ST. JOHN’S THEN AND NOW

Imagine being able to rock the clock backward and forward 40, 50, even 75 years! This time-travel phenomenon comes to us not via Jules Verne or exotic scientific time machines, but through the medium of photography. This emphasizes the importance of documenting through photography our environment and activities on an ongoing basis.

During the Ithaca College course, students delved into the archives of the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, courtesy of Michelle Henry, museum director. This treasure trove has yielded interesting photographs depicting scenes of Antigua from as far back as 1930.

Some of these photographs are presented here in a gallery along with recent pictures taken by the students participating in “Documenting Ecosystems through Photography.”

Some changes are dramatic, such as the photographs showing the view from Rat Island across the harbor at St. John’s, while others are subtle, such as the War Memorial and the Old Administration Building. Intriguingly, some of the images show what would at first seem like very little change from then to now. Just beyond the edge of the frames, though, are noteworthy developments, such as the junction around Newgate and Market streets.

These photographs speak to our stewardship as custodians of our grandparent’s legacy. In many ways, we may pride ourselves in the obvious signs of development evident in these images, but steel and concrete have replaced many wooden structures and the signs of an expanding economy pervade.

Sadly, we seem to have fallen woefully short as responsible custodians of the many public trees that once lined our beautiful city. The practice of “hat racking” or pruning trees for wood has reduced them to a shameful caricature of their former glory. We owe a great debt to past generations that balanced growth and progress with the human aesthetic. We are obliged to repay this debt by striving to do no less for the future generation.

- Joseph Jones