Family, Greek culture and faith
Stathakis: A good Joe, John Joseph N.
Over the past four weeks, Old News has seen how a Greek immigrant, Joe Stathakis, became one of the best-known restaurateurs in Little Rock 100 years ago. But was his name Joe?
On Sept. 21, 1912, the Arkansas Gazette carried this ad for the brand new Faust Cafe in downtown Little Rock, Joe Stathakis, manager.
I think he was “Joe” in Arkansas and “Joseph” in official documents but “John” to his wife’s family, who were his business partners in Pennsylvania.
But be skeptical. Although I’ve seen online records of his World War I draft registration card, wedding license and probable Social Security number, the records I’m most reliant on — 165 newspaper stories and three U.S. Census forms — are the “rough draft” sort of history. Talk about notorious name-changers!
But consider just a bit of what I’ve found.
In September 1915, the Arkansas Gazette reported “Joe Stathakis to Wed.” The proprietor of the popular Faust Cafe in downtown Little Rock was headed to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., “where, according to a Greek custom, he will formally announce his engagement to Miss Mary Frangis, daughter of a well-known Wilkesbarre attorney.”
Actually, she was Greek. October 21, 1915, the Gazette reported “Joe Stathakis Honored”:
The current issue of “Atlantis,” a monthly magazine published in New York and which has a wide circulation among Greek-Americans all over the United States, contains a picture of Joe Stathakis, proprietor of the Faust Cafe, 104 West Markham street, and his fiancee, Miss Mary Francke of Wilkesbarre, Penn. Accompanying is a long article telling of their engagement and approaching marriage, which will take place immediately after Easter. As evidence of Mr. Stathakis’ popularity, a local newspaper says he sold 50 copies of the magazine in one day, and had demands for many more. He is trying to secure 50 more copies.
On Nov. 22, 1915, the Gazette announced that Stathakis had married this daughter of a distinguished lawyer of Athens he’d met during the summer while visiting his relatives in Wilkes-Barre: “Apparently it was a case of love at first sight.”
The Wilkes-Barre Record published a wedding write-up Nov. 22, 1915. And there it was — my first inkling that the Stathakis who married Mary or Marica or Marija Frank or Francke or Frangis or Franghis, or whatever her name was, was not necessarily a Joe:
Stathakis-Frank
An unusually pretty home wedding took place Sunday evening at 9 o’clock at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. V.A. Frank at 49 Public Square, when the former’s sister, Miss Mary Frank, became the bride of John Stathakis of Little Rock, Ark., in the presence of a number of friends and relatives.
The interior of the Frank home was decorated with smilax, vines, fall foliage and cut flowers. The ceremony was performed in accordance with the Greek Orthodox Church by two priests, and the bride was given in marriage by her father, K.P. Frank. She was attired in an “elaborate costume of white brocaded duchess satin, with long court train. She wore a long tulle veil, with cap effect, held in place by a wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet of white roses.”
Her only ornament was a handsome lavaliere, with diamonds and pearls, gift of the bridegroom. Her bridesmaid was gowned in white duchess satin …
In accordance with the Orthodox Greek custom, immediately after the ceremony had been completed, the couple was pelted with candied almonds and other candies, instead of rice as the American vogue. …
The young people will go to housekeeping in two weeks at Little Rock, Ark., where the bridegroom is a successful restaurateur.
The bride is a native of Sparta, Greece, and she and her father came to the United States less than one year ago to attend the wedding of her brother, V.A. Frank. She is highly accomplished and made many friends during her short stay in this city. She received many costly gifts ….
Two years later, Joe’s draft card described him as stout, of medium height, with black hair and brown eyes and related to one Marica Franghis Stathakis.
And in September 1920, the Arkansas Democrat reported that naturalization papers for “Joseph Nicholas Stathakis” had been filed by the U.S. District clerk. He took the oath of citizenship in January 1921, along with Otto Finkbeiner, meat packer.
Like other high-profile folks, Joe’s comings and goings made print, so we know he traveled east now and again on important business. I think he owned a restaurant in Wilkes-Barre with his wife’s brother. March 24, 1924, the Wilkes-Barre Record reported that the three “longtime owners” of The Belmont restaurant at Public Square and East Market Street had sold the place for $40,000. They were V.A. Frank, Harry Galson and J.N. Stathakis.
From a 1936 Gazette society item we talked about Sept. 11, we know Joe and his family left Arkansas circa 1925 to live in Kingston, Pa.
The 1920 U.S. Census had found Joseph and Mary Stathakis and children Janet, Mary and Nick sharing a house at 1914 Louisiana St. in Little Rock with the family of his brother Pete and his other brother Sam.
The 1930 Census found 44-year-old “John M. Stathakis” renting, for $50 a month, a house at 86 N. Atherton St. in Kingston, with wife Marie, 32, and their children who had been born in Arkansas: Janet, 13, Marie, 10, Nicholas, 8, and Bessie, 3.
The 1940 U.S. Census found Ritz Restaurant proprietor John Stathakis and his wife, Marika, both born in Greece, and their children Janet, Marie, Nicholas, Bessie and Adrienne living at 158 Dawes St. in Kingston. Kathryn McGehan, the census taker, noted that Adrienne was born in Pennsylvania, but the older kids were born in Arkansas. Also that John provided the information.
Pennsylvania newspaper mentions of J.N. Stathakis or John Stathakis or his children match what we know about Joe. Joe’s brothers visit. Sam Stathakis becomes a restaurant operator in Pennsylvania, too.
Eventually, this J.N. Stathakis or John Stathakis had the Ritz at 22 Public Square. But in 1938, it was “Joseph N. Stathakis” who was arrested there and fined, along with the proprietors of four other restaurants, for selling liquor on Sunday. That place changed names over the years, becoming the Pitt.
In November 1940, Mr. and Mrs. J.N. Stathakis were surprised by a party at home for their 25th wedding anniversary. In November 1942, in a pouring rain, John Stathakis led the colorful Greek delegation in a four-mile parade celebrating Armistice Day.
In 1943, he and “Marica” announced the engagement of a niece. Next, their 22-year-old son, Lt. Nicholas J. Stathakis, graduated from Advanced Twin Engine Flying Training School at Blytheville.
In 1944, this same Lt. Stathakis, pilot of the B-24 Liberator bomber “Angel Baby 3rd,” was presented the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He’d flown many lively missions, including the Allied invasion of southern France on Aug. 15, 1944, aka Operation Dragoon, and Operation Tidal Wave, a hazardous attack on Hitler’s oil refineries in Italy:
After his formation had fought its way through a sea of bursting flak and dropped its bombs, Lt. Stathakis found his plane slashed with holes from end to end, hydraulic system and instruments shot out and one engine dead.
“We were lucky to make it back to base,” said the lieutenant, shaking his head. “After we landed the plane was junked then and there.”
By October he’d flown 50 missions — and in reporting that fact, the Wilkes-Barre Times Leadersaid he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Stathakis of 158 S. Dawes St.
In 1954, a tiny item in the Pittston, Pa., Pittston Gazette reported:
Mrs. Marcia Stathakis, 55, of 158 S. Dawes Avenue, Kingston, wife of John Stathakis, proprietor of the Pitt Restaurant, Public Square, died Sunday morning in Mercy Hospital, two hours after admission.
One Joseph N. Stathakis of Luzerne County in Pennsylvania, having been born May 3, 1883, in Greece, died June 1, 1969. I haven’t found his obituary or Mary’s. Maybe they were in that Greek newspaper. Atlantis is archived by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Balch Institute, if anyone wants to drive to Philadelphia and read it for us.
But Joe Stathakis did not vanish from this world. He left a lasting legacy in Little Rock as a co-founder of Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church — Evangelismos meaning “Annunciation.” Joe co-signed the articles of incorporation and was treasurer of the fundraising that opened the first sanctuary.
Family, Greek culture and faith are what you see in the tracks left behind by this very hardworking, very American, far from ordinary Joe.
Email:
cstorey@arkansasonline.com
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