Many of the younger residents and visitors spending time at the new sports park and enjoying the facilities might not be able to visualize how things were on that and adjoining properties in the past.

First of all, it was through these pasture lands (as they were then) that many of the students attending the primary and basic schools walked; and there were some frightful encounters with the cows!

The cattle also had to give way when the boys wanted to line out a pitch for a game of cricket and they were not always happy about that!

So, anyone who had a hair-raising experience with an unhappy cow (or an angry bull!) perhaps you could share your story and give us a smile from the safe distance of the passing decades.

I remember the black bull chasing me! I had to climb the lignum vitae tree that was at the pond. I really try not to remember my many encounters with these cows. May Mas, Alvin soul rest in peace.

men we were some brave kids imagine being between the ages of 7 to 10 years old walking through those two pastures every day going to school. i remember walking from my house and we would reach the first lane where miss pt lived my heart would start racing we could avoid going through the first one and go up the lane where matil lives but then we would have to deal with the dogs and jerry you guys had some that would eat us alive we would most likely would take our chances with the cows it doesnt make sense now but it made sense then.going through the middle pastures was definitely a task from frenchman i dont know how you got to climb the tree by the pond that was their favorite spot and when ever they were there we would have to walk a little but we couldnt walk too wide because,remember the old house to the right cant go too close duppy in dey. okay now we past the tree at the pond if the cows are grazing in the middle we would have to take it through the casha tree them cant go left even if there is no cows there you know why ----- hole down there and thats were nuff duppy dey,and guess what when we go through the casha them we still have to deal with the cows and be prepared for brother senior dogs. i really dont have a particular story to tell all i know we were running with the bulls before it was invented. one more thing i had to walk with the most mischievous cousin that would try in anyway to get the cows riled up none other than tiny Davies luv you tiny.this might sound stupid the main reason why the bulls would get aggressive is because they look at the boys a threat to their mates and i guess the girlz they want to make them their mate hahaha.

OMG, those were some encounters, sometimes when the cows are coming at me, i have to think fast which is safer to slide under or to climb over, the fence is low and sometimes when you are climbing over your feet slip. If i am late also that's the time my hair raise, because now i will have to face teacher Thompson and the belt. It certainly wasn't easy for kids who had to go through these experiences.

Good to Go thanks for the horrible memories of the dogs and cows - you summed it up to a T.The dogs in the lane is still a pain[edited by TB.Net].

All the children them taking taxis now.

Most of the children's take taxi to school.

It was not only angry bulls but angry cows, especially when they just had calves.Walking too close to a calf could spell trouble as the mother cow would surely dart after you.It was a wonder we never produced a Usain Bolt earlier from Treasure Beach.The property which is now the Sports Park was destined for that purpose long ago.Apart from cricket, a lot of running took place there, only that we didn't have a choice.As a child many of us felt that if a person was wearing or carrying anything red this would attract and anger the bulls.Is there any truth in this? We always see the bull fighters waving a red cloth at the bulls.I had several experiences running from the cows and the Lignum Vitae trees do not only produce our National Flower but were our safe refuge from the chasing cows.It was best if you were chased in the evenings because if it happened in the mornings you automatically would be late for school and we all now the consequence of that.What a colourful and exciting childhood we had!

My siblings and cousins had some very frightening experiences with the cows as well. Had to climb trees and wire fences and run like lightening to avoid those angry cows. I was terribly afraid of cows and dogs, even though we had lots of cows and a dog. However, those were some great days.I have many fond childhood memories which I will always cherish. My husband and I were planning on coming to TB next week for 10 days, but we had to change our plans. Hopefully, we can make it some other time in the near future.
Hi Jerry, hope you are all doing fine. This is your cousin Carol.

Hi Aunt Carol,
It is nice to know that the the angry bulls and cows have made our childhood so memorable even over two generations.I guess that was how we created our own live TV shows.I am sorry you and hubby couldn't make it to TB next week but I hope you will be able to make it soon.My family and I are doing fine.
Take care.

Looking back now, we were very daring kids. It was our short-cut to school and we were determined not to let the cows win, so we did what we had to do....be that climbing a tree or dashing under or over the fence until it was safe to proceed to school. "Dem good ole days" always bring back a smile and great conversations!!!

This thread has been an absolute delight.

Weren't there certain cows that were known by particular names, which had their own reputation for meanness? I seem to recall some such instances.

how true was this,i never witness it myself but people use to say if you climb a tree and the bulls spray the snot from his nose and it gets on your skin you would itch so bad you would fall out the tree.earl i dont remember such, what i do remember was there was a big black bull that if he was alive today and i saw him i would know him,thank god that wont happen because a few people must have had him in a good pot of beef soup,i just wish i was one of them.

As kids, we were told that we should never wear red clothing while walking across the grass-piece where the cows were. The cow would run after us if they saw anything red. Don't know how true this is because I was told that cows can only see black and white. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this matter?

I too was afraid of Mass Alvin's cows when I used to go to Sandy Bank School. I used to walk and kept looking in all directions as I was encircled by the cows. They were all over the grass-piece. All different shades of brown, black and white they were. All sizes and I will never forget the bull with the hump on his back. He was the king of the pack and feisty he was. No wonder hardly anything scares me nowadays as I had enough when I was a kid with those cows. Yet still they never harmed me but that fear especially when we forgot not to wear red, was heart pounding.

I remember that bull, I think it was called a Brhaman or something like that. It drowned one of my mothers bulls which had jumped the fence and was fighting with it in the pond, when its head got stuck in the muddy water. I guess they must have locked horns and the head was held down in the water. Anyone knowing about this incident could explain how it happened exactly, it was a most unusual occurrence!

Hi Spooky If I recall the Bull just figured his own way out,while I am on this topic did your family own a cow by the Name Red -Gall.

I believe so, but I am not sure. We had property adjoining yours, if you are who I think you are! There was one called Jessie, and a dog called Bubbles.

Hi Spooky,my father bought that cow from your parent there was Jessie,Red Gall also the dog Bubbles,take care and Happy Easter.

Hi TB Native,

Your memory is good. Yes, my parents had cows named Jessie, Red Gal and Bringle. I cannot remember the other names. Yes, you are correct, we had a dog named Bubbles and we took him with us to Kingston.
You said your parents had land adjoining ours, so I think you maybe Maas Curly's child.
Since you will not reveal your name to us, I will remain another TB Native.
Be good.

Hi another TB Native, be good till we see each other.

I had an awful experience with those cows.The common was cleaned out and there were piles of bushes not yet burnt. I was going through there with my seven years old son. We passed the cows little nervous looking over our shoulders. I heard my son said mommy the red bull is coming. We started to run. I ran towards the gate not even realizing that he was going around the bush. The cow went after him I could not see him but could hear him running, crying and calling mommy mommy.I was about to run towards him but something said jump the gate which I did.Then I saw him speeding and coming with the bull behind him. By the time he climb the gate the bull was there raging. If I had waited he would have gotton one of us. Even thinking about it now after so many years mkes my feet feel numb. I am glad that it is no longer a grass piece with cows because I dont know how we did not have any injury.

And I am sorry it is not still a grass piece where cows roam! I can't recall the cows being so aggressive in my time!! Could you indicate what year you had this experience?

'Another TB Native' the cow was Brindle not Bringle!

Spooky Dude my experience was in 1994. It might not have been in the good old days but I know what it was to run and climb trees from the cows in the 60's. Still have dreams about cows chasing me.

Were bulls kept in the same pasture as cows? I can understand bulls being very aggressive and dangerous, but my experience with cows has been that they are docile creatures. If a calf is threatened, then maybe a cow will become protective. Cows can be curious, and may follow someone walking through the pasture. If you run, cows are not too smart and may just run to keep up with you. I would have to go out in the early morning and afternoon and bring the cows from the pasture to the barn for milking. Bulls were kept separate, then. Never had any trouble with the cows. If they were widely scattered in a big pasture, we would sing and they would come over to check it out. What's great about this thread is everyone's childhood experiences in what I only know as the sports park. "Dem Good Old Days" is always fun and informative and keeps the community alive.

True cows were usually docile, but when they have calves they can display protective behaviour which can intimidate persons who are only used to goats. Usually there is only one bull in a herd plus 'bulkins' or young bulls and they were not separated in relatively small herds which would have existed at the time. The bulls were sold to be butchered, but the best was kept for stud purposes. Yes, the favoured bull enjoyed the good life, while his brothers became just pieces of meat!!
Van, I take it your experience with cows was not in Jamaica.

I am afraid that I am going to show my age on this one, but here goes. There was or is a lane from Calvary Tabernacle that led to the Reynolds home and one day while carrying water from a nearby well my sister was attacked by an angry cow and pushed under the low barb wire fence which caused severe cuts on her back. Not very good memories.

I worked on a dairy farm in upstate NY for several seasons in the 60's. We'd never turn our backs on a grown bull, and once the young ones "got it," on them either.

Frenchman Born how does your story reveal your age? And you are not even a known person you are Jane or John Doe. That would be Neville 'Pepper' Reynolds' drive way. It seems bulls only attack females!

HI SPOOKY DUDE; You sound like one of my relatives; I have a story for you. In the summer of 1977 I visited my parents with my children. The yard was filled with goats. My daughter did not like the food so she fed it to the goats; one goat became her best friend, my Dad Neville Reynolds would say DONT LET THAT CHILD FEED THE GOAT THAT GOAT IS SUNDAY DINNER. My daughter continued to feed and dress the goat.On the last Saturday of our visit Pops got up early,slaughtered said goat hung the meat from a tree to dress.My child also gotup early to find her best friend hanging from a tree.My child often travels abroad but never eats meat. She can still hear her grand father saying 'DONT LET THAT CHILD PLAY WITH THAT GOAT THAT GOAT IS SUNDAY DINNER'

Hello Jenny, you mean to tell me Uncle P deprived your daughter of one man's great pleasures? I hope she doesn't join the PETA freaks! Let her come and have some of our delicious Jerk Pork, it will cure her of her malady!!

You know Carlton, when you say things like "it will cure her of her malady" its difficult to tell if you're joking or not. I have to think you are, since its a pretty outrageous thing to say, but humor does not always convey well over the internet.

Surprised the editors of this site allowed SD to call an organization "Freaks". Tisk tisk...

Huh? or whoever you are, it is not a nice thing to go around calling peoples names, especially since yours is not 'Huh?'. The censors should have edited your comment, but I understand why they didn't. To address the substantive issue, what makes you think that what I said was outrageous? And what does the medium of conveyance have to do with humour? I was actually making a serious statement using a little bit of humour. You see adults help children to maintain hang-ups, which they think are cute and they keep talking about them, reinforcing in the process the negatives, instead of telling them the difference between pets and food animals as should have been done in this particular instance.
Why do I think I know who you are? I think I do...one love I hope you understand.

Spooky Dude!!..and TB NET.

Just because people believe that all life is sacred and that animals need not be mutilated,tortured and inhumanely slaughtered for human consumption,does NOT make them FREAKS! Thank you.

Hey Spooky, When was the last time you saw anyone carrying water from a well? That should give you a hint about my age.

Hey Frenchman Born, you have a point there! I have a vivid memory of the last time I say some girls doing that, actually no that was not a well that was a stand pipe! Yes you must be,...well, quite old, as I am no puppy!

Enough with the bickering about names and organizations. If anyone would like to continue the argument, please trade email addresses with the person whose opinion you disagree with and do so off-line or on another message board.

We won't be allowing any more posts on the subject here.

TBNet

Hi thanks for posting, saw spelling error. Late night thinking of my childhood and those who taught me so well. VILLAGE YOU DID WELL WITH THIS CHILD.I am GRATEFUL