Down Memory Lane

Newlands was the first Commercial Centre of Point Fortin. in the 1900's

(Based on interviews with Community Elders)

The Chinese came and they monopolized the market down at Newlands area.

There was Andin Shop. That is were the bus station was located. Chin Yen Kee was there too. He was Andin’s brother. Their property ended at Eagle Hall road. There were two shops there, one was the Market Shop and the other was Andin’s. The Market Shop was opposite. Sieunarine had a parlour there, before the Market Shop. Lee Quin was next door to Morrison. He was directly opposite the bus station. There is a snackette there now – Miss Joyce. That was Lee Quin. Sieunarine was after Lee Quin. The Market Shop was obliquely opposite to Tankfarm Road. The remains of the Market Shop can be still seen there. A small café was located after the market shop, Wong’s Café. Next was Mc Clean’s building housing a bakery. (Baptiste’s bakery was on Tankfarm Road.) Then there was an African store, a man called Norgriff. He had a bicycle shop and a store, Norgriff’s Store. This was also in Mc Clean’s building. Coming further down the road Jeffrey’s Roti Shop and Barber Saloon were on the left-hand side. There was an empty space from there. The gas station was near the end - a Shell gas station - and on the left hand side a cinema. The Company ran this. It was a private thing.

On the other side there was a man called C K Padmore, who is Overand Padmore’s brother. He had a furniture store there. Next was Stone’s store – Chinee man Stone. After Stone’s you met a small track then a big building, Young Ho, where Bata used to be, downstairs - Chinee man who used to make mauby and rock and things like that - Next was a dwelling house where Stones used to live, another wooden house, which presently has a garage and the Police Station. Next was the Post Office, the Exchange, the BAA Club, a road that now takes you back to the Main Office and the Anglican Church up the hill.

All the marketing was down Newlands.That building that now houses Kallicheran, where Thompson used to be, that was Padmore’s land. The market (present location) was a swamp, ‘pica’ patch, pick mock.

(Excerpts from a conversation with Darwin Lewis on 15/04/2000)

The merchants were Chinese. The shops were Chinese. All the shops except one were Chinese. The only Indian shop was in Guava Road, ran by a man called John – John’s Shop. He had one son called Baboolal. (C A Rogers in conversation, 06/04/2000)

There were three shops I knew about, Andin’s Shop, Lee Chee, that is where Lee Sam’s father used to work, near the market area, because all the beef vendors and so on used to be selling under there. Then, where the bus terminus used to be, that was Chin Yen Kee Shop. There was another up Frisco; one of the St Hillaire’s sister got married to one of the Chinese there.

A little distance from the bus terminus, opposite to Tankfarm Road, where the Murrays’ house is located, next door was that Chinese shop. The market was in front of the shop. All vending took place there.

( Excerpts from an interview with S. Bobb on 6/4/00)

When my father was at Newlands with his father, he used to stay in the Old Market Shop.

( Mr D. C. Lee Sam)

‘FEAR IS A GREAT WEAPON IT SELDOM MISSES ITS OBJECT’ Darwin Lewis (15/04/2000)

How some Roads and Streets got their name..

ADVENTURE Road... It was only in the late 1950`s that Adventure Road came into prominence as a major thoroughfare in Point Fortin. Early residents described it as a dirt track passing through the Adventure Estate of cocoa and coffee.

AGARD Road... Mr. Agard was a turner in the Machine Shop when UBOT controlled the oil industry of Point Fortin. However, he also manufactured `Soft Drinks`. Grape and soda were his favourites. Of added interest was the fact that the bottle caps were marbles. Yes, a marble had to be dislodged from the mouth of the bottle in order to obtain the drink. It proved no threat to young life since it remained safely at the bottom of the bottle.

PETER`S Road ... Mr Peters, Mr. Sieunarine’s son-in-law, was the driver of the bus `The Grand Central` which transported passengers from San Fernando to Cedros, during the early years (1930’s). He was also a taxi-driver and contractor with the Oil Company. The house he occupied, the biggest at that time, can still be seen there, obliquely opposite to the church. Peter’s Road, now also has the Telephone Exchange and the Customs House.

KALLOO Road... It is said that Ma Kalloo owned a very large cow pasture in that area, which was noted for the abundance of springs.

REID Road... Named after a former Managing Director of Shell. G L Reid took keen interest in the community development of Point.

TANNER Street....Once forested with cocorite, this street received its name from another Managing Director of UBOT. It was traditionally known as ‘Up The Line’, since the Company’s Locomotive passed there.

CANAAN Road... Around 1937-8, cocorite and guava formed the main vegetation of this trace which adjoined Richardson Street. Mr. St. Hillaire was the first person to erect a house there at No. 11. However, he chose to live in the ‘barracks’, closer to work. But Mr. Canaan Joseph, a well-built man of African descent, known for his well - mannered nature, tractor - operating skills , easily settled in this bushy, hilly area of Point, which had lots of natural springs. His was the third house built He paved the way for the development of one of the most popular roads in Mahaica today. The Canaans still reside there.

Mainfield Road... C.B. Mathison of the Accounts Dept. of UBOT, in an article of the UBOTIMES entitled, ‘Point Fortin – Then and Now’ wrote – On leaving the dispensary, one went through a main gate on to the Company’s private road running through the village, thence into the Point Fortin Main Field which was at that time operating in full swing, with oil still being won from Well No. 25.

Scipio Street... David Scipio, a Tobagonian, was one of Point Fortin’s earliest settlers. He built his first home in that short street. Later, he bought the property which is still standing next to Moy’s Store. Mr. Scipio made his mark in the sporting arena as one of the quickest bowlers of his time.

COLLEY Lane... Mr. Medford Colley was a man of many talents. He was a contractor, a politician, (Party symbol – the Bread ) and an outstanding dresser, especially at Carnival time. He will be remembered for his favorite mas portrayal, ‘Bride and Groom’ and of course, Colley Lane.