A & M Karagheusian

A portion of the Karagheusian Rug Mill as it stood, long abandoned, in Freehold in 1990. The faded "Gulistan" name can be seen in the center.

A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc. was a rug manufacturer headquartered at 295 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Manufacturing was located in Freehold Borough, New Jersey and operated for 60 years before closing in 1964. It employed 1,700 people at its peak operation in the 1930s. Bruce Springsteen wrote about the Karagheusian Rug Mill’s closing in his 1984 song "My Hometown".^[1]

History

Arshag Karagheusian (1872-1963) and Miran Karagheusian (1874-1948), were Armenians and fled Turkey in 1896 to go to England and then to the United States. The family had been in the rug trade in Turkey since 1818, and they began in the United States in 1897 as rug importers, and then expanded into manufacturing in 1903. By 1927 they had 15 broadlooms, weighing 15 tons each, and 196 single looms. They developed, and were the only manufacturers of "Gulistan Rug" carpets. They made the carpet for Radio City Music Hall in 1932 and for the United States Supreme Court building in 1933. They stopped manufacturing oriental carpets in 1953.

Miran Karagheusian

Miran Karagheusian (1874–1948) married Zabelle and had: Howard Karagheusian who died young, and a scholarship was set up in his name; and a daughter, Leila Karagheusian (c1910-1999). Miran Karagheusian died on October 7, 1948 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, he lived in Oyster Bay, New York and he had attended Robert College in Turkey.^[2]

Arshag Karagheusian

Main article: Arshag Karagheusian

Arshag Karagheusian (1872–1963) had the following children: Jean Karagheusian Hallaure (1898–2000) aka Alice Hallaure; Charles Karagheusian (1903–1977) who married Artemis Tavshanjian (1904–1990) on April 30, 1927,^[3] and Oshin Karagheusian Agathon (1904–1986). Arshag served as the head of the Armenian General Benevolent Union from 1943 to 1952. Arshag died on September 24, 1963 in Larchmont, New York.^[4]

Renovation

In 2001 the mill reopened as a 202-unit affordable apartment complex. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and its affiliated New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) were major financiers of the project. Community Affairs Commissioner Jane M. Kenny said: "Nearly forty years after the looms were packed up and hauled away, the rug mill is a working building once again."

Archive

The Monmouth County Historical Association at 70 Court Street in Freehold Borough, New Jersey houses a collection of manuscripts, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, negatives and other materials related to the A & M Karagheusian Rug Mill, which was located in Freehold, New Jersey.

References

1. ^ Demasters, Karen (April 9, 2000). "A Factory That Wove Rugs and Bound a Town Together.". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4DB153FF93AA35757C0A9669C8B63. Retrieved 2007-08-21. "History of old Karagheusian Rug Mill in Freehold Township, New Jersey, recalled by Bernadette Rogoff, curator at Monmouth County Historical Association; long-empty mill is being converted to housing, office and retail space. For more than half of the 20th century, life in Freehold, the county seat for Monmouth County, revolved around the Karagheusian Rug Mill, which employed 1,700 people at its peak operation in the 1930's. The mill was referred to in the Bruce Springsteen song My Hometown; Mr. Springsteen's father worked there for a time. The 15-ton looms have been removed, and the sole remaining building is being converted to apartments, office and retail space after sitting empty for several years. The Monmouth County Historical Association will mount an exhibition on the mill at the association headquarters in Freehold starting next fall. Bernadette Rogoff, the historical association curator, talked recently about why the association is doing the exhibition. ..." 
2. ^ "Miran Karagheusian, A Rug Manufacturer.". New York Times. October 7, 1948, Friday. 
3. ^ "Miss Artemis Tavshanjian to Wed C. Karagheusian.". New York Times. April 5, 1927, Tuesday. 
4. ^ "Larchmont, New York, September 24, 1963 Arshag Karagheusian, a carpet manufacturer and a leader in Armenian philanthropic work, died here today in his home at 14 Pryor Lane. He was 92 years old.". New York Times. September 25, 1963, Wednesday. 

External links

• Monmouth County Historical Association: Coll. 51 A & M Karagheusian, Inc. Records, 1914-2001
• NJ Department of Community Affairs: Karagheusian Rug Mill
• About Gulistan: Current manufacturer website