Ainab and the American Community in Lebanon

This blog was started by Joshua Landis in 2015 to commemorate the American community in Lebanon and particularly of Ainab. He grew up in this hilltop community that was started in 1932-33 by five American University of Beirut families: the Dodd, Close, Leavitt, Kerr, and Crawford families. Later families included: Landis, Crow, Dodge, Eddy, Scott, Gordon and Kennedy. Other families who summered in Shemlan, just below Ainab, include: Dorman, Stoltzfus, Smith, Van Dyck.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Dodd Photos of Ainab in the 1930s 2

Ainab tennis courts, 1940. Left to Right -

Back row: Marjo Ritscher, Marga Leavitt, Wally Close, Marion Kerr, Dan Leavitt, Ann Ritscher, Art Close, Howard Leavitt.

Front row: Bruce Dodd, Johnnie Ritscher, Peter Dodd, Helen Leavitt, Ray Close, Helen Ritscher, Dorothy & Malcolm Kerr.

Bruce, Molly Crawford, Hugh and Alice Crawford in the Water Barrels. Dodd house, 1939.

Betty Dodd with Hugh, 1936. Dodd/Dodge house, Ainab.

Original Dodd house, 1933, before the roof blew off. Reportedly, it landed on the Crawford property, contents of the attic intact, including a set of Life magazines! Dodds were on furlough and missed the excitement.