Christmas in Frenchman in the 1960’s, what a great and memorable experience that was. Mass Cecil (Clarke) was a big part of my memory. He would make a fire to chase away the mosquitoes and use the opportunity to tell ghost stories that were so convincing, most of the stories would start “Once up on a time” near the big akasha tree in Frenchman, he would also tell us the Christmas story, sang “Mary’s Boy Child” and pointed up at the brightest star in the sky to make his story more authentic.

Well Christmas morning, Mass Cecil who loved to sing and play the harmonica would wake up the neighborhood starting with his house, and travel up to the Hamilton’s in Calabash Bay, and over to Granny Birdie’s (now Jakes place) collect all the children along the way and we all sang Christmas carols, we would walk as far as the Swaby’s in Billy’s Bay singing and having a good ole time, we would then move over to “sinners bench” near the church, (name given by those men who would walk their wives to church and sat and smoke until Aunt Enny would finish preaching), all the kids would congregate at sinners bench and light fire crackers, blow our toy horns and had such a fun time, then we would go over to Miss Enid for hardough bread with strawberry jam, by this time it would be 7:00 a.m. we would disperse and return to our respective homes to enjoy goat liver with fried dumpling and coconut-cream coffee. What a treat that was!!
That was the start of my Christmas day.

(Star Bucks, Tim Horton’s, or Second Cup – you don’t know what you are missing until you try grated coconut-cream coffee with bulla cake).

why did you not say who you are.This is a nice story.

Grated coconut cream coffee with bulla cake, mmmmm maybe I have to come to Frenchmens and see if I can find me some of that.....

Thank you I really enjoyed your story.

I still remember Mass Cecil, growing up with no clock you would hear the Harmonica playing. Mom would say time to get up Mass Cecil AKA Manager coming up the road. Lord I miss those good OLE days,in Frenchman Miss Ethel RIP and Miss Ruby and everyone singing coming up the road, after that looking forward to go home and get the fresh pork Dinner as Mass Murtan RIP, kille dthe pig the day before. Gone are the good ole days.

Thanks Ce Ce - but I'd rather not say.

Frenchman Girl

Talking about Christmas mornings, with Uncle Cecil playing the mouth organ with a crowd of peolpe following behind singing christmas carols, coming all the way up to the police station. This was like 4 0'clock in the morning, we would wake up and join the group as we would march back down to Frenchman. For us, my sisters, and I would then visit Grannie Berdie,Uncle Hugh, aunt Vera and aunt Cilda to get either some fried fish, christmas cake or some type of bulla, with airated water.(Smile) By then it would be daylight and we would head back home.I think Uncle Cecil was just the best on that mouth organ. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!(Other than the coconut cream coffee, do you all remember or ever tasted goat milk's coffee? Aunt Emblin's (PEM-PEM) specialty. These flavored coffee would sure put Star Bucks in competition

As good as those days were for us, the present Christmas activities will be special memories for today's generation of Teasure Beach children - the children's treat at Kingfisher Plaza, the Chritmas Tree lighting ceremony, the church concerts etc.
These activities will, indeed, be the 'good ole days for them.

Frenchman Girl that is agood memory and good story, I think by your story you are a relative of the clark family. Maas Cecil and Brother Wire as so called were good musicians.Brothers, as ican remember.

I do not think you have to be a clark's family to know that they are good singers. Mass Cecil entertain the whople of Treasure beach.
Great old soul. Bless his cotton socks.

Thanks for enjoying my story. I had fun digging up those memories – and I’m sure I will remember and appreciate them this Christmas as much as I did so many Christmases before.

Resurrecting memories of Christmas and the many people that we have loved and lost along the way, these are the people who have shaped our lives, these people we must always remember, from the place we grew up, the churches we attended, the carols we sang, the cards we received, the foods we enjoyed, the concerts we participated in, to the people who smiled at us on the streets, and lingered for a quick chat – it was their way of telling us how much they cared.

How uplifting it is to celebrate our heritage. Let’s all celebrate this Christmas, let’s get sentimental if we want to, let’s celebrate the lives of our parents and grandparents, our neighbors, our teachers and all our loved one, let’s tell our children about our past.

Have a very merry Christmas to all those people in Frenchman and surroundings that have touched and shaped my life, I will celebrate your life this Christmas.

For curious – “Clarke” it is.

I feel real proud to know that so many people had fond memories of my father, and that he has become apart of your Christmas memories. Thank you for remembering him, and may you make new memories this year.

Very much appreciated - his daughter.

Thank you sister for that piece on our father. It is oh so timely as not only its Christmas time but today would have been his 97th birthday!

Happy birthday pops. I know you are enjoying it in your heavenly home and mom is celebrating with you.

Your daughter who you still mean the world to,
Lucia, - you only called me "Darling"

Christmas is not the same in Treasure Beach since Manager died. Vergy we will always share the memories of your dad - may his soul rest in peace.

Frenchman Girl, I do not know who you are(I have a suspicion that you are a cousin) but I want to say many thanks for bringing back those wonderful memories of my Father. At this time, I would like to wish a very merry Christmas to all the lovely people of Treasure Beach, may the blessings of GOD be with each and everone of you.

A photo of Maas Cecil and other 'ole timers', whether in performance or otherwise, would add a nice touch.
Perhaps their children/ grandchildren might consider contributing these to the thread.

If you are truly interested in seeing some amazing ole times from Treasure Beach you have to visit Stuart Jablon’s slide show, this can be accessed from Dem Good Ole Days / slide show, it’s worth the visit. Here is his link http://www.flickr.com/photos/15904532@N07/show/

Oops, it appears to be a bad link to the slide show, but you can access it from “dem good ole days”

My apologies.

Note: The link above has been fixed now. -TBNet