Sabrina's glimpses of Richmond
Town
Memories of a past era, where the hand-pulled riksha, horse-carriage,
walking and cycling were the best means of transport!
Sabrina
Heglund's family lived at No.1 Norris Road (the Shadrack house),
not very far from where I used to live (Rose Lane), and it sure brings
back memories of the 'good old days' when we used to 'own' the Town and
life was so simple, safe and carefree! In those days, the only noted two
storied building was the late 'Richmond House' where the Survey of
India on Richmond Road was located for decades, and perhaps the late
'Elgin Flour Mills' and maybe one or two others. Among her mother's family,
Claudette was the most well known in the circles of the youth. She had a
good commitment to all of them and in December, she used to hire a brown
wooden bodied Dodge station-wagon and take all the kids of the town 'Carol
Singing'. The house has changed hands and shape as well. You will also be
able to see some of the houses on Norris Road on URL "http://www.geocities.com/ronnie.johnson/richtown.htm"!
The Snake charmer performing
at No.1 Norris Road, not the house in the background in 1980's or earlier
and in broken down the 1990's
No.1 Norris Road, before it
was demolished
This house brings back fantastic memories. Here the Sunday morning entertainment
was conducted in the form of Ronald Pacheco's Auction! All those who have
witnessed the auction would say that it was a good way of spending your money
with a laugh. Ronnie as Ronald and I am referred to, could sell a 3-legged
chair without the blink of an eye, convincing the buyer that perhaps Churchill
sat on it and hence the result!!
The Stage which replaced the central wooden Bandstand at Richmond Town
Park. Many concerts can be seen at URL:"http://www.geocities.com/ronnie.johnson/music.htm" that
have taken place on this new stage.
This old house was always considered
as the 'haunted house', and stories were running wild when we were kids that
images of people could be seen reflected in the mirrors of the house. It
has been over 40 years since I have heard the same stories when Sabrina named
her photo 'haunted house on Kingston Street'! So it really must be have
been true. Now there is only a hugh beehive set of flats facing the Richmond
Park that replaced the old house.
A glimpse of the 'old' Richmond
Town Methodist Church taken from Myrtle Lane. The Church has been re-constructed
into a beautiful larger modern Church which can fit in a larger congregation.
Some of the furniture items from the old church have been re-used, I know
they have used the same 'bell' as I was brought up hearing the peels every
Sunday morning, having lived on Rose Lane for a decade. Now the older buildings
in the Church compound have been demolished and new buildings are being constructed
(2006-07). I think two more Methodist Churches have been added to Bangalore,
at Koramangala and Indiranagar, to take care of the spreading and growing
congregation.
Crown Cafe, where many a romance
blossomed for the kids of Richmond Town. Photo shows Brigade Towers
just being built in the background.
The CMP (Corps of Military Police)
have their training grounds at teh junction of Hosur Road and Langford Road.
This also is the Officer's Mess. In the good old days they used to screen
movies that one could go for, but that has all changed for obvious reasons.
This area had some beautiful houses,
and was totally residential, slowly with the age of 'development' the houses
have been demolished, some flats have come up, the roads are still narrow,
and offices have slipped in!
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