In 1930,
a plot next to the school was bought and was transformed into a playground. At
the same time, at the southern part of the playground a swimming pool was constructed with the help of benefactor Peter Crete. Crete was a fabulously
rich Roman Catholic Armenian Merchant with huge interests in real estate and a
pioneer in the coal mining industry in Raniganj, West Bengal, India. Besides
his huge donations for the benefit of the Calcutta Armenian Community, Peter
Crete bought the San Lazaro Islands,
Venice, Italy which became the foremost institute of Armenian culture, and
is the Monastery of the Mekhitarist monks of San Lazaro. The swimming pool
donated by Peter Crete still exists and is used by both boys and girls of the
College. On 22nd October 2016 the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy
celebrated the inauguration of its newly renovated swimming pool.
There was an atmosphere of joy and happiness created in the school. This
ceremony was even more enjoyable when we received the Members of the Armenian
Church committee Mrs. Suzan Ruben, Mr. Sunil Sobti, Mr. Peter Hayrapet and
others. The opening ceremony was initiated by Very Rev. Father Movses Sargsyan
whose hard work and blessings are encouraging the students and even having a
great role in the development of the College.
