I have been blessed to be born in Trinidad in 1940, the perfect time, very little crime, oil and less than 1,000000. people. Lots of citrus fruits and with father who was a Dentist, was an ingredient for the good life. The Caribbean sea, hunting, carnival, girls and midnight movies.
In March 1895, two business blocks stretching from lower Chacon to lower Henry Street were completely destroyed by fire, as a consequence of which a new and much more handsome Frederick Street, designed by the well known Architect/Builder George Brown, arose.
These photos from the 1930s and before, show an almost completely different culture to what exists in downtown Port of Spain today. People dressed as decently as they could (notice the number of suits); today's limers in fish-net vests and pants worn halfway down rear-ends would probably have been sent home or to jail as soon as they appeared on the street.
Some of the shops on Frederick Street of this era included Stephens Ltd., Davidson & Todd, J.T. Johnson, Canning & Co., The Bonanza – Smith Bothers later D. Hope Ross & Sons, Glendenning's, Salvatori, Scott & Co. Ltd., Pereira & Co. Ltd., Millers, Hardware & Electric Supplies and W.C. Ross & Co.
That's only 55 years ago!
Here goes.....
'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.
'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1, 000.00 will only buy a used one.
'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous!..
'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a local letter.
'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the stores.
'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.
'I'm afraid to send my children to the movies any more Ever since they let Clark Gable get away with saying DAMN in 'GONE WITH THE WIND', it seems like every new movie now-a-days has either 'HELL' or 'DAMN' in it.