ACRM hosts Heritage Tour, explores slave artefacts in and around UTech, Ja’s main campus

Published:Wednesday | September 2, 2016 

Hope Aqueduct built by slaves in 1758, the structure was used to channel water 

Yesterday the ACRM hosted a Heritage Tour of the historical sites in and around the UTech, Ja’s vicinity. The tour was conducted by Mrs. Joan Francis, the Museum and Heritage Preservation Officer from the University’s museum unit. Before the tour officially began, using a map of the original area, Mrs. Francis indicated that the Papine Campus was actually located on land that was formerly called the Hope Estate. She went on to make a case that this property should therefore, be correctly referred to as the Hope Campus and gave further strength to her argument by producing the title for the University which showed too that the land located on 237 Old Hope Road was indeed once called the Hope Estate.

Mrs. Francis, the Museum and Heritage Preservation Officer using a map to show students that the campus is located on land formerly called the Hope Estate

Hope Aqueduct, the sign bearing its name and the year it was built is still visible

Hope Aqueduct

We then made our way to the first stop on the Heritage Tour which was the Hope Aqueduct located just behind the campus. The Hope Aqueduct was built by enslaved Africans in 1758 and there is a still visible sign on the structure that bears the name as well as the year it was erected. The Aqueducts were built as a conduit for water through areas such as a valley where digging or burrowing presented problems. Modern day pipe and sewer systems would be our equivalent of aqueducts. It is an impressive structure with its arches towering above us standing below, and we were equally awed by its detail as we were by the fact that it is still functioning and is being utilized by the National Water Commission today. 

Mrs. Francis expressed her disappointment with the fact that a structure that was declared a national monument in 2005, is so unkempt with shrubs growing all around it. The roads leading to the Aqueduct are also in a deplorable condition. In an article published in the Observer titled “A Martyr For Hope” Mrs. Francis had proposed that repair work be done on the road and that it be renamed Hope Aqueduct Road or some other similar name. The site could then be used as a place where we bring guests of the University to visit, by travelling that route. Francis noted that the UWI has fully embraced the Papine-Mona Aqueducts and they not only form a unique part of their history but also adds a great aesthetic appeal to their environment.

Some students at the slave ruins near Hope Gardens

Missed opportunity

We then moved across to a section near to the Hope Gardens where two other historical artefacts were located. First was a building believed to have been used as a hospital for enslaved persons of African descent living on Hope Estate. There was also another structure that was identified as the overseer’s house. Both of which were in a state of disrepair. Mrs. Francis had also written an article titled “Missed opportunities for heritage preservation at Hope Gardens” documenting the deplorable state of the two buildings and recommending that the area be cleaned, and the structures restored as well as an obelisk be erected there to mark their location. Francis also identified this as another missed opportunity for both UTech, Ja and the country as a major historical attraction.

The three silos, used as a laboratory by Dr. T P Lecky for his ground breaking research on cattle breeding

A Tale of Four Cows!

From the slave ruins to the Silos, our next location took us back to the campus where Francis related the history of the three towering structures. She produced an article dated 1909 which showed that the three silos were part of the Hope Farm School that once occupied the campus. The Silos were later used as the laboratory of Jamaican scientist Dr. T. P. Lecky world renowned for his work in genetics and cattle breeding. Dr. Lecky’s research led to the creation of four species of cattle breeds; Jamaica Hope, Jamaica Red, Jamaica Brahman and the Jamaica Black.

Mrs. Francis takes the group through an old article on the Hope Farm School

A closer look at the article

The penultimate visit of the tour was the Lillian’s Restaurant. Lillian’s was declared a national monument, and has a sign prominently displayed at the front indicating it’s status. The Lillian’s Restaurant is one of three remaining board structures on campus, next to the drawing room as well as the UTech, Ja Students Union office, and may have been erected prior to the establishment of the Hope Farm School based on a report given in the article pictured above.

ACRM members, and ACRM Alumni pictured in front of ACRM's former office. Our office was demolished in June 2015 as part of development work being done on the campus.

Old stomping ground

For the final stop on the tour, Kevaughn Fraser, President of the ACRM then took the group to the former location of the African Cultural Renaissance Movement just in front of the construction site at the back of the campus. Fraser reflected on the ACRM’s 45 year history on the University campus inviting the participants to continue to be a part of the discussion as well as active education of the student body on African Cultural Heritage and thanked Mrs. Francis as well as the participants for sharing in the experience.

The ACRM meets every Thursday at 3pm by the ACRM Club Office. We invite you to be a part of our year's activities. We want you to like our facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/ACRMUTech  and continue to visit our blog; http://acrmutechja.blogspot.com/  to stay up to date on all ACRM’s happenings.

Rowen A. Johnson

Public Relations Officer

rowen_johnson@yahoo.com