Why we need to tell the full story of our past |
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The Bermuda National Trust featured at a major international conference recently when BNT President Alana Anderson interviewed celebrity historian and keynote speaker, Dr. David Olusoga, the British author, broadcaster, filmmaker and Professor of public history.
The online conference, organised by the International National Trust Organisation, was attended by some 500 delegates from five continents. From Australia to Uganda, Trinidad to Scotland, the attendees discussed “building resilience” with a strong focus on
- engaging local communities in heritage properties and activity,
- the post-pandemic need for engagement with nature, and
- cross-continental collaboration and information sharing.
The topic of Dr. Olusoga’s session was “Forgotten Histories”, and focused on the history that doesn’t get told, due to the discomfort it brings. He noted that the function of history was not to make us feel good about ourselves and that there is not “one note” to history. Some of history is celebratory and some are tragic, and “some of our ancestors did terrible things in specific places”. He said that many countries had a bad habit of editing history, not wanting to taint their stories with “that ugly word slavery”. But he said the younger generations “don’t require history to make them feel good about themselves” and they understand that there is good and bad in history and don’t need the sugar-coated ‘Fantasy Island’ version. “They are our great hope,” he said.
Mrs. Anderson noted that Bermuda had in recent years begun to acknowledge some of the less comfortable aspects of its own past, referring to the enslaved Bermuda-born Mary Prince’s narrative, a component of the British campaign to end the slave trade and the statue to enslaved woman Sally Bassett.
A consultant on the Netflix series “Bridgerton”, Dr. Olusoga said the way to engage people with history was through the arts. His own interest in history was sparked by reading Alex Haley’s “Roots” as a teenager. “The artistic medium can touch hearts in a way that heritage and history practitioners can’t,” he said.
On May 11, BNT members attended in record numbers the online “Trust Talk” to view the recorded version of the panel discussion.
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Musings with David Wingate: Cattail |
The common cattail, Typha angustifolia, is a tall strap-like leaved plant which grows submergent in freshwater marshes and ponds across Bermuda today. It provides great cover, and some food value for a variety of waterfowl, ranging from gallinules and rails to bitterns. Early botanist N. L. Britton (Flora of Bermuda 1918) reported it as “common in marshes, often forming large patches”. He suggested this was a native species and it took David Wingate almost a lifetime to recognise otherwise. The catalyst to realising Britton was wrong came when trying to determine why cattails could not be found in some marshes and ponds.
Lack of universal distribution in suitable habitat – especially if the species concerned is still spreading into that habitat – is a typical indication that a species is recently introduced.
Cattail seed is minute and borne on downy parachutes which can disperse in the wind for hundreds of miles, enabling it to reach Bermuda easily from the American continent. So, what else might hinder its colonisation and slow its spread on Bermuda?
David Wingate had an epiphany of sorts after the restoration of Pitman’s Pond in Somerset. This area was ideal for colonisation but had not seen any cattails onsite until after the removal of cattle grazing the pond edges and full renovation of the pond had been completed.
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Heritage at Risk: Somers Pride of India Lodge or Somers Playhouse (formerly Somers Opera House)
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This post is part of a series of architectural articles by the Bermuda National Trust to highlight some of Bermuda's endangered historic buildings.
by Linda Abend and Margie Lloyd
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Somers Pride of India Lodge No. 899 in St George’s was the first of the lodges established by the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows when it was founded on 10 May 1848 with schoolmaster John Gilbert Allen as secretary and later Grand Master. Alexandrina Lodge No. 1026 in Hamilton and Victoria and Albert No. 1027 in Somerset followed. By 1860 the three lodges had over 200 members.
In April 1850 the trustees of Somers Pride of India Lodge, all of whom were residents of St. George’s, purchased land on Cut Road from mason Peter Tucker. It wasn’t until 14 January 1862 that, with much pomp and ceremony, the cornerstone was laid for their first hall. A gale in October 1870 blew down the upper walls of both sides of their not-yet-completed hall but did not discourage them.
The Odd Fellows celebrated their 25th anniversary in May 1873 with a service and procession to their new building where the foreman of the Building Committee, John Cornelius Bascome, gave the welcoming address.
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The Somers Playhouse in the early 1960s. |
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BNT’s virtual Learning Journeys keep history alive! |
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April, May and June are busy months for the Trust’s Education Department. Due to the second lockdown, remote learning once again kicked in and we are continuing to provide online teaching for the Department of Education, supporting all P4 and P5 teachers across the island by delivering our interactive virtual Learning Journeys. Students are taken back to the time of the Sea Venture and the First Settlers, meeting and interviewing characters from the past, including Elizabeth Persons, Sea Venture survivor, and Governor Nathaniel Butler. We are exploring the development of Bermuda’s economy through agricultural and maritime activities and we are also examining the development of slavery in Bermuda and the road to and past Emancipation. In the summer term alone, the Trust will have had over 1700 learning encounters involving all government primary schools, and some private schools. The feedback has been positive:
Paget Primary School teacher: “Thank you for doing this. I am so pleased! The kids are loving it, I am loving it and I am learning so much as a teacher."
St George’s Prep School teacher: “Thank you again for all that you do for the Public Schools and Social Studies.”
Purvis primary School teacher: “The children were engaged, entertained and excited. They even told me that they were sad it was the last class! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. This was absolutely brilliant!”
The Education team is working in collaboration with the Department of Education on two new Learning Journeys for P6 students, to be rolled out in September 2021 and January 2022.
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Volunteer Day at Gilbert Nature Reserve
22 May, 2021
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
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Join us on Saturday, 22 May, from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon for a volunteer day at Gilbert Nature Reserve with BNT Conservation Officer Myles Darrell. Help clear up the trail, remove invasive species from the area and plant trees!
Please bring gloves, proper footwear, hats, sunscreen, water bottles and light tools (optional).
Following Covid-19 protocol, volunteers must wear masks and observe social distancing. Registration is mandatory and limited to 10 people. Please note that this may change pending government regulations.
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The Globe Museum and Trustworthy Gift Shop is open! |
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We are excited to open the Globe Museum & Trustworthy Gift shop to the public once again!
Open from 11:00am - 2:00 pm
on the following days:
- Wednesday, 19 May
- Thursday, 20 May
- Wednesday, 26 May
- Thursday, 27 May
Hours may change, visit our website for more information. Following the Covid-19 protocol, guests must wear masks and observe social distancing.
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Walking Tours in St. George's are back! |
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Yellow Fever Conspiracy
23 May, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Discover how Bermuda played an unwitting role in a Confederate plot to use biological warfare during the US Civil War. The guided tour begins with a visual and interactive presentation that sets the scene and is followed by a walking tour of key sites involved in this nefarious and devious conspiracy!
Tours will meet at The Globe Hotel, opposite St. Peter’s Church.
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Strange But True
23 May, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Join us and time travel back to the 1600s to discover some of the strang but true events in St. George's history. Stroll around the UNESCO World Heritage Site whilst listening to bizarre tales of miracles, witchcraft, murder, treasure and much more.
Meet at the stocks on Ordnance Island, across the bridge from King's Square.
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Annual Awards Nominations 2021
We are now accepting nominations for the Bermuda National Trust Annual Awards!
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Bermuda National Trust Annual Awards are presented to recognise individuals, organisations, groups and schools which have worked for the benefit of Bermuda and its people, to preserve places of beauty or historical interest, buildings, artefacts, lands and animal and plant life, and to promote their appreciation.
Please click the link below to download the nomination form, once completed please email to palmetto@bnt.bm.
Deadline: 28 May, 2021
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