HOME FOR THE ARMENIAN AGED (No.1): INCEPTION OF THE IDEA

By Vahe H. Apelian

The founders of the Home For The Armenian Aged named it to unmistakably convey that the “Home” is for the Armenian Aged and that it is not an Armenian home for the aged. That was when the Armenian community alone supported the “home”. Things are much different nowadays in this sector. The government through its various programs assists the care of the elderly who may not be able to afford it otherwise. The “Home” nowadays is called “Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center”.

The attached is the history of its founding and is reproduced from the 1993 special issue of “Hyedoun”, the “Home’s” newsletter, devoted to the history of its founding I wrote.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

INCEPTION OF THE IDEA

The publishers of a commemorative booklet in 1947, on the occasion of the tenth year of activity of the Home For The Armenian Aged, attributed the idea of establishing a residence for the Armenian aged supported by the community to Mr. Hovsep Kasabian. In her memoir, Mrs. Arousiag Jarahian, the first president of the Home, pinpoints the day, June 16, 1930, when Mr. Hovsep Kasabian invited her to his home and solicited her help. Nothing else is found about him in the archives of the Home, other than the deduction one can safely make now that Mr. Hovsep Kasabian was a visionary.

The 1930s were turbulent years. One the community level barely fifteen years had elapsed since the catastrophic national devastation caused by the Genocie. On the national level, the decade had started with the 1929 stock market crash that ushered the nation into its worst economic depression. Most likely, the daily endeavors of the Armenian Americans were further aggravated by the understandable social constraints the first generation immigrants inevitably face. In spite of these, Mr. Hovsep Kasabian aspired to provide a community-supported residence for the needy Armenian aged and found a responsive chord in the community. However, he died early and could not fulfill his aspiration, but he left a legacy and devoted followers who were determined to realize it posthumously.

DETERMINED WOMEN

After Mr. Hovsep Kassabian’s death, his widow Mrs. Ovsanna Kassabian, encouraged by Archbishop Karekin Hovsepian, the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in North America, carried on the work. She solicited the help of three like-minded ladies: Mrs. Zarman Turnamian, her daughter Miss Zorah Turnamian, and Mrs. Baitzar Terzian. These women had their first meeting on record on Friday afternoon, January 8, 1937, at 2:00 p.m. in Mrs. Kassabian’s home. In that meeting, they studied the by-laws of “Fritz Reuter Home For the Aged” and decided to meet its lawyer Mr. Rudolph Shroeder to gain some expertise in the new venture they had embarked upon. They also decided to seek out and enlist the support of Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian, who in turn, accepted their offer and also consented to become the acting chairwoman.

Coincidentally another group of Armenian women from the N.J. Bergen County Chapter of Red Cross was working towards the same goal. These two groups of ladies decided to join the force. After preliminary contacts, four women from this group decided to join. They were: Mrs. Aghavni Hammalian, her sister-in-law, Mrs. Anna Hammalian, Mrs. Rose Avakian and Mrs. Almast Pooshikian. These two groups of women had their first meeting on record on May 18, 1937, in Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian’s house. Their task became naming the institution they were determined to realize. They adopted the name proposed by Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian, “Home For The Armenian Aged”. They also formed a committee to draft the by-laws of their intended organization. Later on, Mrs. Rose Avakian and Mrs. Almast Pooshikian resigned from the group and Mrs. Mary Tfank and Mrs. Helen Gabbert replaced them and joined the group. These were the women who had the vision and the courage to embark upon a venture for which they were ill-prepared but were driven with a mission to help the Armenian aged.

THE BY-LAWS

The committee to draft the by-laws prepared it with the collaboration of Mr. Rudolph Shroeder. On May 25, 1937, the women and their husbands met in Mrs. Zarman Turnamian’s house and studied the ly-laws. They also decided to make the Armenian General Benevolent Union as the beneficiary of the corporation in the event of the dissolution of the corporation. On June 28, 1937, Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian and Mrs. Aghavni Hammalian, on behalf of the committee, met with Mr. Vahan Kurkdjian and Rev. K. Benneian from the Armenian General Benevolent Union in their office and presented the proposed by-laws to them. These men found the by-laws well prepared and comprehensive. They also encouraged the women in their endeavor and noted to them the immense difficulties of their task.

Having assured themselves that the by-laws were comprehensive, the women asked Mr. Rudolph Shroeder to submit the Certificate of Incorporation. Mr. Rudolph Shroeder, in turn, proposed the committee meet with a larger community to present the by-laws. The committee members embarked on a community-wide membership drive and enlisted the support of some 75 prominent members of the community. The meeting took place in a restaurant on October 19, 1938. Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian elaborated to the attendance on the efforts of these self-motivated women. Rev. K. Benneian took the podium and encouraged the women and praised their unbinding faith in their mission. Afterward, Mr. Rudolph Shroeder read the by-laws article by article. 500 copies of the by-laws were printed both in English and in Armenian. The by-laws had several revisions since then.

THE INCORPORATION AND THE FIRST LIFE MEMBER

On March 9, 1938, the nine members of the group signed the Certificate of Incorporation in the presence of Mr. Rudolph Shroeder and a notary public. On June 7, 1938, the attorney presented the executed Certificate to the office of the Secretary of New Jersey. The signatories became the founders of the Home For The Armenian Aged Inc.  The year 193 is displayed on the emblem of the Corporation designed by Charles Mazoujian.

The attorney presented the women with a charge of $280 towards the expenses and fees. When the women paid the sum, the attorney, who had become personally involved in the project, wrote a check of $150 and presented it to the women commenting: “Let this be the first donation towards your first bank's account”. Later, Mr. Rudolph Shroeder became the first life member of the Corporation by giving an additional $100 for life time membership dues as stipulated by the by-laws.