Lawrence family Turkey photo and postcard selection
image courtesy of Michael Smith
An organised outdoor service of a secular nature, with an attending Greek priest, possibly in Boudjah.
This could be some kind of Greek Orthodox consecration/dedication ceremony, however the absence of any large religious symbols could mean it is a low-key affair. The bearded gentleman on the right of picture looks like a Greek priest, and the uniformed officer on the far left looks like in a Greek uniform attire? So this is likely to be from the Greek occupation period of 1919-22.
This doesn’t look like it is a funeral as there are no funereal candelabras, and no wailers. The building is not Punta-like, more suburban, perhaps even Seydiköy? The building could be connected with the railways as it has a certain English feel to it, so possibly this is an inauguration ceremony for the building blessed with a Greek Orthodox priest, something the community were keen to do, and the majority of the railway general staff were of this community.
Participants to the meeting in photo seem well-heeled and could very well be benefactors. These benefactors could be Levantines and some Greeks on the verandah, with the main staff and their families observing the proceedings on laid out benches. All this is conjecture as the photo has no text on its reverse.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
now in Norton, MA, America
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
The bay possibly viewed from the Göztepe neighbourhood - views.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
The bay this time viewed from the Eşrefpaşa neighbourhood, with the Roman road flag-stones visible in the foreground, the former Muslim cemetery in the middle distance and the former baracks of Sarıkışla (close-up views) in the distance, in the neighbourhood of Konak. The cemetry on a hill is now a school. It lies between İkiçeşmelik, Eşrefpaşa, and Kestelli.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
The clock tower within Konak Square, Smyrna.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
Taxis lined up on Konak Square, 1930s Smyrna. - alternative views of this square -
image courtesy of Michael Smith
The ruins of the ancient fort on Mount Pagus, overlooking Smyrna.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
The “Asansor” [elevator] building was built in 1907 by Mr Nesim Levi, a prominent Jewish banker of the city. The Asansor was built on the site of the quarry which provided the rocks for the construction of the waterfront. The quarry had been owned and operated by a certain Mr Fenech who was a quarry operator from Malta. The Asansor or elevator is still operational. The system was a simple hydraulic piston system which had been imported from France. Mr (Banker) Levi would have had it built for truly altruistic reasons, I’m sure. The fare to use the lift would have just paid towards the keeper/operator and his oiling can! - A similar lift: Elevador di Santa Justa, exists in Lisbon, but this one was originally operated by steam. The Karatach neighbourhood was inhabited mainly by Armenian and Jewish citizens - alternative views of this neighbourhood - information courtesy of George Galdies.
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith
image courtesy of Michael Smith