James Brodie's and Regent Street in Belize City, early 1940's
The dark structure on the left with the criss crosses is a water tank, after Brodie's on the right was Kuylen's and the Harley's.
Dubbo York, William Staines, Dobbo Johnson, Amslem Castillo, Tony Waight and a few others were the wholesale salesman at James Brodie's. The store manager was a Scot named Scotty Keating (who was Brian Keating’s Father) who arrived in British Honduras in 1938 and decided to make it his home.
In 1987 Brodies store celebrated 100 years with a magazine, and it stated that Barry Bowen's ancestor was William Bowen, who was in Belize as early as 1750 and was buried at Yarborough cemetary. His mother Emily's family began with French scientist Francois Blancaneaux who settled in San Ignacio over 100 years ago.
Deryck Satchwell:
I remember the dark water tank on the left, now a parking area. Don't think I have ever seen a picture of that area without the Albert Cattouse building (which housed Cable and Wireless and Radio Belize). Interesting wooden building in its place in this picture.
Hector Silva:
That wooden building was the Kuylin Residence. They rented the bottom Flat to Harley's Store, as a Ware House. That also caught Fire along with Harley's Store and took along one casualty, Sydney Reyes.
Myrna Usher:
Oh yes...remember that back glass showcase. They had mannequins with fashions... everything was in there. .I remember always stopping and admiring the items in there... that's where the pharmacy is about now.
Marta Woods:
I remember seeing Maybelline eyeshadow in that showcase. I loved the colors.
Chris Helgemo:
My favorite time was in December when they would put all the toys on display in the windows! They had the toys upstairs then too.
Harold Usher:
Harley's was after the Street (Bishop?). Brodies occupied the backyard, between Kuylen and the Brodies Store, with a Store (Storage) House and an open Backyard space. The open space was required to accommodate the Mule and Carts bringing goods from Customs, at the Fort. The would come in there to make the deliveries AND Trucks travelling to Out-Districts would also come in to load up with goods to deliver to out-District Customers (retail stores) in Corozal, Orange Walk,, Cayo, Stann Creek Valley, Etc. Goods to the South used to be transported via Boats, such as OCL and Heron H. You have to understand that Brodies and Harleys were Wholesale and Retail Distributors and they had Salesmen travelling the out Districts Routes selling products and goods to individual Stores in those Towns (smaller Cities). All the salesmen travelled by Commercial Transportation. They did not have vehicles. First Class was the front of the Truck or Bus and the upper level of the Boat. During the 1950 and early 60's, Brodies was Managed by old man Sandy (Alexander John) Hunter. His son who later went into politics was also an employee, as was Mr. Keating, nabby Smith and Mr. Webber and a slew of others. There were many things admirable about Old sandy Hunter, but I have to tell you about this one. He comes to work every morning early at the time of store opening. I believe he used to go to Mass at the Roman Catholic Church, first. And he always arrive on his tall bicycle. Every Saturday morning Mr. Hunter would arrive early at opening time, 7:30 a.m. go upstairs to his office and get a bunch of QUARTERS ($0.25) from the cashier, Johnnie Smith, and march back downstairs, along the isle, pass by Mr. Keating, and all the Grocery Store Clerks, without saying a word, through the back door to the Backyard, to where there would be about 100 elderly men were orderly lined up since between 7:00 to 7:30, waiting for him. He would stand in one spot and one by one these elders would come up to him, some can hardly stand or walk, all neatly dressed, some with hats. And as they arrived at his spot he would dip his right hand into his left hand and take out two quarters ($0.50) and put them in the men's hands, with a nice comment in broad Kriol. The men, one by one would accept his generousity with a THANK YOU MASSA and turn and walk away. Understand fifty cents was quite a nice reward for being old. You could buy a decent Breakfast for Ten cents and a decent Lunch (Dinner) for fifteen cents. So these men were grateful. That generousity has lived with me to this day, and when I pass people on the streets whoo are struggling and begging for some small change, I have no hesitation to offer a HAND-OUT. I learned that from Mr. Alexander (Sandy) John Hunter at Brodies.
Photograph courtesy Belize Abroad
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