San Pedro Village in the 1950's

By Angel Nuñez

This is half of the tiny fishing village of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye in the 1950’s.  It is a historic photo as it is the only one of its kind. You are looking at San Pedro when there was no 24-hour electricity but only a few poles on the middle street with electric lamps that were lit from 6 to 9 p.m. You can absolutely say that there was no tourism, no speed boats, no refrigeration, no ice, no passenger boats, no airplanes, no customs nor immigration, no supermarket, no boutiques nor gift shops, no post office, and NO VEHICLES.  
 
There was no Town Council, but yes there was an ‘alcalde’ or Village Council Chairman, and look how clean and organized the village was.  This was when Sanpedranos did not even own the land on which they had built their houses. The land belonged to Mr. James Howell Blake popularly known as Papa Blake. Sanpedranos leased their land and paid a yearly fee of about 15 dollars- not a bad deal for a beach property, eh? I will take you around the village with numbers on the buildings and tell you who lived there in the 50’s and what it is now, okay?  Sit down, call your family around your monitor and enjoy.

San Pedro Village in the 1950’s

THEN                                                      N O W
1  Lucito Ayuso vacation home              -Spindrift
2  Adventist church                                -Same
2 A Tony Villanueva                                -Town Hall                     
3  Soli Arguelles vacation home             -Arguelles apartment complex
4. Angel Nunez & Ani Nunez Eiley          -Arguelles Property (Licks)
5. Manuel Heredia Jr.                             -Chencho’s House (Luna Loca)
6. Helen Haylock                                    -Holiday Hotel
7  Homero Escalante & Wil                    -Holiday Hotel
8  Romel Gomez                                    -Ruby’s Hotel
9  Government Clinic                             -BTB and library & park
10  Coconut warehouse                       -Sunbreeze Hotel
11  Village home                                   -R.C. School
12  Yoli Sabido’s mom                           -Yoli Sabido
13  Yoli Sabido’s mom                           -Chalito’s home /Royal Caribbean Bar
14  Milly,Coqui, Tony Alamilla                -Netito Gomez’s/Blue Boutique/NUDE Architecture
15  Dona Chabby (midwife)                  -Holiday’s Deli
16. Carlos, Wilber, Aldo Marin              -Aldo Marin
17  Gonzalo, Chicho Valdez                  -Mimi Valdez Buregos/Coral Beach Realty
18  Pete, Eiden,Roque Mash Salazar   -Julie Salazar Azueta/ Caribean Connection Internet Cafe
19 Alan, Sylvin, Marthita Forman          -Coral Beach Hotel and Bistro Mestizo
20 Hon. Heredia’s Grandparents          -Shopping Center
21 Gach, Danny, Efrain, Guerrero         -Home of Efrain Guerrero Sr.
22  Arturo “Tuli” Lara                            -Business Rental
23 Diana, Melly, Chris Nunez                -Same Genaro Nunez’s home
24  Tio Dolito’s home                            -Rock’s Shopping Center
25 Ramon, Rafael, Cruz Nunez’s Family -Pupuseria Restaurant
26 Oni Marin                                          -Oni Marin’s House (Hospital de Zapatos)
27 Oscar Aguilar                                    -Betito Marin’s Property
28 Ernesto “Neto” Gomez                     -Nelly Gomez’s Property (BTL Office)
29 Joe Alamilla                                      -Shennie’s World
30 George Kumul                                  -George Kumul’s House            

In the sea, you can appreciate The Encalada’s family Kraal , which was a private enclosed swimming area. The Encalada was a family from Belize City related to Soli Arguelles, Diana Nisbeth, Chetin Encalada,  Nelita Castillo,Chandra Nisbeth Cansino among others.

Also notice that the back street, Angel Coral Street, didn’t exist only Barrier Reef Drive and Pescador Drive.

Aerial Pictures of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye Taken in 2006

25 Years Ago Books Can Be Purchased At:
-Ambergris Today -Lala’s Store -Chico’s Meat Shop -Pampered Paws -Ambergris Jade -San Pedro BTB Office -Aquarius Salon (Kim) -S.P. Town Library -Di Bush –Richie’s Stationery -San Pedrano’s Stationery -Rum, Coffee & Cigar House
Contact the Author at: nunez_nest@yahoo.com

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