LOOOLLLL... well well well.... First of all I thought that until recently (I mean the last decade...) the island was "custom free"... Second of all ) I get this info from the museum in Marigot, aaaaaand also, with ALMOST the same picture that Vicky posted, but as a post card with the mention in French "Philipsbourg- L'appontement, Le Temple Protestant"... so maybe after they deported off island all the protestants to keep it strictly roman catholic, they used the former temple as an imigration check point...LOL But yes, reassure Dee, that it was in all case, way before he was born!...><

Regarding the old hospital in Back Street, I believe it still exist, and it is where the convent was, am I right?



Kind Regards,
Philippe



[www.facebook.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2010 09:42AM by Tabba Khady.

according to Dee, long ago there used to be customs and duties here. now as far as the protestant temple, you may know more than him. LOL

[barcann.livejournal.com]

The first picture brings back some everlasting memories.......fishing and diving off the pier as a young child. Those were THE DAYS! Pristine water and there were lots of fish. Yes, we took the occasional break and ran down to Risdon's for an ice cream cone. At the end of the day we knew where to find Pa for the ride back home....yes, at 5:00pm it all happened at the Sea View Hotel bar. There was a lot of intra island cargo that came across the little pier. Then in the 70's it was a hub for cruise ship tenders. What we have today (or don't have) some call progress....call it what you want, but those were THE DAYS!

OMG
RIsdon's ice cream! YES!

[barcann.livejournal.com]

I remember Risdon's!

Annie

Risdon's ice cream right by the water. I can't begin to guess how many ice cream cones dear husband had there over the years while he waited for all his ladies to be done shopping at Caribbean Gems.

These threads are a pleasure - thanks to all for providing them.

Respectfully,

pat

Pat
you mean Risdon's on the square, right?

the original risdons ice cream was down street close to where Wajang Doll used to be.
then he moved to Front Street a ltitle down from our liquor store.
that's the Risdon's I remember and that was before the one on the square.

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Quote
yes, at 5:00pm it all happened at the Sea View Hotel bar

You mean this one?



[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

Yes, B,

I don't know why but I don't remember much about Front St. from our earliest visits but about 83 and on my strongest recollections of Front St. include Risdon's, Pinnocchio's, your liquor store and the bar/restaurant on the same side of the street as you that had all the beautiful birds. Why do so many of my memories seem to come back to birds?

pat

yep, Vicki, that's the old Seaview with the famous genip tree.
Lots of gossip exchanged, deals made, politics discussed, friendships made, etc., under that old tree

[barcann.livejournal.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2010 09:29AM by Barbara1.

Thanks Barbara! I can see that in those days, the structures were butt up against the water which amazes me, based on the path of hurricanes. I wonder why only in the last years of the 20th century that hurricanes began to affect the island, otherwise I would assume that most of these structures would have been long gone.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

John To the contrary, back then there was a significant amount of "natural" beach. Buildings were never really in danger of the ocean. The island was also quite lucky in that for twenty five plus years, we never encountered any massive hurricanes. In 1995 we get caught off guard and the rest is history. Certainly weather patterns have changed making intense hurricanes more frequent. Much of the beach erosion in Philipsburg in recent years has been caused by the dredging for the cruise ship piers. There is a domino effect when the seabed is stripped of seaweed. This inturn destroyed the natural sandbank in the mid section of the bay. The sand bank protected the beach. One of the best examples of this is St Jean beach/bay in St. Barths. The coral reef and seaweed/grass beds in the bay were destroyed through years of boat anchors being dropped. That was a natural protection from the water currents for the beach. For years they have had to dredge the beach back. Unless natural barriers (which are all living elements) can be reestablished, dredging/pumping sand off the seabed will be the only option.

Thank you RDT for the good explanation as to why only in the last years has the weather really affected the beaches. I know this is not my island but since I do own property now, I guess I have the right to wonder if there have been any "Ocean Specialists" around to offer viable solutions to this unnatural occurence such as to the moving and sinking of abandoned ships or the building of man-made reefs if that would be helpful. I know this all may be naive of me to mention these ideas that I have read about in our local papers (since we also have this problem in our State), as I would assume that the issue is much larger than what a novice like me would comprehend, but I would think that if things were brought to the table now, the results would maybe not be seen in my lifetime but surely seen in the next generation.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

Here is a web site that provides an illustration of beach erosion. Top right hand side of the menu bar you will see St. Barths.

www.deborahbronan.com

Thanks RDT... now if anyone else is planning on going to that website, there was a missing "s" and so here is the correct version:

Dr. Deborah Brosnan

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.