Childhood memory from Marigot

I was born and raised in Marigot, and when I look at this photo, I am instantly transported back to my childhood.

The market used to take place on Saturdays under the beautiful century-old tree that Hurricane Irma uprooted in 2017. The entire town of Marigot gathered there on Saturday mornings, and there was a lot of hustle and bustle. Facing the market stalls were the boats arriving from Anguilla, bringing vegetables and salads. A little further on, you can see the Bord de Mer nursery and primary school. I remember the names of the teachers: Mr. Williams, Mrs. Hodge, Mrs. Manijean, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Hanson, and Mrs. Williams. When there was a big swell, the school had to be evacuated because the water would flood the classrooms and the courtyard.

My father lived behind the seaside. With my brother and our friends, we would cross the street from the church to go swimming at the small beach. People who lived in Marigot and Saint James would swim here; those from Sandy Ground swam in front of their homes, and residents of Agrément and Cripple Gate swam in Galisbay.

I remember the Beauperthuy family's store that sold ready-to-wear clothing for men, women, and children. We would buy our beautiful clothes for Easter, Christmas, and all life events there. I recall the day I went with my mom to find my First Communion dress. There weren't many stores in Marigot at that time; everyone came here to shop for clothing and shoes. In what would later become the Aventure nightclub, my maternal grandfather, Léopold Hyman, had his office. He was a notary public, helping people fill out paperwork, write letters, or perform any other administrative tasks.

I love looking at this photo, it immerses me in my beautiful childhood memories.

Viviane Chance