GYUMRI DAIRY: A WHO’S WHO OF ALEKSANDROV STREET
Yeranuhi Soghoyan

2010/02/15 | 16:02

Over the Years Locals Have Taken Pride in Their Town

At the beginning of the 20th century, Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest
city, was renamed Alexandropol from 1840-1924 in honor of Czar Nicholas
I’s wife. Back then, the main thoroughfare and center of attraction
was Aleksandrov Street, since renamed Abovyan. It stretches from the
neighborhood of Slabodka to Dzori Tagh.

It was an honor and symbol of wealth for residents of Alexandropol to
boast owning a house on the famed street. Well-to-do citizens always
aspired to build their homes on the thoroughfare. Ghunkients Ghunki
Agha, a wealthy resident of the town, built one of his many homes
on the street in 1878. Later on, the building housed the municipal
prosecutor’s offices. During the 1988 earthquake, part of the building
collapsed.

The Drampyans – 1,000 rubles to clean the "Dirty Chai"

Levon Drampyan, a scion of another prominent Alexandropol family,
owned two homes on the street. One was built in 1873 and housed the
People’s Court from 1920 onwards. It had twenty-two rooms, including
cellars, and its collateral value was pegged at 325,000 rubles.

Drampyan owned another house at 206 Abovyan Street with twenty-five
rooms. It was appraised at 52,000 rubles. The building was first
allocated to "AmerKom". It later housed Public School 4 and afterwards,
a music school.

In 1898, the Drampyan brothers contributed 1,000 rubles to clean
the "Dirty Chai", a river flowing through the town. They also made
charitable donations to have the wooden dome and roof of St.

Astvatzatzin-Yot Verk Church (Holy Mother of God-Seven Wounds)
converted to stone. One of the church council members at the time,
amazed by such largesse, exclaimed, ‘May your hearth and home ever
be blessed since you painfully conferred such a large donation’. (The
Armenian verb is "drmpal", hence the family name Drampyan)

There’s a famous legend connected to the Drampyan family. When the
Sourb Amenaprkich Church (Holy Savior) was being built, the local
clergy raised donations throughout the town for the worthy endeavor.

The common folk had the impression that the wealthy members of the
community were stingy and wouldn’t donate. However, when one of the
priests approached the senior member of the Drampyan clan for funds,
to the amazement of all, asked how much had already been raised. He
then directed his wife to bring forth an equal amount. The woman came
back with her apron full of money. When they told Drampyan that they
had heard that the old man had hoarded money throughout his life,
he replied ‘Yes, I have saved up in order to assist such endeavors’.

The first circus before the revolution was located on Aleksandrov
Street. After the establishment of the Soviet Union, the first cinema,
named "October", was built there in 1926.

Hakob Rafayelyan – His Hotel Franysa later becomes city maternity ward

The first maternity ward and drugstore in the town were also opened
on Abovyan Street. Built in 1873, the two-story building later housing
the maternity ward belonged to Hakob Rafayelyan, a wealthy merchant.

During his lifetime, it operated as the "Fransya" hotel.

The building that housed the drugstore was built in 1870 by another
prominent merchant, Khachatour Khalatov. It remains a drugstore
till today

Private homes on Aleksandrov Street were also built by Doctor
Mkhitaryan, the Charkhchyan brothers, Geghamovents and Ara Abadjyan.

The famous composers Nikoghayos Tigranyan and Armen Tigranyan also
lived on Aleksandrov Street.

When Rafayelyan built his magnificent house, the father of Nikoghayos
Tigranyan casually asked what he was up to. "I am decorating the facade
of the house," answered Rafayelyan. "You go ahead and decorate your
house and I’ll do the same to my boy’s heads. We’ll see who’s right,"
countered Tigranyan. In time, the two were proved correct.

Both the magnificent home of the Rafayelyans and the art of the
Tigranyans have been preserved for future generations to enjoy.

St. Amenaprkich and St. Nshan Churches Adorn Abovyan Street Two
prominent churches in Alexandropol are located on Abovyan Street;
St. Amenaprkich and St. Nishan. St. Nishan also called the "Sev Zham"
(Black Church) was built in 1870 under the direction of Vardapet
Ananikyan. It was repaired after being damaged in the 1988 earthquake
and now serves the spiritual needs of the community. At one point,
the Sahakanoush School for Young Ladies operated next to the church.

Work on St. Amenaprkich began in 1852 and lasted till 1873. Local
residents of Gyumri also had a hand in the construction. Construction
funds were raised by the people. It was a man named Manouk, a local
carpenter, who carved and placed the cross atop the church’s dome. In
praise of his contribution, the townsfolk nicknamed him "Ardar Manouk"
(Righteous Manouk). Tadevos Andikyan was responsible for most of the
ornamental work in the church.

An all male parish school also operated next to the church from the
1840’s on. During the Soviet era, the school was used as a symphony
space.

St. Amenaprkich was heavily damaged as a result of the 1988 earthquake
and is now undergoing repairs. The initial funds for the repair work
were donated by the residents of Gyumri, just as they did back when
the church was first built.

Bath houses, arts and crafts and a candy factory

Other notable educational institutions located on Abovyan Street were
the "gymnasium" (academic secondary school) located in the building
housing the gallery of the Aslamazyan sisters and the Abadjyan private
school. Famed pedagogue Ara Abadjyan, the author of many textbooks,
devoted his life to educational affairs and converted his house into
a school.

There were also a number of public bath houses built in the center
of town. The bath house located on Abovyan Street was previously
called the "Central" and was owned by Ter-Martirosyan. The street
also featured the bath house belonging to Gevor Agha.

The street also housed numerous crafts and trades stalls and commercial
houses. Notable examples were the store owned by "Kyastanents" Martin,
the store of "Djermak" Hamo and the "Kantiterski" of the Yeranosov
family. The delectable scents emanating from this candy factory filled
the entire street.

There was a horse drawn carriage stop here as well. The "Godorsky
Club" operated in the building housing the wedding hall and military
and classical music concerts were held there as well as dance
receptions. It was also used as testimonial hall and sessions of the
Duma took place there.

Aleksandrov Street was also noteworthy as a favorite promenade for
locals and young sweethearts. A familiar expression amongst residents
was "Ertank var" (Let’s go down); meaning down to