ONCE UPON A TIME IN BUCA
Page 3
Mithat Şükrü Bleda
While the Anatolian War of Independence was going on, the first general secretary of the Union and Progress Party, Mithat Şükrü Bleda, who was held as a prisoner by the British on the Island of Malta, settled in Turkey when he returned to his homeland from exile in 1923. Do you know? Ankara, the capital of the War of Independence? To the glorious Istanbul? To Büyükada, Burgaz and Heybeliada, where wealthy former politicians bought villas? Is Edirne, the closest city to Thessaloniki, where he was born? No. Mithat Şükrü Bleda, who even registered legendary committee members such as Enver Pasha, Talat Pasha and Resneli Niyazi to the Party of Union and Progress with secret oaths, chooses Buca to live in Atatürk's Turkey, to which he returned with great longing. I wonder why? If you want, let's read from his own memories why this famous politician loved Buca, where he settled to live in peace (The Collapse of the Empire, page 162): "I had no desire for me other than to lead a quiet life in my hometown, which was freed from the invasion of the enemy. I left Istanbul, the center of politics and intrigues, and came to Izmir and settled in Buca to live a peaceful life. Everything was for my family now. I used to go to my house in beautiful Buca early every evening and lead a comfortable life with my family. The adventures that I lived for many years are now far behind. Until today, neither I nor my family have seen a comfortable face in politics. While I was in Malta as a prisoner, British spies and spies did not leave my wife alone. That's why the poor guy became neurotic. All these years my wife had suffered a lot because of me. For this reason, our oncage lived very happily in Buca. Our greatest pleasure was dealing with flowers in the garden of our house in Buca. I used to get up early in the morning, put on my clothes like a simple gardener, and work in my little garden.”
Here, Mithat Şükrü Bleda, a great committeeman and politician, relieves the tiredness of his long years of adventure in Buca days full of peace and beauty. Buca took this famous statesman in his arms, caressed and comforted him and made him a flower lover.
Page 4-5
Monsieur Raymond Tells
Now let's have an interview with Monsieur Raymond Cassar, a member of an old Levantine family living in Buca. Born in Alsancak in 1924, Raymond Cassar is a graduate of Sen Josef. After many years of commercial activities, he now works in a factory. We can definitely see Monsieur Raymond, who is very interested in Turkish literature, in the queue at the book signings of famous writers in Izmir. Because he is from Izmir, I think he likes Tarık Dursun K the most. Especially Tarık Dursun's story book "Rıza Bey family hostel", which is about İzmir, is a book that Monsieur Raymond admires, while Latife Tekin's books are a bit heavy.
In our long conversation, Monsieur Raymond told us about Buca and the old Levantine families:
“The people of Buca are very nice. The air is also breezy. But old friends are dwindling. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, though.
Ever since I was little, our family loved Buca and its exquisite life. I have many childhood memories in Buca. Behind the old prison was a place called the Hacı Andon Tower. Together with my Turkish friend Hüseyin (Dr. Hüseyin Mayda), we used to go to the Hacı Andon Tower from the countryside and climb to the top. When we shouted, there would be long reflections. We had fun too. It is said that Lord Bayron came to Pilgrim Andon's Tower and wrote poetry. In our childhood, the surroundings of the tower were empty meadows and vineyards as far as the eye could see. Now it's a huge neighborhood. Old Buca was a beauty in vineyards and gardens. Would you believe, in the cellar of a house next to the Atlı Sports Club, an Italian used to make wine and serve it to passers-by. There were great friendships back then, and they still continue. When we lost Monsieur Marsel Ikar recently, all Buca cried after him. Since he worked in Pamuk Mensucat, he placed the people of Buca in the factory and had many people read from his pocket. Buca tradesmen shouldered his funeral. Madame Ikar, the wife of this Turkish friend Levantine, is alive.
Let's go to Aliberti. He lived in the big house next to the Buca School of Architecture (now the School of Economics and Administrative Sciences). He was the family doctor of all Buca. He had a reputation for being competent, polite and knowing his job.
When we look at our Levantines, we see that madams live more. Madame Antuanet Misir, who spent her childhood in Buca, is famous for knowing Buca's past very well. Madame Mary Mikalef, the wife of Pol Mikalef, who died three years ago, Madam Riri Filipucci, the wife of the famous jeweler Giovanni, Madam Sponza, the mother of the printer Pyero Corsini, Madam Corsini, Madam Rouls, Madam Janet Misir, Madam Stephanie are among the well-known families of Buca I can remember. are their wives. They are still among us today, sitting sweetly in their corners.
There are occasional exchanges between Turks and girls. For example, insurer Antuan Revans married his son with a girl from Buca Orphanage.
I love Buca. The weather is beautiful. But it is deteriorating, of course. There are very few friends left... Almost a handful... Still, I can't think of living anywhere other than Buca.''
Page 8
Rees Mansion
According to the recollection of the old Buca people, Mr. During the years Rees was alive, the Rees grove and the mansion, which looked like a castle, were the scene of many decent entertainments. After the Rees family immigrated to England, Madame Rees did not neglect to come to the mansion every summer with her waiters and cooks for many years. Madam Rees, an extremely polite lady, was loved by the Turks. When the Turks invited Madam Rees to circumcision weddings, Madam Rees would contribute to the services by sending her waitresses to the house where the entertainment was held. Nowadays, the grandchildren of the Rees family come from England and visit their mansion with admiration.
Page 13
Old Families, Creator of Nice Friendships
The Levantines that come to mind when Buca is mentioned were definitely helpful and lovely ones. This rule also applies to Turks. At least fifty years have passed since Old Buca. But those who are remembered are always benevolent and past service to their community. Especially the mayors who have brought great services to the town are remembered fondly. Buca Municipality is proud to be the 17th municipality of Turkey, established in 1923. The first mayor, Hurşit Özer, served between 1923 and 1931.
The next mayors in Buca are as follows: Muzaffer Bey (1931-1933), Nazım Anık (1934-1936), Mitat İnan (1937-1939), Tahsin Tezel (1940-1942), Hamza Dargın (1943-1945), Suphi Erkin (1946-1948), Asım Gümüşdiş (1949-1950), Mustafa Ertek (1951), Reşat Tanberk (1952-1954), Rüştü Özmalkoç (1955-1958), İsmet Uç (1958-1960), Hamdi Kamacık (1960) ), Cemal Sezgin (1960-1963), Süha Göksel (1963-1970), Yüksel Çakmur (1971-1973), Işılay Saygın (1973-1980).
Famous Buca people
Among the famous people who lived in Buca, we should point out Mithat Şükrü Bleda, the general clerk of the Committee of Union and Progress, whose fame went beyond the borders of the Ottoman Empire, and the Governor of İzmir, Unionist Rahmi Arslan Bey. The people of Buca still remember Mithat Şükrü Bleda and his esteemed wife with great affection. Governor Rahmi Bey also lived in Buca for a while when he returned home from Europe, where he went after the War of Independence. His son, Alpaslan Bey, is living a quiet life in Buca today.
Çeteci Mehmetçe Bey, Miralay Osman Köktürk, Istanbul Treasurer Hüseyin Avni Bey, İzmir Mufti Cevherizade Ahmet Hamdi Bey, who had important benefits together with Yahya Kaptan from the War of Independence, are among the famous figures of the former Buca. Especially Cevherizade Hodja was famous for his usefulness during the years of the national struggle and was loved by Atatürk.
Suphi and Keramettin Pashas, who were the first cavalry commanders to enter Izmir, Osman Tufan Pasha, close to Atatürk, Miralay Hurşit Bey, the commander of the Damascus region, Miralay Osman Köktürk, the Black Sea front commander, Bedri Bey, the former governor of Diyarbakir, who was exiled to Malta because of the Armenian incidents, Atatürk. Mehmet Ali Bey, one of the civil guards of the famous Rifat Captain Artvin, and Hacı Adil Bey were among those who chose Buca as their homeland after the War of Independence. In fact, Yörük Ali Efe lived in Buca before he lost his leg under the tram.
Doctors and Pharmacists
At the beginning of the Turkish doctors who served in Buca, Dr. We can mention Mahmut Şevket Atalkın, railway doctor İzzettin Yalçın and municipal doctor Fehmi Haki. Former chief physician of Buca Sanatorium, Dr. Refik Köymen, on the other hand, has become a very popular and respected person who has made permanent benefits to the town and is still alive. The late Dr. Orhan Kantarcı was a native of Buca and a noble person. Professors could not make his diagnoses. He was known for curing the sickness of many people. He later worked as a doctor at the Institute of Education for many years. Again, Dr. Kemal Yalaz's services are important. Dr. Hüseyin Mayda is one of the famous doctors of Buca.
Kamil Ergen, one of the first Turkish pharmacists of Buca, ran Buca Pharmacy between 1925 and 1941. His brother Kemal Ergen continued to run the same pharmacy until today. Pharmacist Vedia Kantarcı is one of the well-known pharmacists of the region. For many years, she has managed the Kısmet Pharmacy in the historical building that belongs to her on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi (formerly İstasyon Caddesi) until today.
Page 14
Friendly Families
We begin to talk about the old families of Buca by listening to a few of them in their own words.
Meliha Çakmur (housewife, 78 years old): “50 years ago, social activities in Buca were very developed. We had a tennis club. In the evenings he ate well. Entertainments, games and conferences were held in the Community Center. We had beautiful mansions and houses. Most were devastated and demolished. Why did we destroy this beauty? This question must be asked.”
Kemal Ergen (pharmacy owner, 62 years old): ''We have been running Buca's first pharmacy since 1925 with my brother Kamil Ergen. While the population of Buca was 4,000, we had a handful of patients. Now there is a population of 100,000. We have grown but developed unhealthy. While Şirinyer became a brand new city in 30 years, the ancient Buca was always neglected. Are we a village or a neighborhood? Not sure!''
Kenan Tamersoy (DDY retired, 68 years old): ''I am an old Buca native living in Dumlupınar Neighborhood. Our Buca is full of water, but we have no water. The water of our springs flows to Izmir. We, on the other hand, suffer from thirst between 07-24 every day. The roads are unmaintained. When students leave school, they cannot get on public buses. Thousands of university students have filled Buca, but they have no buildings. Both we and the students are in a difficult situation.”
Hasan Yalçınkaya (grocer, 71 years old): ''They call me Jewish Hasan. I made my Jewish wife a Muslim. I opened my grocery store in 1940. Back then, the people were different. I had English and French clients. I can't forget the fat and talkative Monsieur Alyoti. Not receiving the examination fee, Dr. What a nice man Aliberti was. Especially Monsieur Marsel? He taught 40 of our children. He also taught my son. Now those friendships are gone.”
A handful of former Buca families speak of each other with love and respect. Almost everyone agrees on how loved the deceased lawyer Baha Yörük was. The benevolence of the deceased, who had the mosque built and given his name to Buca as a gift, has never been forgotten. Abidin Oktay, who served as the chairman of the Izmir Journalists' Association, is also noteworthy for his leadership in social activities. Abidin Oktay, who ran Community Centers alone for years, is still remembered in Buca. Let's add that Aydın Öktem, son of well-known İzmir journalist Haydar Rüştü Öktem, also lives in Buca. Rabia Yücel, one of the very old teachers, and Nafiz Bey, one of the former head teachers, and Suade Hanım, who is a former head teacher, live in their corner with their memories.
Now let's list the oldest families of Buca (forgive us if we have forgotten):
Hüsammet's Balkanlı family, Nejat Evliyazade family, rice king Mitat İnan family, oldest stockbroker Şemsettin Tuğlu family, Yersu family (their mother Günzade Hanım is one of the founders of the Democrat Party), Selvili family, Rafet Çakmur family, Süha Göksel family, İsmet Uç family, Hasan Denksel family, Yusuf Gözükara family, Ali Tevfik Arpacıoğulları family, Derviş Pristina, Palantekins, Mehmet Anzal family, Cemal Sipahioğulları, drapery Mehmet Utkan Bey, Şerafettin Keskin, some of the witnesses, Cretan Mustafa Gentlemen, Ömer Muharrem Bey, Innkeeper Rustu Gentlemen, Mustafa Ertek, Tahsin Tezel, Hamza Dargin, Kazım Gentlemen from Tarsus, Ismail Taşçı, Arabaci Mehmet Gentlemen, Özden Lapi.
Source: Once Upon a Time in Buca, Prepared by Özdemir Hazar - Yaşar Aksoy, Compiled by Sedat Barış, 1985.