Looking north from lower Frederick Street, a cyclist stops to “ole talk” with two friends; and on the right three shoppers hurriedly cross over from the Salvatori corner.

In March 1895, two business blocks stretching from lower Chacon to lower Henry Street were completely destroyed by fire, as a consequence of which a new and much more handsome Frederick Street, designed by the well known Architect/Builder George Brown, arose.

These photos from the 1930s and before, show an almost completely different culture to what exists in downtown Port of Spain today. People dressed as decently as they could (notice the number of suits); today’s limers in fish-net vestsand pants worn halfway down rear-ends would probably have been sent home or to jail as soon as they appeared on the street.

Some of the shops on Frederick Street of this era included Stephens Ltd., Davidson & Todd, J.T. Johnson, Canning & Co., The Bonanza – Smith Bothers later D. Hope Ross & Sons, Glendenning’s, Salvatori, Scott & Co. Ltd., Pereira & Co. Ltd., Millers, Hardware & Electric Supplies and W.C. Ross & Co.

Historical photos kindly provided by c Adrian Camps-Campins.