Nestled in the lush green plains of New Savannah, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies, is Car Gate which is situated a stone throw away from South Coast Rest Stop, Old New Market Square on the main road from Montego Bay, Saint James.
Although famous landmarks such as (a) Miss Emma Coley’s house which served as buying depot for fresh cows milk which Branny Milk Truck use to collect in cylindrical aluminum milk pans and transport to Jamaica Milk Products Factory in Bog walk, Saint Catherine (b) Joe Comrie’s Village Shoemaker’s Shop (c) Mr. Artimus Aarons, “Mass Artie”, JP., former Member Parish Council New Market Parochial Division (deceased) Mom and Pop Grocery Shop that was diversified as a produce buying depot where peasant farmers sold pimento, coffee, and cocoa beans (d) Swapping Market where peasant farmers use to barter their animals, are no longer there, the memories of several festivities and sporting events – cricket matches being major ones – that use to occur at Car Gate years ago, are indelibly etched in the memories of those of us who use to attend and enjoy these events on New Year’s day, Emancipation day, and Boxing Day.
Who can ever forget Belvedere Scout Troop from Saint James wearing Khaki uniforms and carrying bayonets held high, fife and drum that provided music for the merry-go-round and may-pole dance, and not to be forgotten, Horatio Salmon “Dummy Ratio” a native of Flint Valley at his crown and anchor table where he skillfully extracted money from players who thought they could outdo him at the game? Who also can ever forget Horse and Donkey Racing where horses and donkeys were brought under starter’s orders at Rush Pond where the race began and ended at Mr. Ernest Wakeland, JP, (deceased) cow pasture?
Old Time Something Is Coming Back Again!!
On July 3, 2013 during my telephone conversation with Kenrick Morgan, Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) Alumnus and Self-made Businessman and Owner of South Coast Rest Stop (see news article posted on BOSA website about this innovative business venture), I was delighted to hear Kenrick mention to me that he intends to reinvent Car Gate to showcase and capture nostalgic memories of yester years.
Will Old Hits Party At South Coast Rest Stop Be Moved To Car Gate?
In the pursuance of his vision to reinvent Car Gate to its former glory, Kenrick has informed me that he has plans in the pipeline to relocate Old Hits Party which is held at South Coast Rest Stop on the last Sunday in each month to Car Gate.
Indigenous Foods That Are Available Daily At South Coast Rest Stop Will Also Be Available At Car Gate.
The void that is being filled by South Coast Rest Stop in catering for finger licking mouth watering pastries and indigenous foods that have again given rise in Cottage Industries that are springing up in New Market Community and is a plus for Heritage Tourism, has its genesis in James “Dick” Richards (1872-1965), Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, Soldier, Self-made Businessman, Philanthropist, Icon and Legend who is fondly revered and remembered in his native Carr District, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies as “Bermuda King.”
The reintroduction of Cottage Industries featuring mouth watering, finger licking pastries and indigenous foods is an indication that the craft has not died with “Miss Ella”, Sissy Boyd, “Sister Pet”, “Miss Mary”, Ethel Howard, and other hard working women supported by their conjugal counterparts, who would often worked throughout the night before the festivities to ensure that enough pastries and food was available for their customers.
Is Old Hits Party Put On By South Coast Rest Stop A New Phenomenon?
It is no surprise that Kenrick has plans in the pipeline to relocate his Old Hits Party from South Coast Rest Stop, Old New market Square to Car Gate. Indelibly etched in the subliminal consciousness of many of us from the poverty stricken, impoverished, peasant farming New Market Community, is the nostalgic memory of lingering behind at the end of the days festivities to hear Old Hits such as “What Am I Living For”, “Since I Met You Baby’, “Sea of Love”, and ballads sung by Blues Busters, Keith and Enid, Ben E King, The Righteous Brothers, Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge, Solomon Burke, Clive McPhatter, Fats Domino and many others, coming from the cone shaped aluminum metal speakers attached to Richard Blake (deceased) Sound System that was powered by a small pull string gas engine generator that was located in a corner of the enclosed green bamboo fence in which dancers and revelers were kept cool by dew that fell from the star lit sky.
Old Hits Party put on by South Coast Rest Stop at old New Market Square, is by no means a new phenomenon. Relocating Old Hits Party to Car Gate is certainly not going to be a new phenomenon but it will be the manifestation of Kenrick Morgan’s vision to reinvent Car Gate.
Note from the writer: The writer hopes that the foregoing news article will link him with Oswald South, his classmate and Beersheba Elementary School Alumnus, who was employed as a counter clerk for many years in Mr. Artimus Aarons “Mass Artie” Mom and Pop Grocery Store at Car Gate, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies. Anyone in the Diaspora who visits BOSA website and knows the whereabouts of Oswald South, is kindly asked to contact the writer either through BOSA e-mail address: beershebaoldstudentsassn@gmail.com or through the feedback/comment section that is provided at the end of the foregoing news article.
This article brought back so much fun memories. It was just the other day we were reminiscing about New Market and all the vendors that used to sell at the Market. That’s a great idea by Kenrick to recapture that venue. All that is needed is determination and money to make it happen. Great Article! (sh)