Seaside town

[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.