Musa Dagh Factoids

For The Week of March 5, 2000

Who was John Barker?

John Barker was a retired British diplomat who had a villa at Suedia, a summer resort at Bitias, and a cottage and orchards at Kheder Beg. He contributed to the economy of the region in sericulture (the raising of silkworms) and the introduction of numerous plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits unknown before. He died and was buried in Bitias in 1849. His house and pond in Bitias were owned by Hetum Filian in the 1920s and 1930s.