As you begin the weekend, lets’ see how well your brain still works after a week on the job. Can you identify the street in Roseau shown in this photograph which was taken more than 150 years ago? How many of the questions below can you correctly answer?
- The name of this street has been changed. State both the original and current names.
- What year was the name changed?
- How many buildings can you identify? Name some new buildings which are currently located on that street.
- When was this picture taken? Was it the 1600s, 1700s, or 1800’s?
- Can you name any lakous (yards) which were situated in the immediate area?
- Can you name the building on that street which housed a secondary school? What school was it and in what year?
- One of the buildings on that street was used as a platform for political meetings. Can you identify that building?
Give it a shot and let’s see what you come up with. We will compare answers next week.
The picture was taken at Independence Street, Roseau; with the view of Dominica Trade Union.
The Union is the Dominica Trade Union.
Thats Queen May Street. I Think is Water front and Allied Workers Union if my memories serve me right. Thats where the political meetings took place. The Street name changed to Independence Street. The new buildngs are Jay’s , Burtons, former BFC bank , the building on the angle of Kennedy Avenue and Independence Street and the NCCU. Photo was taken in 1800s.
The roads here are actually better than the roads they are building in Dominica now, notice how the road is slopping on both sides to allow water to run down to the sides into the drains. Nowadays they building some kind of flat road where water settling on the top creating POTHOLES
Lagoon….well my takeaway from this throwback flic…is the 4wheel horsepower,how he have so much parking space,roseau today you can’t even park a bicycle
I would guess the photo was taken either in the late 1800s or early 1900s.
: How fondly I remember Dominica from my childhood (ages 6 & 7 years old) I then returned to visit as a young adult and surprised Mrs. Charles out of her wits when I walked down into her yard unannounced, calling out her name and “Hello-o-o. She came to her doorway and exclaimed in amazement “Genny-?-!”. I said “Yes, it’s me and ran to her for a warm embrace. We had a wonderful visit over her wonderful cinnamon tea. I also visited Mr. Leech at his estate in Rosalie; he said he was “vexed” that I could now visit longer. hi right hand man Ambrose may have still been there or moved away-? I have so many wonderful memories; the sky high lush mountains, ao high and rugged. The rushing rivers with rocks to jump; & the wild ocean & dug out canoe rides, perfectly balanced canoes to hit just the right wave at the right time. “Kids, don’t you move!” We could capsize. The stone penny bread bakeries–only stores in La Plane then. We had an old horse, Mischief, or Mister, and a darling…
Yea, but you have not yet identify the area in the photograph!
I see your excitement, but perhaps in your excitement your forgot what you were suppose to be doing and that is to identify the picture where it was taken.
Seems to me the photograph was taken more than a hundred years ago!
I the kid (doh know), I tried to identify it; I think I know but I doh want to talk eh!
Hahahahahahahahah!
I born in de country; I doh is from Town nu! I is Wesley boy.
Piper’s step. Independence Street.
Independence Street, formerly Queen Mary St.
I would say the name was changed in 1979.
The building with the porch was used for political meetings.
I can say for sure that the street is Independence Street, formerly Queen Mary Street. Two buildings on the left side of the picture are still there. They are the Trade Union Hall and Piper building.
As far as i know …
Now known as independent street formally queen mary street..
On the left is pipers step and the old workers union building
Directly oposite pipers step is the location now known as Jackson shop
On the right is where nccu is at presently
Queen Mary Street, then Independence Street, during the patrick john time in office
Allied and Workers Union Building, Piper building, Roseau Hostile, then Continental Inn, now Roseau Credit Union.
St. Martin School, before it was called non-school.
Picture taken in the 1800’s.
Jean ribes
I did not recognize the street or buildings, but thought the photo must have been taken in the 1800’s.G
King George V Street
Here’s my two cents:
* The name of this street has been changed. State both the original and current names: – Formerly Queen Mary street, now Independence Street
* How many buildings can you identify? Name some new buildings which are currently located on that street? – Building with Piper’s Step…((building with white step on left of the woman walking past the rear of the horse); Burtons, Jays Bookstore, NCCU, Charlo’s shop, Home Base (tile place)
* When was this picture taken? – I’d say the 1800’s
* Can you name the building on that street which housed a secondary school? What school was it and in what year? – Dominica Grammar School was on this street, in the the Piper (step) building, in the late 1800’s.
That’s Queen Mary street now called independence street don’t know when the name changed I think is was around 1999 might be wrong
I see Piper house with the big steps where swinging stars play Every year
I see the little house that sits across from the Banque Francais where the tire shop was. That’s where the political meetings used to take place
Pound yards is not far from there and cork street short cuts are also close by.
I know the Saint Martin school sits all the way up that street at the top of the hill but I don’t know the other schools cause that’s way before my kawat days
Very innovative! An excellent attempt to get us to know more about our local history. However, it would have been made easier if the task was done in a survey format: the questions given along with the availability of ticking the answers.
I know all the answers but to participate would require writing down all the questions and writing the answers. In its current format, it is not “user friendly” and too time consuming. Do it like when you do the polls.
Good initiative though!!
HOTEP!
Admit it Kwame, you are just waffling on this one.
The building with the white step i made out so based on that i could tell the current buildings. The cross street infront white step is Marlbourough because it says it in pic. Nice historical touch. I love seeing old pics. DNO hope we can get more of these often.
is that a slave master on that horse…my first look at that picture is very disturbing
just my personal opinion..please take it down
ADMIN: The individual in the picture appears to be a black man. However, there were also black slave masters as well so if your objection is solely on that basis your concern may still stand.
We are curious if this picture offends anyone else.
John please be rational. For that man on a horse to be a slave master that photo would have to been taken before August 1834, when slavery was abolished in our country and that is hardly possible since the first known photograph in the world dates from just two years earlier I believe. Anyway, believe it or not we had free blacks in Dominica even before then, who could afford a horse, the common way of going about before the arrival of the motor car. Why, even the postman, a black postman would go around on a horse to deliver the mail.
In Roseau mail was never delivered no other way but by foot even when Goodwill was established the mail delivery persons use to walk even up to St.Arumant.
The person on the horse could be a police those days they patrol on horse back.
That’s Grandby St, currently Independence Street. Most likely taken in the 1800s.
Still recognizable are: The Trade Union bldg, MaPiper House (step), the bldg currently housing Jackson Shop, Ma Emmanuel House (replaced by the credit union)
There was a lakou to the rear of the old Trade Union Bldg.
Awesome Pic!! Would love to see some more like this. Thanks DNO!
That’s Independence St. Dominica trade union. Also piper building. Street name was Queen Mary Street. Not sure the year .