Early photo depicting a bridge entering into Roseau on what was then Grandbay Street, according to the photo. The date of the photo was not provided, so one of the readers could probably give us an idea.
Photo submitted anonymously
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Did anyone know my late grandmother Lou Lou marie, she used to own a run stand in Roseau and I would love to here about her/ see any pictures she passed in the 70s but and info would be so nice to hear
Hello Dr Honnychurch, somebody posted a very interesting comment. Whos is understudying you? You possess a wealth of history which is a huge contribution to us as a society. ” A people without a knowledge of their past is like a tree without roots, weak and easy to topple” Marcus Garvey. Maybe someone could convince Mr Gerry Aird to contribute photos of Dominica back then to this site. I understand he has a very beautiful collection. Young peole, take note, our older generation are the makers of our society, you are the makers of the next. How will you be counted?
A good source told me that the photo was taken in 1905.
Why was the name changed?
Berautiful, look at the amount of trees in Roseau.
Thank you Dr. Honychurch for that detailed explanation. This is the history I wish we’d learnt in school. 3 years straight of “Sugar n Slavery” is a bit much!
This photo was taken in 1905. For anyone who is interested in seeing more old archive pictures, go to this website: http://www.antanlontan-antilles.com/dominique.htm
You will see some interesting pictures of Dominica as it were in the old days.
Grantley Philogene
NOtice the design of the bridge? Where has that art gone in our nrew bridges? BTW I saw the pic (and others of Dominica ) in a website ANTANLONTANANTILLAISE.COM
Oh yes,it was the Old Bridge to enter Roseau.Until 1970 vehicles could enter that bridge from St.Johnston Avenue which is on north western side.The northern part of the bridge,part of St. Johnston Avenue and its previous stone wall were damaged and washed away when the Roseau River overflowed in 1970 taking with it a fireman and a policeman who were part of a rescue team evacuating residents of that area.One of the men was found at the back of the then Vauxhall Garage which is now Raffoul Enterprise and the other was never found. Prior to the damage of that bridge it was customary that when the river overflowed it was safer to pass on the New Bridge which was the western bridge.For that matter there were times when the river overflowed the police would direct traffic to and from Roseau on the New Bridge until the river subsided.
Very informative commentary.
I recall the overflow of the 70s. The firemen were trying to install some kind of warning signal for motorist right next to the Seventh Day Adventist Church when they got washed away by the rising river. It was the highest I have ever seen the Roseau River.
1960s. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Had clean forgotten about the policeman who got swept away as well. Flood waters from that event had flowed all the way down to Steber Street – if not beyond. The EC Loblack Bridge was formally opened in Jannuary 1983, I believe. One of the big-wigs from CDB (who I beleive had funded the construction) was on hand for the ceremony, with Mamo. I may even have a photo of that. Does anyone have the exact date of that 1970 flood?
Lennox H., this is an interesting and informative history of the bridge. It is good to know our history, history of that bridge and the road which was called Granby Street. I never heard of it.
Observing and scrutinizing the picture of the bridge, it really did not look like the one I knew in my youth and adulthood; likewise that area. It had to be much older. Francis Telemaque is correct.
That area looked foreign which meant, it did not look like the bridge (Old Bridge) leading to Roseau, Queen Mary Street, as I knew it then.
I noticed some coconut trees and others which did not appear to be in existence as I recalled. That old house near the bridge was not there. The area was better built up in my youth/ adulthood.
In those days of that bridge, Goodwill was an estate owned by The Potters. This is obviously from whom the name Potters Ville originated from, ‘The Potter Family’ who owned the entire area, Potters Ville and Goodwill.
I knew Ms. Phyllis Potter who lived in Roseau, King George V Street in a huge two-story house. I believe that her other relatives had passed on. She was older than my parents. She was a very nice, pleasant lady with a kind heart, smile and laughter. She was jovial. Since my parents knew her, I would occasionally visit her at her home. Her home was located near the Roseau Police Station on King George V Street. She has since passed on in another country where she resided with her adopted daughter. Some of you who are of a certain age may have known her or heard of her. The Potter Family are a part of our Dominican history.
The government purchased Goodwill Estate and sold lots to Dominicans. They were small ones (lower Goodwill), medium lots (central Goodwill), large lots (upper Goodwill).
Entrance to the Roseau bridge, the only one then was from Potters Ville. Many changes have taken place in Dominica to this day. I visualize in some years to come there will be more constructions and changes as long as the world lasts.
This looks better than the current one. Marvelous!
I most certainly agree. Those persons who design bridges for us today have no sense of design. also, even in pitting a year plate on the bridge so that 20 years after construction children would know the when the bridge was constructed.
what a lovely picture. Just think what the people on the cruise ships would think if they pulled up to that beautifull view. Such a shame that this kinda view no longer exsists. We need more trees on the bay front.
you are kidding me, right?
It no longer exists because the colonials are no longer in charge. It’s “we running tings now” so we now have slums instead.
I remember that bridge and anyone from New Town, Citronier or even Loubiere, pointe mitchel know this is the bridge at La riviere canary. The house on the side is that house of the Bellots next to the Serrerou Hotel. There use to be a road on the left side we use to use as a short cut to Giraudel.
WOW! Dominica was really in it back then. Now Roseau and most of Dominica, is one big steaming slum.
this looks like the early 1900…bridge into Roseau..wow..precious….
Braught me great feelings the moment i saw this picture.my heart suddenly lit up.God’s watch over my beautiful island.still virgin and unexploited.
Nethertheless,development is evitable. Investments,International Airport etc,in it’s time.Roseau,is my hometown.This is the old bridge,entering Queen Mary’s Street.
Here in dominica,there is no need for politicking.
I,am quite contented with the progress.much success.I hope to be there.
“Brought’
i miss the trees
This photo is a 1905 postcard
My My My … how time and hard work has transformed my land!
@ Francisco Telemaque- stop being ridiculous- If you’re not sure ask, or do some research. Appararently, you’re not from Roseau, or you are rather young. People in their 60’s would be able to remember that bridge. This photo was taken before I was born, but I do remember the Bridge as it is in the photo. In my time there was a two-storey building to the left towards the southern part of the bridge which was called the Paz building. This has now been replaced/rebuilt. “Ha ha ha” what- stupes
in all fairness you are totally out of it. he ended by implying that he is not sure. havent you got anything better to do?
That’s why we have to choose our words and attitudes wisely because there are elderly Dominicans who read the news and views here. Also we need to be mindful and show respect to the youth who also come online to read the news. Francisco and others need to man up.
are you an idiot?Iwas born in 1960. I am not denying the previous name of the bridge.Does Christian musical school still exist?
This photo is from a stamp of 1910.
This is the now called E C LOBLACK Bridge,look at the mountains in the background depicting the Newtown Castle comfort area. This picture was taken in the 1930’s approximately.
If this is a picture of a bridge on which people entered Roseau, perhaps it was used more then three hundred years ago.
Therefore nobody alive can give a true account of this bridge. We never heard of a Grand Bay Street in Roseau, unless there was another Roseau, history records Bath Estate Bridge, and the old and new Bridge.
Otherwise the other North of Roseau, a very small one was located a distance away from the Cane Field Airport, and cannot be considered entering Roseau.
I could be wrong now, because I do not know everything eh.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahah!
Independence Street was once Grandby Street, not Grandbay. I believe the first house on the right was a shop and was still standing until the late 70s. This is the view going into Lagon which I believe was so named because it was once a lagoon.
Lenox Honychurch’s, The Dominica Story, is a good read if you’re not too well acquainted with the history of Dominica.
Francisco there was not said Grandbay Street but Granby Street. The first thing to find out is where was Grandby Street and the rest will fall in place. Lennox Honeychurch to the rescue. Where was Grandby Street… I think is either Queen Mary Street or Great George Street. ????
I want to call Lennox.
Sorry Francisco .. It is indeed Grandbay Street written below the photo. But I am sure I have read about Grandby Street. Will be back when I find somethig on this.
Do you own a Dominican Story? I do not expect you to know everything, however some reading could help.
Francisco, how many times did you go to Roseau before 1980? or even 1990? I love it when you show your level of intelligence. Look who is laughing now. Read Mr. Lennox H contribution to the piece.
Shall I tell you I once lived on Kings Lane in Roseau?
In recent years when I returned to Dominica, if I was not found in the mud of Wesley, creating confusion and havoc, making trouble, political trouble that is, I could always could be found at 35 A River street in Roseau, and though Wordsworth Telemaque is dead his one of his daughters still owns his house, therefore I was told by one of his daughters in Canada, I can still hangout there if I wish when I go home oui!
Now you all are insinuating that I doh know Roseau right?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Well, what do you expect, I am a country boy, country boy doh know anything about the city eh!
I bet none of you know about the big Billy-goats which once roam the river bank from the same old Bridge to past the New Bridge, and I doh talking about the one the Chines built eh.
See, I have plenty of good, and better memory of Dominica than most of you: Ask Lennox about (dem big Billy-goats), I am sure he too remembers them.
They lucky I did not steal (thief one) and take it Wesley:
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Liz, please do not comment on this one oui, I just kidding, you know sometimes the crazy blood gets up in me head.
Be Still and Read who?
I was king of Roseau perhaps long before your birth, however if you only come into the knowledge of Roseau in the 1980/1990, you have inherited the remnants of what many of us has left behind, in spite of all the recent developments, Dominica most definitely is not the place it once was, that picture post card it once was no longer exists.
We once lived in a paradise free of crimes, and turmoil. We played Cowboy’s and Indians in the Streets of Roseau, we knew nothing about Marijuana, and Cocaine. When drugs invaded our country, it brought along with it the criminal elements along with it, as a result even Lennox Honeychurch suffered at the hands of the criminals who body mind and sole was consumed by illicit drugs, thus they murdered Lennox father, for no other reason than the color of his skin.
Indeed he was a lamb slaughtered, to this day the killings continues, and so even I have suffered in the same way, since my nephew less than two years ago was murdered in Wesley, to this day his salient still walks free, and might be at this very moment getting ready to kill again.
Be Still and Read, I can tell you factual stories about Dominica, which your grand parents have, or had any knowledge of!
While you question, or attack my inelegance, I can only pity, and feel sorry for you; since you have no clue as to whom you are talking to or about!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
@ Francisco
I agree with you about Grand Bay Street. I am surprised that there was such a name of a street in Roseau, leading to Roseau. I cannot recall such a name or hearing about it. In my youth and adulthood I travelled that path frequently and never saw it written. Probably in my dreams?
Yes! It may be that old but I am not certain about that.
Old Bath Estate Bridge…. BETTER KNOWN AS THE CITRUS plantation in the 18 CENTURY
NOPE! It is not the bath estate bridge!
It says entrance to Roseau…. read please!
i have often wondered what it would be like to relive those days.very beautiful pic.
My, my, my! How fascinating! It’s like one of those colonial stories brought to life. It looks so beautiful!
That’s the bridge we now call “EC Loblack” bridge; of course it has been rebuilt a few times to look as it does today. The photo was taken standing on the northern end of the bridge and facing south. One can see Independence Street (previously called, Grandby Street [not Grandbay]then Queen Mary Street then Freedom Street then Queen Mary Street again then Independence Street) and Constitution Hill (Morne Fedelle) in the distance. There is still a Grandby Street in Portsmouth today.
Although the tree may be obstructing our view, I don’t think the Catholic Church was fully built at the time of the photo. Parts of the steeple would be visible in the photo. This fact provides us a clue of the date of the picture.
Very informative comment!
Well since some people were mentioning my name here goes:
Frank Talker…Yes you have it right and the post card is wrong. It is Granby Street like Granby Street in Portsmouth, named after the Marquis of Granby, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces when Dominica became a British Colony. It was renamed Queen Mary Street in 1935 at the same time that Market Street was renamed King George V Street for the royal couple’s silver jubilee.
The bridge entered Roseau from Goodwill Road. It stood intact until part of it was damaged in 1970 by a flood caused by a side swipe by Hurricane Dorothy. Part of it was hoisted up and a metal “bailey bridge” was put as a temporary measure but lasted many years until a completely new bridge was erected in the early 1980s. Then named EC Loblack Bridge in late 1990s same time as the street was renamed Independence Street.
The poles on the right were telephone poles. The poles on the left were electricity poles and they were made of cast concrete because of fear of fire. The first electric power station was put up in 1905 and this photo must have been taken shortly after that, because Mr. Ferreira’s Ice House and Cinema, now the ‘Globe’, has not been built yet and that was active in the 1920s.
No sign of motor cars and the first motor car came here in 1910. Those are the kind of clues that one uses to find the date of a picture.
Lennox, something still puzzles me about it, I understand all about the name changes of the streets, ect; however, the Old Bridge that I remembered from the 1950’s looked nothing like that, I remembered a huge iron Bridge: what puzzles me about it are the supporting concrete pillars between.
As for the person who’s name is question marks, (??????????) who thinks I am ridiculous, be assured I made no claims that I could identified the Bridge, that is why I said it might be in another Roseau, of more than three hundred years ago.
When I don’t know I say I do not know:
So, if I believe this information to which I am responding came from Lennox Honeychurch, I guess I will have to accept his account of the matter, since he is a noted Dominica Historian, which I am not!
So, whosoever wish to assassinate me for simply not knowing, I lay down my life willing oui!
You all can have it for free!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
I have a name:
I am kid Francisco Telemaque, the boy from the mud of Wesley!
Franciso, no problems. Every contribution is interesting.
Sometimes our memories plays tricks with us. The sections that look like cast concrete were actually cast iron panels. The whole bridge was brought to Dominica in pieces and then bolted together on the site in 1874.
The whole thing sat on two stone butresses standing in the river with stone abutments on the river bank. After motor cars became common the PWD removed the wooden slats and put down a cast iron base and put colas tar on it.
When traffic increased further in the 1950s they had to build a ‘new bridge’ further down the river from Great George Street entirely of concrete which is still in use today.
Mr. Lennox H. I have a question for you: Any advice on how to trace one’s roots. I was born in Dominica but have been living abroad since 1970.
During that hurricane , I can remembered that a fire man was washed away by the flood. He along with other fire men and police men were trying to assist the people from River Bank and River Street, bringing them to safty. I can remember when that fireman was trying to cross the bridge, his other team mates called and warned him as they saw that the bridge was already going down, but he insister. He was then washed away, up till this day his remains have never been found.I was on the spot also assisting as a police officer
Thank you very much Lennox.
Who is going to have all that information to give to the public after you have passed? I always say…who is understudying you?
I know you have books but I am sure not everything is documented? I hope a Dominican can major in History and take special interest in all things Dominican and can understudy you.
Please try to convince someone……… thanks.
hey! the mountains remain the same..hehe what a gr8 an awesome God we got.
interesting..i got no clue..i’d like to know..this has been a gr8 change uh from way back then to now
WOW! Does anyone knows what Grandbay Street is called today?
This is the wooden bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane David and replaced by the EC Loblack bridge, is it not?
My goodness, I am awed by this photo.It shows how much things have changed. This could be 100 years ago. How will Roseau look in the next 100 years? Which buildings would become the new historical buildings?
This is the Dominica my late mother would have known …
I’m loving this pic, it’s priceless. Imagine young pple like me seeing how our country was back in the days. Looking at it, one would never believe that’s Independence Street today ;) lovely
But this looks good
This is gold. I luv this