SIGNIFICANT DATES IN HISTORY OF - SAN FERNANDO

Info: Supplied by Carnegie Library in the city of San Fernando

1595 The beauty of the Naparima Hills, "which served to rise sheerly out of the landscape", attracted Sir Walter Raleigh to the maintain post called by the Amerindians 'Anaparima'.

1797 Spanish Governor Dan Jose Maria Chacon, obtained the approval of the king of Spain to bestow royal birthday honours on the settlement, by naming it 'San Fernando de Naparima' after the king's infant son.

1818 San Fernando completely destroyed by fire.

1845 San Fernando became a borough

1857 San Fernando Borough High School opened under the ageis of the borough Council.
The Borough Council earned for itself headmaster in the 1880's was John Jacobs, the
author of the internationally famous publication namely, "The Theory and Practice of
Creole Grammar", that famous reply to Froude's infamous book. "The English in the
West Indies or the Bow of Ulysees" which he aptly named "Froudacity".

1867 First discovered of oil Mr. Walter Darwent a naturalized San Fernandian bought in the well at Aripero Estate.

1870 The first sitting of the Supreme Court was convened in San Fernando.

1883 The first fire station in the town of San Fernando was established by the Borough
Council on 20th August, 1883, after devastating fire swept through High Street, from
Chancery Lane to Penitence Street destroying 6 shops and causing damage amount
To $233,000.00

1883 The Hosein Riot on 30th October , 1884, followings Government's decision not to allow East Indians to hold the Hosein festival in the town. Ten Indians were killed and one hundred and twenty were injured when Police fired indiscriminately into the advancing crowd.

1893 The first Public Library, the San Fernando Library and Reading Room, was opened in 1893 with a grant of $120.00 form the Borough Council. It was supported by subscription of $1.00 per month. Owning to the apathy of San Fernandians, the attempt was short lived. Its books and furniture were auctioned by the middle of the same year.

1898 Trade Unionism in Trinidad and Tobago was born in San Fernando, with the meeting of the Federated Trade Union representing more than one hundred artisans.

1898 Telephone connection in the town of San Fernando. The first telephone was owned by James Wharton, a former member of the Borough Council.

1899 San Fernando waterworks were opened by Sir Hubert Jeringham. The introduction of pipe borne water brought relief to the battle for water in the dry season that had been for most agonizing feature of the town since its very inception.

1911 The date of the all day supply of water. For the first town in history the town received a continuous supply of water.

1912 The Central Market, which formerly stood the piece of land to the south of that big junction formed by High Street, Point-a-Pierre Road, Coffee Street, Mucorapo Street, Harris Promenade was removed from that site and relocated to Prince Alfred Street.

1915 The First Cinema, the Palace Cinema opened its doors on 24th July, 1915.

1919 The Carnegie Free Library was completed in 1918 and opened to the public in January 1919.

1923 Electricity came to San Fernando , heights were switched on in San Fernando for the first time on Saturday 15th December, 1923.

1930 A Recreation Ground, first called 'Usine Park' was obtained from Usine Sugar Factory in Ste. Madeline. The ground was renamed 'Skinner Park' in honor of
Mr. G. C. Skinner, the then Manager of the Ste. Madeline Factory who allowed the
Borough to acquire the ground.

1940 San Fernando By - pass constructed with the growing, busy town. It made possible for traffic bound for north or south of San Fernando to proceed through the eastern fringes instead of passing through the center of the town.

1955 New Hospital officially opened in February, 1955

1988 San Fernando designated a city on the 18th November.

1991 The creation of new boundaries for the city. The new boundaries run from Guaracara River in Marabella to the Solomon Hochoy Highway in the north, to Philllipine in the south, across to the sea in a straight line.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEST NDIAN REFERENCENCE BOOKS:-