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Cat Island (Bahamas)
Encyclopedia
Cat Island is in the central Bahamas, and one of its districts
, and has the nation's highest point. Its Mount Alvernia
rises to 206 ft (63 m) and is topped by a monastery
called The Hermitage. This assembly of buildings was erected by the Franciscan "Brother Jerome" (John Hawes).
The first Europe
an settlers were Loyalists
fleeing the American Revolution
, who arrived in 1783. The island may have been named after Arthur Catt, a pirate, or the name may refer to its one-time large population of feral
cat
s.
Historically, the island gained wealth from cotton
plantations, but slash and burn
farming is now the main way of life for Cat Islanders. An economic crop is cascarilla bark, which is gathered and shipped to Italy
where it becomes a main ingredient in medicines, scents and Campari
.
The population of Cat Island is 1,647 (2000 census). The main settlements are Arthur's Town
(childhood home of Sidney Poitier
), Orange Creek, and Port Howe. Cat Island was also the birthplace of famed Bahamian musician Tony McKay, better known as Exuma
.
Until written accounts were found, Cat Island was thought to be Guanahani
or San Salvador, the first island Christopher Columbus
arrived at in the Americas
.
New Bight Airport
and Arthur's Town Airport
serve the island.
, the highest point in The Bahamas. This small stone monastery built by hand by the architect hermit, Father Jerome, is at the peak and is worth the trek up this steep rocking incline, as well as the awe inspiring view.
Just south of the Hermitage are the ruins of Armbrister Plantation.
Armbrister Creek flows into a clear lake called “Boiling Point” or “Boiling Hole” whose tidal conditions cause bubbles and burps, the conditions which lead to folklore of a sea monster below its surface. Today, this is a great spot to spy rays and baby sharks and numerous birds that nest along its mangrove fringe.
Located in Bain Town is another lake. This 65ft wide 10 ft deep lake called Mermaid Hole is where many believe a mermaid
lives amongst the 4 bed holes within that lead to underground caverns and passageways.
The monster said to live in Big Blue Hole located near Orange Creek, just off of Dickies Road is said to devour horses. This deep blue hole has strong undersea currents that flow through its caverns linking to the sea, where many objects like dead farm animals tossed into the lake ended up. This folklore still scares local fisherman from venturing too far in this freshwater lake.
Dickie’s Road goes east to Griffin Bat Cave, once a hideout for slaves.
Sitting atop a ridge alongside the road in the settlement of Old Bight is St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church another beautifully crafted legacy built by Father Jerome, with amazing frescos, engravings and sculptures.
In the Port Howe area of Cat Island, are the ruins of an 18th-century plantation at Deveaux House mansion. In its glory days it was given to Colonel Andrew Deveaux in 1783 for protecting Nassau from Spanish invasion and occupation.
Learn about the island’s history at Columbus World Centre Museum in Knowles, or visit the childhood home of Sir Sidney Poitier, Academy Award winner, in South Bight.
There is a glass bottom bridge in Cat Island. You can see the water by looking over it. One side is calm and the other side is pure ocean.
Districts of the Bahamas
Local government in the Bahamas exists in two forms, namely second-schedule and third-schedule district councils. There are a total of 32 local government districts: 13 second-schedule districts, which are further sub-divided into town areas, and 19 third-schedule districts, which are all unitary...
, and has the nation's highest point. Its Mount Alvernia
Mount Alvernia
Mount Alvernia is located on Cat Island in the Bahamas and is the highest point in the country at above sea level. The Mountain shares its name with a school in Montego Bay, Jamaica....
rises to 206 ft (63 m) and is topped by a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
called The Hermitage. This assembly of buildings was erected by the Franciscan "Brother Jerome" (John Hawes).
The first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers were Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
fleeing the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, who arrived in 1783. The island may have been named after Arthur Catt, a pirate, or the name may refer to its one-time large population of feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s.
Historically, the island gained wealth from cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
plantations, but slash and burn
Slash and burn
Slash-and-burn is an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields. It is subsistence agriculture that typically uses little technology or other tools. It is typically part of shifting cultivation agriculture, and of transhumance livestock...
farming is now the main way of life for Cat Islanders. An economic crop is cascarilla bark, which is gathered and shipped to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where it becomes a main ingredient in medicines, scents and Campari
Campari
Campari is an alcoholic apéritif obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water. It is a bitters characterized by its dark red color....
.
The population of Cat Island is 1,647 (2000 census). The main settlements are Arthur's Town
Arthur's Town
Arthur's Town is a town in the Bahamas and has a population of 400 . It is located on Cat Island.Arthur's Town Airport is located in the town....
(childhood home of Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
), Orange Creek, and Port Howe. Cat Island was also the birthplace of famed Bahamian musician Tony McKay, better known as Exuma
Exuma (musician)
Macfarlane Gregory Anthony Mackey, who recorded as Exuma was a Bahamian musician, known for his almost unclassifiable music; a strong mixture of carnival, junkanoo, calypso and ballad. In his early days in New York's Greenwich Village, Tony McKay performed in small clubs and bars...
.
Until written accounts were found, Cat Island was thought to be Guanahani
Guanahani
Guanahani was the name the natives gave to the island that Christopher Columbus called San Salvador when he arrived at the Americas. Columbus reached the island on 12 October 1492, the first island he sighted and visited in the Americas...
or San Salvador, the first island Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
arrived at in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
New Bight Airport
New Bight Airport
New Bight Airport is an airport in New Bight on Cat Island in The Bahamas.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface measuring .-Airlines and destinations:...
and Arthur's Town Airport
Arthur's Town Airport
Arthur's Town Airport is an airport in Arthur's Town on Cat Island in the Bahamas.-Charter flights:Aeroshares Charter, LLC services Cat Island from worldwide locations.Charter service is also available from Florida or Nassau....
serve the island.
Landmarks
At the top of 206ft Como Hill is Mt. Alvernia Hermitage on Mount AlverniaMount Alvernia
Mount Alvernia is located on Cat Island in the Bahamas and is the highest point in the country at above sea level. The Mountain shares its name with a school in Montego Bay, Jamaica....
, the highest point in The Bahamas. This small stone monastery built by hand by the architect hermit, Father Jerome, is at the peak and is worth the trek up this steep rocking incline, as well as the awe inspiring view.
Just south of the Hermitage are the ruins of Armbrister Plantation.
Armbrister Creek flows into a clear lake called “Boiling Point” or “Boiling Hole” whose tidal conditions cause bubbles and burps, the conditions which lead to folklore of a sea monster below its surface. Today, this is a great spot to spy rays and baby sharks and numerous birds that nest along its mangrove fringe.
Located in Bain Town is another lake. This 65ft wide 10 ft deep lake called Mermaid Hole is where many believe a mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
lives amongst the 4 bed holes within that lead to underground caverns and passageways.
The monster said to live in Big Blue Hole located near Orange Creek, just off of Dickies Road is said to devour horses. This deep blue hole has strong undersea currents that flow through its caverns linking to the sea, where many objects like dead farm animals tossed into the lake ended up. This folklore still scares local fisherman from venturing too far in this freshwater lake.
Dickie’s Road goes east to Griffin Bat Cave, once a hideout for slaves.
Sitting atop a ridge alongside the road in the settlement of Old Bight is St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church another beautifully crafted legacy built by Father Jerome, with amazing frescos, engravings and sculptures.
In the Port Howe area of Cat Island, are the ruins of an 18th-century plantation at Deveaux House mansion. In its glory days it was given to Colonel Andrew Deveaux in 1783 for protecting Nassau from Spanish invasion and occupation.
Learn about the island’s history at Columbus World Centre Museum in Knowles, or visit the childhood home of Sir Sidney Poitier, Academy Award winner, in South Bight.
There is a glass bottom bridge in Cat Island. You can see the water by looking over it. One side is calm and the other side is pure ocean.
Places
- Arthur's TownArthur's TownArthur's Town is a town in the Bahamas and has a population of 400 . It is located on Cat Island.Arthur's Town Airport is located in the town....