Important 2006-2007 ProjectPerhaps the most important project of 2006-2007 was the collaboration between Historic Somerville and the Somerville Museum to produce the exhibition: New Lives in a New Land: Immigration to Somerville & the Greater Boston Area- the Greek Experience and The World of George Dilboy, Greek Immigrant & American Hero. The exhibition opened in early September at the Somerville Museum to rave reviews from historians and art-lovers alike. If you saw the show, you know the stunning beauty of the Art Deco posters from WWI that decorated the walls.
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Catherine Samara's Story(by Anthoula Rozakis, her daughter)  Catherine and her twin sister, Anna, were born to Paraskeve Kakaris and George Samaris in the Somerville home of her mother and father, Theodoros and Yianoula Kakaris. There were no Greek doctors then. The two baby girls weighed only 4 pounds at birth and were kept near the stove for warmth. The doctor who came to check on the new mother and twin babies kept his car running in the January cold. Sadly, Anna died in infancy. Catherine grew up, attended Somerville public schools and the school of the Greek Othodox Church, which perpetuated Greek customs, language and traditions. During WW II, while attending a family baptism, she met a soldier on leave, Pvt James Anagnostou, who would become her future husband. He had been an illegal immigrant from Greece, but his is another story...
at right is Catherine Samaras in Greek costume, early 1900s. |