Davidian Girls’ School
In 1910, after retiring from the post of Directorship of Messrs A.H. Wheeler & Co., David Avetik Davidian purchased a house on 19, Royd Street, Calcutta (now 15, Royd Street) which was to serve as a residential school for girls in later years. He conceived the idea of establishing a separate educational institute for girls that would act as a counterpart to ACPA. Davidian Girls’ School (DGS) was thus started on 1st March 1922 at the residence of Mr. David Avetik Davidian. He also created a trust through which almost his entire wealth was dedicated to the education of Armenian girls at DGS. Mr. Sandukht Hovhannisian was invited to teach in the new institution.
Until his death, David Davidian remained the Principal of the school and managed it himself with the assistance of a Committee and the Trust fund he had created. Davidian wanted to expand the school from his own house at Royd Street to a much bigger place. Therefore, he purchased the huge grounds and buildings of the London Missionary Society at 1, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Calcutta - 700025, and gave it to the Trust in an agreement with the Official Trustee, Government of West Bengal, who is the Ex-Officio Trustee of the Trust D.A.David. For some time, during his last years, the school moved to its new premises in the Missionary Building, but after his death in 1936, the children were brought back to Royd Street, and in the 1980s the premises of 1, Ashutosh Mukherjee, was leased out to Elgin Properties at a huge loss to the Davidian Trust.
In later years, due to the strained financial conditions of both ACPA and DGS, the two schools were amalgamated. Under this arrangement, co-educational classes were held at the ACPA after which the girls would return to their boarding premises at 15, Royd Street. The scheme remained in place till 2010. In 2010, the girls were shifted to ACPA as the building was dilapidated.