Greeks in Syracuse, New York facts for kids

The arrival of Greek immigrants in Syracuse, New York began in the early 1900s. By 1902, about 30 Greeks lived in the city. This number grew to around 500 by 1910, and then jumped to 4,000 in the early 1950s. Even before the first Greek people arrived, Syracuse already showed a strong Greek influence. This could be seen in the city's buildings and the names of many important places.

History

The number of Greek people in the United States started to grow in the 1880s. The biggest groups arrived between 1900 and 1920. Most were young men who hoped to earn money and then go back to Greece. However, about 70 percent of them ended up staying in America. In the early 1900s, most Greek immigrants came from Laconia, especially from Sparta in Southern Greece. Over time, people came from all parts of Greece.

Many Greeks arrived between 1900 and 1910 (686 people). Another 385 arrived from 1911 to 1920. New laws in 1921 and 1924 limited how many people could enter the country. In 1921, 3,063 Greeks arrived, but in 1924, only 100 were allowed in. Later, a special request helped more Greeks enter. About 10,883 were accepted from 1925 to 1929. Another 17,000 were admitted under a law for refugees in 1953.

Greeks came to the United States because of tough economic times in Greece in the late 1800s. In contrast, the U.S. economy had many jobs for people without special skills, especially in cities. Most Greeks settled in big cities, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. The first Greeks often worked in lower-paying jobs. They were peddlers, factory workers, or busboys. As they settled in, many started their own small businesses. These included restaurants, flower shops, and grocery stores.

In 1980, a U.S. Census showed that 1,852 people in Onondaga County said they had Greek heritage.

Greek Influence in Names

From the very early days of settlement in Upstate New York, long before many Greeks moved there, many towns were named after Greek history. These names included Syracuse, Athens, Attica, Brutus, Corinth, Delhi, Fabius, Greece, Homer, Ilion, Ithaca, Manlius, Marcellus, Minerva, Mount Sinai, Olean, Ovid, Palmyra, Pompey, Scio, Sodus, Vestal, Seneca, Troy, and Utica.

Greek Architecture

The Westside and Southwest areas of Syracuse once had "some of the most elegant and attractive residences." Many of these beautiful homes were on West Onondaga Street and James Street. Many Greek Revival mansions were built in the late 1800s. These were for important people who lived in the area.

Greek Orthodox Churches

Local people say, "Family is very important to Greek people; it's a nucleus." This means family is the main center of their lives. For Greeks, most churches are not just for spiritual needs. They are also family centers, social centers, and educational centers. Over the years, new immigrants often went to the church for help. The church helped them get used to life in the United States.

Today, the original Greek neighborhood in Syracuse is no longer there. Because of this, the church has become even more important. It is now the main "social and cultural center for local Greek-Americans."

First Celebration

Rev. John N. Muja'is was a Greek Orthodox missionary. He spent a year in the United States helping his fellow Greeks. On March 24, 1902, he held the first Holy Eucharist service in Syracuse. This was the first time a Greek Orthodox service happened in the city's history. Father Muja'is spoke very little English, so the services were in Greek and Arabic. He wore traditional clothes from his home country and had a long white beard. People said he looked "like a patriarch of old."

Auburn Church

Greek residents in Auburn, New York started a church group. They officially registered it on October 22, 1900. At that time, about 75 Greeks lived in Auburn. The new church was called the Greek Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

St. John the Baptist Greek Church

St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church was built in 1913. It is located at Tompkins Street and Wilbur Avenue. This was the first Eastern Catholic church in Syracuse. It was built by the local Ukrainian community. The church is in the Far Westside neighborhood called Tipperary Hill.

St. Sophia's Church

St. Sophia's Hellenic Orthodox Church officially started in 1916. Services were held from time to time in the chapel of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1917, the church moved to the second floor of a social hall on South Salina Street.

In 1922, the church built its first own building on Montgomery Street. This spot is now where the Onondaga County War Memorial stands. The church became a key place for new immigrants. It helped them adjust to life in the United States.

In the late 1940s, Onondaga County planned to build the war memorial. So, the church moved in early 1950. Its new home was the former Good Will Congregational Church. This new place had "spacious accommodations for parish affairs." The church spent a lot of money to make it a "first class center." It served over 350 Greek families and many religious and social groups. The priest in 1950 was Rev. John S. Kamelakis, who was from Crete. Important leaders of the church in 1950 included Nicholas O. Spinos, Nicholas Collis, and James Copanos.

The current church, St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, was built in 1973. It is located in DeWitt. By 1980, 550 Greek families, about 2,400 people, were members of this church on Waring Road. It is the only Greek Orthodox church in Onondaga County. Since the original Greek neighborhood in Syracuse is gone, the church is now the main "social and cultural center for local Greek-Americans."

Greek Community Groups

The social life of Greeks in Syracuse seemed to start in the early 1900s. This is when the first stories appeared about local groups and events for new Greek-Americans.

On February 16, 1910, a group of Greek residents met to plan a Greek society. They met at 357 South Salina Street. Nicholas Valentine, a local resident, was a key person in this effort. He noted that about 500 Greeks lived in Syracuse. People felt that "a society of this kind would further the interests of the Greeks."

In November 1910, Spiros Matzukas visited Syracuse. He was a Greek soldier, speaker, singer, and poet. He spoke about "a new and greater Greece." He also asked for money to make Greece's military stronger. Even without much advertising, "more than 300 sons of Greece" gave him a warm welcome. This happened at Genesee Hall. In a short time, he received $1,220 in cash from the "loyal Greeks" of Syracuse. Matzukas came from Rochester. A group of Greek merchants and business owners met him. The committee for the meeting included C. N. Constas, Nicholas Valentine, Nicholas Vanson, Speros P. Chaconas, John Alexander, and John Cannelos. Matzukas explained his plan. He wanted to collect enough donations from Greeks living outside Greece. With this money, he hoped to add a modern battleship named America to the Greek navy.

In November 1919, an Americanization league in Syracuse held a large meeting. It took place at Lincoln Hall at Central High School. The league had seven groups. Each group was for future citizens of the United States from different European countries. These groups included Italian, Syrian, Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian, Armenian, and Greek residents of Syracuse. The monthly meetings had two goals. First, to teach foreign-born people in Syracuse the English language. Second, to teach them about "American principles and nationalism." The meetings also aimed to bring foreign-born people closer to those born in America.

Greek Independence Day

By March 1953, about 4,000 Greek residents lived in Central New York and Northern New York. They celebrated Greek Independence Day with a week-long program. Many special events were planned. The celebration began with a Mass at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church. Later, two Greek students from Syracuse University spoke about the history of Greece. Hellenic folk and patriotic songs were sung. William Apostolo was the host. Dr. Leonidos Chronis of Syracuse was president of the group organizing the celebration. Leaders from various Greek-American groups were on the committee.

Greek Independence Day was celebrated in Syracuse after Mayor Henninger signed a special announcement. This honored those who fought in the revolution from 1821 to 1829. They fought for their homeland's freedom. A special celebration was held the next day at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church hall. It was located at Massena and Grace Streets. The event featured folk songs by the church choir, followed by dancing and refreshments. Groups from other nearby communities also attended the celebration.

Greek Cultural Festival

The annual Greek Cultural Festival takes place at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church in DeWitt. In 1988, for the 16th annual event, the festival organizers used a lot of ingredients. They used over 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of flour, 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of sugar, 300 pounds (140 kg) of filo dough, and 800 pounds (360 kg) of butter. This was just for the pastries served at the festival!

The men of the church serve traditional Greek food. This includes souvlaki (grilled lamb or chicken on a stick), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), stifatho, gyro, pastichio (Greek-style lasagna), Greek salad, spinach and cheese pita bread, and moussaka (layers of eggplant and meat in a white sauce). They also serve Greek beer and wine in the "Taverna" under a tent.

The women serve delicious Greek pastries. Some examples are baklava, kadaifi, spanakopitta, buourelakia, lyropitta, diples, finikia, kourambiades, koulouria, pitas, and loukoumathes (honey puffs). These are served with coffee.

Besides the tasty pastries, the festival also shows off Greek art, crafts, music, and dance. The St. Sophia Parish Council president says, "It's our way of sharing our Greek heritage with our neighbors." This event has attracted as many as 10,000 to 12,000 people over a four-day period.