1901 - 1910
of Rockfort Gardens as an entertainment venue. During those
ten years a wide variety of shows and events were put on there,
and various facilities were installed. Unfortunately pictures of
the Gardens are rare, or non-existent; certainly I have not yet
found any, but if or when I do find one I shall put it on this site.
juggler, magic lantern and band was a mere foretaste of many similar entertainments to come!
In the early days of Rockfort Gardens it seems to have been mainly an additional venue for traditional functions such as garden parties, fetes and concerts.
Daily Gleaner, February 22, 1901
We remind the public of the limelight views of Queen Victoria's reign to be shown by Mr Campbell at Rockfort Gardens this evening.
Daily Gleaner, October 9, 1901
Daily Gleaner, December 12, 1901
Entries for the athletic sports in connection with the garden party to be held at Rockfort Gardens on the 26th and 27th inst. will be closed on Saturday next, the 14th inst.
Daily Gleaner, December 23, 1901
There seems to have been little going on at Rockfort Gardens in 1902; in July however there were events there as part of the celebrations of the coronation of Edward VII -
Daily Gleaner, July 9, 1902
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights Rock Fort Gardens will be brilliantly illuminated and sixpence will be charged, a refreshments bar will be on the grounds and the band of the K. I. M. will be in attendance on Friday night.
On Saturday night, the Gardens will be thrown open to the public free of charge. The flotilla will start from the Garden on Friday night, and a beautiful view of the procession can be obtained from this point.
attended and proved a success. With the illuminations, fireworks, and the
music of the W. I. R. band an enjoyable time was spent.
Daily Gleaner, July 2, 1903
Daily Gleaner, July 29, 1903
TO-DAY'S BARBECUE.
EXTENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS MADE
The
garden party and Barbecue which commences
at
Rockfort Gardens this afternoon
promises to be
one of the most
interesting entertainments of the
season. All the arrangements have been made. A
band
of music will be in attendance;
the grounds
have
been beautifully Iaid out, and the goods in the
prettily arranged stalls have been
marked at very low
prices. At 8.00
p.m., the drawing for the "Barbecue"
will take place. The winner must be on the grounds
and will have the right of
inviting twenty friends to
a sumptuous
supper which will include a roast pig.
Mr. C. Clare Kelly will preside at the
supper. Another
novel feature of the
proceedings will be the voting for
the
most popular lady in Kingston. A fee of
3d will be
charged for the right
to vote, and no
name will be put
down if the lady
objects to be voted for. The voting
will commence this evening, but it will not close until
next Wednesday (August 5th)
when the Barbecue will
be continued. The
prize consisting of a beautiful set of
essence, will be given to the lady who
gets the most
votes. Extra cars will
run from 3 p.m. to-day. Special
cars
will take people round the Avenue belt from
9.15 p.m., and to Cross Roads from
9.30 p.m. This will
be in addition to
the ordinary car service , and the
cars will run until all the people have left the Gardens.
Daily Gleaner, August 5, 1903
[I don't know what those gasoline lamps were.]
An interesting topic was however discussed in 1903 -
Daily Gleaner, June 6, 1903
A SEA-ROAD TO ROCK FORT.
Mr.
G. A. Hurcomb gave notice at meeting of
the city Council yesterday that at the
next
meeting of the Council he would
move for the
appointment of a select
Committee to enquire
into and report upon
the feasibility of acquiring
the shore of
the harbour situated between
Paradise street
and the Main Road at Rockfort
Gardens
for the purpose of making a public
road
and promenade along the shore of the
harbour to be enjoyed by the inhabitants
of
this City forever.
Daily Gleaner, June 20, 1903
Proposal for Seaside Promenade.
DECISION OF THE COUNCIL
Mr. Hurcomb's motion for the appoint-
ment of a Select Committee to enquire
into and report upon the feasibility of
acquiring the foreshore of the harbour
between Paradise street and the main
road at Rock fort gardens for the purpose
of making a public road and promenade
to be enjoyed by the inhabitants of this
city, was taken up at the meeting of the
City Council yesterday. In moving the
resolution Mr Huromb said it was most
desirable to have the road. They lived on
the shores of one of the largest and most
beautiful harbours in the world - a fact
which was known by every English
schoolboy, but which apparently was not
so well known here; for in spite of that
fact they had no opportunities of seeing
its beauties. At other places where there
was a sea frontage the most was made of
it. The Neapolitans said "See Naples and
die." But he believed the harbour here
was more beautiful than that of Naples
and was unsurpassed in the world. If a
committee were appointed they would
have to find out whether the Government
would give the strip of land at the Lunatic
Asylum, as at present the lunatics had
the best site of the harbour, a privilege
which he was doubtful If they could enjoy.
Next they would have to find out if the
landowners would be willing to give up
their land along the foreshore for the
purpose. He unhesitatingly asserted that
it was to the advantage of th$ landowners
to give the land for nothing. The land was
not worth very much now and its price
would increase immensely if the road was
built. Nature had been kind to us out here
and had done everything, whereas in other
places immense sums of money had to be
spent to do what nature did for us. The
cost of making of the road if the land was
obtained would be a mere trifle, and if
planted along with trees it would indeed
be a boon to the citizens.
Mr. Baquie warmly supported the motion.
The resolution was adopted and a select
committee consisting of Messrs Hurcomb,
Astley Smith, R. A. Alexander, T. M. Burke,
C. W. Tait and the Mayor were appointed
to deal with the proposal.
But, of course, nothing was done then or later to
implement this proposal. It was only as recently
as September 23, 2002, that the Prime Minister,
P . J. Patterson, opened the Michael Manley
Boulevard as such a foreshore road, but chiefly
as a speedier route to the airport, rather than as
a promenade to allow Kingstonians to view the
Harbour.
