Historic Cummingsburg
During 1759, Jaques Salignac applied for a grant of 500 acres of land for cotton and coffee cultivation. He was granted permission by the Court of Policy. Salignac named this tract of land La Bourgade. In 1807 , a Scotsman, became the owner of the estate and renamed Plantation La Bourgade Cummingsburg, after his family, it was a town two miles in circumference and most regularly arranged.
A special feature of Cummingsburg was the provision of fresh water reservoirs. these were filled with small fish and were later planted with Victoria Regia and Lotus lillies by Luke M. Hill. The reservoir in Main Street was filled up and converted into a walkway in 1897. It was named the Queen Victoria Promenade by the Mayor and Town Council in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee (this area is now known as Main Street Avenue). In later years other reservoirs were converted into similar walkways.
In 1864 the western part of Cummingsburg was destroyed by fire. The creation of new streets and redistribution of house lots were several of the plans undertaken to reorganize the destroyed area. Continue reading
