Market Day

Ah, Friday! My favourite day of the week it was! Half-day of school where extra marks were garnered by the few of us who bothered to turn up. Then it was off to market day at Calabash Bay!

Running barefoot down the road with my friends, I had one main treat in mind – cherry malt and bun – always available from Ma Til’, an institution at the beach with her well stocked stall right beside the Group House where fishing supplies were sold and the fishermen’s engines stored. Even if Daddy was not yet back from ‘near sea’ I knew I could ‘trus’ the goodies from Ma Til until he came in. Substantial in body and heart, and gifted with a ready smile, she would quickly hand over the much-anticipated meal, not missing a beat in the hymn she was humming.

But I am skipping ahead of myself here! Even before that stop by Ma Til, there was the excitement surrounding the slaughter of the cow at the corner of the main road opposite the entrance to Calabash Bay. (Yes, Darin, the house in which you reside stands very close to where the butcher did his thing back then!) The women would come out in their numbers for their choice cuts before it got too late. Across the road, sitting on his Verandah, Maas Gummy didn’t miss anything. He took it all in. For ‘old timers’ like him and his neighbour, Maas Savley (Swiff), the pace of life no longer moved much faster than that!

Back on the beach, having wolfed down my meal, it was time to take in the lay of the land (beach)… vendors from ‘out of the mountain’ (as those of us on the coast called those who came down from Southfield, Malvern and elsewhere up in the hills) lined the beach all the way up from the group house to Astley Reynold’s shop. Some, like Maas Willie came with their ground provisions and vegetables and beans, others, like ‘pugilist’ came mainly to purchase fish and hastily make their way back over the hill before it spoiled.

Then there were the women perched elegantly on their donkeys - Miss Erline from Greenfield, Sta Marita and Miss Embla from Beacon - with lovely ripe bananas and oranges, and Miss Ivy with her corn pone and toto cake. Need to wash that down? No worries! Time to find ‘Black Boy’ Felix to get a delicious sno’ cone – that icy delicacy, shaved on the spot from hundred pound blocks of ice, with a variety of syrups poured generously on top. Lip smackin’ good! And nipping at our heels, the dogs and pigs refused to be left out, sniffing for an opportunity to grab a discarded morsel. The fowls, not patient enough to wait for discards, were quite willing to leap up and sink their beaks into that last precious piece of cake in a child’s hand. With a piercing wail the little ‘victim’ would go in search of mom for a comforting hug and perhaps another treat to bribe her into silence.

All the while the boats are coming in from ‘near sea’, the captains sitting proudly in the stern while guiding their boats in. There was no time wasting for the three-man crew of these boats. Even before a boat touched sand, the two ‘hands’ were out and shouting for help to push the vessel up onto the beach. Those already on land did not need a second urging, rushing out to help their fellow fishermen, some higglers also joining in the action. And, with a one-two-three and a shout the keel of the boat would be mounted on round logs and pushed a safe distance up the beach.

My father, Carl, was famous for his impatience during such operations. If his was among several boats that came in at the same time, he refused to wait for reinforcements, straining every muscle in his body and those of his two crew members to get his boat out of the water. Relatively short and with rippling bow legs, he would then stoop and hoist his Evinrude engine onto his shoulder to go marching with it to the group house.

And those strings of fish! – yellowtail, goat fish, mullet – then they were in abundance. Enough it seemed to satisfy the needs of the vendors on donkey and foot as well as Maas Jonnie, Maas Lenny and all the other larger vendors with their Austin pick-ups.

Caught up in the moment as well, the tourists had a busy time snapping away at their cameras, taking it all in. Many bonds of enduring friendship were quickly formed between these visiting ‘White People’ and the warm-hearted locals who then harboured no suspicion of outsiders. A virtual melting pot of cultures, colours and custom it was.

Not to be left out of the excitement, the children had their own distractions, such as fishing on the reef, swimming and ‘cutting’ fish – the less desirable specimens from their elders’ catch. For mothers, like mine, it was no easy task keeping track of their more high spirited boys, some of whom (like Donald) took the slightest opportunity to sneak off a few chains up to Old Wharf and the sand dunes for more unsupervised fun.

Ah, the sounds of those days - the vendors’ calls, the roar of the engines as the boats came into sight from ‘round the bluff, the adult and juvenile jokes, the taste of the food, even the mixed smells; the friendships formed and enduring. What memories to cherish…to savour… to keep alive!

-Earl Moxam

Earl, even though I was just there I am feeling nostalgic, I can just hear that saw ripping through the backbone of those bull up by "Gummie"
Those Cherry Malt were just fantastic, I still remember "Ma Til" famous Salt Fish patties, those were great.

those good old days have been long gone but a lot of us still have good memories of them i all ways look forward to fridays because thats the day you could get fresh beef to make your soup and those people from other places would bring the yam/cocoa/chocho/and other goodies to make the soup delicious oh so good .now to''matil back in the days of going to sandy bank school i could notwait for that bell to ring to run dowm by the wire side to buy her sweet potato pudding also those creamy cherry malt belived it or not untill this day i still love my sweet potato pudding thanks to miss (MATIL) may her soul rest in peace she surley did know what to bring up by the shool for the kids to eat at break time or at resess as we all call it also lets not for get about the other venders such as miss ETTA with her greter cake and drops .then you have dor from moxam town (DORIS MOXAM)with her cake and ripe banana miss NICY with orange/ banana and some time neseberry those days can never come back thats why its call the good old days

dada earl ive started reading and had to stop as you made me home sick, mouth running belly turning you name it its happening,nuf love dada you do know how to bring back memories

Earl you could not have summed it up better!those good old days will never come back.
this is such an exciting topic. Those cherry malt, Miss Neeta grater cakes, Miss Dor cakes.

Earl, you have said it all, these childhood memories are cherished and will never be forgotten.

earl you couldnt say it any better so true i havent found any cherrymalt and eggnog tasting like matil own she is really bless no patty can taste like matil patty not to mention miss etta greater cake ilove her hot greater cake

I remember Ms Zenie and her donkey,she would stop at our gate and let me ride the donkey down to the seaside.
She taught me about Corn Sham,mangoes and never to trouble a donkeys tail.
Ms Matil and her red in the middle cake,Yaam and his big hats going to buy plaintain.
The sea was so blue in those days,aahh Jamaica land we love.I miss it so much.

When we were kids, we used to meet the ladies with their donkeys (Miss Zenie, Miss Erline, and others) sometimes further down the road. We used to look forward to buying their mangoes, guineps, bananas and any other fruits that were in season. We couldn't wait for them to reach our gates. We used to look forward to our 'brawta' too.
Our vendors at school were one of our favourite past-time as well, we could hardly wait for the bell to ring. Matilda (box drinks) Miss Doris (cake), Miss Etta (drops and grata-cake), Zippie (candy).
Then on Fridays we used to go through the commons beside the school to go to Market, to observe mainly, at times the boys would buy marbles, we would buy elastic bands or any other little clips, pretty pens or pencils and bag juice etc.
We used to have great fun when another School came to play cricket match or netball against Sandy Bank Primary, because that was like a party for us. Music and lots of curry chicken and dumpling for lunch and excitement galore.
In the Community everybody knew everybody. You couldn't pass anyone without greeting them, then they would say "A who fah Pah you fah" etc. (meaning who are your parents}. Then they would say "what a mannersable lickle girl Miss So and So have or Maas So and So have".
Then when holiday time came around we used to get Milk Powder from school to take home. We would eat so much before we got home that we got diarrhoea. It was nice when you mix it with a little syrup.
Then we would play no ends of ring-games. Our kids nowadays are computer kids. We just have to share these good ole times with them. Ring games such as Chee Chee Chee, Shebbee and Hand Ball were some other games.
Those were the good old days.

Does anyone know why the market at calabash bay closed? It was so close for everyone to go and get the necessities instead of going to black river.

Times have changed, those old people have passed on. The generation today very North Americanized.
It would be nice to bring it back, al least twice per month. Taxi has to make money, gas has to sell. The whole world is all about politics.

Curious,
I guess it happened, 'naturally'. Meaning the old folks who used to come died and the younger ones found 'better' things to do with their time.
Also, as the fish catches became smaller and smaller; fewer and fewer of the younger fishermen followed their fathers to 'Near Sea'.
Remember, it was the 'Near Sea' fishermen who used to support market days with their fish, while the vendors came down from the hills with their produce to 'exchange'.
Don't under estimate the impact of migration on the culture of Treasure Beach, as well. If you were to do a count of all the younger fishermen who migrated from the community, it would be a significant figure!

Canada,
I like the idea of bringing back 'Market Day' to Calabash Bay, periodically.
It is something I have been thinking about. It could be organised, partly as a practical benefit to the community, but also as something cultural, with additional features; maybe even a live band. This would bring visitors in from other parts of the island, and provide an added attraction for the tourists who come to Treasure Beach. It would certainly provide another means of income for locals, especially those who are innovative.
We must accept that not every element of the old market days will return, but the basic concept would still be there, plus a few added features, reflecting the positive elements of today's environment.
Would welcome some more reactions to this idea.

Nostalgic,
We are thinking alike, maybe display crafts from the womens group.Art, sell some fish, so many things that could bring back the old days.

The few carvers and basket ladies might find some takers for their wares as some peoiple feel more comfortable when they can approach a vendor rather than the other way around. When I'm in Treasure Beach I'm always looking for the truck produce people, it would be nice if I knew that I could shop at a certain place at a certain time. Now what ever happened to the donkey taxi?

Right on, Canada!

Boy I would to see dem old days come back.I use to enjoy going back to Jamaica, going to the markets and seeing those old folks. Watch the boats come in, get two trunk fish and go roast. I sometimes use to feel sorry for the people from the mountain who would get no fish. fishermen had their favourits, life is ever so changing. BRING BACK DEM OLD DAYS, KEEP THE STORIES COMING.

The following attachment might be familiar to some of us but I thought it fitting to post it for everyone else to enjoy.


Memba when you do all you homework at school so dat as yuh reach home you ramp so til you hear smadddy shout out "yuh madda a ccooooommme!" and yuh dash inna yuh house and change yuh school uniform as yuh would surely get a beaten fi inna yuh uniform at 6pm.

Memba when yuh go school 7 days a week fi keep yuh outa trouble. Mon - Friday regular school and private lesson, saturday class, and sunday school at church which is a half day affair

Memba if yuh kin poopah lick and bu'st out you pants, yuh get a beaten
Memba 10 cent bulla and jackass corn

Memba when you turn on the tv at 4pm and wait till JBC sign on at 5pm, stand at attention sing the national anthem, and den sit back and watch some cartoon. And dont figet di Big Bwoy story whey you did haffi hide and tell

Memba when yu a come fram school and stop fi pick cherry off Mass John cherry tree and dawg run yu dung

Memba when yu madda sen yu fi tek the clothes fram affa di line but yu wait til night den yu fraid fi go by yuself

Memba when yu fraid fi go a shop by yuself a night because Miss Matty jus' dead and yu tink yu might si har duppy

Memba when yu and yu fren dem decide seh unu a go run a boat, the biggest cart wheel dumplin yu eva si!

Memba when coming fram school ina di rain and yu tek off yu shoes and walk barefoot all the way home a race board horse inna di gutter water

Memba when dem use fi gi weh free milk powder and bulga rice a school, an' yu play milk powder war all the way home

Memba when dem good rice and peas and chicken Sunday dinna with a nice refreshing glass ah carrot juice

Memba when yu 'ave roast breadfruit and ackee and salt fish breakfast jus' barely a day afta yu Saturday Peas soup wid cho-cho, turnip, carrot an' punkin

Memba when teacha beat yu because yu neva do yu homework

Memba marning time when yu reach a school jus in time fi devotion and yu betta mek sure yu ave yu hym book and yu bible, yu pleat dem betta in order and yu khaki well starch

Memba dem good ole starch uniform ( coudda stan up by demself ) and yu nice shine brown or black shoes

Memba when yu madda use fi seh "Go pick a switch mek a beat yu"

Memba Christmas time when everybody a mek a suit fi gran market night, mama stay up a bake cake, draw sorrell, cook curry goat, don't figet the case a D&G soda and red stripe beer weh unda the bed

Memba when a ginnep seed fly dung yu throat and smaddy 'ave fi lick yu back fi mek it fly back up

Memba when yu swallow chewing gum & dem seh yu ago ded cause it ago tie up yu tripe Memba a come fram school and stap fi get the last piece a Miss Brown toeto and a sky juice

Memba dem seh nuh buy nuh sky juice fram Mr. Tom because 'im ave sore foot

Memba when dem seh nuh buy bun & cheeze from juicie cause him use di knife cut & clean him toenail

Memba saving part a lunch money fi buy ice cream fram creamy weh come pan Sunday

Memba a fling stone fi lick dung ginnep and the stone bus yu bredda head

Memba the peanut man ... the jackfruit lady ... the orange man ... the sarda-pan man

Memba a play marble wid yu bredren dem

Memba a go a bush wid yu fadda

Memba a go undaneat the cellar fi the fowl egg (yes I do)

Memba a jump rope wid yu fren dem ... One two Beeny ... lick im mek im feel eh, mek im know yu mean eh, yu mean eh, yu mean eh

Memba playing "Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack, All Dressed In Black Black Black"

Memba a kick foot ball wid yu fren dem roun' a ball grong

Memba when Cristmus come and we watch JohnCunu jump up and down and we get fraid?

Memba yu madda sen yu go a shop and yu sing the list all the way deh ... "one pint milk, one bread, 1 lb a flour. But when yu reach deh, yu tell the shop keeper yu want "1 pint of bread, 1 lb of milk & a flour

Memba when yu last yu madda money and yu fraid fi go back home because she might beat yu

Memba settin up the roosta dem fi fight

Memba all dem good duppy story, and nancy story wi 'ear growing up

Memba how yu use to fraid fi walk a night cause yu tink sey black-heart-man woulda tek yu weh

Memba when bokkle cut yu foot bottam dung a gully

Memba when yu use to stone Missa Smith mango tree dem, and we use to tink seh him have gun

Memba when yu left all day and go a rivva an go cook and when yu come come yu get a beaten

Memba when yu unifarm get dirty Monday marning, and Yu madda beat yu ina di evening

If you memba all the above THEN YUH OLD NUH RAWTID!

by pedro peeps i really like your attachment its a good laugh and you sure memba a lot i like the end part that say"s if you memba all the above THEN YUH OLD NUH RAWTID

well pedro peeps I guess I would be one of the old ones. Nuff respect. Keep it coming.

Beans,

This article was not "my doing". It was forwarded to me by a friend and I cannot remember some of these so Mi noh old to Rawtid :-) However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it would be nice to share it with the young and the old. Enjoy!!!!!

In the original piece, Earl mentioned several names from the old market days.
Would love to see some other names.
Who remembers some of those other names?
Can we have a list?

Ah pedro peeps I really enjoyed your peice. I laugh so til. Keep it coming my friend.

Pedro Peeps, Thanks for the posting; one of the best in a long time. And yes, mi old nuh rawtid, and enjoying it.

pedro peeps you reallly make me laugh. WELL MI OLD TO RATID....

Mi memba all a dem... and mi nuh ole

Hey you guys,it's now 2:30am I came on this site for the first time and I am here on "bacra job" cracking up with laughs, such beautiful memories and not to forget those market days, my taxi was pem-pem dockey back or her hamper.Bring back those good ole days. keep the memories going.
by cawa,Maryland USA

Carol,
The though of Pem Pem does bring a smile to the face!
She was one of the true characters back then!

Trying to add a few more names to the list. Have you frogotten Miss
Dora Powell with her pone and ginger beer the best not because she was mi granny. What about Miss Carro from Pedro Plains, Headley Robinson from Little Park thats the butcher. I see someone mentioned PemPem her sugarhead taste is still in my mouth.Pugelis from Round Hill he had one eye no harm just to help to bring back memories I can remember He was the fastest man on foot in the middle of the day as quickly as you see him he is gone.

Miss Veda:

I think it would have been easy for you to remember Miss Caro and Mass Headley, they lived on the Plains and you would have been more familiar with them because of your association with the Post Office. Notwithstanding that, you mentioned some truly remarkable characters. I guess it is true to say that the world has not been the same since they have gone. Thanks for reminding me of Mass Headley, a very good and kind soul with always a kind word for children; and Miss Caro who reminded us each day that we were ordinary people.

all dees pedro people buoy dem memory good. keep it up i love to read dem.

I have some photos of the market that I took when I lived in Calabash Bay (with Swif) in the 1980's. I hope to do a show of them when I get back to Jamaica in July.

Stuart Jablon

Maybe you can call this old time REUNION, get a DG to play some old music make it a fundraiser for the Primary School,would be a good start.

Anyone remember how we used to fling rock and knock off Miss Hazel green tamrin dem? How about Miss Emlin pissabed at lunch time, and the sugar head she used to sell wi. And yes, I remember Caro and har husband old Sarg that used to carry the telegrams. Mass Isaac used to do that too, on his donkey (such a sweet old soul). Yuh memba how wi used to be scared to get telegrams because dem carried bad news? Jack Mandora.

Do you remember the days at Mike shop when (JIS) Jamaica Information Service van usually come down to keep free show you could here it coming from miles playing Ride Me Donkey we all were so excited to go everyone head for Calabash Bay to sit on our nice chairs which was Mike's beer boxes. We had all the fun so much memories to cherish.

Oh my God-this is hilarious, I remember as a little girl telegram a come a wonder who ded a farine. Good memories on this one Caro going a seaside. How about watching the mnagoes over teacher Thompson and dying to get one...not a chance.Alvin mango tree coming from post office hoping Miss Madge would give you one..

Great news that, Stuart Jablon!
Happy to know that you not only took the time to snap those photos back then, but that you still have them!
The community should really come out to view your show.

member how we used to walk all the way from belieze bay, frenchman, calabash bay , sandy bank to the pedro plains to pick up our mail, some good walk.

And we would hope to meet that special someone we like on the way..if only to look at them..

Going to Sandy Bank Primary School, the normal shortcut route would be to walk through Alvin grass peace,(getting our uniforms torn by wire sometimes) but when the rain falls, we would take the long route on the main road, just to take off our "crep" and walk in the rain. How nice it was then and when we get home, soaked from head to toe, bags and books, we would tell our parent that rain catch us on the way.

Memba how mothers used to ask the vendors/market people dem to register their babies birth at the Treasure Beach PO because it was such a long walk. Many names got screwed up because of this.

Who can remember when Miss Linda I will call her Aunt Lin as she really was my aunt.She usually had dancing right by her little shop but we were never allowed to dance we could only watch but we all got dressed up because there was also the merry-go-round, may-pole, see-saw and hide-and- go- seek we could join in and have lots of fun.Then there was the shooting match with real rifles headed by Mass Roland and "boy" did our ears hurt from that sport.But wait the best part was the large pots with the curry goat and rice, the dreaded manish-water soup but only because I did not and still do not ever drink that stuff.Then there were the wash-pans with all the different soda pop to wash it all down and the ice-cream bucket we had to take turn by turning and turning to get that ice-cream made.
Those were some of the good old days I can remember.

I have memories of Maas Andrew James and Maas Alfred James. They were strict and caring men. I still think of Maas Alfred at the PA when we went to collect our mail, and Maas Andrew with his caring, sweet and thoughtful counseling to the young.

Anyone remember Nelson with the Ice Cream - man those ice cream was the best.

To Hit, what does Miss Emlin piassabed means? Explain

Still waiting to hear what Hit ment by Miss Emlin pissabed.

Pissabed is a long pod, fruit like, that grows from a medium size tree, (my recollection).

Thanks for the explanation Hit of what that pissabed was.

in my young days pissabed was a person or sibling that wet their bed at nights, and is teased by the other siblings, and would cry and chase one with stones. i did'nt know a fruit known as pissabed. [my recollection.]

The "memba when" certainly brought back fond memories for me and yes I was one of those kids who was told to "go bruk a swish fi beat yu" and did exectly as I was told - only thing if the swish was too small mama would go get a bigger one so you had to get one that was not too small.

I read and speak patois constantly even after 23 years away, but unfortunately I find it hard writing it so please forgive me.

Do you remember when near christmas you would get new mattress - calico from flour bags - stuffed with dried seamoor grass and you would take the larts from the bed and sun them to get rid of the chinks. And what fun jumping on that new bed - of course by the time the next christmas comes around the mattress is all peed out and as flat as a thin bammy.

Speaking of bammy - boy the good ole days of the gungo soup, so thick the spoon stand up, with bammy?

We each have to tell the current generation about the good ole days. There are so many of us with fond memories of those days that we cannot allow them to die with us without passing them on to the youths in our family. I strongly support the suggestion to hold a "reunion" as a fundraiser for the School.

Man those Flour bags and fresh grass use to feel so good. Hazel you nailed it on the head ...many of us try to foget the chinks and the blue bammy and Banna bis (peas soup) with the weeble floating on top.Lord we really need to teach our children about those things. God the chinks! when they bite at nights!!!!! Thank God for some of the changes.. reunion definetely a must.December is too expensive- I suggest Easter time.

Hey Hazel, I do indeed remember those days.
I total agree with you to hold a "reunion".

Remember how we used to leave the bus stop and walk around the corner to see if de bus a come
den hurry back - funny stuff

remmeber how PAPA would not wait for us sometime.

do'nt forget when we bade and we dont have any lotion to cream up our skin we use the cooking oil to cream up with and boy the next morning we wake up the rats eat off you foot bottom. boy that hurts.

remember how our legs use to look shine.

Yeah mon, coconut oil was our saviour. We used it in our hair as well, but I was lucky, the rats did not get me. Anybody remember Saturday Nite Dusting Powder?

Would be good to see a return of those market days.

WHAT HAPPEND TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS?????
All the good things that we used in our days are now sold in the health food shop at a price you can't beleived. Let us go back to making coconut oil at home.

Would be nice to see the old folks riding their donkeys to the market place, but most of them are long gone. Donkeys are no longer in existence, modern-ness is killing everyone. And the younger generation? Dem too modern to do such things. Them internet savvy and cell phone crazy. I find that they are not as hard working, if at all they work.

I am planning to visit at Christmas and was checking out sites on Treasure Beach, so I could bring my kids to see some of the things I grew up with.

Thanks for all the memories and laughs. Pedro, I too remember all those things.

Those truly were the good old days.

Nice-ness,

Careful whe yuh a seh an how yuh seh it.

I must say Earl has a good memory, you really done it well, bravo to you, and Be that says a lot of people's name got screwed up by our parents asking other people to register their babies. I am an example.

Memories of market days are worth keeping alive. They remind us of a time when people really had fun despite their poverty. It was a time as well when great friendships were formed. The old people then knew how to get on with each other, and even when there was an occasional disagreement, it did not last because they depended on each other and were always willing to assist each other when the need arose.
The fact that each crew needed those already on shore to assist them with pushing their boat onto dry land when they came in from sea was just one example of the kind of "one hand wash the other" cooperation they engaged in.

I know of one such female who rode her donkey to market and whose son went on to college and became a Minister of the Gospel. So you see, some might look poor, (poverty some call it), yet it was just a way of life for many. They worked hard, earned little, yet overcame diversity. Let's not undermind the people for their way of life, but lift them up and thank God for the examples they have set for us to follow.

Still hoping that a few special market days could be organised to bring back memories of life 'back then', but also to create new memories for the younger ones growing up here in Treasure Beach today.
It would also be a good diversion for our visitors.
Maybe the South Coast Resort Board could get involved.

I still remember ladies like Miss Erline from Greenfield, Sta Marieta from Beacon and Miss Embla from Newcombe Valley on their donkeys going to market at Calabash Bay.
They were all very loving women who the children looked forward to seeing. They always had a ripe banana or a piece of sugar head for a hungry pickney!

I remember as a little girl going to market at Calabash Bay, I used to get Miss Telda cake, banana and snow-cone. them days used to be so sweeeeeet

Any pictures of these and other ladies on their donkeys available? It would be a nice bit of nostalgia to se them as they were back then.

So, will we be having a revival of those lovely market days at a new venue - the sports park? Sounds like a good idea!
Today's children would have an opportunity to create their own memories, so even if some of the elements we were accustomed to at the old venue are not present for the new location, it could still be fun.
It would also be an important opportunity for some hard working adults to earn something.

Does anyone higgle from their cars anymore. My mind ran across Miss Epsy the other day as I remembered the incredible variety of merchandise she hawked. She was such a nice lady, and always had a smile even when she was driving a hard bargain. I hope she is still with us.

Ms. Epsy died years ago. Do you remember Ms. Valsie too - she was a lovely lady selling from her vehicle. Maas Ville Dicker too from his bus. Those were the names I remember. Those days are back again as so many persons don't have a job so they have to 'tun dem han mek fashion' and sell to make a living. Gone are the days when persons look down on jobs as being menial. As long as it is an honest job then that's what counts.

There are two outstanding persons I admired as a child. They are Miss Valsie Dennis from Bacon Dist. and Maas David Legg from Bluntas Dist. Please correct me if I am wrong because everyone in the area has a nickname, + I am ole school. AND there is absolutely nothing wrong in earning a honest living. What counts is the dignity and pride we get from work. Remember, Jamaica is not a 'welfare state', therefore everyone has learned to be enterprising. So many of us would have been better off if our parents worked as hard to support and educate us.

Thanks Conscious Dawta. Sorry to hear of Miss Epsy. I've been away for a long while and lost track of a lot.

Would love to see pictures of these old timers who made market days so memorable. Perhaps those relatives who are able to could share them with us.

Miss Ivy from Beacon used to sell clothes at Calabash Bay market. She was one of my favourites.

So Market Day had everything; not just foodstuff.

Lots of friendships used to be established there on the beach as well during those market days.

Many boys used to get into trouble on market days, particularly for going swimming without their parents' permission. Sometimes the adults were too busy buying and selling, or catching up with friends to notice that the young rascals were no longer where they had put them to sit "and not move a muscle!"

When their fathers caught up with them another set of muscles were usually brought into action! But no matter how much the wayward boy promised not to do it again, he would quickly forget and be back up to his old tricks the following week.

Of course the sting of the strap or tambrin (tamarind)switch was usually soothed by the taste of a cola champaign soda from Mike's shop, or a cherry malt from Matil's stall, or a sno-cone from Felix's bike!

And those gizzadas expertly made by ladies such as 'Sta Meggie'! Who remembers the sweet sugary juice escaping from that luscious coconut wrap and running down your hand all the way to your elbow? In between huge bites you had to quickly lick away this juice before the hungry bees could beat you to it.

Come on now; let your inner child out for a moment or two, travel back in time and enjoy it all over again!

Ageless,Wishful,Conscious,Nostalgic people, think of how much more rewarding the experience would be if you all used your names!!Think if the many people who have memories of you in the circumstances you describe. I am being selfish,since I am so out of touch,but on the other hand it seems tome the right thing to do. I am going to start a new thread for feed-back.

Could someone tell us about Mr Youngs shop at the top of the market. Where did that family originate,and what year they came. Did they start the shop,or did it have a prior history? When did it cease operating and when was it torn down? What was the exact location,using the bar as a reference point.Anyone connected with it still alive? Ty..son? anyone in touch with him? Lets hear from all you historians!

I am a bit late posting in these photos below (just a little.... : ) but better late than never.

Of course I am also asking the good lovely people in these photos to let me know through email (by clicking on my name J A M in blue above) to say if they would like me now to send the photos to them directly by email and remove them from here if that is what they prefer. My warmest regards and yes, 'thank you to ALL in Treasure Beach' for these fond memories of the place (and here, Calabash Bay market day especially).

TBNet who started this thread and those who have been coming in with memories by posting since 2007, thank you. This is a fine fine read.

Photo 1 - not necessarily market day but one of the 'donkey ladies'. Would this be miss Emlin/Embla?




Photo 2 - from 1981, probably market day.




Photo 3 - from 1981, probably market day.





Photo 4 - from 1983, market day.





Photo 5 - from 1983, market day.




warmest regards to all,
jam, visitor, 1981, 1983. (Stayed in Sandy Bank with Eldarine's family, 1981; with Novlett's family 1983).

It is miss Embla good memory and nice picture