User:Sabujawdeh/sandbox

The villages of Kherbat Al Adas, Maska, and Al Ghabeh stand to the east on the mountain next to Deir El Harf facing the sea. Maska (the stream) is called by its name since several streams run in the land and irrigate the soil.

The villages’ names in Arabic are just the right explanation: Al Maska and El Ghabeh (the Forest), all referring to the nature and sites of these villages.

This good spot, facing the warm winter sun, covered by green fields, and surrounded by fertile lands and forests, was the center of attraction for the Abou Jaoude Family coming from Deir El Harf, which no longer had enough space to embrace them all.

Prince Bachir Kaydbeh Abillamah, Prince Abdallah Kaydbeh’s sibling in Ras El Metn, helped in this emigration. Maska came first in 1665. From Maska, some moved towards Jourat Al Ballout, where Michael Hanna Bou Moussa from Maska bought land from Kassim Hussein Hreiz from Ras El Metn, for 38 pounds.

Then they moved to Al Ghabeh next to Maska, which the Abillamahs and Asfar families owned, and bought from them lands since 1772, until they owned all the lands in 1880. And in 1885, the Asfar family sold out their last real estate and moved to Beirut and Al Sham.

Above all, the village men served their country and some were good servants of the Lord. St. Chaaya monastery, which was built by the Antonine monks in 1700, had welcomed so many Maska monks, who worked faithfully in order to improve the monastery and its churches, that people called it the “monastery of Maska people”.

In 1929, the Maska and Al Ghabeh inhabitants started to cut a road at their own expense from Brummana till Maska church courtyard. The government undertook covering the road with asphalt in 1943.

In 1944, the inhabitants cut down a passage for water from Al Manboukh, Brummana, at their own expense. And in 1948, they also undertook to provide electricity at their own expense.

Those plans were the start of an upswing, especially in Al Ghabeh, where modern buildings were formed, which qualified it to be one of the best villages to spend summer vacations. It soon became a resort for serenity and peace seekers, renowned for its panoramic views and healthy weather.