The article Exploring the Capital's African Heritage by Catherine Young that appeared in the T&T Guardian on May 29 was about a tour of PoS African Heritage sites and was hosted by the National Trust.It contained, quote: "......well known sites like...the Magnificent Seven, which were built by slave labour."
The buildings known as The Magnificent Seven were all built around 1904. In August 1838 full freedom was granted to the slaves. Further, Conrad Stollmeyer, the owner of the first building constructed in this Magnificent Seven row was an abolitionist.Conrad Frederick Stollmeyer (1813-1904) was born in Ulm, Germany. Emigrating first to the United States, he became a printer and publisher. Unpopular for his anti-slavery newspaper articles, his printing office was wrecked and he was put out of business.
Stollmeyer left the United States going first to England where he met and became friendly with John Adolphus Etzler, the German-born American technological utopianist, with whom he formed the Tropical Emigration Society. Their philosophy was one for the melioration of all classes of people of all social levels and all nations.
In 1833 Etzler published his best-known work, a prospectus titled The Paradise with the Reach of all Men. It outlined detailed, visionary plans to harness the energy of wind, water and sun to benefit mankind. For Stollmeyer this was an extension of his anti-slavery cause.The Society intended to move to Guanamita in Venezuela, where they were to set up an utopian community, but on his way there Stollmeyer landed in Trinidad and was advised of the intolerable conditions and deaths that the remainder of his party had encountered.
Penniless, he succeeded in coconut cultivation. By making coconut water readily available, he hoped to discourage the consumption of alcohol. Although he failed in this, he prided himself in being the first in the tradition of vending coconuts around town.Citizens for Conservation,
Geoffrey MacLean
Rudylynn De Four Roberts