Seaside town

[jsteil]

I recently came across this documentary, Forgotten Faces of Jamaica. The documentary is about Seaford town also known as German Town, Jamaica. It's about the forgotten German population of Jamaica. In the documentary they show a museum they created with artifacts passed down over the last 100 years. My family is German and I would like to venture out there. I looked it up on a map and it looks like it could be an okay day trip while seeing something else. I've done some research and found that the museum doesn't have set hours and to ask for Mrs Shakes. Was wondering if anyone has ever been out there?

[poolguywindsor]

I think you mean Seaford Town, I have not been, but would like to check it out some day.

[jsteil]

Thank you for the correction it is Seaford.

I contacted the person that made the documentary. I guess some like visitors to the town and some don't and if you want to visit the museum you can ask for Marie Kameka's and she will show you the museum and stuff.

[johng]

I recently came across this documentary, Forgotten Faces of Jamaica. The documentary is about Seaside town also known as German Town, Jamaica. It's about the forgotten German population of Jamaica. In the documentary they show a museum they created with artifacts passed down over the last 100 years. My family is German and I would like to venture out there. I looked it up on a map and it looks like it could be an okay day trip while seeing something else. I've done some research and found that the museum doesn't have set hours and to ask for Mrs Shakes. Was wondering if anyone has ever been out there?

The town is Seaford Town and was established in 1835. Was the brainchild of Lord Seaford who was a land owner in the area and went to Germany to recruit skilled Germans to come to Jamaica at the time slavery was being abolished. He promised a land of milk and honey in his recruitment when the reality was the area was a bug infested remote area. The Germans after arriving had no funds to return to Germany and were basically stuck. For many decades they refused to interbreed with the Jamaicans and preferred incestuous relationships. In the past 50 years this has to a certain degree changed but many families in Seaford Town are still white and descendants of the original settlers in Seaford Town. The museum used to be run by the Catholic Church there. No idea who Mrs. Shakes is but if you travel there stop at the rectory and ask for whoever is currently the parish priest. Last time I was there in the 90's it was Father Vic an American Priest who was running the parish. It is not an easy ride from Negril unless you are familiar with with driving back country roads in Jamaica. Maybe hiring a driver would be a better bet. The people are quite friendly and approachable and as long as you treat them with respect (asking to take their photos, etc..) they will respect you too. If you can meet with whoever is in charge at the rectory they usually will open the facility up for you so you can visit the museum as often there are not enough tourists / visitors to maintain hours of business. Hope this helps.

[captaind]

Seaford town is actually in Westmoreland parish almost on the St. Elizabeth parish line.

There are several German communities in that area including Elderslie. I had several friends there when I worked at Appleton

[johng]

Captaind,

What did you do when you worked at Appleton? I was there last April doing a story about Joy Spence the Master Distiller there. Very nice place!! I remember Maggotty used to be a main point on the rail line to Kingston before they started trucking products overland

[captaind]

Captaind,

What did you do when you worked at Appleton? I was there last April doing a story about Joy Spence the Master Distiller there. Very nice place!! I remember Maggotty used to be a main point on the rail line to Kingston before they started trucking products overland

In the late 60s and early 70s I ran a small (12,000 ton) island freighter for Wray and Nephew in conjunction with Grace Kennedy. You can still see these types today going along the coast of Jamaiaca.

Unfortunately, during the mid 70s due to Geo-political issues that effort was cancelled.

To the credit of the owners of W & N I was given a contract to haul cane from the outlying farms (Holland Bamboo, Maggoty etc)

I was at the estate 3 - 4 days a week in that time. In fact I spent the night of the 1980 elections in the home of the estate manager (Howard Tavares)

[johng]

captaind,

Sounds interesting. I was in JA too during the 1980 Election and had taken the train from Kingston to MoBay. Due to equipment problems the train was delayed about three hours and we didn't arrive in MoBay until after dark. Remember the election violence at the time, My friend and I got a small room in downtown MoBay and listened throughout the night to gunfire on the streets. The next morning we got transport to Negril and found out that Michael Manley aws holding a rally at the roundabout after greeting some followers at the Negril Beach Club. It was the day before the election.My friend and I were the only two white people at the rally and took some great pics of MM despite being told numerous times no photos.

[Flipadelphia26]

Maybe the OP could contact Accompong? Wouldn't both areas be doable in the same trip?

[johng]

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Accompong although I have meant to many times now so I have no idea of the protocol involved or how one organizes a visit there.