BARTICA – A Missed Opportunity of History
By Dmitri Allicock
Bartica Grove 1910
Some of the greatest cities of old and modern times owe their rise and grandeur to their positions in the fork between great rivers, which gave them unrivaled advantages for defense and commerce. Lyons of France, St Louis in the U.S and Belgrade of Serbia are three striking examples. Bartica occupies such a unique natural location in north-central Guyana where the mighty Essequibo, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni rivers meet.
[Read more Bartica- A missed opportunity of history ]
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The turn of that century saw the first automobile and the electric bulb take center stage in upper Demerara, however steam power still dominated.
The Demerara Essequibo Railway was essential and a major pillar in upper Demerara’s development. Sprostons Steamers, Railway and Construction Company lead the way as the Demerara Bauxite Company became established.
Read more: http://guyanathenandnow.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/the-demerara-essequibo-railway-der/
Dmitri, thanks for another interesting piece of Guyanese history. I love the Bartica Grove 1910 photo: beautiful and serene.
You are welcome Rosaliene. Many of my extended family lived at Bartica and some still do. I use to access Bartica by road from the Rockstone area. Lovely place. River View is very beautiful.
Dimitri
Bartica was where we spent some school holidays …memories..
We swam in in the brown waters of the Essequibo as there were sandy beaches
formed on its banks at Bartica…we witnessed a electric bypass as we swam …the
Woman swimmer did not drown as she was in shallow water….we were lucky..
We fished under the stelling where the ferry docked.
You may remember Ignacius Pereira Rum shop where pork knockers
Would exchange gold for rations as they got drunk after seeking their
fortunes….I lived and worked in Bartica many years later.
That picture of the ferry stelling on arrival paints a picture in my memory of Bartica. History re-incarnate indeed.
I have read it all and thank you for the effort/enlightenment.
I do not have an e mail for you but have passed one of my many
E mails on Guyana for your info…
Dave Martins singing his original song of Guyana.
My e mail
doncomdecastro@gmail.com
Ignacius Pereira was my uncle by marriage to my mothers sister…she
had 13 other brothers / sisters and had 14 children with ignacius
(No TV in those days) ….that generation of Guyanese have all exited
the planet…with the next generation of 14 scattered all over the planet..
from Australasia to Obamarama land….life unfolds….
I now have e mail addresses to most of them for Xmas/new year wishes…
Guyana’s loss is another’s gain…sad fact…only a few have returned for a holiday
to their mother/fatherland….it saddens me but must be realistic ! That’s life !
Once again thanks for your research and enlightenment.
We are rewriting Guyana’s history….
Kamptan
Bless you Kamptan. I have several Pereira relatives of the extended family. You might remember some of my closer Van Lange and Fiedtkou relatives who lived at Bartica. My email is dnallicock@gmail.com
Dmitri, you do a wonderful job informing us on history and valuable moments about our country i love your interest about your country and history that i did not look into or even remember, i lived in Bartica as a little girl…and there are some places still that reside in my mind even thou i have grown older
Thank you Patricia.
I remember an old radio skit that featured a porknocker who struck it rich and sent a telegram from “B.G. to B.G.” – Bartica Grove to Bookers Garage.
One line in that skit that created outrage among all the mothers in Albuoystown was when his mother greeted him with “Oh my son!”; and attempted to embrace him, the nouveau rich porknocker exclaimed “Touch me not; for poverty is contagious!”
My own mother’s comment cannot be printed here.
My family lived at Bartica. My siblings and I were all born at the b Bartica Hospital. My parents, among other things, ran the Marin Hotel at second avenue. We left Bartica in the late 50’s, when I was a laddie, but visited after. Several members of my parents relatives are buried at ‘Sorrow Hill’ at 7th Avenue. We are very good friends of some of the Feidtkou and the Mendonca families. I have heard Bartica have changed drastically over the years and not all for the good.
My family name is Yardon. Thanks for the memories.
You crack me up Ron- Haha!
My dad had a few letters which he referred to as Porknockers Letters. The ability of Pork knocker to withstand the tremendous adversities of the tropical jungle life mixed with his reputation for big spending, rum drinking, womanizing along with narcissism and personality of grandeur- he became legendary to Guyana’s history
Here is one of them:
Most Illustrious and Venerated Madonna,
I successfully yearn the right to lay first claim to your heart in preference to my vanquish rival.
Matchless Damsel, as I contemplate your codigious beauty, I yearn to possess you as my eternal conductric. Give me your benevolent agreement and before the calendar marks another year, I will contribute thee my matrimonial bride. I would labor with ferocious energy to afford you conducial falitsies. I would erect for you a formidable mansion to accommodate multi various progencies. I would purchase for you an enamulate quadruped-a motor car, which’s carbonatious headlights would resume the night into day.
Do not refuse this opportunity for the rejection of such an enormous titanic love could only terminate my catactlemonact affection and decrease my intense adoration.
I remain yours,
Affectionate,
Carrelous, Ignatius, Orrilous, Fitzpatrick Thimble
Thanks Kman
Dmitri, I never had the opportunity to visit Bartica .and most of the other attractive places in beautiful Guyana. I’m one of those Guyanese who was born in a country he never really saw. I left in 1968 and rarely visited. However, through yours and the writings, pictures and videos of others on the internet, I’m having the vicarious pleasure of seeing the Guyana I never knew. Your many articles on the history and geography of Guyana, as well as your ancestry, have been very informative, interesting and enlightening. I’ve learned so much of Guyana and truly enjoyed the many nostalgic vignettes. Thanks for them all.
Dmitri, my friend, thanks so much for documenting and sharing your knowledge and personal history. You have enriched my reading. I’m eagerly looking forward to that book of yours.
The porknocker letter was hilarious… those bombastic Guyanese malapropisms always rock my boat and keep it afloat with laughter.
Take care,
Deen
Bless you Deen,
The journey through Guyana’s history is also a learning lesson for me. Changing times have witnessed tremendous changes in most of our lives, few of the older generation remain who can relate their personal stories of history and my humble contributions are perhaps a small way of remembering the stories of these treasures of Guyana.
I was blessed with parents and a multitude of family members who never stopped talking about every aspect of Guyana’s heritage. I spend an entire day chatting about family history and Guyana with my dear 99 years old uncle John Fiedtkou at Friendship, Upper Demerara, in 2010. John Fiedtkou was months short of 100 years old, blind by glaucoma for 15 years and yet was full of life and laughter as he carefully reminisced 100 or more years of history.
I asked him how happy he was to which he smilingly remarked, “I can hear the river flow, feel the cool morning river breeze on my face and the beautiful sounds of a million birds- Yes, I am very happy that God had grant me yet another day to enjoy.”
He quietly passed away a few months after and was followed by his 97 years old wife Ruth Fiedtkou nee Fleming a year after.
I was in contact with my father’s first cousin 87 year old John Garvan Van Lange and former resident of Bartica as I wrote this little bit on Bartica- A missed opportunity. He is a living encyclopedia of Guyana and I can enjoy an entire day discussing various subjects with him from recognizing the various hardwood of Guyana, wildlife, villages in the hinterlands, family, foods of Guyana, etc.
Stay in touch Deen.
Thanks for the followup Dmitri. Obviously, you are blessed with longevity genes.
Hopefully, it’ll give you adequate time to tell many stories based on your experiences and those that have been passed on to you by your uncle and other family members.
Your uncle’s (John Fiedtkou) words resonate poetically:
“I can hear the river flow, feel the cool morning river breeze on my face and the beautiful sounds of a million birds – Yes, I am very happy that God had grant me yet another day to enjoy.” I love it! His words reminded of my childhood growing up on the Corentyne and living within fifty feet of the river. Ah! the glorious morning sunrise and cool ocean breeze and the birds chirping…..it was a piece of paradise.
Peace and blessings,
Deen
So true Deen.
Always a pleasure,
Dmitri