Historical Images of Community Life: Schools, Organizations, Military

At Tarpon Springs Elementary School 3^rd grade class in March 1935, children of Greek heritage number almost 50%. Courtesy of Goldie Tsalichis Parr.

Tarpon High School Future Homemakers of America, March 1, 1948: front, Mrs. Simmons, Irene Harvey, Zula Peperis, Mary Tsalichis, unknown, Else Sakiotis; second row, Evelyn Kotis, Bessie Johns, unknown, unknown, Urania Stavrulakis, unknown, Thelma Vaporis; third row, Irene Moskos, Patricia McMickle, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Nellie Peronis, Leoni Peperis; fourth row, unknown, Sula Filretou, Argie Pappas, Helen Pavlos, Fayla Stavrakis, Tessie Diamandes, Anna Smolios, unknown. Courtesy of Magdaline Peronis Tiliakos & Nellie Peronis Tiliakos.

Those attending Tarpon Springs High School’s 1943 Prom at The Manor included Steve Theodosis, Lula Christodoulou, Mary Stavropoulos, Pete Tsourakis, and Augustine Paskalakis. Courtesy of Nickollet Tsourakis Henderson.

Symian Society members and children gather with Father Theofilos Karaphillis, 1930. Symians were  known for their diving abilities and shipyards. Courtesy of the Faklis family.

Symian Society picnic at the beach, 1946. (Front sitting) George Cladakis, Agapitos Megaloudis; (front children) Michael Faklis, Sylvia Tsangranis, Irene Zouroudis, Nikki Zouroudis, George Giannaras, Margo Filis; 2^nd row, Nikitas Faklis, Vasile Faklis, Mina Sarris, Dikea Faklis, Ypapanti, Mr. & Mrs. George Georgiadis, Epakoy Kaladoukas, Nick Zouroudis, Eleni Stavropoulos, 3^rd row, Gabriel Astipolitis, Irene Sarris, Mrs. Antoniades, unknown, James Antonoglou, Mary Stavropoulos, Irene Sarris Tsangaris, Dimitrios Stavropoulos, Flora Stavropoulos; 4^th row, Panayiotis Ypapandakis, Savvas Moskos, Minas Sarris, Eleni and Theodoros Antonoglou, Sotiris Makrinakis,  John Palogianos, Paul Antoniades, Kyriakos Loupis, Zaharias Kastronis, Kostas Antoniades. Courtesy of the Faklis family.

Ladies Kalymnian Society members gathered with Father Theofilos Karaphillis inside St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in 1944. Courtesy of Nickollet Tsourakis Henderson.

The Men’s Halki Society in front of the Philoptochos Society on Hope Street in the early 1950s included (front l-r) George Pappas, John Nefton, Costas “Dinio” Klimantos, Diamantis Leonis; (back) Vasilis Pokrakis, Pepos Phillippou, George Manousos, Koukoulis Koukoulakis. Courtesy of the Halki Society.

At the Halki Society dinner in the early 1950s were Arvanou Christou, unknown, unknown, Pasithea Christou playing mandolin; (second row), Dinio Klimantos, Katherine Klimantos, Diamantis Leonis, Fanio Leonis, unknown, unknown, George Frantzis, Giorgos Manousos, Theophilos Kanannis, Perry Pipinos, Semeone Sfyriou; (third), George Papas, Vasilis Pokrakis, Georgo (Kirki), unknown, Alice Giannaras, Zaharis Pappas, Fanitsa Frantzis, Zoula Frantzis, Stamatouli Theodosis, unknown, Filarota Filaretou, Dimosthenes Kananis, Ourania Sfyriou; (back) unknown, unknown, Vasilis Pokrakis, Steve (Foukaello) John, unknown, Polithoros, Paraoni Mostris, Mihalis Kelades, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Basili, unknown, unknown, unknown, Pavlo Kalagrides, Rally (Meropi’s brother), unknown, Fasaria, Diogenis Papadoparolos, Leonidas Spanos. Halki Society.

This panoramic view of the AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association) convention at Tarpon Springs City Hall in 1928 includes both members and local residents. Photo by Burgert Brothers; Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

AHEPA club house on Tarpon Avenue, January 5, 2009. Photo by Tina Bucuvalas/Florida Folklife Program.

The Greek American Progressive Association (GAPA) was a more conservative alternative to AHEPA. The women of GAPA include (front) Foto Lerios, Mary Gianneskis Manticos, Catherine Gonatos Bouchlas; (second) Sofie Stamas Athas, Despina Smirlis; (top) Dikea Nicholas Arfaras, Assimina Velousis, Mrs. Christou. Courtesy of Mary Lerios Toth.

This group of Greek American soldiers served in a single unit during World War I with Pantelis Peronis (1893-1953, second from left). Courtesy of Magdaline Peronis Tiliakos & Nellie Peronis Tiliakos.

Vasile G. Faklis (1892-1982) left Symi for Tarpon Springs, where he founded Faklis Department Store and Shoe Repair in 1912. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and is shown here in 1917. Courtesy of the Faklis family.

Nick Karavokiros (1892-1945) worked as a cook on a sponge boat owned by the Samarkos family. He is shown here in his military uniform during World War I. Courtesy of Nickollet Tsourakis Henderson.

Tony Karavokiros served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While on leave he visited his mother Maria with another sailor circa 1943. Courtesy of Nickollet Tsourakis Henderson.

The Karaphillis family gathers in front of the Greek school for a visit from George Karaphillis during World War II: (l-r) Katina Karaphillis Nicholis, Fr. Theophilos Karaphillis, George Karaphillis, Kaliope Karaphillis, Esther Jordan Raptis (kneeling). Courtesy of Esther Jordan Raptis.

The sponge boat Eleni, owned by Charles Samarkos, is prepared for use by the U.S. Army. John A. Samarkos and Michael A. Samarkos are center front in suits, Charles A. Samarkos is in the bow. Courtesy of Anna Tsoukalas Billiris.