An aerial view of the vicinity of St Mary's Church, Belize City, circa 1916
This picture was taken from City Hall. The building in front is the International Hotel owned by Mr Joe Luis. On the right is St Mary's Church Peak. In the back ground is the old building where Quintin Zelaya had a Shop. At this time it belonged to the Muniuz Family. Belize was a small place back then with a population of bout 90,000.
St. Mary's is at corner of Gabourel Lane and North Front Street. In the photo from above old City Hall looking up Gabourel Lane St. Mary's is on the right. The International Hotel which was the multi story building on the left burned down in the late 1940’s. Dr. Pearce was around the corner in front of the St. Mary’s School! He was an American dentist. Dr. Pearce house and office burned down I believe in the 60s. Dr. Pearce's fire was allegedly set by the same arsonist that lit the Harley fire. Look straight forward and you see Handyside Street. The two story house there was owned by Matisse and they had a grocery store there late 40’s - early 50’s. They also had an extra space that they rented as a Sewing shop (seamstress). Coming from Queen St, ou would pass Halliday alley, then the bar (where fenders was but in that time the bar there was called moon rocket), pass Cocum tailorshop then an empty lot that used to be a mechanic shop then it’s Carol’s alley. It was a dead end as the last house blocked the way into Gabourel Lane. The first house going into the alley was Hines. Apparently Handyside street had nuff alleys. The Gabourel Lane outlet was between Waldman's and house we called United Nations because so many different families lived there..including Justice UBAD fame.
The Palace Hotel is about 5 houses up North Front Street to the left of that white house.
Photographs courtesy Jesuit Archives
Click here to comment on this picture.