Altoonian/Kibarian
Giuregh (James) Altoonian and Vartanoosh (Rose) Kibarian were the first Altoonian family in Whitinsville. Giuregh (James) Altoonian was born in the village of Yarasar, province of Sepasdia, in 1891 to Tateos and Tshkhoohie. Giuregh came from a large family, most of whom did not survive the massacres before and after 1915. Vartanoosh (Rose) Kibarian was born in the city of Sivas, province of Sepasdia in 1894 to Mirijan and Mariam Shisajian. In Sivas, the Kibarians lived adjacent to the Soorp Nishan Armenian church courtyard. As a child, Vartanoosh learned the trade of weaving oriental rugs. Although Vartanoush had 4 brothers and sisters, her brother Nishan, a barber, and a sister were the only members of her immediate family to survive and make it to safety in America.
Giuregh married Vartanoosh in February 1909 at Soorp Nishan church in Sepasdia. In late 1913, Giuregh left Vartanoosh in Yarasar, unaware that she was pregnant with their first child and that it would be more than 7 years before they would reunite. Giuregh arrived in the United States in January 1914 and initially lived in Rhode Island with relatives. After a short stay in northern Connecticut, by 1919 Giuregh was living in Whitinsville, working at the Whitin Machine Works, and was reconnected with other villagers from Yarasar.
In addition to his job at the Whitin Machine Works, Giuregh took odd jobs tending to the gardens of some of Whitinsville’s wealthier families. One such family – the Browns -- asked him to plant and care for their rose garden. Mrs. Brown noticed that her new gardener seemed sad and learned he was worried about his wife. Mrs. Brown’s husband was a lawyer (Harry Wallace Brown), and he started writing letters on Giuregh’s behalf to refugee missions helping genocide survivors. Through these efforts, Vartanoosh was located at the American Rescue Home in Beirut, and Giuregh learned that his firstborn, a son named Barkev, had died on the marches. After her immigration papers were secured and money raised for her journey, Vartanoosh made her way to Whitinsville in 1921.
Once reunited, Giuregh and Vartanoosh started a new Armenian American family on D Street in New Village, Whitinsville.
- Mariam (Mary) was born in 1922;
- Tateos (Tom) was born in 1924, and
- Tshkhoohie (Helen) was born in 1929.
Giuregh worked in the foundry at Whitin Machine Works, and Vartanoosh raised the children and in the early years, she continued weaving oriental carpets. In 1936, she was invited to demonstrate her weaving skills as part of an Armenian exhibit at Rhode Island's tercentenary celebration. In addition to the oriental rugs, Vartanoosh sewing skills produced braided rugs, yoghrans and other household items for sale. Her baking specialties included her delicious breads and pakhlava which she baked and sold out of her home for extra household income. Slowly the family grew, with each of the children marrying and having their own children.
• Mary left Whitinsville in 1941 when she married Harry Tutunjian of Bridgeport, Connecticut and had Michael, Harry Jr., James and Christine.
• Thomas married Elizabeth Aprahamian of Providence in 1947, and they had Melanie, James, and Thomas, all born in Whitinsville.
• Helen married Archie Misakian in 1955 and they had Lisa, Karen, and Eliot all born in Whitinsville.
Giuregh died in 1950 and is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery. Vartanoosh lived another 36 years; she was active in the ARS, baked the mahs for Soorp Asdvadzadzin, and was known in town for her yoghrans and pakhlava. Vartanoosh moved from D Street to Brook Street and then eventually to East Street before moving in 1973 with her daughter Helen to Connecticut, near her other children Mary and Tom and their children and grandchildren. Vartanoosh died in Connecticut in 1986 and is buried with Giuregh at Pine Grove Cemetery.
