BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE impression she left in the minds of those whom she served and encountered is indelible, especially with her success in sustaining a tradition which is now four generations old.
Bridget ‘Baby’ Nolan – known for the tray she maintained on Cayon Street - departed this life on Thursday (Apr. 19) after reportedly grappling with a prolonged illness.
One of her childhood friends, historian and educator Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald, published a book in 2008 (A View from Baby’s Traffic) in which he catalogued remembrance episodes that he had shared with Baby while sitting with her by her tray.
Archibald provided an exclusive interview with SKNVibes on his feelings about Baby’s life, death, her legacy and the times they shared.
How they met
Archibald recalls that he met Baby when she was about 10 years old. Being of similar age, their paths crossed as both had reason to frequent Cayon Street daily.
He said a vendor by the name of Catherine Podd – Baby’s aunt with whom she had lived - operated her tray just opposite what is now known as Amory Mall and that tray was operated at the doorstep of the abode he shared with his father who was a shoemaker by trade.
Ms. Catherine – as he referred to her - would attend to the tray in the day and Baby, in the afternoon after returning from school, would vend for her aunt.
He explained that because the proximity of Ms. Catherine’s operating point and his abode, he had met and gotten to know Baby.
He remembers that when Ms. Catherine died, Baby took up responsibility for the tray and kept her aunt’s tradition alive.
“She didn’t have much time to play after school because she was always minding the tray, and when Ms. Catherine died, apparently, she bequeathed that tray to Baby. She continued the life that Ms. Katherine lived, getting things prepared, cooking food, making black pudding, souse, selling her nuts and sugarcakes and other things at the very same spot where Ms. Catherine used to operate.”
Tradition lives!
Archibald recalls that Baby carried on Ms. Catherine’s tradition for years “until she couldn’t do it anymore. And she let her daughter and granddaughter do it.”
Her granddaughter – according to Archibald – is Nicole, who up until today occupies the very spot which Baby and Ms. Catherine before her occupied.
Described as the “longest-lasting street vending unit that has weathered the storm over the years”, Ms. Catherine’s tray was handed down to Baby, then to Baby’s daughter and to Baby’s granddaughter Nicole.
It did not stay there, however, and according to Archibald, Nicole’s children provide her assistance during the weekends when they are not in school.
Archibald estimates that “Catherine’s Tray” is about 70 years old or even more and for the part she played in keeping tradition alive, he said Baby deserves some sort of recognition and tribute.
“I think that Baby deserves some tribute for keeping street vending alive. I know that the modern people they are a little askance at the practice of selling on the street. Selling on the street has been a very useful employment opportunity for many people both in Baby’s and Ms. Catherine’s days and even now. People who cannot find work design their own work, they make their own things and sell these things on the street.”
Ms. Catherine’s tray featured parched nuts and a variety of sugarcakes. And as it was handed down from generation to generation, a number of local delicacies including goat water, pies and stewed meat kind were added.
Inspiration for ‘A View from Baby’s Traffic’
“I used to go there and sit down by her and we used to recall the days of our youth and the funny people and the not-so-funny people who used to parade around the traffic…That is where I got the inspiration to write the book about Baby’s Traffic, because I used to sit there and we used to talk about it and laugh. Sometimes we used to be very sad when we recalled some of the incidents and some of the tragedies that played before us in those far-off days.”
The historian expressed that speaking about Baby in his book also serves to highlight and underscore “the importance of street vending in our economy. We cannot get rid of that feature of our economy because it is the feature of our economy which brings out the creativity and the independence and the dignity of poor people who insist on working hard for a daily living…”
The last encounter
Archibald remembers Baby as a “very pleasant person”. He said that she, having struggled with a “serious diabetes…knew she was going to pass on soon.
“She has been travelling for years, using all kinds of remedies and then the remedies started to run out of potency”.
Though saddened by her passing, Archibald said his last encounter with Baby brought him some comfort.
“I went to see her while she was sick. I visited her and she recognised me and we held hands and recited Psalm 23 together. And I was happy for that momentary experience with Baby. I’m sad that she has gone but we all have to go.
“I think that her going is a cause for celebration because she spent her life maintaining and sustaining a tradition and street vending had been handed down to us from the days when our ancestors had to enjoy one moment of freedom a week, when they were able to move out of the estate yard and come to town or settle in various centres to do their Sunday marketing.”
