I was just a little boy then, but I remember every saturday morning, Maas Alvin's "Milk Truck" picked up a number of local women to take them to market in Santa Cruz. Those were the days long before local taxi's. These women who spent all friday, and most of the night, frying fish (and eels!), used part of their profit to buy merchandise (mostly food-kind) which they then brought back to the district to sell. This was the pioneering stages of commerce in the district, and we should never forget these wonderful people. I have one question though: why was Maas Alvin's truck called "The Milk Truck"?

Because he used to deliver milk in the truck!
I think he picked up his daily supply of milk in places like Petter and then made his deliveries in Mandeville. That way it was convenient to take passengers from Treasure Beach to Santa Cruz, I believe, since this was along his milk route.
If anyone has a different explanation, thanks in advance for the correction.

Memory,I think you meant Pepper instead of Petter.

I remember hearing about "PumPum's" Milk Truck too. Those were surely some of the good old days.
Please keep the memories coming in - Love Dem!

The Milk Truck will run its milk route during the weekdays,then it will take the women to market in Santa Cruz on saturday.

True True, of course you're right! I certainly meant Pepper! See what haste can do!
Thanks.

Thanks Memory; I had a vague recollection about that but was kinda hazy on the details.

"PumPum" had two sidemen on his truck paying 2 pounds per week. He decided to cut cost by firing
one and pay the other 3 pounds. Sideman no.2 grew some muscles from lifting all those milk containers
Makes him look like Hulk. No one would want a free
ride because of that guy. "Shem" I think his name was.Don't know what became of that guy. The one that was fired (I won't name) turned out to be a
successful businessman right here in TB.

Bowl I see you are trying to be cautious when calling names but you should not have called any names at all,and of course your clue to the other gentleman is a big give away.

Did you know also that the first students who went to STETHS from Sandy Bank had to travel on that same milk truck until other means of transportation came about. Wasn't that a tiresome journey for those students? And the good thing is that they all did well at STETHS and became prosperous adults. These are the things these nowadays students need to hear. They have so much going for them in comparison to students like those and yet so many are wasting their time and many get involved in all kinds of trouble.

Careful u are so right. And to refer to mass alvin in that manner is disrespectful.

I dont think to refer to Mass Alvin in that way is disrespectful. Everyone call him that. He never get upset. "Be Careful" I would love for you to explain to me what is disrespectful about that name. Bowl you could have call the name of the other gentleman. Isn't this a forum where freedom of speech is accepted?

C'mon guys. We all grew up hearing everyone, young and old, referring to Maas Alvin with that nick name. I would think folks even addressed him in person as such. I am sure Bowl meant no disrespect.

I know for sure Mass Alvin did\nt like to be call that name ,his family may feel offended.

Bowl,[edited by TB.Net],the man name is Alvin James if someone had call u a nick name or any one of your family it would upset ,[edited by TB.Net]

Careful and be careful,[edited by TB.Net]....These are memories and jokes,just laugh and not take outta context....

Hi people Mass Alvin is part of my family I did'nt take it out of context...I use to call him pum, pum,he just answer to me with a smile, people please relax.

That milk truck was a blessing. I was one of those students who travelled to STETHS on the milk truck, in the back, with the milk containers. It was the only mode of transportation we had at the time that would allow us to make it to school on time. Getting home from STETHS was the challenge and, even when the school bus started running to Treasure Beach, it only came as far as the police station, so we had to walk or hitch a ride to Calabash Bay or Frenchman. I agree, most the STETHS past students turned out to do well. After graduating from STETHS, I was able to move on to institutions of higher learning achieving, among others, a Master of Science degree in Engineering and the licensed Professional Engineer status in North America.

Maas Alvin had this "nickname" long long before it acquired a different alias. I know some of his relatives, especially the more youthful ones, who have expressed concern and even displeasure whenever he is referred to with that name by anyone.
I don't think anyone here meant any disrespect to this man. On the other hand, it does not help nor is it necessary to go after Bowl, aka Hearsley, like that.
Some feel that a nickname is a loving name that is reserved for family and friends. Others don't think too much about it.

The name was given to Mass Alvin because he used to get up early in the mornings and beat the corn in the malta. The sound made during this process was the reason for that name.

I second that TB i know for sure mass alvin did not like that name. I am speaking from experiences. I will leave it at that. RIP mass Alvin.

Don't think Bowl meant anything bad, but if I may recall he was the one who was upset when the recent writer refused to say what the joke was that his grandpa uncle Maas Joe Bowl made. And people let's enjoy the memories, they are so precious.

To all of the above - enough is enough. Let Mass Alvin, my cousin rest in peace. Soon it will become a topic by itself if it is not stopped NOW!

Big D, No one said that anything was taken out of context.We just have to be cautious when calling names or giving cues as to whom we are talking about since some of us might be offended.I am not trying to make trouble here.Just trying to give some friendly advice.

Oh the good ole milk truck.I can recall one of my aunts telling me the story of how she travelled on the milk truck to Santa Cruz/Mandeville en route to Kingston where she would stay with her older sister until it was time for her to leave from Palisados to England.This was in the early 1960's.

Then there was the time when I had to go to the dentist in Santa Cruz during the early 1970's.Of course the only means of transport was the milk truck.Oh what a rocky road we travelled.I vomited so much my Mama had to stuff my chest with newspaper.

I will never forget those memories and Maas Alvin.He was such a blessing to the community.May his soul rest in peace!!!

I would Definately say the milk truck was a blessing to all surrounding areas of Treasure Beach for commerce and transportation.

The James took it to a higher level by providing TREASURE GIRL and TREASURE QUEEN later as a means of transportation and inter Parish Commerce.

This all Started by the Milk Truck.

There were many good people in the past and let's hope for better people in the future.

Thank you Cousin. I meant for this to pleasure the memory cells, not aggravate the nerve cells. Now back to Dem Good Ole Days, like remembering how the old folks used to "bake" pone (corn or potato) in dutch pots covered in hot coal. Mi love dem tings de but lawd sah, di pitata pone always a gimme heart burn!!

Greatbaybwoy,
Did you know that the pudding was referred to as hell-a-top,hell-a-bottom and hallelujah in the middle?

Fire a top,fire a bottom and pudding in the middle.

greatbaybwoy, yu give mi a good laugh............because the "pitata pone" gimme a hard time too wid the heart burn........so I can identify with you. But boy it nice with a cup a coffee in the morning, not to mention the corn pudding with the coffee too !!! Boy Ja, nice nuh fe true.

I remember mass, Alfred (papa) driving the milk truck in those days picking up the market people for Santa Cruz and Mandeville........and you better get up early in the morning because papa used to leave out at about 4am. Those were the days.......by the way what happen to papa?

I used to hear Maas Alvin truck horn blowing in the early morning on his way to pick up the vendors. It used to say, "Pum-Pum a come, Pum-Pum a come". Those were sweet, sweet days and I really enjoyed the above comments as well.

Yes fi true Did-u-know, that's only the 2nd time I've heard that description. Heh heh, good one! And coolness, we're dealing with double jeopardy right there mi fren: coffee is not friendly to the digestive system either. Hope you have the anti-acid close by.

Its a pleasure to read about the good old days. One thing though the name pum pum did not ofend old James.Once he had a mishap below the Police station and after the crash he cried out no more pum pum.Until this day the corner is called pum pum corner.

I am sorry if my piece offended anyone but I
never once heard Maas Alvin "bite" over his nickname.
Back then it never had today's meaning.
Maas Alvin's youngest son Vinny is my friend from
school days until today. We use to sit beside each
other in Sandy Bank School. He had a nickname for me
"Pusley" instead of Hursley. I would never have written anything about his dad that would upset him.
Another thing is his father was a roll model for so many successful people in this area.

You not easy 'Sweets' - What a way you full of expression -talk about PUN! Keep on writing - very hillarious and lighthearted.
Laughter is good for the soul

No need to apologise Bowl. Those of us who know you know that you only meant well. And Sweets, you remind me of how, as children, we came up with a lot of interpretations of sounds (I doubt you intended a pun here). We even used to put words to the singing of the birds.

Mr Alvin James was awarded a contract to collect milk cans filled with milk from the south St Elizabeth area, and deliver them to a milk processing plant in Mandeville. To do this he acquired a 'Milk truck'.He ferried these cans to Balaclava and later directly to Mandeville. This was in the late 40's. I used to travel back and forth on his truck at the end of each school term,to catch the train into Kingston while I attended High school. I graduated in 1951. That milk truck started over 60 years ago. I paid 4 shillings each time I rode that truck.

Re Mass Alvin: He was in my life starting at age 6 when I would eat lunch with PT in Ms Doris kitchen would pump water from the tank.My first trip was on the truck to a fair in Frome Westmorland.I later rode the truck to get to school with his son Raston.Then came the Treasure Girl,Confidence bus would leave me at Ralphs station Mandeville where he saw that I sat up front once the bus broke down, I spent the night at his home .I feared Mass Alvin my sons loved him for the cool rides in his 4wheel drive jeep in Pedro Ground.Lovingly Remembered.

What amaster piece you guys have portrayed here on t/b. net the memories just kept flowing back i have truly enjoyed every story of these folks i knew so well please /please keep these fantastic tales steeped in local history i love it best wishes namanN

Brother Alvin a gentleman, he and my Dad Stephen Ebanks use to Preach at Sandy Bank, good old days. have blessed day.Headley