City:
Stewart Town
History
Stewart Town, tucked away in the Dry Harbour Mountains that span St Ann and parts of Trelawny, is a small rural village whose citizens depend almost exclusively on agriculture as their primary source of income. In 1812, following the outbreak of war between Britain and the newly independent colonies of North America, shipping lines to the West Indian colonies from both the British and the Americans were disrupted. In order to offset the rampant shortages, fifty acres of land high in the mountains were put aside exclusively for the cultivation of provisions for estates and for lumber. The town was named for the then custodian of the parish of Trelawny, James Stewart, who spearheaded its development as a solution for his constituents. Stewart’s father (also James) owned one of the most lucrative estates in the parish, and as testament to his wealth and importance built one of the most impressive great houses on his plantation near the coast at Duncans. The ruins of the mansion, Stewart Castle, which was built with cut stone and shaped like a fortress complete with a lookout tower, still exist today, surrounded by a modern housing development.
Local Flavour
Westwood Girl’s School, today heralded as one of Jamaica’s most distinguished institutions for young women, was founded in reaction to a clear display of racial prejudice. In the late 1800s, two nieces of the famous abolitionist, Reverend William Knibb, formed a school in Falmouth called the Polly Knibb School For Ladies Of Colour. In 1876, the Knibbs enrolled two black girls, one a daughter of a Jamaican Baptist minister, the other a daughter of a Presbyterian minister. Ironically, the thought that two black girls would be admitted to the School For Ladies Of Colour outraged the parents of the white pupils, but the situation was further exacerbated when the Knibb sisters refused to expel the black girls. In a show of defiance, the white students withdrew their enrollment, causing the school to falter and eventually fail in 1881. Later that year, the Baptist minister and father of one of the girls managed, on a trip to England, to secure funding for the establishment of a new school, and in 1882 the doors were opened to all young ladies, regardless of race or colour.
Don't Miss
In the early afternoon, when classes at Westwood have ended for the day, look for scores of young ladies filing out of the school gates in their traditional uniforms, a navy blue tunic with a white under-blouse and a straw jippa-joppa hat. Over the years, Westwood has kept the style and tradition of the uniform, which is certainly one of the most unique on the island. Today, despite attracting both ridicule and admiration, the girls wear their uniform proudly and neatly, as Westwood continues the tradition of producing “young women of moral and good character”.
Say Hello To:
In Stewart Town, there are a number of beautiful Georgian structures. Most, however, stand on the campus of Westwood Girl’s School. Before entering the school grounds, however, do stop in and ask permission from the headmistress. Ask at the gate for her office. If she is not too busy attending to school matters, she may also share a bit about the history of the school and the buildings on campus.