Salt Cay Area of Historical Interest
Our National Parks are protected under the law in the Turks and Caicos Islands National Park Ordinance (1989). This ordinance establishes regulations for four different categories of Protected Area, one being HA, Area of Historical Interest:
An area of 435 acres in Salt Cay comprising Town Salinas and the waterfront from North District to South District. Also includes the Gray Salina and surroundings of old Whaling Station from Long Bay Point to disused canal. Also including the whole of Whale Island and Whale House Bay.
Section 1
Encompassing most of Balfour Town (South and North Districts) and the architecturally significant structures therein, including the Brown House, the White House and surrounding structures, Dean’s Dock, St. John’s Anglican Church, and other buildings, structures, dwelling houses and ruins. The area also includes Town Salina and associated rock walls, canals and other structures connected with the Salt Industry.
(Dean’s dock may still contain several cannons and other large artifacts that could be salvaged remnants of the HMS Endymion. Some were moved during dredging to neighboring shallow water areas.)
Section 2
Whale House Bay was the headquarters of a short-lived whaling industry in the 1870’s –80’s. Humpback whales were caught in the Turks Island Passage during seasonal winter migration. Area is now prime migrant and wetland bird habitat.
Source: Turks & Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources
Excerpts from Michele McNair's
Oral History Project: Salt Cay Saturday Nights
I wanted something, anything, that left the impression of who these people were and what they wanted to say.One of the common threads was how they entertained themselves.
Georgie is Alice Selver’s husband and they live across the street from Netty’s Store. The building was, at one time, Georgie’s grandfather’s house. He was a man who came to Salt Cay as an interpreter as he spoke 7 languages. Anthony Lewelyn Seymour. He became a merchant, and their home was once the store. He was from Bermuda and South Caicos. He had salt ponds and was very "middle class" for a man of color.
Ned has a remarkable memory for a man 90 years of age. Though he was often at sea as a Merchant Marine, when he was home he took an active part in the life of Salt Cay.
Miss Mabel Wilson is Gerty Landy’s mother. She and her sister Kathryn were the entertainers. They sang, danced, did skits, duets, solos, charades and vignettes from musicals. Miss Mabel was the wife of the leading lay person in St. John’s, the Catechrist...like Poley Dickenson is today.
Miss Rosalie Glinton had to have the largest and most spectacular hat and outfit at Nish Simmons and Constable Colville Garrick's wedding on Salt Cay in Sept 2005.
Uncle Lou is peddling his way to the school for a rehearsal of the Easter services where he was going to be singing.
Miss Irene Been at her new Bed and Breakfast in October, 1998. It was shortly after this she became ill and passed away. What a loss...what a chef, what a baker.
Rock Talbot, husband of Netty Talbot, passed away in 2005. Rock was a great fisherman, builder and all around good man. He always had a warm smile, a good story, and such pride of family.
Known as Uncle Lionel, he can tell you all about fishing, the local waters and surrounding cays.
Salt Cay's own Constable David Wilson. Thanks to his diligence our island is secure and peaceful...just as it should be. |
