Model T Ford was first automobile to visit Cayo, mid 1940's
WHO REMEMBERS THE FIRST CAR, THAT CAME TO OLD EL CAYO?
IF YOU ARE IN YOUR EIGHTY'S YOU MAY REMEMBER.
But there are very few left.
In the Mid 1940 's, a driver/mechanic by name Peter Moguel, who still have family somewhere in Cayo, decided to drive a MODEL-T Ford, by road to El Cayo.
The road was narrow, but with the help of residents along the way, the road was made possible for his narrow Ford.
This was the first automobile to transport peaple from Belize City to Cayo and back |
He arrived in Santa Elena, amidst great jubilation. - He was host by old friends from Belize City who were already residing in the West.
From Santa Elena he made the trip to Benque Viejo, via a narrow trail - - He resided in Benque Viejo for a while, with old friends like Jim Ford, Denton Coleman and others.
He later returned to Santa Elena, and many years later died and was burried here.
The last place I saw this Model T Ford , was, in the Don Marcus Requena Yard. - - - - ( now, Don Alfonso Aragon's residence.) -- - for history's sake.
Where did the name Cayo come from?
Let us begin with this area of British Honduras which was known as the WESTERN DISTRICT.
In 1887, Colonial Secretary. Henry Fowler decided to make a trip up the Belize Old river, on a PIT PAN. - ( Pit Pan is a flat bottom dorey. ) When asked where he was going he answered, " To the CAYE. "
WHICH CAYE ?
He had been told, that the Mopan river and the Macal river met at a place called THE BRANCH, a mile below San Ignacio. (forming like an Island ( a Caye. ) - withing this caye were various settlements like Benque Viejo, Succotz, Clarissa and San Ignacio.
Later on Surveyors and Planners found out that the Western District had so many areas surrounded by Rivers and Creeks, forming what a body of land surrounded by water means, CAYES or CAYOS.
So the District was named THE CAYO DISTRICT and its Capital San Ignacio. ( There were spoilers who because of Religious differences refused to accept the name of a Saint for the Capital Town.
Photograph and text courtesy of Hector Silva
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