He was John Archer, a notorious, habitual criminal during the early years of the 20th century. A former soldier with the Second West India Regiment in his native Barbados, Archer arrived in Trinidad in 1887 as a stowaway on a ship, after fleeing the Panama Canal where he had gone to work but landed in trouble. He continued his violent ways in Trinidad where he was an alcoholic known for frequent street fights and use of obscene language. By the time Archer tallied up 119 convictions, he was called by the nickname "Bad John". Even a 1902 Mirror report on one of his court trials said he was "better known as 'Bad John’." Despite his reputation, Archer, a wharf worker, was credited with saving three persons from drowning in the muddy depths of the Port of Spain harbour. Ironically, Archer drowned in 1916. He was believed to be aged 62. Sources: Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago by Lise Winer Freddie Kissoon, Newsday, 2010 Photo: John “Bad John” Archer, Argo Newspaper, 1913 (Source: Dominic Kalipersad, January 16, 2020)
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 Today, we celebrate the legendary steelpan pioneer Elliot “Ellie” Mannette, who is known as the co-inventor of the steelpan!
Mannette was the first person to sink the top of an oil drum into a concave surface, thereby changing the structure of the steelpan and how notes were placed upon it. He was born on November 5th 1927 in Sans Souci, and spent his childhood in Woodbrook. During the 1930s, the use of bamboo for musical instruments gave way to metal instead during the Carnival season, leading to the rise of “steel-bands”. In 1939, Mannette formed his band, The Oval Boys Steelband, which later became Invaders Steel Orchestra. After Winston “Spree” Simon discovered that creating dome-like sections in the surface of his “kettledrum” led to differing notes, Ellie Mannette later reversed this process during the 1940s, sinking the surface of an oil drum and creating the steelpan as we know it today. He also invented the rubber-tipped sticks that are used to play pan, which softens the notes. Exceptionally skilled in tuning, by 1951 Mannette had created the tenor pan, and even taught rival steel bands how to play the instrument. That year, he travelled to the UK with TASPO (Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra) to present the steelpan at the Festival of Britain, accompanied by other pan leaders like, “Spree” Simon and Anthony Williams. In 1963, Mannette was invited by the US Navy to create the US Navy Steelband. He toured the US for years, educating and creating steel bands throughout the country, and by 1994 headed the steelpan programme at West Virginia University. US President Clinton bestowed upon him the 1999 National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honour in traditional arts. Mannette has been highly awarded, receiving the 1969 Hummingbird Silver Medal, an Honorary Doctorate from UWI in 2000, and was admitted to the United States Hall of Fame of the Percussive Arts Society in 2003. The Ellie Mannette Park was named in his honour in Port of Spain in 2001. Sadly, on August 29th, 2018 he passed away in West Virginia. This photo showing Ellie Mannette tuning a tenor pan is courtesy of the Trinidad Express Newspaper, 29 August 2018. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago. (Source: National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago, August 8, 2023) ·  DidYouKnow that June 26th, 2023 marked 109 years since Port of Spain was officially incorporated as the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago?
Today, we’re sharing this aerial photo of Port of Spain, circa 1960s, showing a glimpse of the city from the port to the Northern Range. Do you recognize any current buildings? Can you spot others that are no longer standing? This photo is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Photo Collection. (Source: National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago)  Did you know that the Empire Windrush’s first port of call in the Caribbean was actually here in Trinidad and Tobago!
On May 20th 1948, the Empire Windrush arrived in Trinidad and Tobago after leaving the United Kingdom with over 300 servicemen and their families who were in transit to Barbados, Jamaica, and British Guiana. Later that same day, the Empire Windrush departed Port of Spain, taking 177 persons from Trinidad and Tobago onwards to Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba, Bermuda, and then finally to Tilbury Docks in London. This began what we know today as the mass migration of post-war Caribbean settlers to the United Kingdom, known as the Windrush Generation. Many Trinbagonians were part of this generation, and they made significant contributions to the music, culture, society, and politics of the United Kingdom. Some Trinbagonians pictured here who were part of the Windrush generation are: Samuel Selvon, author. Harold Phillips, also known as Lord Woodbine, known for his influence on The Beatles. V.S. Naipaul, author. Baroness Floella Benjamin, actress, author and politician. The photo of author Sam Selvon is courtesy of the book, “Insight Guides to Trinidad & Tobago” published by Insight Guides, London. The photo of author V.S. Naipaul is courtesy of the book, “Letters Between A Father And Son” by V.S. Naipaul. These books are part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Reference Collection. The photo of Baroness Floella Benjamin is courtesy of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Jan 8th 2023. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection. The photo of Lord Woodbine is courtesy of the Liverpool Echo. Carol, et al. “Windrush War Hero Who Smuggled George Harrison into Hamburg.” Liverpool Echo, 30 Dec. 2019, http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/.../windrush-war-hero-who.... The photo of the Empire Windrush is courtesy of the Windrush Foundation. “About Us.” Windrush Foundation, 23 Dec. 2020, windrushfoundation.com/about-us/. References: Lloyd’s Shipping Index: Voyage Supplement April - June 1948. This is courtesy of Caird Library & Archive, United Kingdom. The Shipping Reporter. “Over 100 Sail to U.K.” The Port of Spain Gazette, 21 May 1948. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection. (Source: National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago, July 9, 2023) Trinidad and Tobago’s distinctive nineteenth-century architecture survives not only in grand mansions,but in many more modest old houses that linger in our rural landscape creating an architectural blend of the old world and the new . Though rapidly succumbing to the ravages of time, the quaint homes of yesteryear are still very much a part of Trinidad’s landscape. The cosy atmosphere to these old homes that cannot fully be replicated in a modern structure. These homes were built by hand using local timber to provide families a form of shelter from the storms of life. Wooden houses, made of local timber (like the one seen in the attached photo ) were raised off the ground, to protect against floods and provide ventilation, and often featured a pitched roof . The front steps usually led to a gallery that served as a area for the family to gather on afternoons to relax and socialize with each other .In this photo the front steps lead directly to interior of the house. The use of the pillars also increased the living space by providing an “under-the-house” area in which most daily family activities occurred, and the family retreated to the upper section of the home on evenings. Home improvement was always an ongoing activity around the 1960s and 70s , and the first room to increase in size was most notably the kitchen area. These old family homes capture the spirit of those who have been born, raised, and who ended their days within the walls. From the welcoming double-panel doors to the bygone memory of children playing between the raised pillars below, echoes of an era gone still can be heard. What did you home looked like in the decade you were born? Look out for Part 2 of this. (Source: Virtual Museum of TT, June 10, 2023) Photo taken from Angelo Bissessarsingh's Photo Album Collection. House in Grande Rivierre ( 1970)   Believed to be one of the longest living persons in Trinidad and Tobago, he had been kidnapped into the slave trade in 1850.
Campbell (pictured) was illegally kidnapped by Portuguese slave traders in his home village in the Congo. He was then taken to the coast with other captives, and sent to the Americas on a slave ship. While in transit, a British warship intercepted the vessel and arrested the slave traders. Campbell and others who had been abducted from their homes were sent to St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean. They were a few of many enslaved Africans who were removed from slave ships by the British Royal Navy after the Slave Trade Act of 1807 was passed. This Act made the British slave trade illegal, although the trade continued in French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and in parts of the Americas. Beginning in 1810, the British established treaties that allowed them to use their naval vessels to patrol the West Africa coast and the Caribbean Sea, stopping and searching ships of other nations suspected of participating in the illegal trade. The kidnapped Africans found on these ships in the Caribbean Sea were taken to British Caribbean colonies, while those found on ships off the West African coast were sent to St. Helena or Sierra Leone. Referred to as “recaptives,” or “Liberated Africans,” by the British, many of them were eventually taken to British colonies to fill post-Emancipation labour shortages. Between 1841 and 1861, a total of 6,581 recaptives were sent to Trinidad from Sierra Leone and St. Helena as indentured labourers. Tobago received smaller numbers—292 people from St. Helena in 1851 and 225 during 1862. William “Panchoo” Campbell (pictured) was among those sent to Tobago from St. Helena. He settled in Speyside in 1871 until his death at 115 years of age in December 1938, still bearing the scars of branding on his skin. This photo of William “Panchoo” Campbell is courtesy of "The Book of Trinidad" (2010) by Gérard Besson and Bridget Brereton. This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Reference Collection. (Source: National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago, July 29, 2022) References: Alford, C. E. R. A Guide Book to Tobago. Trinidad Pub. Co., 1936. Archibald, Douglas. Tobago: Melancholy Isle, Volume III, 1807-1898. Westindiana, 2003. Besson Gérard A., and Bridget Brereton. The Book of Trinidad. Paria Publ., 2010.  Travellers throughout the world have always sought hospitable places to rest and eat. The history of the Miller’s Guest House in Tobago goes back many years but has always involved the essential concept of hospitality. Built in 1951 and substantially remodelled to meet modern day standards , the Miller’s Guest House in Tobago still captures the ambiance of a traditional guest house of long ago ,with architecture that evokes the tranquil lifestyle of people the mid-1900s. This family operated guest house was a pioneer establishment in the accommodation sector in Tobago. The first owner Mrs Luvinia Miller , of mixed ethnicity left her home in Barataria to move to Tobago in the 1940s to visit her family members. Luivina who was fondly referred to by many as a Matriarch of Buccoo Point, while in Tobago fell in love with Dusty Miller an inter-island steamship captain and got married. Her family in Tobago , in what seems inconceivable by today’s real estate standards, sold her a plot of land near Buccoo Bay for $50.00 and together with her husband who spent most of his time at sea they built a charming home on the plot of land near the Buccoo beach front. When Winston talks of his mum, the first thing that comes to his mind is her warm spirit, kindness and hospitality. Winston, the Miller’s son says his underlying memory of his mum is of the kitchen. Along with the many baking delights she was a great cook. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and this was certainly the case with Luvinia. It was here she put her magical culinary skills to work by preparing mouth - watering dishes and delicious breads, cakes and pastries. "She always did make time to put good food on the table, even when there wasn't a lot of money to prepare it," Winston said. Dunstan and Luvinia soon started welcoming and entertaining guests at their charming house. Dustan while on shore leave would often invite his colleagues on ship to have a meal prepared by his wife and offer them a place to spend the night.Now in the 1940s and 50s Tobago was not as developed as it is now .There were no restaurants as obtains today and meals were home- made . It was the era before Tobago was fully developed and tourists to its shores were limited in numbers , the days when backpackers came looking for adventures. In taking about his mom Winston claims that it was his mum’s culinary skills and hospitable nature that served as the catalyst to transform the Miller’s Home into a Guest House. According to Winston, one day a back packer who happened to be passing through Buccoo Point on an island trek , smelt the aroma of food being cooked . He followed the sent of the aroma by tracking along the beach and stopped in front of the Miller’s Home from where the aroma of cooked food was coming . He called out to the owners and when Luvinia came out he said “ Ma , I am hungry and can’t find anything to eat . Would you be kind enough to offer me something to eat ". Being the kind hearted , hospitable person she was Luvinia invited the stranger into her home and provided him with a home cooked meal. After the meal the stranger inquired if she had a spare room he could rest for the night. Luvinia , being the compassionate soul that she was let the weary traveller spend the night in one of her rooms for which he paid a small fee the next morning on his departure. At that time the thought of converting her home into a guest house never entered her mind. But from time to time she did provide accommodation and meals to any traveller, including newly married couples seeking a retreat who wanted to stay at the Miller’s House. After some years of marriage, Dunston her husband became ill and eventually lost his eyesight. Luvinia ‘s world changed drastically since she was now burdened with the responsibility of taking care of her ill husband as well as finding money to buy foodstuff and other basic amenities to upkeep her family . In 1951 realisation dawned on Luvinia that she could make an income by providing accommodations and meals to weary traveller or couples looking for that ideal retreat to spend their vacation.The property was ideally located on the beach front , making it even more attractive to travellers and visitors to the island. Thus the idea of establishing Miller’s Guest House for travellers and visiting tourists from other countries was born in 1951. The newly created guest house soon became a successful enterprise due to the Mrs Miller’s cooking skills, sociable nature and friendly personality. Talk soon spread of the Miller’s Guest House in Tobago that offered delicious home cooked meals and a friendly, relaxed, easy-going, social place to stay. With the passage of time Luvinia soon earned the name as the Matriarch of Buccoo Point. With her small business enterprise, she was able to support herself and her family. Today the manager and owner Winston Pereira, carries on his mother’s legacy. Renovations have been done to the original structure and modern amenities have been added to keep trend with modern times. The Miller’s Guest House even has an onsite restaurant a bar overlooking Buccoo Beach which is named after Luvinia. Efforts have been made by Winston, however, to retain the character of the First Miller’s Guest House. Like his mother ,he too lives in the Guest House with his family and is always around if you need to find out about places to visit in Tobago . He still retains his mother’s legacy of a communal kitchen area where guests are free to prepare their own meal if they so desire .On any given day Winston can be seen interacting with his guests making sure they are comfortable feel right at home. "My mom was amazing,” Winston said "Anyone who came to the Miller’s house was welcomed”. He remembers the warmth and hospitality she showed to anyone that came to her house and now that he is the owner he tries to follow in her footsteps . His mum was his source of inspiration and now he too is creating his own story and legacy of the MILLER’S GUEST HOUSE in Tobago. Photo of Luvinia was shared with me by present owner and manager of Miller’s Guest House Winston Pereira. (Source: Virtual Museum of T&T, August 5, 2002)  Taken from Angelo Bissessarsingh's archives
This iconic photo shows a scene that was played out countless times under merciless sun in the canefields of Trinidad during the period of indentureship. Here, the labourers squat on a railway line to take a meal. The looming clouds overhead obscure the light, but this break may have been mid-morning, since cane-cutting often began at 4:00 a.m and earlier to avoid the brunt of the sun. They ate from tin carriers which may have held a bit of roti and aloo, talkaree or maybe dal-bhat (dhal and rice) or khora bhat (pumpkin and rice) . There was no shade in the stubbled canefield so the meal had to be taken in the open sun. A drainage canal in front of the lunching group is visible in the photo and one can probably assume that after consuming the meal, these labourers would have bathed their brows and hands in the muddy trench and then returned to work. (Source: Virtual Museum of TT, May 18, 2023) |
T&T news blogThe intent of this blog is to bring some news from home and other fun items. If you enjoy what you read, please leave us a comment.. Archives
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