ABACO’S BEST KEPT SECRET

First and foremost Cherokee is known for its Long Dock. At 770 feet in length it is the longest wooden dock in the Bahamas. Over the years it has had a lot of damage from storms, been completely destroyed or been condemned more than once as being too dangerous for public use and rebuilt five times in the last 20 years. But, through local volunteers and many donations from near-by businesses, friends and local residents, the repairs were made, each time making it longer and better than the previous dock. It has been maintained and well frequented by the people of Cherokee as well as by casual visitors.

More than sixty years ago, Cherokee was better known for something else - it was the boat building capital of Abaco. Fishing smacks 65 to 85 feet in length were built by hand right here in Cherokee by local carpenters without the use of mechanical tools, headed up by Mr. Benny Sawyer, the Master Boat Builder. The boats had two masts and carried five sails, making them unique (most other boats had seven sails).

They were recognised in Nassau Harbour as “Cherokee Smacks.” Some of the vessels built here at that time (and they number somewhere in the sixties) are still in use today. Mr. Benny’s reputation was well known and his workmen were all top quality carpenters.

A boat built in Cherokee was a sturdy seaworthy vessel and much prized by their owners. One of the extra special designs of these boats was that they included a live-well for the fishermen to keep their catch in until they got their fish to market in Nassau. They were much sought after by the Bahamian fishing fleets. The days of local fishing smacks has been taken over by the much faster more modern boats with electronic and sonar fish-finding equipment.

It was in the early 1950s that motors took over, the sailing vessels fell out of fashion and the old fashioned fishing Smacks were no longer sought after by the fisherman. However, this is part of our past, and if you have read the history books you would know about Cherokee’s boat building industry and our long connection to the Bahamian fishing industry.

Today, because the Bahamas has been opened up to tourism and pleasure boating, Abaco is prospering and all Cherokee folks enjoy a better life because of this change. Even though we are not one of the more popular tourist destinations, we like to think of ourselves as “one of Abaco’s best kept secrets” and what’s good for Abaco is good for Cherokee.

Bonefishing is very popular with avid fishermen, and we just happen to have some of the best bonefishing in all the world right in our own back yard. And this is not just our opinion, but the opinion of some very well-traveled and well experienced bone-fishermen who know what they are talking about. And, not only do the visiting fishermen see and catch the illusive sports fish they covet when they visit Cherokee, but they also brag about our Guides, saying they are some of the best they have ever had anywhere and this is probably because our men have lived here all their lives and know the local waters like the back of their hand.

However, tourism brought prosperity to Abaco, there were more jobs available and a need for tradesmen and our young men left the hard life of seafarers and went out and learned a skill that will eventually give them and their family a better lifestyle. And, Cherokee is very fortunate today, because anyone who wants to work – can work.

Since it was so much a part of our long history and because of our connection with the sea, the people of Cherokee came together to erect a monument at the waters edge dedicated to those sailors and family members who drowned and were never buried in the local cemetery. This is something that we will be known for in years to come, namely - our remembrance and respect for our lost sailors.

In addition, a wall of hero’s was erected here in 2006 to honour outstanding citizens. At this time there are only two names on the wall.
The first is Mr. Walter Sands, a remarkable man, a local legend for his teaching abilities and his outstanding position as a community and church leader. The second person listed is Mr. Benny Sawyer for his accomplishments in the field of boat building. Mr. Benny is still alive and much revered today. But, personally, I feel there are many others who were born here, but left Cherokee when they were very young and who made their mark in other parts of the world that deserve to be honoured and maybe someday they will be.

Also many visitors to Cherokee are impressed with the restoration work that the community has done on our “Old School”. Abandoned for over sixty years, a committee of local residents and old school alumni first came together in 1987 to rebuild and restore the derelict building and make it available as a community centre. Today, this building is used for parties, showers and weddings, as well as educational seminars and as a learning facility. It is something the whole community can definitely be proud of.

Probably the second thing you will notice as you come into our settlement is that it is such a clean and tidy little community. This is something we can all take pride in, but especially the school children because it was through them that the general cleaning up of the town and its surrounding areas first began to take place.

Back twenty years ago, Cherokee was not really a place to be proud of. There were many dumps scattered around the perimeter of the settlement which were eyesores, and places for rats and other vermin to propagate.

When the newly elected Local Government was put into place, trash barrels were placed in strategic spots around town and a full-time garbage collector was hired to take up garbage twice weekly and deposit it in one general dump location. It took many years to convince some of the locals into the necessity of using the one central dump site and how important it was to discontinue dumping refuse in the various personal dumping areas, mainly because modern garbage is much more invasive than it was only a few years back.

But in the 1980s the headmaster at Cherokee’s All-Age School, Mr. Rolle, organised the school children to pick up loose trash and litter from several gathering areas around the settlement, even going so far as to clean up the mainland docking area at Big Mangrove, across the harbour, which was the primary access dock for loading and unloading all freight into Cherokee before the new road was finally pushed through in January, 1986.

“Club Cherokee,” a student group, was formed. The students were rewarded with field trips and fun days for picking up trash. It was an unqualified success. All the teachers down through the years have inspired the students and taught them to understand the dangers of littering and the long term effects littering can have on our environment.

Recently, Friends of the Environment, a locally based environmental organization, started a recycling programme for aluminum cans that seems to be catching on with the residents. It’s one small step towards keeping Abaco, and the Bahamas, clean and litter free.

Over the years various types of fund raisers have been held in aid of our local school to provide extra playground equipment, a wooden playground gym-set for the younger students, picnic tables and a volley ball/basketball court for the older students’ enjoyment and use both during and after school hours.

Not to mention some repairs and upgrading of the actual school building and the purchase of new computers, copiers, a television set and VCR player and extra books for their library. Whenever these events are held, the children get involved and participate, knowing that the proceeds from the event will benefit them and their school. And our local Cherokee Primary School is as well equipped as any school anywhere in the Bahamas, and that is definitely something we are also very proud of .

We have no major crime in our small settlement and if there is illegal drug activity, it is not commonly known and as far I know there are not even any petty crimes. It is probably because we all live in a place where everyone knows everyone else, and even the names of their dogs, plus that fact that many are related (in one way or another). But, whenever there is a catastrophe, such as a fire, or a hurricane or just a common accident, the people pull together to help or at least show their concern and, that, is something we can all be proud of – that we care about our neighbours.

In the year 2001 a genealogy register was set up. After six years it has grown to three very large volumes of Cherokee names and is always a work in progress. The three books are kept in our local library and available for anyone to look up their family history, or to make notes of new entries or changes that may need to be recorded. The ancestors of most of the residents who live in Cherokee today have lived here for, at least, five generations and this, too, is something to be proud of.

So, as you can see we are known for many things. But, then it’s not difficult to show pride when you live in paradise.

Email:	abaco@coldwellbankerbahamas.com