in the back while he was building this house; then, after this house was built, he moved into this house, and made the little back building into a sauna.  He first created a cement block factory in the yard, and used the cement blocks to build this house, and if you look, you'll see these cement blocks all over Takoma Park.

(Look, Marash Girl did, and see, she did! Decorative cast cement blocks at the base of many of the houses in the area, particularly in the neighborhood surrounding Forest Park.)

Northern Mockingbird and H. H. RIchardson

The morning sun shines on the Northern Mocking Bird as he looks over his territory
 in Newton Corner, Massachusetts, 9 A.M., December 19, 2012. 

  In background, steeple of church built in 1886 on the corner of Centre Street and Church Street, Newton Corner, Massachusetts, designed by H.H. Richardson. 

Photo credit:  Marash Girl

Ernest Calvert and the HL Latch

Marash Girl remembers the first time she ever saw an early New England home, with HL latches on every door.

It was the first thing that Ernest Calvert told Marash Girl's family as he bowed to enter his (Union?), New Hampshire home, built in the late 1600's or early 1700's.  The house had the lowest ceilings Marash Girl had ever seen; it was lived in by the tallest man Marash Girl had ever known -- her father's best friend, Rev. Dr. Ernest Calvert (born in 1912 as her father had been, but born in Needham, MA, a long way away from Marash, Armenia, where her father had been born), and Ernest Calvert's wife Dorothy (who was not tall at all and could easily fit through the doorways without bowing).  But perhaps that was the point.  Perhaps everyone in the early days was tall and had to bow (reminding them of their place in the world) before entering the doors of their homes, although history tells us that the doorways were low because the people were small!  The doors -- that is what Marash Girl remembers, because on every door, at least the outside doors, were hinges in the shape of HL (Holy Lord), protecting the home with God's Grace. And she remembers the humility of Rev. & Mrs. Ernest Calvert.  Rev. Clavert would blush at any compliment, or even at a subtle sign of love from his wife.  And it was then that Marash Girl fell in love with Dorothy & Ernest Calvert, with brilliant humble people, and with old homes, homes with HL latches, homes with hundreds of years of stories never to be told.


Trying to find reference to Ernest Calvert on the internet, Marash Girl found the following  in  A History of Union, New Hampshire (USA) (1775-1992) by Louis E. Tibbetts
"Dr. Ernest Calvert, Union's minister at the time, assisted me on this occasion. The house was also owned by Justin Moore." and in the same book, she found the following:

Chapter 5, Main Street

On the next lot north was a house (5-27) that was owned, and perhaps built by Thoder Gilman, an old name in this area. At one time, Al Woods ran a store downstairs. James Tucker, the first master of Unity Lodge of F. and A.M. was an engineer on the railroad and lived here in the 1850s before moving to Sanbornville. It is possible he may have moved to Sanbornville when the railroad was extended to Sanbornville in 1871. Two of his daughters were born here, and one married Willis Hansen, another railroad man, well known here and also a member of Unity Lodge. The other daughter married Irving Rice, a railroad engineer and another member of Unity Lodge. He later moved to Dover and lived to the ripe old age of 98, dying in 1957, at which time he had been a member of Unity Lodge for 75 years. This was a sad but memorable occasion when several members of our lodge motored to Dover to perform the Masonic funeral service with many Masons from Dover attending the rites. Dr. Ernest Calvert, Union's minister at the time, assisted me on this occasion. The house was also owned by Justin Moore, followed by Laura Emery in 1921.  

And in Chapter 7 - North Main

Attached to the rear (west side) of the church is Drew Chapel. The cornerstone of Drew Chapel was laid in 1954. It was dedicated June 18, 1961 while Ernest Calvert was the minister. It was named in honor of Ernest Drew, the son of Lyle and Harriett Drew. He lost his life in the Pacific while on a mission in World War II.  

Searching for other references to Ernest Calvert brought little luck, but Marash Girl received the following courtesy of Thomas Wilcox, Acting Director of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

He wrote, "I'm not a professional genealogist but here are a few details about Ernest Calvert:

Ernest R. Calvert was born on 24 June 1912.  He died 2 October 1999 at Binghamton, Broome County, New York.  He was the son of Ernest E. Calvert (born c. 1880 at Scotland) and Pearl R. Calvert (born c.1881 at Canada).  The 1915 Needham city directory, under Stationers, listed Ernest E. Calvert at 545 Highland Avenue.  In the 1917 directory the business address was the same and the family’s residence was listed as 75 Greendale.  The family resided in 1930 at Needham, Norfolk, Massachusetts.  His father in that year was a manager in the retail clothing business whereas in 1920 he was the proprietor of a dry goods store; in 1930 he owned his own home valued at $10,000; he immigrated in 1896 and had become a naturalized citizen.  Pearl immigrated in 1905 and she, too, had become naturalized.  In the 1935 Needham Directory, Ernest R. Calvert was listed as a student and living at home at Dana Place.  In 1943 he was pastor at the Newfields Community Church in New Hampshire.  In 1943-44 he was an instructor in Sociology at University of New Hampshire.  Between 1954 and 1955 Ernest R. Calvert received his Social Security card (002-28-2331) in New Hampshire.  In 1961 he was minister of the Union (NH) Congregational Church and had been since at least 1956.  He was pastor of the Eastside Congregational Church by 1963 until prior to 1985.  In 1968 his wife was a member of the Women’s Fellowship of the State Conference of the United Church of Christ; she (and presumably they) lived in Binghamton, NY.  In 1992, the Reverend Ernest R. Calvert resided at 100 Chenango Pl Apt 902, Binghamton, NY, 13901-2825."

Ernest Calvert was an integral part of Marsh Girl's childhood, an integral part of her father, Peter Bilezikian's youth.  Marash Girl can't help but be amazed that both of her father's best friends (Rev. Ernest Calvert and Rev. Ian MacDonald) were (1) ministers and (2) 1st generation American citizens of Scottish descent.  Perhaps that is where Peter Bilezikian learned to love the poetry of Robert Burns.

Sidetracked: Trinity Church, Boston

Trinity Church with reflection and passing school bus.

Marash Girl was driving Kenar to the Museum of Fine Arts when suddenly a parking space appeared, as if by magic, right outside of Trinity Church.  MG asked her guest if, perchance she would like to visit the historic Trinity Church, to see the magnificent architecture, and in particular, to experience the treasure of stained glass windows.  Why, yes! answered her guest, and so, impressively, Marash Girl, quick as a lick, backed into the rather small parking space to her right before anyone else spotted the space (receiving compliments from the Verizon man who was watching to make sure MG didn't hit the car behind or in front, which, of course, she did not -- her father having trained her well!)

Christ in Majesty by John La Farge, 1883, the earliest stained glass window of several by La Farge at Trinity Church

Looking to the heavens:  Trinity Church, Boston

The Evangelists (Luke & John) by Margaret Redmond of Boston, 1927, Trinity Church, Boston

The Evangelists (Matthew and Mark) by Margaret Redmond of Boston, 1927

Enjoy (above) 3 of the 36 stained glass windows, diptychs & triptychs embedded in the walls of Trinity Church, and consider planning a trip in the near future to experience the architecture, all 36 of the stained glass montages (window groupings), as well as  the 8 painted murals, and decorative elements that abound in the church which was built in the Back Bay between 1872 and 1877, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson.  "In 1885, Architects voted Trinity the most important building in America, and today, the American Institute of Architects still ranks Trinity Church among the Top 10 -- the only building that remains from the original list." (From Trinity's Brochure on the history of the church.)

Photos by Marash Girl

How do we see the world and its peoples?

Does the space we grow up in, sleep in, spend most of our time in, stare at when we are falling asleep, when we are waking up, does that space shape the way we see  the world and its people?  Do we carry a square box around with us into which all the world must fit, or do we carry a multifaceted space with nooks and crannies, light and shadow, which shapes the world we see?

What is your plinth?

Marash Girl just learned about plinths this last month from Eulogio Guzman, Professor in the Visual and Critical Studies Department at the Museum School, Tufts University, during the preparation for the Yusuf Karsh Exhibit at the Armenian Library and Museum of America, and her newly acquired knowledge got her to wondering.

A plinth.  A foundation for what comes next.  As unsubstantial as it seems, it carries weight and bulk, weight and bulk which, without the plinth. could not stand.  Our feet are, in a sense, our plinth.  Or for many the BIBLE may be the plinth.  Witness the children's Sunday School chorus:

                   The   B    I     B    L   E

                   Yes, that's the Book for me

                    I stand alone on the Word of God

                   The   B     I     B     L    E!

Or another popular Sunday School chorus (calling to mind Daniel in the Lion's Den of Old Testament fame):

                    Standing by a purpose true,
                    Heeding God’s command,
                    Honor them, the faithful few!
                    All hail to Daniel’s band.

•             Dare to be a Daniel,
              Dare to stand alone!
              Dare to have a purpose firm!
              Dare to make it known.

For those without a Sunday School background, the concept of the plinth may call up memories of a song popularized by Bette Midler, and sorry for the mixed metaphor here, 'You are the Wind Beneath my Wings . . .'  -- Or could wind also be considered a plinth?

So think about it.  What steadies you?  What grounds you?  What holds you stable, without fear of falling?

Who or what is your plinth?

H. H. Richardson, Newton Corner, & Armenia's Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery

Soon after Marash Girl's writing of yesterday's post on the historic H. H. Richardson church in Newton Corner, Massachusetts, Marash Boy directed her attention to this week's Armenian Mirror Spectator.  At the bottom of page three is an article which refers to the Sanahin Monastery, an Armenian monastery which has "a forest growing on the roof".  Sona Avagyan, in her article, "Sources Try to Clarify Catholicos' Comments on Sanahin Monastery", cites Karekin II, the Catholicos based in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, the "Catholicos of all Armenians", as commenting with pride on the new construction of Armenian churches in Armenia, and then, on being questioned, twice repeating, "I have nothing to do with monasteries up in the mountains."  As Marash Girl's parents might have commented in their Marash/Aintab dialect, "Hah Newton Corner, Hah Hayasdan".  

Sanahin Monastery, Armenia - Photo credits:  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PhL7LUWo3UY24ztWC5LAJuI6eLOjdqoSj-1ASHUXfuuLIu-8B6xFlkG_gUp-VoMqLphIKq2oY1gAYuCxFMOU8lEUBUj0sSA2zzh_In0gzfHBn1XqAqTvt909gx3Q-MsCTgSabDxipjM/s1600/10_06_18a_Sanahin%252B014.jpg

H.H. Richardson, Baptist Church, Newton Corner, Built 1884, Sprouting Trees in 2011!

If you chance to look up as you walk down Church Street at the northwest corner of Centre Street in Newton Corner, Massachusetts, you may be able to see the trees growing from between the hand carved stones on the face of the historic H. H. Richardson structure built as a Baptist Church in 1884. (See post regarding this church's doors at http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/hh-richardson-baptist-church-newton.html).  Marash Girl has to admit that she has a sense of delight when she sees nature conquering the concrete and macadam as grass and flowers grow through cracks in walkways and roads, but seeing the trees growing from the face of the church gave me pause.

I was reminded of the childhood story of the little boy who never washed and one day awoke to find radishes growing on his face!  That one shook me up a bit.

But so did seeing the plants lodged in the mortar between the blocks of granite at the edge of the roof of this historic structure.  At first delighted, I soon took to wondering whether or not these plants could, in fact, destroy the face of the building.

When I pointed the greenery out to Marash Boy, he was reminded of a photo he had seen years ago during his graduate school days, a photo of a grand mosque in Tashkent (a major Muslim city of Central Asia) with one or two small trees growing off the top of the enormous dome of the mosque; he remembers that the top of the dome was cream colored with the surrounding inlaid mosaic of green reflecting the green leaves of the trees. He was saddened at this evidence of disregard for religious edifices in the high Soviet period.

H.H. Richardson, Baptist Church, Newton Corner, 1884. The doors, the doors!

S. IBRAHIM & Worker look on as Marash Girl bemoans removal of original doors of H.H.Richardson Church

Built by architect H. H. Richardson in 1884 as the Baptist Church, at the northwest corner of Church and Centre Streets in Newton Corner, known as the Immanuel Baptist Church in the 1940's through to the late 1990's, now known as Newton Corner Worship Center, this church body has deigned to remove the ancient brass handled heavy oak doors for new replica doors. Their reasoning? The original oak doors were rotten.  On close inspection, there was no evidence of rot; in fact, S. Ibrahim with whom I spoke on Friday (on left in above photo)  agreed that they were not rotten and reassured me that the doors would be saved, that his son would be installing them somewhere west of Newton as a memorial to the church.

Is there no law in Newton against tearing apart historical monuments designed by world famous architects?

Newton Corner residents, arise!

                    "Baptist Church, Newton, Mass. Built in 1884 by H.H.Richardson, Architect."
                        Image from American Architect & Building News, October 1, 1887

The original heavy oak doors with heavy brass handles thrown aside.

New contemporary doors 'grace' the entrance to this 1884 H.H.Richardson church, now known as the Newton Corner Worship Center.

"Help to maintain the historic fabric of our city!"