PHOTO OF THE DAY: Roseau back in the days

Photo by Anonymous.

Editor’s note: This photo was submitted to Dominica News Online anonymously. We don’t know who took the photo and the exact date it was taken but it sure will bring back some memories for many Dominicans.

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98 Comments

  1. John
    June 27, 2016

    By the looks of the vehicles, the years of the vehicles look to be in the late 1950’s or in the 1960’s. The picture may be in the early 1960 era. The truck looks like a Ford which were very popular in Dominica during that time.

  2. January 23, 2016

    i lived and worked in Roseau in 1999, the picture reminds me a lot of exactly how it was then, not a lot has changed by the looks of things and this is special because of not selling out to mass market tourism.. happy days in the sun

  3. virgo
    June 18, 2012

    I wonder! what year was that? I guess i was a little girl in those days.

  4. Merica Scotland
    June 9, 2012

    Thanks for this wonderfull memories from the old market at the back (bay front)was the Town council upstairs was the post office.shillingford nassief.Do you all remember you could leave the house door open.Nobody enter to steal your things. We were not perfect we had the Howlings gangs we could play in the middle of the roads. fly kites,we were the fresh air kids.please more pictures like this.thanks greeting from Salo child

  5. April 15, 2012

    look how the women dress every body in a dress

  6. Anonymous
    March 15, 2012

    the days where so dark,but i want to tell you that god never wanted those day to that dark :-P

  7. amoy
    November 23, 2011

    I want to cry. What fond memories.

    • amoy
      November 23, 2011

      Okay. If is by the old market, I can see Mondesir and Frampon jewelry store and the shop, I think it was Shillingford’s.

  8. amoy
    November 23, 2011

    So where in Roseau is this? I wonder if I’m in the pic. Is it on Cross Lane or by the cinema or on the bay front?

  9. Justice and Truth
    November 15, 2011

    Indeed, fond memories. Did you notice? They are all dressed-up, hat and all. No jeans, short skirts, shorts and other immodest attire.
    I recall those days when we would also go to Church in our Sunday Best; those dresses were reserved for only Sundays. Then, there were times we went to the Botanic Gardens on Sunday afternoons, be it only for a walk with relatives and friends, we were all dressed up with socks and all When we attended cricket matches and other sports we were all dressed up with socks and all.
    On specifically Sundays visiting friends/ relatives we were all dressed up. Going to movies, matinee and in the evening as well. This included attending dances as those teenage dances. We also dressed professionally for work. I have not lost this manner of dressing.
    This is why we say, bring back the good ole days. Sadly, they are gone, never to return.
    Without discrimination, some people of today do not dress as others did in those days. This also accounts for lack of respect among people and towards others and the manner in which they present themselves specifically in the progressive countries. It is said the manner in which we dress tells a lot about us. It makes one believe that they do not know how to dress. Some of this is attributed to some designers of this era. Thank God I sew my own clothes and so I make what I like and wear what is suitable for me. Although I have noticed that the styles in the catalogues are not as they were previously to the extent I thought of contacting those establishments about it. They appear to cater to one set of people, namely the youth. There is much to state about that.
    Times do change and in some instances, not always for the better.
    What else? Children were children then and respectful. As children and adults, we had no cause for concern about illegal drugs, gun-totting people, big country-style robberies/vandalism and murders. We ask, what happened?
    It pays to reminisce about those days be it that they make us feel happy and get a good laugh out of it. We should and have every right to be as we think of how happy and satisfied we were then. We were none the worst for it.
    Only yesterday a friend and I had a discussion of specifically our high school days at the CHS. We agreed, as strict as our parents were and also the Nuns and teachers of the schools, we benefited immensely from it.
    The youth of today, be it through their own fault, could not match what we experienced in those days. For them, I wished it were as it was in those days when we were students. It is worth writing a book about.

    • warren currier
      December 23, 2015

      Ladies, Many men long for those days as well. Simpler. More sincere. No only would a girl blush, a boy would blush when he sees the girl he fancies. Where can we find you now? If you are very old today it means you are even more beautiful. How I would love to hear you tell me of those days. Let’s.

  10. David Blatcher
    November 15, 2011

    I think this poster was taken from my Dominican Diaspora web site

  11. van
    November 14, 2011

    Bought back childhood memories of my sister and I going to town with grandmother, spending almost a day there. Well scrubbed and dressed.

    Highlight being my sister and I eating fish and rice whilst granny shopped.

    Thank you

  12. blessed
    November 13, 2011

    @hope…to those digital kids tell me what memory you all will have by the time you reach 2015..I’m a 70s born and man nothing yet has beaten those days especially living next to ma pampo.digital kids you all know how to play bebelle’,hide and sick,big stone,i declare,ring games,hunting birds and roast them….you all know what it is to go river and wash and spend the whole day on beach while ur moda come and take those clothes without u knowing…i could go on and on and on but i don’t tink u will understand.

  13. dominica 4 real
    November 13, 2011

    Wonder if i am not in this crowd lol
    when i use to go to the market to sell when my mom was unable to go. How far we havecome from. This bring back so much memories.
    This is what makes me appreciates where iam today, because it is a reflection of where we use to b.This is sentimentenal as well my
    parents are not here to see how far we came from. Lovely Dominica then and now

  14. Dominican Queen
    November 13, 2011

    This is a classic! Thanks for the memories.

    We must not measure development necessarily by highway and tall buildings. Many countries rush to have tall buildings that have no purpose. development has to be about the people. The rustic things about Dominica is what gives us our good quality life. High buildings and fast roads is what killing people in the ‘developed’ country. If a country can hang on to its culture that is good. It would be sad that you go away and come back and cannot recognize places.

    Love Dominica people!!!

  15. DANZIGER
    November 12, 2011

    Its easy to follow cuz the house stick up to Nassief had a big clock on it and we use to call the store or house ” PENDEAL”.BEAUTIFUL PICTURE I LOVE IT THANKS DNO.

  16. steve
    November 12, 2011

    ROSEAU HVNT CHANGED A BIT…..

    • dominica 4 real
      November 13, 2011

      go change it lol

    • lovely dominica
      November 14, 2011

      Ahh magwah sa

    • TeteMorne I from...
      September 3, 2012

      lol

  17. BattleRoyale
    November 12, 2011

    Wonderful pic! Loved by many. Please put more up!!!

  18. realness
    November 12, 2011

    this is so beautiful :-D

  19. xxx
    November 11, 2011

    Those were the days. Awesome.

    • yea sure
      November 12, 2011

      yea, the slavery days…

      • Justice and Truth
        November 15, 2011

        @ yea sure

        Surely, you, others and I who lived after emancipation, long after, did not live in the days of slavery. Why bring this up? Live and let live. Let bygones be bygones.
        If you think it is slavery days, it is your state of mind which needs to be transformed to this modern-day era of non-slavery days.

    • Justice and Truth
      November 15, 2011

      @ xxx

      You took my words, i.e., said it before I did. When I viewed the picture I thought the same thing: “Those were the days…”. Well, as the saying goes, “great minds think alike.” :lol: Now I have to choose other words.

  20. Ole police
    November 11, 2011

    Thanks to God for the Geneva Revolution that Nassief building in the background is no longer there. I was hoping today improvements would be made to it’s ruins…but it brings back memories though.

  21. Actually
    November 11, 2011

    Nice pic. That ‘IS’ Moses’ 3-ton Truck by de ole Market. He still has it and just last week told me he still carries stuff, mostly cargo from the port. Nice!

    • Sout Man
      November 12, 2011

      Great!!

  22. November 11, 2011

    i like to look back at these things for those were the things that make some of us leave d/a for a better life but some of us instead of a better life we only got worst and by maybe seeing the other cultures and adopting them we forget our roots but let us do less talk and as we suggest instead of building an empire where we cannot move it we should try and stop criticizing and be a part of our solution towards a better dominica not talk and blame it on others DOMINICA IS OUR HOME ,TREASURE LAND ,MOTHER, FRIEND this is where we return and party then leave and go back to slave to pay bills in d/a there is no slavery people say things hard things hard every where i have been there and known that so let,s not compare our home with the rich and famous let us just look and push forward together hand in hand GOD BLESS DOMINICA THOSE PICTURES ARE THERE TO SHOW THE YOUNG GENERATION WHAT LIFE IN THE COUNTRY USED TO BE SO KEEP THEM COMING DND

  23. Time
    November 11, 2011

    Great photo. It is before 1974 because the Nassief shop and home straight ahead in the middle, was destroyed by fire set by arsonists on 2 April 1974.

    It is before 1971, because the New Market was opened in that year and the market action was shifted to the New Market in that year. So it is probably the late 1960s.

    • JUSTICE
      November 12, 2011

      I like your comment cuz u sure know ur history of ur home….nice

    • Sout Man
      November 13, 2011

      I’m glad for the time frame too. But is the old market still operational in this photo? To my knowledge, subject to correction, trucks were not allowed to park there when the market was there. If the market has already moved, then it has to be between 1971 and 1974.

  24. hell hath no furry!!!!!
    November 11, 2011

    try coming from delice on those trucks,getting up at 4am,no sponge for your buttox and ma christian (r.i.p)always sleeping on your shoulder.man!!! but just to be going to ROSEAU,i could let her sleep all she want any never complain,cause i know when i get there,i could go back home and boast.

  25. ZANG
    November 11, 2011

    saw this on facebook great vintage

  26. Creole
    November 11, 2011

    lol wow.. nice pic alot of memories… but if you look closely..some buildngs in Roseau still look like the ones i see here…not so good… we need to see more development arund the city.. we are in 2011…. but thanks for this sure looks like everyone was really united…

    • Dubique767
      November 11, 2011

      You people need to stop…

      what does development have to do with this picture? There are thousand year-old castles and mansions in Europe…do you see someone breaking them down and replacing them modern structures?. Things of historical and architectural significance are more important than your modern-day glass towers.

      We Kubulians whine and cry about everything. garcon. weh!weh!weh!

      Keep em coming DNO…In a world full of social and economic strife, these types of photographs take me back to a time of togetherness and great joy…

      • really
        November 13, 2011

        well… I don’t see any buildings in Europe with grass growing on the roof and fallen windows.. half of the house burnt down.. rubbish all around… old paint.. just an eysore… I know for sure England don’t have houses like what I see on King George V Street and on Hanover street all around Roseau.. lots that just full of rubbish and bush growing all around.. stupzzz

  27. Dominica
    November 11, 2011

    I know that place.. this is the lane behind Garraway Hotel and in front of La Robe Creole there..watching down the lane.. where the French Embassy place is and down to the end of the road… between the juice man and the pet shop…changes but yet things remain the same.

    • Crapaud
      November 11, 2011

      thank you…..now i see is dat spot wi

  28. natureboy,Texas,D/A
    November 11, 2011

    we had nice spongy seats on them trucks coming all the way from Itassi(vieille case)because it would be hell on our boomsies to sit through this long ride garcon.

    • Anonymous
      November 13, 2011

      SPONGY SEATS CAME IN LATE SO U R STILL TOO YOUNG.

  29. Memories
    November 11, 2011

    Wow…that is late 60’s early 70s..at least before the Nassief shop, now Ruins, was burnt. This is Moses’s truck waiting for Grand bay passengers..what a life. The real Roseau.

    • Sout Man
      November 11, 2011

      Hey, that’s so true. You had me joggling my memory about that 3-ton truck, too. Moses and Maurice from Pichelin, Jeune from Tete Morne and Shayere and cowbov Kopas, (Elo), from Lalay, all had 3-ton trucks. The toss up is between Kopas and Moses since Jeune and Shayere had new trucks around the early 70’s. I like the trend of the discussion though.

    • living in sxm
      November 11, 2011

      so maybe i was on board then because i’m from pichelin lol
      o the memories and my brother drove a one ton together with teeson from pichelin
      those were the days ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

      • Sout Man
        November 11, 2011

        Are you refering to Garner? I used to give Fella hard times by riding on the tailboard on our way from school in Roseau.

      • living in sxm
        November 11, 2011

        yes he is my bro and ruford too
        so maybe i know you then because i use to go to chs in the 70’s lol

      • Sout Man
        November 12, 2011

        OK, I know exactly who you are. But TMI already. I like my anonimity. I’ll only say that ‘Wholeday’ for Hulet John was my good buddy and we rode that truck at that time. Although I was small, your sister Linda was sweet-looking though.

      • Ole police
        November 13, 2011

        That’s Ok Sout Man keep your anonimity, you are always enlightening and thoughtful…btw i saw your bro in a Lexus. :wink:

      • living in sxm
        November 13, 2011

        you killing me tho lol
        she is still sweet looking
        you see how useful DNO is. I get an “ANON” friend over a nice PIC of history
        thkx DNO lol
        o by the way my husband is from grand bay too
        and DNO last night i had a good dream of that lovely pic and my young days in DOMINICA
        thkx again DNO for keeping those of us who are away well informed
        thkx

      • Sout Man
        November 13, 2011

        Moin zafan malayway ni frere avec lexus!! Good try Ole police, trying to crack my anonimity. Thanks for your kind words though.

        Living in sxm, I enjoyed the exchange. The trip down memory lane was great. For a change, the vibes were non-political or Dominicans insulting or putting down each other. Thanks DNO for allowing the exchange.

        God Bless!!

      • Ole police
        November 13, 2011

        One Love Bro. I’v been following both of you on this thread, I can tell we are def from the era of Peace and Love. Best wishes to you and Mrs ‘living in sxm’ too. My apologies to her because I used to stoway too much on Garner.

  30. doc. love
    November 11, 2011

    IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEIR HAS NOT BEEN A CHANGE IN 2011

    • MangoSweet
      November 11, 2011

      Doc Love, It’s indeed unfortunate that you would make such a silly and ludicrous contribution!

    • Anonymous
      November 12, 2011

      Doc, it is unfortunate that YOU have not changed since 2000!

    • Waiti girl
      November 12, 2011

      Doc, ma boy, it is unfortunate that YOU have not changed since 2000

  31. Dubique767
    November 11, 2011

    I love this. When you would not be able to sleep because of the excitement of knowing that you are going to town. Then you had to wake up at 5:30 to catch the Bedford two-ton trucks…with the smell of spice and fruits heading to the market…ahhhhhh…nostalgie…la vie bon…

    Those were the days when we did not know what stress was…

    • November 11, 2011

      I SECOND TE MOTION WITH TE SMELL OF BASILIC IN GRANMA BASKET AND MANGO AND SOURSOP SMELL MIXING WITH THE CHIVE AND YOUR BELLY TURNING LONGING TO REACH ROSEAU,WE WERE HAPPY THOUGH AND NO STRESS.DEVELOPMENT TO WHAT??LA VIE A TE BELLE;

  32. Anonymous
    November 11, 2011

    DNO for those persons who said nothing has changed, why don’t you post a pic of this area right now as is is.

  33. Hmmm
    November 11, 2011

    Nostalgia.. didn’t know Roseau during that period but this sure reminds me of my child hood days. Oh the good old days!

    • November 11, 2011

      Those of you asking for change,changeto what???you don’t even have a childhood to remember ,maybe your cell phone or lab top or ipad how very sad,do you know how to make charcoal,in case of a disaster??????????

  34. Annointed one
    November 11, 2011

    i actually have this pic as my desktop background. Got it from facebook. Good to see it here too

  35. ;
    November 11, 2011

    One thing i can say, is that is Roseau for sure.

  36. ernie
    November 11, 2011

    this picture is amazing i beleive its opposite the soufreire bus stop, i always wonder what sort of building were built in this plot of land, good history

  37. APPLE
    November 11, 2011

    wow i love it! love seeing pics from the past like the before and after pics on the whitchurch calenders

  38. We the People
    November 11, 2011

    This photo does not bring back any memories because Roseau has not changed that much.

    • Waiti girl
      November 12, 2011

      How stupidly contradictory!! Do you understand that you are saying that if Roseau had changed more your memory would have been better? Do you computer literate but conversationally illiterate folks even ponder before you type?

  39. DE CARIBBEAN CHANGE,
    November 11, 2011

    I think I am the one on the tailboard of the truck.

    • MangoSweet
      November 11, 2011

      Just say you were the proud, hard-working FOOT BOY. lol

  40. hope
    November 11, 2011

    oh myyyyyyyyyyyy…this is horrible, thank God i was not born in those all times…where are my digital kids..put your hands up!!! the 90s rock..

    • JUSTICE
      November 11, 2011

      Stop being stupid..our culture our history our past..is what got us where we are and how we are today…APPRECIATE IT!

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      November 11, 2011

      Wow, I’m impressed, NOT. You were born with a Blackberry in one hand and the TV remote control in the other.

      Appreciate your history.

    • blast me
      November 11, 2011

      hope’ you lucky there wasen’t much protection in these old days, you would not be here talking shit, you would have ended up in a latex bag.

  41. bougla
    November 11, 2011

    Wow this looks like a saturday. Many dominicans who emigrated during the fifties and have never been back would hold those kind of images in their heads! The photography is excellent.

    • living in sxm
      November 11, 2011

      true

  42. November 11, 2011

    Wow those were the days it brings back good memories of the old market with grandbay bus stop on one side and the soufriere bus stop was on the other side, i can also see miss Vera place where the big clock was, oh boy if we could turn back time nice pic thanks for making my day with that one.

    • living in sxm
      November 11, 2011

      me too lol and remembering “iris capula” lol

    • Anonymous
      November 11, 2011

      Yes I can spot Miss Vera spot/….. my mind has wondered about her… wondering if she still is alive?

      • Yes
        November 11, 2011

        if you are talking of Vera Emanuel, she is still alive, nice old lady.

  43. Shameless
    November 11, 2011

    Wow, garson look kicks. See the girl in the blue skirt with her grip in hand? That shows a country bookie just got to town. And the kardeck on the truck tailboard? He look like is his time getting a vep on the tailbord. If you ask me he look like a fella from Pte. Soufriere that was a kardeck back them we used to call Alan Kukoon.

    Those were the days when frozen joys and tablet coco was the best snack and country people were out of Roseau by 1:30 PM aboard a three or one ton Bedford Truck and it use to take 1 hour from Roseau to Mahaut…lol. By time you get there you bottom hurting on those board seat. I dont know how people from Vielle Case use to take the pressha for so long on them truck.

    • living in sxm
      November 11, 2011

      lol you making me laugh so much my son had to ask why i laughing so
      yes i remember those days going to convent high school from pichelin
      boy you really killing me
      what that really made me laugh is “By time you get there you bottom hurting on those board seat.”
      thkx for the lol tho

      • amoy
        November 23, 2011

        You from that era? I am also. I also attended CHS.

        But look memories. I just love the old Roseau. I guess I want to go back to those innocent days.

  44. mindme
    November 11, 2011

    Good ole days, trust me.

  45. November 11, 2011

    this is very cool by the old market,
    grand bay bus stop .

  46. mouth of the south
    November 11, 2011

    great photo.. i love it.. back then life didn’t have much stress… no worries about aids and all kind of diseased and crimes… just live to grow and die old….

  47. Anonymous
    November 11, 2011

    Wow! This is priceless and does bring back memories…must be the late 60s. You will notice that all of the women are in dresses, no jeans /phants :-)Whatever happened to that huge green clock in the background?

  48. forreal
    November 11, 2011

    ha ha i was not even born yet,this is exciting stuff,some more would be real nice,come on people who got them, cough them up,this our history,share them please,please please.

  49. que jay
    November 11, 2011

    Yesi!!! thats the best picture i seen on here ever.. can people who have these photos please submit some more .. this is priceless.

    • Anonymous
      November 11, 2011

      I quite agree with you. I looooove this. Can we have a few more?

    • bone
      November 11, 2011
      • MangoSweet
        November 11, 2011

        I am familiar with that An Tan Lontan site. But did not find that particular photo.

      • Positive student
        November 11, 2011

        Great website! Thanks for sharing the link. I absolutely love history…especially Dominican history.

  50. Kimmy Nimmy
    November 11, 2011

    This is just AMAZING!!!! I love it. Best photo of the day ever!!

  51. Homeboy
    November 11, 2011

    This looks like Old Street by where the Tobacco factory was located. This is history and do timeless!!

  52. Neg Gwanbay
    November 11, 2011

    I;m guessing this pic was taken where the old market use to be.

    • forreal
      November 11, 2011

      exactly this road is going towards newtown,the old market is right there.

  53. Anonymous
    November 11, 2011

    This is a WOWWW! photo. Thank you to whoever. When women used to wear dresses, and those old trucks were on the road! And the ruin was a full building! I love it! Can I take a copy?

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