June 1999 Table
of Contents
2nd ANNUAL FUND RAISING TASTING OF WINES AND NON-ALCOHOLIC WINE
by Sara Parker
Historic New Plymouth, once the second-largest city in The Bahamas, hopes to become
the first official Historic District in the Family Islands, according to one of the
founders of the Architectural Preservation Foundation of Green Turtle Cay, Mr David
Bethell, proprietor of New Plymouth's restored Plymouth Rock Liquors and Cafe and Ocean
Blue Gallery.
New Plymouth already leads the Family Islands in preserving its architectural heritage,
according to Patrick J Bethel, scheduled guest speaker for the 2nd Annual Fund Raising
Tasting of Wines and Non-Alcoholic Wine sponsored by the William Brewer Company Ltd and its subsidiary, Bristol Cellars. Mr Bethel's speech was actually presented
by Jack Hardy, publisher and editor of the Abaco Journal.
Funds raised by last year's wine tasting helped restore New Plymouth's Old Gaol and
200-year old latrine. The nearly $1,200 raised this year will continue to help with
the Gaol and the Foundation's new project: to restore the old cookhouse near the
Local Government headquarters for use as a library, another example of profitable, usable
architectural preservation.
A stroll through New PLymouth's pristine, sidewalk-like streets is a journey back
to a gentler time, in a town where few people lock their doors even now. Nearly 80
preservation supporters turned out for the cause on 10th April, again held at the
charmingly preserved New PLymouth Club and Inn, home to proprietor Wally Davis (and the ghost
of former owner Capt Billy Roberts), just across the street from the Loyalist Memorial
Sculpture Garden for which the tiny town is so famous. Just down the street is the
Albert Lowe Museum - the oldest museum in The Bahamas - preserved by New PLymouth's
famous son, artist Alton Lowe.
According to Mr Bethel, "It is exciting to see what has been preserved in New Plymouth.
He detailed "functional features of the early houses, many of which can still be
seen today:
"a) Steep roofs in order to take the rainfall and, at the same time, cause the the
life of the roof to be extended;
"b) Wooden shutters - very practical ones - the middle split type, giving 100% ventilation
as well as serving as storm shutters at hurricane time. Today we buy cheap awning
types and are lucky to get 40% ventilation;
"c) Dormy windows - another practical feature and are very attractive architecturally.
I am pleased to note that this type of design is returning;
"d) High ceilings, causing the house to be much cooler as well as more attractive.
Of course, it is more expensive;
"e) Covered verandahs - giving protection from sun and rain, and a social gathering
place for friends and family;
"f) Ground pins or wooden pillars which give strength at hurricane time and kept the
house two to three feet off the ground, resulting in improved ventilation;
"g) Decorative features - not functional, but rather to show class and financial status."
Mr Bethel mentioned three other Abaco communities settled at about the same time as
New Plymouth: "Hope Town, still very interesting but by no means in the class of
New Plymouth. Many of the houses were removed to Nassau or other Abaco communities
during the 1930s. In the 1950s and even in the 1960s, old houses were demolished to make way
for more modern houses. I was able to count 94 houses in the old town, of which about
four were pre-1900. The were probably 12 that pre-dated 1926.
"The second is Cherokee Sound, a smaller community, where I counted 74 houses of which
three were pre-1900 and probably fewer than ten pre-1926. The majority of them were
pre-1950. I am glad to say that even little Cherokee is beginning to show interest
in the old houses of the town and it is not unusual to hear a conversation about how
old Gladys' house is and how it came from Sweetings Village before the turn of the
century.
"The third place is Marsh Harbour, which was settled in 1784, making it the oldest
community on the mainland and the most disappointing one from an architectural point
of view. A drive through the town, old and new, showed only four houses of interest,
one pre-1900 and three pre-1926. Regrettably, the town has lost the little charm it had,
and little concern is being shown by the residents.
"This brief look at three other communities makes me really proud of New Plymouth.
There is no doubt that you, the people of New Plymouth, are doing a creditable job
in preserving the historic character and architectural integrity of your town. I
commend you and congratulate you."
Mr Bethel concluded by quoting from the Preservation Foundation Survey report from
the Texas A & M team: "The charm of New Plymouth (and therefore its attraction to visitors) lies in the totality
of the experience of New Plymouth life. The arrival and unloading of supplies at
the Public Dock, and the coming and going of the ferries, and even the occasional
'inconvenience' of vehicles on Parliament Street, are part of that charm.
"Let us ensure that New Plymouth retains that charm for citizens and visitors alike."
The 1999 Wine Tasting included a raffle with half the $263 proceeds going to the winner,
Mrs Meredith Hoffman, who promptly donated it back to the preservation effort. Mrs
Hoffman and her husband, Tim, are the new managers of the newly refurbished Green
Turtle Club. Second prize - a collection of best selling Sutter Home wines: Chardonnay,
Cabernet Sauvignon and White Zinfandel, donated by Chris Jones, Sutter Home Regional
Sales Manager, Caribbean - was won by Mrs Ruth Jones.
Tim Hoffman said of New Plymouth: "It is such a wonderful town. So many towns just
level everything. We are really looking forward to helping preserve it."
Mr David Bain of William Brewer Company Ltd thanked Wally Davis for hosting the event
again at the New Plymouth Club and Inn. He also thanked his wine team, including
Consultant Tim Clarke and Arthur Johnson of Bristol Cellars, for another elegant
evening benefitting architectural preservation. He promised: "We'll continue to do this because
we think particularly highly of Green Turtle Cay and New Plymouth and their efforts
to preserve our heritage."
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