Astrolabe

The controversial ownership of Breezy Point on East Caicos — Part 2 By Jeff Dodge Who were the legitimate owners of East Caicos island, or more specifically, a tract of land at Breezy Point? The answer to this question turns out to be a convoluted story that is proving difficult to unwind. This is Part Two of ...

The controversial ownership of Breezy Point on East Caicos–Part 1. By Jeff Dodge From J. Henry Pusey’s The Handbook of the Turks and Caicos Islands (1897 edition): “the large tract of land called Breezy Point was otherwise designated Cape Comet is also included in Grand Caicos. . .” Who were the legitimate owners of East Caicos Island, or ...

The life and times of James Edward (“Bobby”) Fulford. By Carlton & Debbie-lee Mills In March 2020, it was my distinct privilege to interview Mr. James “Bobby” Fulford as part of my research for a book I was contracted by FortisTCI to write on the history of electricity in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Mr. Fulford, though ...

The unfinished story of John Ney Reynolds, 19th century salt proprietor, merchant, cattleman, and guano exporter. Story & Historic Images By Jeff Dodge John Ney Reynolds and his wife Bridget were an Irish couple who emigrated to the Turks & Caicos Islands around 1865. The story of this entrepreneur and his family has been painstakingly re-constructed with original ...

Story & Images By Paul Ward Experiencing the hustle and bustle of development in the Turks & Caicos today, especially on Providenciales, it is hard to believe that the basic infrastructure was put into place only a little more than 50 years ago. In 1967, Provident Limited, a development company headed by Fritz Ludington, identified the potential ...

What is the origin of a mysterious collection of vintage images of Grand Turk? Story and Illustrations By Jeff Dodge What was the connection between the Turks & Caicos Islands and a paper salesman from Los Angeles, California? This question came up after I noticed that a number of the vintage Turks Islands postcards in my collection ...

The Frith family of Palm Grove, Grand Turk. Story and Illustrations By Jeff Dodge Today, the name Palm Grove designates a neighborhood on Grand Turk that’s just south of Cockburn Town. How many residents of this neighborhood know where the name Palm Grove originated or the history behind the name?  Palm Grove was the name that the Benjamin ...

Captain Edward Lightbourn Story & Images Courtesy Antoinette Lightbourn Butz Captain Edward Lightbourn was my great-great-great uncle. I researched this article through many documents found on Bermuda and the Turks & Caicos Islands, particularly from a letterbook in my possession and a set purchased by the Bermuda Archives in 2018. Background Edward Lightbourn was born in the Heron Bay ...

The origins of Junkanoo — Part 2 By Christopher Davis, Alex Kwofie, Angelique McKay and Michael P. Pateman In the Summer 2022 issue of the Astrolabe, the authors detailed various legends of the origins of Junkanoo from European influences and mimicry to the Ahanta General, Jan Kwaw from Pokesu (today’s Princess Town) in Southwestern Ghana. However, the ...

The history of salt production in the Turks & Caicos Islands (Part II). Story & Postcard Images Courtesy Jeff Dodge Salt was the most important industry on the Turks & Caicos Islands for almost 300 years. Salt was of critical importance, not only for culinary purposes, but to preserve meat and fish. Since salt production involved so ...

The origins of Junkanoo – Part 1 By Christopher Davis, Alex Kwofie, Angelique McKay, and Michael P. Pateman Junkanoo is the premier national cultural celebration in The Bahamas. It is primarily celebrated on Christmas/Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with smaller celebrations on Labour Day, Independence Day, and Emancipation Day. Junkanoo is also used for the opening ...

Salt production on the Turks & Caicos Islands (Part 1) Story & Postcard Images Courtesy Jeff Dodge Salt was the most important industry on the Turks & Caicos Islands for almost 300 years. Salt was of critical importance, not only for culinary purposes, but to preserve meat and fish. Since salt production involved so many people and ...

Remembering the Jennings brothers. Story & Photos Courtesy Dr. Carlton Mills In the early 1960s, the only fishing plant in the Turks & Caicos was in South Caicos. This attracted fishermen from throughout the Islands who came over to improve their livelihood. Many of them stayed on the fishing bank for several days diving or hooking conch ...

The late “Fritz” Ludington helped initiate development on Providenciales. By Dr. Carlton Mills ~ Images Courtesy Turks & Caicos National Museum Over the last fifty years, what was once known only as Blue Hills (now Providenciales), has witnessed a remarkable transformation. One of the key players in this process was the late Frederick Ludington (affectionately known as ...

Grand Turk is an island of historical importance. By Dr. Carlton Mills It has been commonly taught that Christopher Columbus’ first landfall in the “New World” was San Salvador in the Bahamas. In recent years, this theory has been challenged by two Turks & Caicos Islands historians, the late H.E. Sadler and Josiah Marvel. These historians promoted ...