Individual Details
Kanellos Ioannis Kavakos
(1875 - 20 Nov 1953)
My mother’s maiden name was Antoinette Kavakos and her brother was Kanellos (Neil) Kavakos.
Her father (my grandfather) was John (Ioannis) Kavakos – or Ioannis Ioannis Gavakos – from Sparta, born approx. 1875. He came to the US in 1888. He owned a hotel called the Delavan in Coney Island as well as the original Tunnels of Love.
My grandfather’s brother was also Kanellos Kavakos.
from Elaine Sullivan to Carol Kostakos Petranek, Sept. 28 2018
Her father (my grandfather) was John (Ioannis) Kavakos – or Ioannis Ioannis Gavakos – from Sparta, born approx. 1875. He came to the US in 1888. He owned a hotel called the Delavan in Coney Island as well as the original Tunnels of Love.
My grandfather’s brother was also Kanellos Kavakos.
from Elaine Sullivan to Carol Kostakos Petranek, Sept. 28 2018
Events
| Birth | 1875 | Agios Ioannis, Sparta, Lakonia, Greece |  |  | |
| Male Register | 1875 | Agios Ioannis, Sparta, Lakonia, Greece | | | |
| Immigration | 1892 | New York, New York, United States | | | |
| Marriage | 9 Feb 1906 | Of Sparta, Lakonia, Greece - Aikaterini M. Rossopoulos | | | |
| Naturalization-Declaration | 3 Jul 1907 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Occupation | 1909 | Coney Island, Kings, New York, United States | | ||
| Naturalization | 1918 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | ||
| Census | 1920 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Passport Application | 29 Jul 1920 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Census | 1925 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | ||
| Census | 1930 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Residence | 1930 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Obituary | 1953 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Burial | Nov 1953 | Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, Queens, New York, United States | | | |
| Death | 20 Nov 1953 | Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States | | | |
| Alt name | Kavakos | ||||
| Alt name | Neil | ||||
| Alt name | Γκαβάκος | ||||
| FamilySearch ID | LY9J-VFX |
Families
| Spouse | Aikaterini M. Rossopoulos (1886 - 1984) |
| Child | John Kanellos Kavakos (1907 - 1969) |
| Child | Meletios Kanellos Kavakos (1910 - ) |
| Child | Nellie K. Kavakos (1911 - ) |
| Child | George Kanellos Kavakos (1918 - 1982) |
| Father | Ioannis Panagiotis Gavakos (1835 - 1916) |
| Mother | Stamatoula I. Panagakos (1841 - 1916) |
| Sibling | Panagiotis Ioannis Gavakos (1864 - 1942) |
| Sibling | Stavros Ioannis Gavakos (1874 - 1941) |
| Sibling | Ioannis Ioannis Gavakos OR Kavakos (1876 - 1960) |
| Sibling | Mary Gavakos ( - ) |
Webtags
Notes
Birth
Male Register - Mitroon ArrenonDimos, Sparta
Year: 1875; Page 71; Line 3342
Gavakos, Kanellos; fther: Ioannis; born 1875 in Agios Ioannis
Received from Aris Poulimenakos, September 2013
Male Register
Male Register - Mitroon ArrenonDimos, Sparta
Year: 1875; Page 71; Line 3342
Gavakos, Kanellos; fther: Ioannis; born 1875 in Agios Ioannis
Received from Aris Poulimenakos, September 2013
Immigration
Name: Kanelos GavakasAge: 18
Birth Year: abt 1874
Arrival year: 1892
Arrival Place: New York, New York
Primary Immigrant: Gavakas, Kanelos
Place: New York, New York; Year: 1892; Page Number: 189
Source Publication Code: 9512.5
Annotation: Date and port of arrival. Page numbers for the list of passenger names in the section "Greek Immigrant Passengers, A-Z" have been added by indexers with first page of names listed as appearing on page 114 and the last page of names on page 431.
Source Bibliography: VOULTSOS, MARY. Greek Immigrant Passengers, 1885-1910. A guide and index to researching early Greek immigrants. Volume I. Worcester, MA: Author, 754 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602, 1992. Distributed. H & E Book Distributors, Worcester, MA. [447p.]
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.
Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.
Marriage
Metropolis of Sparta, Marriage IndexBook: Sparta,1899-Sept 1907; Page: 273-274; Year: 1906, Entries: 73-94
Entry #80
License Date: February 7, 1906
Marriage Date: February 9, 1906
Groom: Kanellos Gavakos; father: Ioannis; village: Agios Ioannis
Bride: Aikaterini Rossopoulou; father: Meletios; village: Sparta
Church Name: not given
First marriage for both bride and groom
Image DSC_0146
Photographed at the Metropolis of Sparta in Sparta, Greece by Carol Kostakos Petranek, July 2017
***
Sparta Marriages 1835-1935 on MyHeritage
Marriage: Feb 9 1906, Sparta, Greece (Σπάρτα, Ελλάδα)
Groom Name: Κανέλλος Γκαβάκος (Kanellos Gkavakos)
Birth: Άγιος Ιωάννης (Agios Ioannis)
Father: Ιωάννης Γκαβάκος (Ioannis Gkavakos)
Bride Name: Αικατερίνη Ρωσσοπούλου (Aikaterini Rossopoulou)
Birth: Σπάρτη (Sparti)
Father: Μελέτιος Ρωσσοπούλου (Meletios Rossopoulou)
Ordinal Number 80
Source: Metropolis of Sparta
Accessed from MyHeritage on February 1, 2021
Naturalization-Declaration
New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943District Court, Eastern Distict
Vols 010-013, Certificates 4489-6480 1907
Declaration of Intention
Number 5503; page 17
Eastern District in the District Court of the United States
I, Kanellos Kavakos, aged 33 years, occupation cashier, do declare on oath that my personal description is: color white, complexion dark, height 5'6", weight 160 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, no distinctive marks.
I was born in Sparta, Greece on June 15, 1874. I now reside at 21st Street near Surf Avenue, Brooklyn. I emigrated to the U.S. from Greece via Havre on vessel name and line unknown; my last foreign residence was Sparta, Greece.
Renounce all allegiance to George king of Greece of which I am now a subject; I arrived at port of New York on or about October 6, 1892
Signed: Kanellos Kavakos
Date:: July 3, 1907
Occupation
From obituary found on FindAGrave:Kanellos Kavakos immigrated from the St. John section of Sparta, Greece, and was well-known as the originator of Coney Island's "Tunnels of Love" attraction. He completed it in 1909 and it was a slow-moving waterway, where couples rode boats past artificial scenery in Luna Park. It was extremely popular with dating couples, and made Mr. Kavakos a millionaire.
Naturalization
1920 census states naturalization in 1918Census
1920 US CensusBrooklyn, Kings, New York
Sheet Letter: A
Sheet Number: 6
Brooklyn Assembly District 16, Kings, New York, United States
2869 West 19th Street
Kavakos, Kanellos, head, male, white, age 45, married, immigrated 1892, naturalized in 1918, not in school, can read and write, parents born in Greece, mother tongue Greek, able to speak English, occupation: amusement, self employed
Kavakos, Katie, wife, female, white, age 34, married, immigrated 1907; naturalized in 1918; not in school, can read and write, parents born in Greece, mother tongue Greek, able to speak English, occupation: none
Kavakos, John, son, male, white, age 12, single, in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece and mother tongue Greek, able to speak English, occupation: none
Kavakos, Meletios, son, male, white, age 10-6/12, single, in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece and mother tongue Greek, able to speak English, occupation: none
Kavakos, Nellie, female, white, age 8-6/12, single, in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece and mother tongue Greek, able to speak English, occupation: none
Kavakos, George, son, male, white, age 1-6/12, single, not in school, cannot read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece and mother tongue Greek, not able to speak English, occupation: none
Carter, Evelyn, servant, female, white, age 19, single, not in school, born in South Carolina, parents born in South Carolina, can speak English, occupation: servant
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJRD-JSS : accessed 30 September 2018), Kanellos Kavakos, Brooklyn Assembly District 16, Kings, New York, United States; citing ED 994, sheet 6A, line 39, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1169; FHL microfilm 1,821,169.
Passport Application
United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925Number 73914
Issued by the State Department, July 29, 1920
Form for Naturalized Citizen
State of New York, County of New York
I, Kanellos Kavakos, a naturalized and loyal citizen of the U.S., hereby apply to the Department of State at Washington, for a passport, accompanied by my wife, Katherine, and my children John age 12, Meletios age 10, Nellie age 8 and George age 2, all born in Coney Island, N.Y.
I solemnly swear I was born at Sparta, Greece in 1875; that I emigrated to the U.S., sailing from Piraeus, Greece about 1892, that I resided uninterruptedly in the U.S. from 1892 to 1920 at Coney Island, N.Y.; that I was naturalized as a citizen before the Supreme Court of State of N.Y., court of Brooklyn, N.Y., March 14, 1918...that I am residing in the U.S., my permanent address being at 2847 West 19th Street, Coney Island, N.Y. where I follow the occupation of landowner and amusement promoter; that I am about to go abroad temporarily and return within one year... to go to Greece for purpose of visiting relatives.
I intend to leave the U.S. from the port of New York sailing on board the S.S. Megali Hellas on latter part of August, 1920.
My last passport was obtained from: No previous passport.
Signed, Kanellos Kavakos
Description of Applicant:
Age: 45 years
Stature: 5 feet, 4 inches
Forehead: broad
Eyes: brown
Nose: regular
Distinguishing marks: none
Mouth and chin: regular
Hair: gray, mixed
Complexion: dark
Face: large
Witnesses:
I, Architelis Rossopoulos, solemnly swear that I am a naturalized citizen of the U.S., that I reside at 139 W. 111st Street, New York City, that I have know the above-named Kanellos Kavakos for 15 years...
Signed, Architelis Rossopoulos,
Exporter, Anchor Maritime and Commercial Union, 40 Greenwich Street, N.Y.
Date: July 23, 1920
Photo attached
Census
1925 New York State CensusBrooklyn, Kings, New York
659 East 17th Street
Lines 10-15
Kavakos, Kanellos, male, white, age 47, born in U.S., citizen, amusement park employee
Kavakos, Kate, wife, female, white age 40, born in U.S., citizen, housewife
Kavakos, John, male, white, son, age 17, born in U.S., citizen, in school
Kavakos, Milton, male, white, son, age 15, born in U.S., citizen, in school
Kavakos, Nellie, female, white, daughter, age 13, born in U.S., citizen, in school
Kavakos, George, male, white, daughter, age 7, born in U.S., citizen, in school
"New York State Census, 1925", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K91N-MVC : Fri Mar 08 22:27:16 UTC 2024), Entry for Kate Kavakos, 1925.
Source Citation
New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 27; Assembly District: 21; City: Brooklyn; County: Kings; Page: 36; District: A·D· 21 E·D· 27
Source Information
Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2704/images/32849_b094200-00506?ssrc=&backlabel=Return
Census
1930 US CensusBrooklyn, Kings, New York
665 East 17th Street
Lines 43-48
Kavakos, Kanelos,head, owns home worth $28,000; male, white, age 62, married; was age 30 at first marriage, not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1890; can speak English; naturalized citizen, occupation: proprietor of amusement park
Kavakos, Katherine, wife, female, white, age 45, married, was age 23 at first marriage; not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1906; naturalized citizen; can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, John, male, white, age 22, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1908; naturalized citizen; can speak English, occupation: merchant, radio supplies
Kavakos, Milton, male, white, age 20, single, not in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, Nellie, female, white, age 18, single, not in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, George, male, white, age 11, single, in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RC5-QZ9?cc=1810731&wc=QZF4-R4J%3A649437801%2C649437802%2C651558001%2C1589286027 : 8 December 2015), New York > Kings > Brooklyn (Districts 0751-1000) > ED 871 > image 3 of 4; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
Residence
1930 US CensusBrooklyn, Kings, New York
665 East 17th Street
Lines 43-48
Kavakos, Kanelos,head, owns home worth $28,000; male, white, age 62, married; was age 30 at first marriage, not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1890; can speak English; naturalized citizen, occupation: proprietor of amusement park
Kavakos, Katherine, wife, female, white, age 45, married, was age 23 at first marriage; not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1906; naturalized citizen; can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, John, male, white, age 22, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, immigrated in 1908; naturalized citizen; can speak English, occupation: merchant, radio supplies
Kavakos, Milton, male, white, age 20, single, not in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, Nellie, female, white, age 18, single, not in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
Kavakos, George, male, white, age 11, single, in school, can read and write, born in New York, parents born in Greece, can speak English, no occupation
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RC5-QZ9?cc=1810731&wc=QZF4-R4J%3A649437801%2C649437802%2C651558001%2C1589286027 : 8 December 2015), New York > Kings > Brooklyn (Districts 0751-1000) > ED 871 > image 3 of 4; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
Obituary
Obituary on FindAGrave:Kanellos Kavakos immigrated from the St. John section of Sparta, Greece, and was well-known as the originator of Coney Island's "Tunnels of Love" attraction. He completed it in 1909 and it was a slow-moving waterway, where couples rode boats past artificial scenery in Luna Park. It was extremely popular with dating couples, and made Mr. Kavakos a millionaire.
He had been the husband of Katherine and the father of John, George, and R. Mel Kavakos, as well as a daughter, Mrs. Robert G. Haritos.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149507355/kanellos-kavakos
Burial
FindAGraveKanellos Kavakos
BIRTH 1875
Sparta, Regional unit of Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece
DEATH 20 Nov 1953
Plot: 7864 L
BURIAL : Mount Olivet Cemetery
Maspeth, Queens County, New York, USA
MEMORIAL ID 149507355
Kanellos Kavakos immigrated from the St. John section of Sparta, Greece, and was well-known as the originator of Coney Island's "Tunnels of Love" attraction. He completed it in 1909 and it was a slow-moving waterway, where couples rode boats past artificial scenery in Luna Park. It was extremely popular with dating couples, and made Mr. Kavakos a millionaire.
He had been the husband of Katherine and the father of John, George, and R. Mel Kavakos, as well as a daughter, Mrs. Robert G. Haritos.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149507355/kanellos-kavakos
Death
FindAGraveKanellos Kavakos
BIRTH unknown
Sparta, Regional unit of Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece
DEATH 20 Nov 1953
BURIAL : Mount Olivet Cemetery
Maspeth, Queens County, New York, USA
MEMORIAL ID 149507355
New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980
Declaration, Petition, Admission Order1925 NY Census
Image on Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2704/images/32849_b094200-00506?ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnEndnotes
1. Mitroon Arrenon (Male Register-Greece), Sparta; Year: 1875; Page 71; Line 3342.
2. .
3. Mitroon Arrenon (Male Register-Greece), Sparta; Year: 1875; Page 71; Line 3342.
4. .
5. "Kanelos Gavakas in the U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s." Search https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=2138810&pid=330149320749&dbid=7486. Accessed 2 Feb. 2021..
6. .
7. Metropolis of Sparta, Sparta, Lakonia, Greece.
8. "Κανέλλος Γκαβάκος (Kanellos Gkavakos) - Greece, Sparta Marriages 1835-1935." MyHeritage https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10843-3181/κανέλλος-γκαβάκος-kanellos-gkavakos-in-greece-sparta-marriages?s=210681471&indId=individual-210681471-10500350. Accessed 1 Feb. 2021..
9. "New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794." Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2280/images/007796733_00594?indiv=try&h&db. Accessed 2 Feb. 2021..
10. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJRD-JSS : accessed 30 September 2018), Kanellos Kavakos, Brooklyn Assembly District 16, Kings, New York, United States; citing ED 994, sheet 6A, line 39, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1169; FHL microfilm 1,821,169..
11. "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-71M9 : 16 March 2018), Kanellos Kavakos, 1920; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #73914, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 1313, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). .
12. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4VG-X5X : accessed 3 February 2021), Ranelos Kavakos, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 871, sheet 2A, line 43, family 29, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1538; FHL microfilm 2,341,273. .
13. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4VG-X5X : accessed 3 February 2021), Ranelos Kavakos, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 871, sheet 2A, line 43, family 29, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1538; FHL microfilm 2,341,273. .
14. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-NX25 : 19 July 2020), Kanellos Kavakos, 1953; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..
15. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-NX25 : 19 July 2020), Kanellos Kavakos, 1953; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..
16. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-NX25 : 23 November 2022), Kanellos Kavakos, ; Burial, Maspeth, Queens, New York, United States of America, Mount Olivet Cemetery; citing record ID 149507355, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..
17. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-NX25 : 19 July 2020), Kanellos Kavakos, 1953; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..
18. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-NX25 : 23 November 2022), Kanellos Kavakos, ; Burial, Maspeth, Queens, New York, United States of America, Mount Olivet Cemetery; citing record ID 149507355, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..