Historical Images of Community Life: Diversions and Family Life
The Allisandratos family gathers outside their home on Tarpon Avenue in 1920: adults Demosthenes, Asimoula's mother Athena Kamvisis, Asimoula, and children Tako, baby Katherine, Andrew, and Alexander. Courtesy of Katherine Alissandratos Kelly.
One of the most respected Greek statesmen of the 20th century,Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936) delivers a speech at Anclote Lighthouse on January 30, 1922. Photo by H. Bigelow; State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.
On a beautiful day in 1924, the Tulumaris family is ready to venture out for a drive in their car. Courtesy of City of Tarpon Springs.
The Angel (Angeliniadis) family picnics at the beach on July 7, 1929—the date carved in the watermelon: George Angel, unknown, Katina Angel, Cleo Kapitanis, Themelina Alahouzos Angel holding baby Mikelo Kapetanis, Kaliope Alahouzos Kapetanis, Maria Angel, and George Kapetanis. Courtesy of George Mandalou.
Sailors from Halki join the Bishop, Reverend Thomas J. Lacey from New York, and community members for a
picnic at Anclote Key on January 7, 1930. Courtesy of Dr. Themistocles J. Diamandis.
The family of a sponge fisherman poses for a photograph in front of their home on November 16, 1936: (l-r) Billie, Anastasis, Anna, and Esther (Asteropi) Kotis. Photo by Burgert Brothers; courtesy of Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.
Members of the related Miaoulis and Lulias families sit in front of their Greek-American Bakery, 1940s: (front, l-r) Kaliope Manias Lulias, Irene Manias Lelekis, Nick Manias; (second row) Evdokia Manias, Nikitas Manias holding Evelyn Miaoulis Bilirakis, Maria Manias Miaoulis, Kosta Miaoulis; (third) Irene Koulianos, Kalotina Zervos. Courtesy of Evelyn Miaoulis Bilirakis.
A large crowd gathers inside Teddy’s Pavilion for a festive occasion at Sunset Beach in the 1940s. George Pappas stands in the left foreground. Courtesy of Joyce Pappas.
Frances, Nellie, and Magdaline Peronis stroll around Spring Bayou on a beautiful spring day in the 1940s. Courtesy of Magdaline Peronis Tiliakos & Nellie Peronis Tiliakos.
The Tsalichis family enjoys a picnic on Kathara Deftera/Καθαρά Δευτέρα or Clean Monday in 1941. Anna Karagiannis Kotis
looks surprised and perplexed because she has just been handed a live rabbit by her nephew Michael Tsalichis to her left. Courtesy of Goldie Tsalichis Parr.
At a birthday gathering of friends and neighbors on Mill Street in the 1940s, Maria Afanason, Sevasti Georgiadis, Nikki Ergas holding Michael Kouremetis, Maria Fotakis, Maria Karavokiros holding Nancy Miradakis stand near a cake and photo of the birthday boy, Jack Gombos. Courtesy of Nickollet Tsourakis Henderson.
A Greek school group dressed for a Greek cultural celebration poses on the Sponge Docks during the 1940s: (front) unknown Greek teacher, unknown, Faklis, unknown, Georgiou, unknown, unknown; second row is Theodore Frantzis, Ipsilantis, unknown, Irene Tittas. The sponge divers to the left behind them are Emmanuel Mehas and John Maillis.The woman to their right in the scarf is Nikki Pandakis and her daughter Alice. Photo by Robertson and Fresh; Special Collections, Tampa Library, University of South Florida.
Actor Lloyd Bridges poses with townspeople at the Sponge Docks during the filming of 16 Fathoms Deep (1948) in Tarpon Springs. Locals worked as extras, and many visited the Sponge Docks to watch the filming. Courtesy of Nellie Peronis Tiliakos & Magdaline Peronis Tiliakos.
Duchess Giallourakis Arfaras and Tunisian Greek sponge merchant Michel Arfaras enjoy the beach on their honeymoon in 1951. Duchess owned Duchess Curio Shop and was president of the Sponge Merchants Association. Courtesy of Duchess Giallourakis Arfaras.
During the filming of Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953), the sponge boat Eleni was painted to look like it had been burned by the rival Key West Conch sponge fishermen. Nickolas Lerios at the back worked as a stunt diver for the production. Courtesy of Kaliope Lerios George.
Family and friends enjoy the evening breezes on the porch in August 1958. On the left with a child on her lap is Sophie Pavlos Tsongranis; on the right, Sylvia Billiris sits behind the man at right front, and standing behind her is Sophie's sister Nellie Pavlos. Courtesy of Eleni Christopoulos-Lekkas.
Helen Samarkos Tsoukalas was elected Miss Calymnos in 1953. She is wearing the traditional woman’s dress for the island of Kalymnos, called a kavadi. Courtesy of Anna Tsoukalas Billiris.
Jordan Kindinis with grandchildren Colleen and Jerry Kindinis feeding their pet lamb Kitso on Hope Street in 1960. Jordan Kindinis worked on sponge boats as a lifeline tender and a cook.Photo by Flash Jarocki; courtesy of Colleen Kindinis.
The Greek Community Little League Team in 1966: (front) Theo Karaphillis, Nick Karaphillis, Nick Faklis, Cam Gause, Gause, George Lontakos, Steve Koulias; (middle) David Dagenhart, Wade Karakis, David Bartelt, Nelson Joaquin; (top) Nick Toth, Angelo Lontakos, Angelo Danapas, unknown, Ronnie Ammons. On the left is Coach Mike Theodosis. Courtesy of Mary Lerios Toth.