Main Street Traffic

Main Street Traffic

 Limited Edition Giclee Print By Jill Tattersall 12" x 8"

Main Street had been paved by the time we arrived on the island, but still looked much like this with plentiful pedestrians, men on donkeys, and always a scattering of chickens. My then husband was given a horse allowance in lieu of a car allowance, as there were only a few miles of driveable road running from Fort Burt to Baugher's Bay, and a choice of three horses was provided: a roan, a chestnut, and a magnificent bay stallion, pastured in front of our house under the pink-blossomed Glyrocidia or Quickstick trees. As it turned out, I did the riding and he went almost everywhere by boat until we eventually acquired a little Volkswagon, vehicle number 30 on the island, in which we were the first to take a non 4 wheel drive sedan up Joes Hill. In actual fact, my husband drove while I walked ahead, rolling boulders out of the way.

The first traffic jam occurred in Main Street when one of the three convicts escaped from the old prison and Police Station, pursued by the entire force as he ran into the sea on the far side of the Fireproof building, paddling his way to tiny Wickham's Cay where he was soon captured. Naturally everyone in the vicinity turned out to watch the unfolding of this drama, years before we had television to entertain us.