The Tale of a Small Lebanese Village
I. General Information
Beino is located in the uppermost northern reaches of Lebanon some 40 kilometers from the city of Tripoli i.e. the province of Akkar. It is nestled at the foothills of the Northern Lebanese mountain chain better known as Qammoua. It is flanked by two hills and famous two creeks that flow mainly in the winter season. It can be reached by road from Tripoli via Halba with a hilly road leading into the village. The elevation is 500 meters measured at the center town elevated up to 600 meters in the hills of Qboula. It enjoys a phenomenal and beautiful weather with a very clear differentiation between the four seasons of the year. Summer temperatures range from 18 degrees in the early morning and late evenings to 29 degrees at noon. It rarely rains in the summer. Winter Temperatures vary from 10 degrees in the cool times to about 17 degrees at noon. Generally the weather is temperate and pleasant.
The village of Beino is formed from two suburbs, Beino and Qboula which are managed by one municipality ( baladiat Beino-Qboula). Suburbs in Beino are: Beino, Qboula , Beino Al Day3ah, Biatra, Haret Sagheyia, Haret Abboud, Dahr Al Dier and Wadi Al Askar.
II. Historical Background
There is known exact date as to when Beino was founded. However Faraj Attiyah Al-Hourani who hailed from Izri', a small town in Houran, Syria arrived in Beino in the year 1640 and married the daughter of Abboud who was of the maronite Christian sect. Thereafter, a church was built i.e Saint Theodore’s. Few years later, several more families came to the village and those were mainly: Hannah, Saghiyeh, Nader, Bitar, al-ashkar, Kafrouni, Greige, Younes, Khoury, Shaheen, Jbeily, Saoud and possibly others whom I can not recall at this moment and for whom I extend my sincere apologies.
I have heard tales about the First World War which were not very pleasant. Beino was under Ottoman Rule and all able bodied young people were drafted into the Turkish army (Safar Barlek). Some perished and others made it back to the village.
During the Second World War Greater Lebanon to which Beino belonged was under the French colonial rule and things were a little bit better and more organized. However the main staple (wheat) produced by the inhabitants was confiscated and ration cards were issued. There were three large diode tube radios in the village which were located at the houses of Dr. Ragheb Attiyah, Dr. Rashed Attiyah and Mr. wadih Attiyah. In the evenings when the main news bulletins of the progress of the war were broadcasted, everyone in the village was distributed amongst these houses to follow up on the war.
Unfortunately few years after the war, a substantial emigration to the main cities i.e Beirut and Tripoli took place. This situation was due mainly to economic reasons as people found it cheaper to enroll their children in schools as Day students in lieu of boarding students. Other reasons included more available jobs in cities and their scarcity in small villages. However few have come back to live and retire in the serene and healthy surroundings and environment of the village.
III. Size and Population
The area of Beino including Qboula and the surrounding olive groves is approximately 20 square kilometers but the built area is much smaller and does not exceed more than 500 houses. The population is approximately 2500 people but the number swells in the summer to possibly more than 3000 people. Beino has large number of immigrants in Africa, Venezuela, Australia, Brazil, US and Canada. Beino population is shrinking year to year due to internal and external migration in search for opportunities. Lot of families vanished totally from Beino and many more also are about to disappear if this trend of internal and external migrations continues.
IV. Highlights of Beino
Beino is famous for many features, landmarks and many great people. It is studded with oak and pine trees some of which are 400 years. The oldest trees surround the village cemetery located on top of Deir Mar Sarkiss. There are two beautiful cypress trees that were planted by the American Protestant mission in 1849 and which were immortalized by a painting by Fayez Greije of two villagers playing backgammon under one of them. Later on, several others cypress trees were planted. Beino is well known for its beautiful Jasmine and Rose gardens. It is also very well known for its abundant fruit trees including Pomegranate from which very good syrup is made from its fruit.) , olive groves accounting for all the olive oil and olives that are consumed by the villagers as well as citrus fruits, apricots, almonds, grapes, apples and figs etc...
Beino is quite famous for its beautiful villas that were constructed from massive limestone blocks and roofed with red bricks.
The first and one of the important Ladies charities in the area was founded by Mrs.Hanny Attiyah and was named “association for extending the helping hand". The association operated a school and assisted many of the poor folks in the village. One of the first clubs in the area was established after the second world war and is still operating till the present under the name of " The Beino Club for Culture and Sports" the club boasted in its early days a gymnasium, a swimming pool (carved from the river) and a clay tennis court.
Other organizations formed in the 70th and 80th were Boy scouts (junud Al Eman) and Nadi Al Arshad wal Tadamoun. These two organizations contributions to Beino lifestyle including sports and social activities in the 70th and 80th. Al Archad Wal Tadamoun club is still operating until today.
Other major organization that positively impacted the life of people of Beino formed in the early 90th was the Fares foundations which established a medical center for the village and surrounding areas. The Fares foundation also built in the late 90th a man made Lake in Wadi Al Ashkar. The lake is home for lots of Ducks and fishes and it is becoming a tourist attraction for people and tourists in all Lebanon. Above the lake, in Dahr Niss Al 3ali, a preservation was built which include lots of animal and birds.
Beino is home for many famous legends that contributed to Lebanon’s history and economy among them, ex deputy Prime Minister Mr. Issam fares
Camille N. Atie