Belmont

Dating back to the 1940s, Belmont produced many residents who made significant contributions in the areas of sports and the arts; these outstanding individuals are documented below. In the 1950s, when many Trinidadians still cooked with charcoal, Belmont residents purchased 'coals' from Flora on Willis Street. In the 1960s, the HiLo grocery chain opened a store at the corner of Myler and Norfolk Streets. Gonzalez is one of the communities of Belmont.

Entertainment

Belmont is the place where comedian Tommy Joseph grew up.

Cinema: Belmont had one cinema operating from the 1950s to the 1970s - Olympic on Erthig Road.

Calypso: Calypsonians who were born in Belmont include Lord Caresser, Mighty Shadow and David Rudder.

Steelbands: The following is a listing of the steelbands that functioned in Belmont, broken down by type: traditional (pans supported around the neck); and conventional (pans supported mechanically).

STEELBAND	TYPE	LOCATION IN 2002	HISTORY
Amboys	Conventional		Defunct
Bar 22	Traditional	35 Roslyn Street
Belmont City Kids	Traditional	Defunct	Founded in 1956, and operated from 17 Farrell Lane.
Belmont Harmonic	Traditional
Belmont Fifth Dimension	Conventional	St. Francois Valley Road
Belmont Symphony	Conventional		Defunct
Casablanca	Conventional	31 Belmont Circular Road	Click here for details.
Chetniks	Conventional		Defunct
Classy Sounds	Conventional	Belmont Secondary School, Circular Road
Dem Boys	Conventional		Defunct
Dem Fortunates	Conventional		Best remembered for its rendition of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" in the late-1950s.
Dixieland	Conventional		Click here for details.
Fifth Dimension	Conventional	St. Francois Valley Road
Gonzales Sheikers	Traditional	Excalier Government Primary School
Harlem Syncopators	Traditional	63 Quarry Road, Gonzales
Hi Larks	Traditional	79 Belmont Circular Road
In Focus	Conventional	Jerningham Avenue
Pan Vibes	Conventional	St. Francois Valley Road
Pandemonium	Conventional	3 Norfolk Street
Players Symphony	Conventional	Davis Street
Rising Sun	Conventional		Defunct
Sunland	Conventional	Defunct
Syncopators	Conventional		Defunct
Super Sonics	Traditional	St. Francois Valley Road

Conventional Music Bands: Conventional music bands that functioned in Belmont included the following:

Mas(querade) Bands: Mas' bands that functioned in Belmont included:

MAS' BAND	LOCATION IN 2002	HISTORY
Burrokeets	22A Belle Eau Road
De B.O.S.S.	107 Belmont Circular Road
Trotters Football International	Observatory Street
"Big" Wilfred McLean	Defunct	Operated from Industry Lane.

Sports

Cricket: Cricketers born in Belmont who went on to represent the West Indies in Test Cricket were Ellis Achong, Ian Bishop, Bryan Davis, Charles Davis, and Andy Ganteaume.

Soccer: The Colts soccer club was based in Belmont and competed in the First Division of the POSFL into the 1960s. Residents Andy Ganteaume and Gerry Browne represented Trinidad & Tobago.

Favorite Eating Places

• Roti: Sankar's on Belmont Circular Road near Piggott Corner; Sam's on Willis Street.
• Mauby: Louis at the corner of Pelham Street and St. Margaret's Lane.
• Peanuts: "Mile-A-Minute," the oriental street vendor who patrolled the perimeter of the Queen's Park Savannah, peddled peanuts for as little as 2 cents a pack in the 1950s and 1960s. He was chronicled by calypsonian Lord Melody in his 1960 hit "Ice Man."
• Ice Treats: 'Snowball' or 'press', the 1950s' versions of snow-cones, could be purchased from Foster's on Pelham Street.
• Candy: Local sweets, such as 'halay', 'kayza balls', 'dinner mints', and 'paradise plums', could be purchased from Hands Up on Norfolk Street for as little as 1 cent each in the 1950s.
• Fried Foods: Back in the 1950s, 'bake and shark' was sold by Earl's on Observatory Street, and 'arape' and 'aloo pies' were sold by Michael Annisette on Brathwaite Street.

Academic Institutions

Well-Known Characters