Preservation of American Hellenic History
Preservation of American Hellenic History
by Jason C. Mavrovitis
In the years between 1922 and 1926, Eleni and Louie worked energetically and successfully in the garment industry. The economy was raging and opportunity appeared limitless for talented and ambitious workers. America seemed to offer realization of all the dreams an immigrant might have had while huddled in the steerage of a ship crossing the Atlantic. In 1922, Eleni became an executive for Kurzrok & Company, a women's clothing manufacturer.
Eleni's growing responsibilities required her to live in Glens Falls, New York from 21 February 1923 through 23 December 1925. Louie worked with her as a production foreman. Lily moved with them and was forelady of a 'finishing department' where workers sewed linings and labels into garments. Their years in Glens Falls appear to have been happy. A photograph is one of many that capture the close relationship between mother and daughter.
In these three years Eleni, Louie and Lily spent very few days at their home in Brooklyn. Eleni's sister, Sofia Capidaglis and her husband Constantinos with their young daughter, Toto(10) lived in Eleni's home. Constantinos was already in his early sixties so he and Sofia were largely dependent on their children for financial support. Sofia took care of her elderly mother, Vasiliki.
Louie welcomed his Italian family from Monteleone to Little Falls where he was able to offer them immediate employment in the dress factory. They, their children and grandchildren prospered there.
The years Eleni spent in Glens Falls must have been very profitable. In late 1926 Eleni retained Nicholas Psaki, a Greek attorney with offices on West Forty-second Street in New York City. She required his services to retire the mortgage on her home and to prepare her Last Will and Testament. As he gathered personal information from Eleni, Mr. Psaki learned about Lily and her marriage to James Tsavalas. He advised Eleni that the facts presented to him supported an action for an annulment based on non-age and fraud. These were legal concepts outside of Eleni's experience, but her quick mind grasped that in them was an opportunity for her daughter to reclaim her life.
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