Preservation of American Hellenic History
Preservation of American Hellenic History
by Jason C. Mavrovitis
Remarkably Eleni not only purchased a home just eight short years after arriving in the United States, but she furnished it and made it the center of the world for an extended immigrant family from Sozopolis.
On 1 September 1921, Eleni's sister, Sophia arrived in New York on the S.S. Alexander. She was accompanied by her husband, Constantinos Kapidaglis,(8) her daughter, Kalypso,(9) and Chrysoula Kapidaglis. Chrysoula was Constantinos' niece by his brother, Menas. They were welcomed into Eleni's home in Brooklyn, which on holidays, was filled with old and young ~ grandparents, newly wedded and their children.
Lily's millinery career was short lived. She disliked working outside of the home, preferring housekeeping and cooking to business. The bargain struck was that she would keep house and take care of her grandmother while Louie and Eleni worked and earned. Her attendance at school was not considered necessary; probably not considered at all. Lily stayed at home and did the cleaning and washing, shopping and cooking.
Lily was proud of her mother's work as a dress designer and manufacturer. Eleni, known as 'Madame Helen' managed offices on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and factories in Little Falls, New York. She was an effective manager, one of the few liberated women of her day. She certainly was unique among Greek immigrant women.
Eleni led the family as matriarch. She had a dominant personality that embraced family and friends. Both men and women spoke of her with reverence and love, and referred to her in Greek as Kryria (Lady) Eleni, a formal and respectful form of address. They submitted to her judgment and direction as they found their way in America.
Lily enjoyed telling how her mother concealed that she could neither read nor write, but for her signature. These were skills considered unnecessary for most women in a small Balkan town. Eleni wore non-prescription glasses as a ruse, conveniently finding then misplaced when it was necessary to read a paper or sign a document. She also affected the air of a woman too busy to be bothered with reading menus, street signs, newspapers and the like. She had others cater to her every need when traveling, ordering at a restaurant, or signing business papers. Her secretary learned the truth only at Eleni's funeral.
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