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Updates at end of following
article December 2 - 1997: The Architectural Preservation Foundation of Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, The Bahamas is pleased to announce the completion of the fieldwork phase of the historic survey of New Plymouth. This phase was conducted by a volunteer team, consisting of Professor David Woodcock, head of the Texas A&M Historic Imaging Laboratory, four of his graduate students, and a practicing Preservation Architect, Mr. Jack Pyburn of Atlanta, Georgia. Participating
from Nassau, Bahamas was Dr. Gail Saunders, Director of the Department
of The team examined one hundred and forty-nine structures in New Plymouth and identified eighty of historic significance. Each of the eighty was analyzed for current use and architectural features. Detailed scale drawings of three historic structures have been prepared, and audio video taped interviews were made of townspeople with special knowledge and memory of New Plymouth's history. The information gathered is now being assembled at the Texas A&M College of Architecture's Historic Resource Imaging Laboratory for submission to the Bahamas Department of Archives; the Bahamas National Trust's Historic Preservation Committee; and to the Architectural Preservation Foundation at New Plymouth. The survey was made possible by the generous gifts of local businesses, citizens and visitors to Green Turtle Cay. Funds remaining after completion of the survey will be used to further historic preservation in New Plymouth. It has been well documented that historic preservation efforts have an importance influence on tourism and community pride. The cooperation and assistance of donors and residents of New Plymouth were deemed to be "outstanding" by the highly experienced survey team. This survey is the first of its kind to be undertaken in the Family Islands. It is a goal of the Foundation that its efforts lead to the designation of New Plymouth as a Historic District. For information regarding the activities of the Foundation, or to contribute, please contact Mr. and Mrs. David Bethell at 1-242-365-4234 or Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Sawyer at 1-242-365-4268 May 11, 1998 UPDATE on the current status and future plans for preservation of historic New Plymouth. A wine-tasting fundraiser
(pix below) was
held on March 28, 1998 at the New Plymouth Inn, and was Using funds raised
at the wine-tasting, work commenced on saving and restoring the
Old Jail buildings. The roof of the main building was in immediate
danger of collapse. The old rotting beams were cut out and replaced
by new 6x6 pressure-treated beams that would support the existing
stone and concrete roof. This was a painstaking process. Next,
three new cell doors were built in the old jail style, and hung
using appropriate hinges. The very old stone latrine, with it's
unique arched stone roof, was in a serious state of decline,
and rescue work has commenced. The rotted timber door frames
have been replaced, and repair and replacement of structural
stonework has commenced using original stones wherever possible.
The latrine, which is estimated to be about two hundred years
old, and the stone portion of the jail, survived the devastating
hurricane of 1932. We will be pleased to meet with potential supporters to discuss our plans and needs, and a progress report will be available on a bi-annual basis . For further information call 365- 4234; 365-4268; 365-4105 or 365-4447.
A Brief History of New Plymouth The village of New Plymouth located on the southern tip of Green Turtle Cay, is home to just over four hundred persons most of whom can trace their ancestral roots back to the Loyalists of the American Revolutionary War. The first Loyalists to come to Abaco were refugees from New York. Forced to leave their homeland after the War, they arrived at Carleton (Treasure Cay, Abaco) in August of 1783. Later, hundreds more from east Florida; Georgia; North and South Carolina joined them bringing names like Adam, Malone and Weatherford to add to the Roberts, Sawyers, Saunders, Russells, Currys, Bethels and Lowes. The poor soil quality refused to support these gentlemen farmers and by the close of the eighteenth century, disillusioned planters began to leave Abaco. Some die-hard Loyalists remained to take up subsistence farming while others became skillful seamen and boat builders passing these crafts on through the generations. By the mid 1850's, Green Turtle Cay was the wrecking capital of the Abacos and by the 1880s pineapples and citrus were exported from New Plymouth to the United States. After the pineapple and citrus industry had run its course, sponging became the mainstay of the local economy. Many people made their living sponging during the 1930ís till a blight destroyed ninety per cent of the sponge beds in 1938. During World War One sisal became the chief export to the United States. This was the second time that sisal became the prominent industry: the first being 1888-1907 when because of the Spanish-American War the U.S. was unable to import sisal from the Philippines. There was enough trade between Green Turtle Cay and the United States to warrant a U.S. Consulate being posted in New Plymouth which now boasted a population of sixteen hundred persons. The decade of the 30ís was a turning point for Green Turtle Cay. It saw the end of sponging; the beginning of the 2nd World War; and it had survived the catastrophic hurricane of 1932. This hurricane destroyed or damaged about fifty percent of the buildings in New Plymouth. The 1930ís saw a shift in population of Green Turtle Cay. Many moved to the U.S. and to Nassau. In Nassau the Abaconians were sought after by the businessmen for they were known to be hard-working and loyal employees. In the 1940ís sharking became the main industry of Green Turtle Cay. Their skins and oils were exported to the United States; the skins to replace leather products and the oil for vitamins. Slowly, as the sharking industry faded out, crawfishing which had started several years before, became the main source of income for the people. The crawfish (rock lobster) were exported to the U.S. and still are today, making it the longest lasting industry in all of Abacoís history. Today, New Plymouth, with it's clapboard cottages with white picket fences reminds one of a New England fishing village. It now offers a variety of shops, galleries and restaurants to an increasing tourist trade.
The Architectural Preservation Foundation of Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, has completed a historic architectural imaging survey of New Plymouth. This was conducted by a volunteer team, consisting of Professor David Woodcock, head of the Texas A&M Historic Imaging Laboratory; four of his graduate students; and a practicing Preservation Architect, Jack Pyburn of Atlanta Georgia. Participating from Nassau, Bahamas was Dr. Gail Saunders, Director of the Department of Archives, and Grace Turner of the Department of Archives & Mrs. Kim Outten-Stubbs, both curators of the Pompey Museum, Department of Archives. The team examined one hundred and forty-nine structures in New Plymouth and identified eighty to be of historic significance. Each of the eighty was analyzed for current use and architectural features. Detailed scale drawings of three historic structures have been prepared, and audio and video-taped interviews were made of townspeople with special knowledge and memory of New Plymouth's history. The information gathered was assembled at the Texas A&M College of Architecture's Historic Resource Imaging Laboratory and submitted to the Bahamas Department of Archives; the Bahamas National Trust's Historic Preservation Committee; and to the Architectural Preservation Foundation in New Plymouth. The survey was made possible
by the generous gifts of local businesses,citizens and visitors
to Green Turtle Cay. Funds remaining after completion of the
survey will be used to further historic preservation in New Plymouth.
This survey is the first of its kind to be undertaken in the
Family Islands. It is a goal of the Foundation that its efforts
lead to the designation of New Plymouth as a Historic District.
Contact Us! We can use all the help you can give
us. |
Archives, and Curator Grace Turner of the Department of Archives (pix on left) & Mrs. Kim Outten-Stubbs, curators
of the Pompey Museum, Department of Archives.
happily a sell-out success, thanks to
the businesses and individuals who contributed to the memorable
evening. Also a special thanks to William Brewer Company and
Bristol Cellars.
original
material wherever possible); and to replace the roof on the two
cell buildings. We are also planning to rehabilitate one cell
of the jail to house a Junkanoo exhibit.