The 'Treasury Building' on Harbour Street was a well-known location for possibly at least a century and a half; it was demolished in 1923. This page contains most of the information I have been able to find about this interesting structure.
late 19th century
The Treasury Building, on the south-east corner of the the crossing of Duke and Harbour Streets.
So far, I have found no information on the 'Treasury Building' before the 1860s, although later references suggest that it was 'in the ancient days, the residence of a well-to-do family', which, from its appearance, it might well have been. A very substantial building is indicated on the south-east corner of the Duke/Harbour Streets crossing on the incredible Hay map/plan of Kingston in the mid-18th century -
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There is, however, a fine ink drawing by Pierre Eugène Simitière of the 'corner of Harbour Street and Duke Street', from about 1760. The angle of the front of a house shown on the right of the drawing would appear to be the eastern corner of the front of the building later known as the 'Treasury Building', though no name is given to it as it appears in Simitière's drawing.
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In an article based on Duperley's picture of the Court House on Harbour Street, in the Gleaner on January 15, 1913, "The Observer" suggested two earlier purposes of the 'Treasury Building'- Custom House, and Government Printery; he did not, however, have any information as to its age or origin.
The picture which we publish with this article to-day was taken about seventy years ago. It represents the old Court House on an election day. You see at the western corner of Duke and Harbour Streets the building which Messrs Harvey and Bourke occupied within the memory of most of us as a law office; you see the old Post Office and Town Hall; you see the Court House, and, facing it, the old Treasury Building. At this time it was the office of the Jamaica Despatch and Jamaica Gazette, "published by authority." It had been a Government building for some time, and was probably built as such; the Custom House was there; and most likely, it was used for other Government purposes besides the Customs and Government printing. Not one of the buildings that were standing west of Duke St. remains to-day. But pass over Duke St. and you partly step into the Kingston of a hundred years ago. There are the old houses still. The old Custom House, turned Treasury and Audit Office, then destroyed by earthquake, is now a technical school in a state of disrepair, and from there eastward, with an occasional variation in the way of a modern rum-shop or Chinese grocery, hotels, ice-works, garage, and new cottages, we find places where our forefathers did business by day and planned cheating by night. They are old, and they look older than they are. They were never beautiful, and they look uglier than they ever did. They are a part of Kingston, and, so far as I can see, they are destined to remain part of Kingston for quite a long time.
Handbooks of Jamaica state - 'Until the earthquake of January, 1907 the Treasury was in Harbour Street, where it was first established in 1703.'
I'm not sure that means that the Treasury was always at the location that it was in the later 19th century, but so far I have found no source for information on the operations at the Treasury Building before about 1870. The Treasury on Harbour Street from 1703 to ca.1870 was not, apparently, the Treasury for the whole island, which it became when the capital was moved to Kingston from Spanish Town. Did it previously deal primarily with Treasury operations connected with the commercial activities carried on in the island's 'commercial' capital?
I'm not sure that means that the Treasury was always at the location that it was in the later 19th century, but so far I have found no source for information on the operations at the Treasury Building before about 1870. The Treasury on Harbour Street from 1703 to ca.1870 was not, apparently, the Treasury for the whole island, which it became when the capital was moved to Kingston from Spanish Town. Did it previously deal primarily with Treasury operations connected with the commercial activities carried on in the island's 'commercial' capital?
The earliest reference I have so far found to the Treasury -
[G. J. Peynado's store was on Port Royal Street.]
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shows a small gold bar on a brequet/watch chain.
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Governor Grant apparently visited the Treasury at least once before the capital was moved to Kingston -
suggests that the Old Treasury Building had been mainly the Custom House.
The Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons 1872 records that -
'The old Treasury building in Harbour Street, Kingston, was repaired, altered, and fitted up as convenient offices for the Treasury and Audit Departments.'
The cost of the upgrade appeared in the records -
'The old Treasury building in Harbour Street, Kingston, was repaired, altered, and fitted up as convenient offices for the Treasury and Audit Departments.'
The cost of the upgrade appeared in the records -
This was presumably part of the transfer of the island's capital from Spanish Town to Kingston.
In the 1878 Kingston Directory two residents were noted -
Castell Walter S., cigarmaker, h Treasury building
Brown Charles, janitor, Treasury building, h same
Castell Walter S., cigarmaker, h Treasury building
Brown Charles, janitor, Treasury building, h same
Being directly opposite the court buildings on Harbour Street, the Treasury Building provided good vantage points for observing the arrival and departure of celebrity criminals -
[William Isaacs was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Alice Johnson.]
1894 Insurance Map of Kingston (excerpt)
The long wall at the front of the Treasury was an excellent space for putting up posters advertising, one imagines, many different products, at various times - in 1902 the advertising battle was over brands of cigarettes sold by local businesses.
By the end of the century, it seems that the continuing usefulness of the Treasury Building was beginning to be questioned. In 1899, one government department was moved elsewhere -
In 1904 an entertainer, Joe Chapple, leader of a visiting concert company, wrote in the Gleaner of his impressions on his visit; he mentioned plans to change the the area of public buildings on Harbour Street, which were in fact to be carried out two decades later.
And then 1907 -
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from the West:
on the left the Post Office and the Court House, and on the right the front of the Treasury
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from the East:
on the left, the front of the Treasury, on the right, the gutted Post Office and the severely damaged Court House
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The official reports gave the almost incredible information that the old Treasury building, built of wood, had survived both the earthquake of January 14th, and the fire which followed -
and the old building was in good enough condition to accommodate much of the Post and Telegraph Department, whose building had been destroyed -
1911-13 - the Kingston Technical High School years
The 1907 earthquake destroyed a major part of the Hanover Street campus. As a result, the boys department was transferred temporarily to Elletson road, site of the police barracks, while the manual training took place at the old Treasury building on Harbour Street. However in 1913, all departments relocated to 82 Hanover Street.
then, in 1923, a decision was taken -
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Cleaning up after pulling down!
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The ceremony of laying the foundation stone and dedicating the new children's ward at the Kingston Public General Hospital, which is to be erected to the memory of the late Archbishop Nuttall, took place yesterday afternoon.
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Plans to create a park-like open space, where the old public buildings had been:
Daily Gleaner, October 26, 1923
[speech by H A L Simpson, prominent politician, to the Chamber of Commerce]
Many of them would observe the improvement of the site in Harbour Street opposite the old Treasury which, not so long ago, looked like a mongoose ranch. The place had been greatly improved and it should be remembered that where unsightly conditions had been replaced by agreeable conditions interest should be taken in the improved conditions.
[speech by H A L Simpson, prominent politician, to the Chamber of Commerce]
Many of them would observe the improvement of the site in Harbour Street opposite the old Treasury which, not so long ago, looked like a mongoose ranch. The place had been greatly improved and it should be remembered that where unsightly conditions had been replaced by agreeable conditions interest should be taken in the improved conditions.
Daily Gleaner, January 12, 1924
We have noticed too that some attempt is already being made to add to the amenities the city already possesses: for example, the space upon which stood the old Treasury building in Harbour Street is to be converted into a lawn to match the lawn on the opposite side, which was the last piece of work accomplished by the late Kingston City Council, and on which that now defunct body must be heartily congratulated.
We have noticed too that some attempt is already being made to add to the amenities the city already possesses: for example, the space upon which stood the old Treasury building in Harbour Street is to be converted into a lawn to match the lawn on the opposite side, which was the last piece of work accomplished by the late Kingston City Council, and on which that now defunct body must be heartily congratulated.
in the Legislative Council:
but five years later -
then -
Daily Gleaner, July 14, 1930
We are also pleased to see that the sidewalks around the site of the old Treasury building in Harbour Street have been neatly paved by the Government . . . .
We are also pleased to see that the sidewalks around the site of the old Treasury building in Harbour Street have been neatly paved by the Government . . . .
By the mid-1930s further plans were mentioned -
Daily Gleaner, May 8, 1936
[editorial article]
We have been informed that a handsome tourist bureau is to be constructed in Harbour Street on the site of the Treasury building wrecked in 1907. It is to be commodious, it is to have flower beds round and about it, it is to be well appointed in the way of furniture. It may be the best Bureau, from the viewpoint of appearance, to be seen anywhere in these West Indies, to be seen perhaps in any country.
[editorial article]
We have been informed that a handsome tourist bureau is to be constructed in Harbour Street on the site of the Treasury building wrecked in 1907. It is to be commodious, it is to have flower beds round and about it, it is to be well appointed in the way of furniture. It may be the best Bureau, from the viewpoint of appearance, to be seen anywhere in these West Indies, to be seen perhaps in any country.
not everyone was thrilled!
Daily Gleaner, September 12, 1936
Daily Gleaner, September 12, 1936
A WOMAN'S WEEK
Things Seen
--:By FIREFLY:--
Things Seen
--:By FIREFLY:--
The new building for the Tourist Bureau is going up on Harbour Street. It is early to judge, but it looks as though here is another architectural opportunity wasted. Opinions differ as to the need for this expenditure of money; but since the building had to go up, it could have been to an attractive modern design, to impress visitors and please inhabitants. Is it? Well.....we must wait until the scaffolding comes down.
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Daily Gleaner, November 2, 1936
THE NEW HOME OF THE TOURIST BUREAU which the Public Works Department have erected at the south-eastern corner of Duke and Harbour Streets. The finishing touches are now being made to the building which is an imposing one. Arrangements are being made to open the building a few weeks before the tourist season which starts towards the end of next month. |
Daily Gleaner, December 24, 1936
LATEST OF KINGSTON'S MODERN STRUCTURES: A "Gleaner" photograph of the handsome new home of the Jamaica Tourist Bureau, in the block on the southern side of Harbour Street, between Duke Street and John's Lane. The fine building was just completed and the staff of the Tourist Trade Development Board of Jamaica has already moved in to carry on their work in comfortable quarters. |
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and from a 1940s postcard -
and for now, that's where the story ends!
