Newtown				St. Clair				St. James				Woodbrook

Woodbrook (Circa 1925)

Located in the western section of Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad, this community is best defined by its extremities: East - Colville Street (Lapeyrouse Cemetery); West - the Maraval River; North - Tragarete Road (the Queen's Park Oval); and South - Wrightson Road. It has 32 streets, with two roads and one avenue that connect it to the other parts of the city. As far back as the 1950s, Woodbrook was prized for its Victorian homes and its amenities: paved streets and sidewalks; street lights; piped water and sewerage; and underground storm drainage. With the passage of time and the availability of government resources, similar services were provided to selected towns throughout the country.

"Woodbrook is best known today as being the liming capital of the island. There is little reminder of the old days save the sprawling mass of Lapeyrouse Cemetery and the names of the streets. Woodbrook as a suburb is an amalgamation of three sugar estates. Woodbrook, the largest, was originally the property of Picot de Lapeyrouse, who came to the island in 1783 under the Cedula of Population. He planted bourbon canes, thus founding the first sugar estate in the island, which was to be the backbone of the economy from the late 18th century well into the 1920s. On his lands was a muddy patch of graveyard known as the Campo Santo, containing a single legible tombstone, that of Jean Creteau, who died in 1745. This was later to become the official burial ground for the city of Port-of-Spain and took the name Lapeyrouse Cemetery. The Lapeyrouse family sold the property, with its sugar factory, to Henry Murray in 1820. With the coming of Emancipation in 1834-36 Murray saw ruin staring him in the face and sold the lands to the mega-conglomerate of WH Burnley and Co, which was owned by the richest man in the island, William Burnley, and managed by his confederate William Eccles.

"After William died in 1850, his son William F Burnley inherited the property, but was prevented from coming to Trinidad by a life insurance policy which forbade his entering the tropics. The Woodbrook Estate fell under the management of Burnley Hunter Eccles, son of William Eccles. When Burnley Hunter died prematurely in 1892, the Woodbrook Estate was occupied by a huge, red-haired, Scots manager named Watson. He married a young local French Creole girl from the Rostant clan. They had a child named Ozzie. He employed dozens of indentured Indian labourers and retrofitted the ancient factory shell with modern machinery, including vacuum pans for manufacturing crystals. They also continued to make muscovado sugar or sugar loaves, which were like cones of hardened molasses, wrapped in dried leaves. These were for the local market, since they were cheap and popular, being essential as "browning" in creole cooking and as a key component of the cuisine of the many Venezuelans who were settling in the city at the point in time. Speaking of food, Woodbrook was famous for its pepperpot. This was a dish of Amerindian origin constituting the poisonous juice of bitter cassava (cassareep) infused with pepper (capsicum) and herbs to defuse its toxicity, stewed with meat and vegetables. Pepperpot was an essential food in times before refrigeration, as the cassareep possessed preservative properties and thus the stew, if kept going over a slow fire, could literally keep edible for years, with the addition of fresh ingredients periodically.

"Also dating from Amerindian times, the vessel for cooking the pepperpot was the canaree-a huge earthen cauldron often containing several gallons, and greatly heat-resistant. The pepperpot at Woodbrook was said to have been nearing 100 years of existence by the time of the Watson management in the 1890s and was renowned both for its ancient canaree and excellent flavour. The factory began to make a profit but tragedy struck when Mrs Watson and her son Ozzie were taken away by disease, leaving the Scotsman desolate. He left his job shortly thereafter. In 1899, the almost 90-year existence of the Burnley empire in Trinidad ended when Woodbrook was sold to the Siegert family, of Angostura fame. The sugar factory was demolished and the canefields laid out in lots for rent to a burgeoning coloured middle class. A small estate office was erected in 1907 to collect land rents and is still to be seen on the southwestern corner below Murray Street playground, the site of the old sugar factory. Streets were laid out which reflected the Siegert family-Carlos, Alfredo, Rosalino, Ana, Petra and Alberto. The lots were snapped up since there was a new respectability in the area. Coloured people of decent education were finding employment in the civil service and thus needed to escape from the barrack-yards of the city. Quaint gingerbread cottages sprang up which gave the district its signature style. In one of these cottages, the father of the nation, Dr. Eric Williams, was born in 1911. Financial troubles plagued the Siegert family and as one of the sons was a mayor of the city, the larger part of it was sold in 1911 to the colonial government for £25,000. It remained a middle-class area and developed steadily, gradually being embraced by the city to become the mini-metropolis it is today." (Unknown Writer, September 15, 2013)

During the middle of the 20th century, Woodbrook was a busy and prosperous place with a vibrant economy, primarily because of its close proximity to the Queen's Park Oval where almost all significant events were held: cricket; soccer; boxing; cycling; track meets; Carnival contests and parades; and appearances by U.S. performers such as the Platters and the Harlem Globetrotters. Another attraction was the Little Carib Theatre which showcased the talents of many local dancers and actors. Night or day, Woodbrook was always busy with free street parking for all events held at the Oval or Little Carib.

In addition to its grocery stores, fresh produce shops, cafes, bars, drugstores, eating places, music bands, cinemas, and theatre, many of which are described below, Woodbrook was the original home of Solo soft drinks which were bottled by the Joseph Charles Company in its factory located at the corner of Tragarete Road and White Street. This site was later used for a Hi-Lo supermarket when Joseph Charles moved his bottling works to Valsayn Park. On the opposite corner, ice treats were produced by the Popsicle factory which was owned and operated by Victor Bryan, the Minister of Agriculture during the 1950s. Up to the early 1960s, residents shopped for fresh meat and vegetables at the Woodbrook Market which was later demolished and replaced by the Woodbrook Government Secondary School. The popularity of its two cinemas, Astor and Roxy, waned after the introduction of television in 1962, and these two landmarks became the sites of other ventures during the 1980s.

Entertainment

One of Woodbrook's greatest contributions to life in Trinidad was entertainment, especially music. Almost every street could boast of a resident, young or old, who played some kind of musical instrument: piano; violin; or pan. With this abundance of musical talent, it is no wonder that there were so many successful music bands and places of entertainment in Woodbrook.

Theatres: Theatres that functioned in Woodbrook were as follows:

Steelbands: The following is a listing of the steelbands that functioned in Woodbrook, broken down by type: traditional (pans supported around the neck); and conventional (pans supported mechanically).

Conventional Music Bands: Conventional music bands that functioned in Woodbrook were as follows:

Mas(querade) Bands: Mas' bands that functioned in Woodbrook included:

MAS' BAND	LOCATION IN 2002	HISTORY
George Bailey	Defunct	A talented designer, George Bailey rocketed on the mas scene in 1957 at the young age of 23 with his presentation of Back to Africa which won Band of the Year honors. He won five more Band of the Year titles before his untimely death in 1970: Relics of Egypt (1959); Ye Saga of Merrie England (1960); Byzantine Glory (1961); Somewhere in New Guinea (1962); and Bright Africa (1969).
Barbarossa	26 Taylor Street	This band was formed in the 1990s and won the Band-of-the-Year title in 2002 with Untamed.
Callaloo Company	French Street	This band is led by Peter Minshall and copped 5 Band-of-the-Year awards with Carnival of the Sea (1979), Carnival Is Colour (1987), Hallelujah (1995), Song of the Earth (1996), and Tapestry: Threads of Life (1997).
D'Midas Associates	15 - 17 Kitchener Street
Rosalind Gabriel	26 O'Connor Street
Legends	88 Roberts Street	This band was formed in 1995 by Mike Antoine and Ian McKenzie, and won consecutive Large Band-of-the-Year titles in 1999, 2000, and 2001 with its presentations "Dynasty," "Streets of Fire," and "2001 Now and Beyond," respectively.
The Mass Factory	15 Buller Street
Millenium Bugs, Inc.	35 Methuen Street
Rudolph Piggott	Defunct	A staunch fan of the Invaders Steelband and a 1950s Island Scholarship winner from Queen's Royal College, Rudolph Piggott led a band of Carnival masqueraders for a couple of years in the 1960s.
Trevor Wallace & Associates	189 Tragarete Road
Trini Revellers	35 Gallus Street
Victor Rique	40 Roberts Street

Singers: One of the most renown classical singers was Clarence Johnson who performed in various churches and amateur theatre productions.

Sports

In the 1950s and 1960s, the streets of Woodbrook provided an arena for many youths to play and develop their skills in soccer and cricket. In addition, King George V Park (Pompi-Eye), behind the Queen's Park Oval in neighboring St. Clair, provided additional space for many of these youths to hone these skills. Competitive youth soccer teams that functioned during this period included Fallen Angels, Totspurs, and Rockerfellas. Born at 3 Taylor Street, Michael Agostini went on to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 1956 Olympics.

In the 1960s, the Youth Center at the south end of O'Connor Street was the place where competition was held in basketball, table-tennis, and soccer. Some of the youths who spent many years playing at this facility and who went on to achieve national recognition were Winston "Reds" Mulligan (table-tennis), Kelvin Barclay (soccer), and Reynold Marcelin (soccer).

Cricketers who were born in Woodbrook and who went on to represent the West Indies in Test cricket were Lennox "Bunny" Butler, Michael "Joey" Carew, Gerry Gomez, Deryck Murray, Lance Pierre, Willie Rodriguez, Edwin Lloyd St. Hill, and Wilton H. St. Hill. Cecil St. Hill, brother of Edwin and Winston, also represented T&T and the trio set a record for the largest number of brothers to represent T&T in cricket.

Shopping

Emamali's Gift Shop, located at the corner of Luis Street and Tragarete Road, was a popular stop for tourists who wanted to purchase jewelry and local artifacts.

Favorite Eating Places

• Tina's Roti Shop: Established in the 1950s, this sidewalk stand was located on Tragarete Road, between Carlos and Alfredo Streets. It was owned by Phyllis (Tina) Ferreira and operated during evenings only. Known as a "roti shop," this favorite take-out spot ironically became renown for its potato (aloo) pies.
• Ma's Parlor: Located next to Young's shop at the intersection of Rosalino and Roberts Streets, this café got its name from its owner, Rose Ma Junkere. It was a favorite lunch stop for workmen and was a major supplier of ice in the 1950s when few residents had refrigerators.
• Curry Masala: Located at the corner of Luis Street and Tragarete Road, this eating place set up shop in the 1980s and offered a wide selection of Indian dishes.
• Blue Gardenia Cafe: Located at the corner of Rosalino Street and Tragarete Road.
• Starlite Cafe: Located at the corner of Ariapita Avenue and Rosalino Street, this cafe was famous for the chinese delicacy pow.
• Hi Hi Cafe: Located at the corner of Ana and Warren Streets, this cafe was famous for its chinese-style chicken.

Banking

In the 1980s, Woodbrook got its first bank when the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) opened a branch at the corner of Ariapita Avenue and Murray Street. Prior to this time, residents travelled to other sections of the city for their banking needs. CIBC later became the Republic bank in 1998.

Academic Institutions

The following is the list of schools that operated in Woodbrook dating back to the 1950s.

Public Facilities

The playground at the intersection of Murray and Roberts Streets was always well-equipped with mechanical devices for the enjoyment of the children of Woodbrook.

At the southwest corner of the playground was the tax office where residents could pay their land rent and property taxes; this office was closed in late 1998. On Murray Street, directly opposite from the tax office, was the Post Office.

Immediately east of the playground were the Fire Station and the Police Station. The two parks, Adam Smith and Siegert Squares, provided a great forum for political meetings and were places where adults could sit and relax during evenings, outside the confines of their homes. In the 1980s, Adam Smith Square became a centre of attraction during Carnival when it was made a reviewing site for parading bands.

Health Facilities

The Public Health Office was located on the northern side of Tragarete Road at the northern extremity of Cornelio Street. This facility served the greater Port-of-Spain community very well, especially in the 1950s when it was efficiently used to administer vaccinations to young children to stem the worldwide spread of smallpox and polio. Medical prescriptions were filled at Kong's pharmacy, which was located at the intersection of Roberts and Warren Streets, Tang's pharmacy, which was located on Tragarete Road (next to the Invaders Steelband yard), and Wallace's drugstore, which was located at the corner of French Street and Tragarete Road.

Places of Worship

Roman catholics worshipped at St. Theresa's Church, at the intersection of Warren and De Verteuil Streets, while Anglicans worshipped at St. Crispin's Church on Alberto Street. Other denominations held services at churches located at the intersection of Alfredo Street and Tragarete Road (Ebenezer Church), on Carlos Street (The Church of God), and on Kelly-Kenny Street.

Popular Hangouts (Liming Places)

Although every street corner was a potential hangout, the most famous ones were those that attracted the most recognizable members of the community. Not surprisingly, corners in close proximity to the music makers (Invaders, Starlift, John "Buddy" Williams, Cassanovas) attracted the largest amount of "limers."

• The corner of Roberts and Luis Streets - Outside the home of John "Buddy" Williams, crowds gathered over the decades at this location to listen to the bands practice: John Williams; Andre Tanker; Cassanovas.
• John Man's Shop - Located at the intersection of Rosalino and Roberts Streets, the front of this grocery store was by far the most popular liming site in Woodbrook during the 1950s and 1960s and made its manager, John-Man Chenwing, the most well-known oriental in all of Woodbrook.
• The Invaders Steelband Yard - Located at 147 Tragarete Road, opposite the Queen's Park Oval, this location was a natural hangout for both panmen who came to practice their music and listeners who wanted to hear "sweet pan."
• The Intersection of Warren and Hunter Streets - This site was called the "green" because of the adjoining well-manicured hedge. It was the place where members of the Starlift Steelband would convene long into the night, after an evening of music rehearsal.
• The Brooklyn Bar at the intersection of Roberts and Carlos Streets - This bar was famous for producing patrons who could not walk a straight line on their exit, especially on Saturday nights.
• Hot and Cold - South of Wrightson Road, the steam condenser discharge from the T&TEC electric power plant flowed through a warm water canal that provided a haven for bathers.

Well-Known Characters

There were many residents who were well-known in Woodbrook but who were always referred to by their nicknames. Since these men hung out on street corners, usually on their bicycles, they were frequently seen by residents who had a very good idea of what their contributions to the community were, whether good or bad. Although the real names of some of these men may never be known, their nicknames are worth documenting since they were so unique that some of them may never be heard again in Woodbrook.

NICKNAME	REAL NAME	NOTORIETY
Aggarat	Unknown	With his travelling bag in hand, "Aggas" would walk the streets of Woodbrook as the perfect athlete dressed in his track suit, but no one ever knew what sport he played.
Ah-toe	Unknown	Had the gift of gab. He began playing pan with Invaders in the 1950s before moving over to Starlift and becoming one of its most loyal supporters during the 1960s and 1970s.
Bambi	Andrew Contant	This excellent tenor-pan player started with Invaders and later moved over to Starlift. He became well-known in the 1960s for tuning miniature tenor-pans for souvenir collectors.
Bamboo	Unknown	He was a flagwaver for Invaders in the 1950s, a time when very few East Indians took part in Carnival parades on the streets.
Birdie	Vernon Mannette	Brother of Ellie Mannette. Pan tuner with Invaders and Starlift, and leader of Invaders from the late 1960s to the 1990s.
Boogie	Hylton Weekes	Had the gift of gab and interfaced very frequently with residents as the delivery-man for Young's grocery store.
Boogsie	Lennox Sharpe	Gifted composer and music arranger who achieved great success with Phase II Pan Groove.
Boy Blue	Joseph Mansingh	A promising pan player as a youth, he rarely remained sober for most of his adult life.
Choonks	Randolph Turpin	Bass player with Invaders in the 1950s when panmen carried their instruments around their necks. Known for his glasses with characteristic thick lenses, he served the community well as a plumber.
Coaye	Cecil Forde	Played tenor-pan with Invaders and was a feared man during the 1950s when there were many violent steelband clashes.
Dicko	Murten Ellis	Outstanding conga player with the Invaders and Starlift steelbands, and the Cassanovas music band; also had the gift of gab.
Dinners	Roland Innis	This 1960s bass player with Invaders and Starlift became an excellent pan tuner with Starlift in the 1970s. He went on to lead Starlift from 1990s through the 2000s.
Ellie	Elliott Mannette	Pan tuner and leader of the Invaders until the late 1960s, he took up residence in the U.S. and became the Artist in Residence at the the University of West Virginia in the 1990s.
Fatman	Irwin Ross	Rhythm player with Invaders in the late 1950s and then bass player with Starlift in the 1960s, this former gang member matured into a fine citizen. Even though he moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, he continued to be dogged by a nemesis from his youth. He died from cancer in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1990s.
Happy	David Williams	Trained musician and accomplished bass player who went on to accompany the popular American singer, Roberta Flack. Also played second-pan with Invaders in the early 1960s, and became a calypso composer and singer in the 1990s.
High-Lo	Hugh Wellington	Pan tuner with Invaders and Starlift in the 1960s.
John-Man	John Man Chen Wing	This oriental store-keeper had the gift of gab. He operated the grocery store at the intersection of Roberts and Rosalino Streets that was the favorite hangout for almost every limer in Woodbrook during the 1950s and 1960s. He went bankrupt after extending too much credit to some of his customers.
Kanhai	Anthony Emrit	Groundsman at the Queen's Park Oval from the 1930s to 1970s where he was responsible for preparing the cricket wicket. Also reared cows and supplied milk to local residents.
Kobo Jack	Emmanuel Riley	This pan tuner and renown tenor-pan player established a jazzy playing style in the 1950s that became the trademark of Invaders. He will always remembered for his improvisations in the Invaders recordings: Lieberstraum; Melody in F; and Outcast.
Lam-Eye	Brensley Mahon	Played rhythm (iron) with Starlift in the late 1950s and remained a loyal supporter of the band.
Mouther Bee	Winston Phillips	Excellent tenor-pan player with Invaders and Starlift in the 1960s.
My Fan	Carlton Drayton	This former guitar-pan player with Invaders in the 1950s teamed up with Ellie Mannette and Francis Wickham to form the "sweetest" iron rhythm trio of their time. He moved to Starlift in 1963 where he continued as a rhythm player and remained a loyal, active band member through the early 2000s.
Philo	Albert James	A trained musician and bandleader of Starlift from 1957 to 1966, this pan tuner and arranger will always remembered for his 1962 Carnival arrangement of Allelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. His classical arrangement of this piece of music landed Starlift in 2nd Place in the 1964 Steelband Music Festival.
Puddin	Reynold Marcelin	A determined soccer player who grew up playing on the streets, he went on to represent the Malvern soccer club in First Division play; he also played tenor-pan with the Invaders steelband.
Rabbit	Jeffrey Mahabir	Popular for his gab, his animated "Cat and the Fiddle" in the 1957 Starlift Carnival presentation "Nursery Rhymes" will never be forgotten.
Splav	David Waddell	Popular for his gab, he was a prolific second-pan player with Invaders and Starlift from the late 1950s to the 1970s.
Sugars	Clive Wellington	Second-pan and rhythm player with Invaders and Starlift in the 1960s.
Toepee	Unknown	Reared cows and supplied milk to residents.
Vats	Vernon Duncan	A panman with Invaders during his early years, he moved to Starlift in the 1960s where he played the guitar-pan. He became a loyal and respected Starlift supporter in his later years.

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