Today, we had a long drive to the southernmost point of the island. Our first stop was at a road cut near the Sandy Point Plantation, where we analyzed the rock wall. Based on the composition and uniformity of the white, rounded grains (called ooids) and the slanted layers of the rock, we determined that the formation is evident of an ancient dune environment from a time when sea level was higher.
Our next stop was at the Sandy Point plantation, also known as Watling's Castle, where we explored the remains of an early 19th century plantation property. We walked through three different buildings, each built of large stone, quarried from the same rock that we had just examined, that's been weathered over the years. We interpreted the first as a storage room or potentially a space to keep livestock. The second was the main living space, which used to have three stories but only two remain today. The third building was the kitchen, which was recognizable by the ~14ft tall furnace structure. We discussed the history of the original owner, Budd Cade Matthews, as well as Prince Storr, who was a manager of the plantation. Just a short hike downhill from the main property is a natural formation of a banana hole, where rich soil provides perfect conditions for banana trees to grow. Steps were built into the collapsed land of the hole and the formation was utilized by the plantation managers as a freshwater well. Although most of the property is overgrown, it lies at a point of high elevation where there's a beautiful view and a nice breeze!!
-Contributed by Melody
Photo credit: Melody
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