Today, Tatvan, a district of Bitlis, has surpassed Bitlis both in terms of population and social life and culture. It’s easy to say this today, but back in 1946, Tatvan was not even considered a district; it was a vast area with no roads or schools, much less the status of a village. Fethi Algon, sent to Tatvan from Istanbul, is the man who wrote a success story that not only changed the face of Tatvan but the entire region. Fethi Algon’s determined, educated, and resolute efforts are a testament to the belief that a single man can change the world. Let’s follow the story of Fethi Algon together.
Fethi Algon and his early family
Naval Architect Fethi Algon
In the 1940s and 1950s, as Anatolia began to rebuild itself, the “Eastern Anatolia Transportation Plan” was drawn up under the Marshall Plan, focusing on the neglected eastern regions. This plan included ship transportation in Tatvan. However, there were not many trained personnel available during this period. Consequently, the vast Lake Van, located between Bitlis and Van, was merely an empty water puddle with no ship transportation. In 1946, the government sent Fethi Algon to Tatvan as a government shipbuilding engineer. Fethi Algon, along with his wife and two sons, boarded the Kurtalan Express for a long journey from Istanbul and eventually arrived in Tatvan.
Tatvan, even though it was a district, lacked basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity, and schools. It was like an abandoned land with hardly a grocery store to buy bread. Fethi Algon undertook the task of establishing a shipyard with great determination and commitment. He started producing trailers and containers for the construction of ships that would provide passenger transportation on Lake Van. Simultaneously, he visited Cevaş, Ahlat, Erciş, and Van to order the construction of piers to serve as stops for these ships. However, there were no ships yet.
The ship named Van is setting sail
Construction Work in Tatvan
The initiated efforts bore fruit within three years, and by the end of 1949 and the beginning of 1950, passenger transportation on Lake Van began. Passengers coming from Istanbul and other cities to Siirt-Kurtalan through the Kurtalan Express would reach Tatvan by road. From Tatvan, they would travel with the ships to their destinations around the lake.
However, merely building piers and opening a shipyard was not enough. When engineers, workers, and qualified employees arrived in Tatvan, they had no place to stay. Seeing this problem, Fethi Algon began building a hotel in Tatvan to accommodate the increasing number of domestic tourists attracted to the area due to the widespread water transportation on Lake Van. The 4-star hotel was named the Denizcilik Bankası Hotel and still holds the distinction of being the only 4-star hotel in the region.
Fethi Algon did not slowdown in his work. He transformed the shipyard area into a campus. He started providing sailing training, and in 1950, a sailboat was built on Lake Van. The local population flocked to Tatvan to watch the races and demonstrations.
Mecido and the Money Sent by the State
During those years, Tatvan did not have a Ziraat Bank. To allow the state to carry out these construction and settlement projects, the money sent to Fethi Algon reached the Ziraat Bank in Diyarbakır. The money was then transported to Tatvan along with vehicles. However, on the way, a bandit named Mecido intercepted the funds and took them. Mecido was legendary among the local population and even instilled fear in the gendarmes. Fethi Algon sent a message to Mecido: “Come, let’s meet!” Mecido met with Fethi Algon, and despite being a formidable figure standing at 1.90 meters, he confessed that he turned to banditry out of necessity since he couldn’t find a job due to his history of killing. Fethi Algon recognized the importance of rehabilitating individuals and promised Mecido that he would employ him. Indeed, Fethi Algon appointed Mecido as the guardian of the shipyard. Mecido, a robust man, diligently protected the shipyard, assisted children in attending school, and ensured the security of the shipyard. However, when Fethi Algon returned from Tatvan to Istanbul, Mecido was dismissed from his job by the governor.
Fethi Algon’s Children
Fethi Algon’s success story continued after he left Tatvan in 1959 to return to Istanbul. Upon his return, his children were ridiculed in school due to their somewhat deteriorated Turkish language skills. Fethi Algon’s life was marked by sacrifice, determination, and perseverance, and his children and grandchildren continued to be involved in maritime affairs. Atila Algon is a national sailor, while his granddaughter, Burcu Algon, serves as the coach for the Azerbaijan national sailing team. As a result, the seeds sown in Tatvan have spread to the entire world and borne fruit.
The shipyard and workers’ tents
