1492 Columbus encounters the Bahamas while looking for a route to India
1513 Ponce deLeon found only one old Lucayan Indian woman in the northern Bahamas, possibly on Walker’s Cay, Abaco
1530 - 1550 Lucayan Indians no longer in evidence in The Bahamas, decimated by disease and slavery by Spanish
1565 French colony established somewhere on Abaco, paired with sister colony in St Augustine, no further information as the French could not locate it several years later
1633 Indications are that the French attempted to establish a second colony on Abaco
1718+ Charles Vane, “Vane the Great Pirate” fled New Providence for Green Turtle Cay under Woods Rogers amnesty, plundered two ships then escaped when Nassau attempted to capture him.
Historical evidence suggests there were no settlements on Abaco prior to the arrival of the Loyalists.
There may have been seasonal farming, opportunist wreckers, pirates and visiting fishermen utilizing Abaco but not residing there .
1783 Loyalists arrived at Carleton, Sept. or Oct, having left New York in late August or early September
1784 A rebellious contingent from Carleton settled in Marsh’s Harbour, total Abaco population reported to be 658 with two thirds in Marsh’s Harbour
1785 Population reported to be 1,000 with most from New York and the balance mostly from Florida
44% in Marsh’s Harbour, 21% in Maxwell, 25% in Carleton and 10 % at Spencer’s Bight. Maxwell Town settled close to Marsh’s Harbour in mid 1780s but disappeared within a few years. Settlements established at Spencer’s Bight and Eight Mile Bay. Spencer’s Bight later known as Sweeting’s Village
1785 Cherokee believed to have been settled by a Mr. Brown from Florida
1785 Twenty one ton Sloop HUAIBRAS built and launched
1785 Hope Town Settled by Wyannie Malone
1785 Severe Hurricane struck Abaco and Eleuthera September
1786 Green Turtle Cay believed settled based on first land grant dated this year
1786 One hundred-fifty-five ton ULYSEES built and launched
1788 Five Abaco built cargo vessels documented in Nassau with cargo from Jamaica, Charleston, New York and London
1788 Abaco population estimated at 400 living between Spencer’s Bight, Marsh’s Harbour, Maxwell Town, Carleton and Coco Plum Creek.
1790 Abaco population at a low point. Harbour Island settlers began to migrate to Abaco. Harbour Island settled about 100 years before Abaco. Their arrival brought knowledge of the sea causing settlements on the cays to predominate
1815 New Plymouth population 193
1820+ Man-O-War founded, economy based on fishing and farming. Boat building began in mid century
1820+ Guana Cay and Cherokee believed founded now or shortly after1825 New Plymouth Inn built as a residence for the “Roberts” family, remained residential until 1954 when converted into New Plymouth Inn
1826 Methodist minister visited Cherokee on his way to Green Turtle Cay on the mail boat
1828 Methodist church built in Cherokee
1850 Cholera epidemic in Hope Town killed 100, Cholera graveyard established beside fire station
1870 Sandy Point settled within a year or two of this date
1880 Toad House in Hope Town was constructed
1888 Boatyard established in Man-O-War, later owned by William H Albury
1895 Hope Town’s school building was built, still standing in 2007
1898 The Albertine Adoue was built in GTC from salvaged materials. Abaco's only sailing mail boat, lasting until the 1905 The B . Frank Neally , a 3 masted schooner, sailed from Jacksonville bound for Wilson City with a load of brick and cement. She was never heard from again, loss included some Hope Town crew members .
1890 Hope Town’s two story jail, Post Office, Commissioner’s office complex was built
1895 Hope Town’s school building was built, still standing in 2007
1910 Sisal mill on Guana Cay stopped operation.
1911 Walkers Cay first settled (not confirmed, found in Walkers Cay press release)
1915 Wilson City, Abaco Lumber Company operation closed.
1917 The keel was laid for a 3 masted schooner, ABACO, in MOW, launched the following year. Built with timbers from the SW side of Great Abaco. Her keel was 112', 130' LOA, with a draft of 10' and a beam of 33'.
1919 Final voyage of Roberts and Russell which was bound for Havana. Home ported in Hope Town for many years prior. Five Hope Town crew lost on this voyage.
1918? Norman’s Castle lumber mill came several years after Wilson City closed not sure of year.
1918 Cross Harbour last mill on Abaco, on south shore between Hole-in-wall and Sandy Point, Floyd Lowe there in 1942
1918 Sisal still being produced in limited quantities in the Cedar Harbour area
1920 First wireless telegraph on Abaco in Hope Town.
1920? Norman’s Castle lumber mill came several years after Wilson City closed, not sure of year, used horses and mules to pull logs from the forest
1922 The schooner Abaco Bahamas was launched in Hope Town. A 3 masted schooner, the largest ever built in Hope Town or the Bahamas. 158' LOA, 35' beam, draft of 8'.
1923 Priscilla became the Abaco mail boat, first with engine, Richard Campbell next mail boat..
1924 Marsh Harbour gets a wireless telegraph station.
1925 James A. Pinder opens Sandy Point’s first school
1925 Green Turtle Cay gets telegraph.
1926 Hole-in-the-wall light station upgraded with new lantern, lens, etc. Completed Nov 5
1926 Oct Hurricane surge flooded Marsh Harbour, 6 ft followed by 20 ft.
1926 Batelco station on Marsh Harbour’s front street beside teacher’s residence destroyed by storm.
1926 Post office on front street, Marsh Harbour destroyed by hurricane.
1927 Destructive Hurricane.
1927 Batelco moved to building beside Marsh Harbour cemetery, Court, Post Office & School there also.
1928 Destructive Hurricane.
1928 Schooner Abaco was destroyed in a hurricane in Nassau.
1929 Cornwall mill No 1 South of High Banks in West side forest by blue hole now called Sawmill Sink then moved to Cornwall mill No 2 (1 mile?) South of Crossing Rocks on West side then moved to Cross Harbour Mill inland at Cross Harbour on S Abaco shore, Final lumber mill on Abaco1929 Milleville began constructing freight dock, destroyed by hurricane.
1929 Destructive Hurricane.
1930 Limited sponging still being undertaken, believe terminated soon
1930 Norman’s Castle lumber camp gets telegraph.
1930 Cherokee gets telegraph.
1931 Lucien Stratton was assistant to Rupert Roberts, Batelco telegraph operator Jack Lowe.
1932 Destructive Hurricane, destroyed Marsh H Post office & school building, School held in Methodist church.
1932 Dundas town began after disastrous hurricane destroyed Cornish town, Big Grape Tree, & Old Place
1933 New school built in Marsh H. Also building for library, Post Office and radio station, teacher’s house on harbour .
1933 - 1943 Shark fishing by Floyd Lowe, Andros fishermen brought skins to Harold Lowe, buyer on Green Turtle Cay.
1936 Hurricane caused much damage.
1938 Dundas Town established, then continues as Murphy Town, began at Marsh Harbour’s western border, residents brought from South Side, Old Place (between Blackwood & Fire Road), Cornish Town, & Grape Tree, all northwest of Marsh Harbour and all(?) on the SW marles coast.
1938 Murphy Town began as soon as Dundas Town was completed, settled by people from Bluff Point.
1940 Dundas Town surveyed by T Eldred Lowe by Gov’t to resettle displaced people, five acres each + house.
1940 Old Place (& Cornish Town?) residents upset by1932 hurricane.
1940 Bluff Point residents devastated by 1932 hurricane, later moved to Murphy Town by Governor George Murphy in 1941 (Dundas Town was first, then Murphy town).
1940's The Arena was Captained by Sherwin Archer or his son Bobby Archer of MH and provided freight service,
1941 Murphy Town settled by residents from Bluff Point, Sand Banks, Cocoplum Creek, and Norman’s Castle; Named after Sir William Murphy, Governor 1945-1950 Couples given five acres and 10 x 20 scheme house
1941 Dundas Town settled by residents from Old Place and Cornish Town? Couples given 10 x 20 scheme house.
1940's The Arena was Captained by Sherwin Archer of MH and provided freight service, supplementing the mail boat. Initially sail, then an engine added.
1942 The Athol Queen was torpedoed by a German submarine off Elbow Cay.
1943 Cross Harbour sawmill closed, (between Hole-in-wall and Sandy Point) operation moved to Pine Ridge.
1948 Voice phone installed in Hope Town Warren.
1948 The Green Cross sailboat was launched in 1948, built in Marsh Harbour by Bunyan Key and Charles Sawyer. Used by Evans Cottman as living quarters and doctors office.
1948 The Green Cross sailboat was launched in 1948, built in Marsh Harbour by Bunyan Key and Charles Sawyer. Used by Evans Cottman as living quarters and doctors office.
1949 Capt Leonard Thompson elected to House of Assembly for Abaco, served until 1969, other Abaco representatives were Frank Christie, Harold Johnson & John Bethel. Apparently they represented Abaco at large and not a particular section or district.
1950 Marsh Harbour gets voice phone which is relayed through Hope Town.
1950 Coopers Town gets telegraph.
1950 Crockett arrived, ? Began farming operation south of airport on west side.
1950 Crockett arrived, yr? Began Heveatex Plantation farming operation south of airport on west side
1951 Sandy Point gets telegraph.
1951 Mailboat service begins to Sandy Point and Moore’s Island, Initiated by Capt. Ernest Dean
?? Almeta Queen built for Lucien and Stuart Stratton by Hubert Albury, crawfishing to P Beach, no freight, Sold to Cat Cay & renamed Cat Cay Trader, Captained by Melton ? Sweeting, MOW, Basil Kelly Kelly bought boat later on.
1953 ? Crockett pushes tract road to Big Mangrove to access Cherokee.
1953 Rex Major appointed as head teacher to Marsh Harbour All Age School (thru 1956).
1954 Crockett pushes tract road to Big Mangrove to access Cherokee
1954 New Plymouth Inn opens in Green Turtle Cay by Colyn Rees, first hotel on Abaco, Opened with electricity & hot water.
1954 Town power in Green T Cay, installed for N Plymouth Inn & extended through town, some had lights only.
1954 New Hope opens in Hope Town several weeks after New Plymouth Inn, began as alcoholic rehabilitation center, later became Elbow Cay Club.
1954 Pat Bethel taught in Hope Town school.
1954 Capt Leonard Thompson elected to Parliament, served 1954 - 1967
1954 Rex Major taught in Marsh Harbour.
1956 Marsh Harbour given Port of Entry status by Customs, Peter Campbell in charge
1956 Abaco Lumber Company at Pine Ridge, Grand Bahama, bought by National Container Company, moved to
North riding Point, Grand Bahama, Pine ridge housing moved to The gap, Owens Illinois buys
National Container Corp. 1956-1957.
1957 Yachtel opened in Guana Cay by Mr. Combs, later known as Guana Cay Resort, destroyed 1999 by Hurricane Floyd.
1957 Sept 18 M H Airport opened for use, Victor Russell Customs Officer, Land clearing began 1956 by Sea Breezes Construction Co. Ltd.
1957 Sept 18 M H Airport opened for use, Victor Russell Customs Officer, Land clearing began 1956.
1957 Conditional lease given to Leonard Thompson for 930 acres at Sand Banks - later Treasure Cay. 1958 S & M farms bought from Crockett recruits 1000 Haitians to work on their farm South of M H airport on West side
1958 ? Town power installed in Man-O-War.
1958 Batelco installs direct voice connection between Marsh Harbour and Nassau.
1958 Dumas Milner Bahamas Limited formed, name later changed to Treasure Cay Limited.
1959? Hope Town Harbour Lodge opens by Marcel Maury - Originally residence of Brigadier Robbins.
1959 Almeta Queen, Shervin Archer, brought safes for Barclays and CIBC on same trip.
1959 Barclays Bank and Canadian Imperial Bank open in Marsh Harbour.
1959 Feb 18 Albury’s Ferry begin per Marcel Albury (he initiated the ferry service).
1959 Fall Snake Cay Owens-Illinois pulpwood operation moves to Snake Cay from Riding Point, Grand Bahama.
1959 Abaco road network began by Owens Illinois reputed to total 1600 miles by “from Sand Banks to Treasure Cay”.
1959 Spring City began as village for Bahamian staff of Owens Illinois, houses came from The Gap, Grand Bah.
1959 Lake City began as workers village for Owens Illinois wood cutters, houses came from The Gap on Grand Bahama and earlier from Pine Ridge, Disbanded 1966 when the pulpwood operation moved to Andros, Located half mile north of
Casuarina Point road, off access road to Casuarina Point dump site.
1959 mid December Robert Fulton towed to Snake Cay from Riding Point, Grand Bah.
1959 April Hope Town Harbour Lodge open. First guests LeBoutillier & Laughlin from Toledo, Ohio. Marcell Maury-owner, Dave & Phoebe Gale, Managers..
1959 Green Turtle Cay established as Port of Entry by Customs, Leo Cash first Customs Officer.
1959 Fall Treasure Cay airport being used, Everette Pinder landed there .
1960 Green turtle Ferry begun in early 1960s
1959 Canadian Imperial Bank opened in Marsh Harbour, immediately
followed by Barclays Bank
1960 Commissioner’s office moved to Marsh Harbour from H Town (Gerrasmus last commissioner in Hope Town),
Curt Taylor, first M H Commissioner.
1960 Court moved into Barclay’s building in Marsh H from Hope Town.
1960/61 Treasure Cay airport opens per Leonard Thompson.
Treasure Cay airport opened with 2800 feet, later extended to 5,000 feet by Treasure Cay.
1960's The Deborah K , an old LCI type boat followed the Stede Bonnett as Abaco's mail boat. She was intentionally scuttled in 1981 or 1982. .
1960 Great Abaco Beach Hotel opens in Marsh Harbour (by Bert Sahaffner?).
1960 Seat of government moves to Marsh Harbour for Central Abaco, Hope
Town is now jut an island settlement
1961 Dec 19 First Treasure Cay hotel burned down, due to open Jan 1, 1962, booklet From Sand Banks to Treasure Cay.
1961 Road to Crossing Rocks from Marsh Harbour opened by Owens Illinois logging operation.
1961 Island Marine begins on Parrot Cay off Hope Town.
1961 White sound Club opens by Herman Ahrens, later Fin & Tonic by Curlee, then residence by Walter Hawkins then Abaco Inn by Ruth Maurey &Jerry Whiteleather.
1961 - 1962 Campbell Town opened by Owens Illinois for Haitian wood cutters, named after Alan Campbell, Owens Illinois foreman (not named for Peter Campbell) moved to Andros 1966, located 1 mile inland from Snake Cay.
1962 Road between Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay opened to vehicles in December by Owens Illinois logging operation Carl Dietz, Supervisor of Road construction for Owens Illinois (Opened 10 June 1961per book “From Sand Banks to Treasure Cay”).
1963 Citizen Band radios begin to be common for local communications
1963 June Treasure Cay Hotel rebuilt and opens, booklet “From Sand Banks to Treasure Cay”.
1963 Nov Marina opened at Treasure cay(from Sand Banks to treasure Cay).
1963 - 1964? Casuarina Point established as private real estate development, no association with Owens Illinois projects.
1964 July Abaco Account bi-monthly newsletter began
1964 Hope Town Sailing Club began
1964 Road between Marsh H and Treasure Cay dedicated by Ed Dodd of O-I and Governor Robert Stapleton.
1964 Mackey Airlines begin flights into Treasure Cay, quit Oct 1981 “From Sand Banks to treasure Cay”.
1964 Dec Batelco opened present Marsh Harbour office on Collins Rd, Forward scatter system allowed two way conversations.
1964 Pigeon Pea settled in early 60s as worker housing for S & M Farm.
1965 Esperanto launched by Uncle Will, last big boat built in Man-O-War, re named William H Albury.
1965 Stede Bonnet mail boat sank in Marsh Harbour by Hurricane Betsy.
1965 Fin & Tonic opens on Elbow Cay, by Charlie Kerlee, earlier was White Sound Club, later Abaco Inn.
1965 ? Marsh Harbour volunteer fire Dept begun by Norwel Gordon and others.
1965 Sep 4-5 Hurricane Betsy strikes Abaco.
1965 ? Public water system in Marsh Harbour - Newell Malone moves to Marsh Harbour to begin construction.
1966 Pulpwood operation to Andros, Morgan’s Bluff; Sugar mill construction begins, Lake City & Campbell Town move.
1966 1968 Road into Sandy Point (Not there in late 1966, Was there in 1968 )
1966 or later causeway connects Little Abaco to Abaco proper.
1966 Owens Illinois buy lots & build housing in Casuarina Point for sugar mill staff.
1966 Robert Fulton demolished at Snake Cay, Debris taken into woods south of roadway.
1967 Owens Illinois sugar mill begin operating.
1968 Treasure cay owners Dumas Milner & Leonard thompson sell their interest to Deltec International and others.
1968 - 1969 Public water system installed in Marsh Harbour?
1969 Treasure cay builds customs building at T Cay airport to qualify as Port of Entry.
1969 Madeira Park bagan outside Treasure cay for Bahamian employees.
1969 Sugar mill closes (Verify this date, Berkley Evans?, maybe 1970).
1969 Sugar mill produced 15,000 tons in their initial year of operation
1970 Batelco installs 100 line exchange, 4 digit numbers, for local calls within Marsh Harbor.
1970 Sugar mill produced a final 19,000 tons then shut down looking for a buyer
1971 Green Turtle Ferry bought by Floyd Lowe from his brother Harold
1972 High school opens in Spring City in the Owens Illinois (BAIL) tin building, first high school on Abaco.
1972 Sept Day of the Dolphin Movie began.
1972 Gulf Western begins farm in Norman’s Castle area with Edison Key and Morton Sawyer.
1970 Pigeon Pea farm workers housed in Norman’s Castle farm workers housed in area Yvonne Key.
1973 Dec 4 Treasure Cay Post Office opens.
1974 Fall Owens Illinois terminated operation on Andros & leave Bahamas.
1974 Dec Treasure Cay library opens in new community center “from Sand Banks to Treasure Cay”.
1975 Regatta Time in Abaco started to build a race boat for the George Town Regatta.
1976 Nov 6 Albert Lowe Museum opens in Green Turtle Cay.
1976 Abaco Inn opens by Ruth Maury & Jerry Whiteleather, Previously residence of Capt Walter Hawkins.
1977 Batelco installs 700 line local exchange, five digit numbers allow self dial locally.
1977 Marine VHF radios begin to take over from the earlier CB radio for local communications
1977 (more or less) Sugar mill sold to Columbian outfit, disassembled and exported.
1977 Key and Sawyer farm now totally owned by Edison & Morton.
1978 Oct/Nov Government bought the Owens Illinois assets, logging lease (David Sands, custodian of O-I assets on Abaco).
1979 Batelco installs direct dial exchange.
1979 Great Abaco Beach Hotel completed.
1979 Sep Treasure Cay Primary school opens on the S C Bootle highway “from Sand Banks to Treasure Cay”.
1980 Abaco Rage won the George Town regatta. Designed by Emerson Albury.
1980 Pigeon Peas vacant H house burned down on Commissioner’s authority, Comm. Braynan, transferred same week
1981 Sugar Mill sold per”book From Sand Banks to Treasure cay” (also see 1978).
1981 Mackey Airlines quite servicing Abaco “from Sand Banks to Treasure Cay.
1981 Aug 14 New Treasure Cay airport officially opened, 6,500 feet, “from Sand banks to Treasure cay”.
1982/83 Mud settlement begins.
1982 Albury’s Ferry moved from the Crossing Beach to Boat Harbour.
1982 Treasure Cay bought by Alfred Meister.
1883 Original Treasure Cay airstrip condemned, New 6,500 foot airstrip begins operation.
1984 Cell phone system installed in Marsh harbour.
1984 Sept Abaco Central High School opened in Murphy Town.
1985 Crude road pushed into Cherokee by Batelco for heavy trucks to facilitate their expansion, tower, etc.
1986 Batelco switches to a digital system, Man-O-War & Hope Town connected to digital.
1986/87 Cherokee raised money ($17,000 ?) To improve the road for cars and pickups.
1988 Feb 9 Sandy Point Commissioner’s office destroyed by fire, included Customs, Post Office, Police, Jail & court room.
1989 Little Harbour connected by road to Cherokee road.
1990 Albury’s Ferry moves from Boat Harbour back to Crossing Beach.
1992 Treasure Cay Hotel closed by Alfred Meister, (in serious need of substantial renovations).
1993 Individual phones installed in Treasure Cay (by Batelco?).
1993 Nov Abaconian newspaper began as a 12 page monthly.
1996 Guana Cay get phones.
1997 March Radio Abaco begins.
1997 Sept Whole crawfish processing plant destroyed at Crown Haven by Hurricane Floyd.
1998 Central Abaco Primary school first occupied some classrooms in new building.
1998 Dec 21 FM radio repeater Jamz 100 begins broadcasts.
1999, Sept 19 Hurricane Floyd, severe damage length of Abaco, no lives lost.
1999 Oct Hurricane Inez? One death by tornado at Bahama Palm Shore.
2000 FM Jamz100 off air, on earlier as a relay from Nassau.
2001 14 Sep BEC added two 4.4 MW diesel generators to the Marsh H generating plant.
2002 Edison Key appointed to Senate by PLP.
2002 Batelco installs free-standing towers with strobe lights on top.
2002 Bahamasair resumes flights to W Palm Beach from Marsh Harbour.
2003 March Freight dock completed, (not opened - budget problems?).
March Crown Haven police station opens.
March ? Fox Town Clinic officially dedicated ( has been open for several years).
May Sea Wind ferry begins service between Nassau and Sandy Point.
May Pigeon Peas fire destroys 70 houses and leaves 260 homeless, no injuries.
May 16 Winding Bay project near Cherokee holds public meeting in Cherokee.
May 19 Abaco Club at Winding Bay begins construction with land clearing.
June Treasure Cay police stations re-opens.
July PM opens and dedicates new shipping port in Marsh Harbour.
Sept Solomons opened their renovated Superstore in Marsh Harbour (previously Solomon’s Wholesale).
Oct BAIC opens Abaco office in downtown Marsh Harbour.
2004 January Edison Key resigned his Senate seat.
Feb Bahamas Select juice plant begins in building originally Jimmy Albury farm meat processing.
Feb 17 Yellow Air Taxi begins service to Marsh Harbour & T Cay.
April 10 Cherokee day - dedicates renovated old school building, attended by PM Christie & ex-PM Ingraham.
May 6 Dundas Town clinic named Muriam Cornish Community Clinic and re-commissioned, by Prime Minister & Min of Health, Marcus Bethel.
May 6 & 7 Island Roots festival in Green Turtle Cay in conjunction with sister city Key West, Christie & Ingraham attend.
Sep 4 Hurricane Francis passes over Sandy Point late afternoon. 19 inches of rain, severe flooding, no deaths.
Sept Hurricane Jeanne, 3 feet tidal surge in Marsh Harbour, 5 feet in Haitian Mud settlement.
Dec 30 Abaco club at winding bay has soft opening.
2005 Jan 5 Citrus Canker discovered at Norman Castle groves, Bahamas Star farm operation ceases.
May Bakers Bay, Guana Cay, clean-up begins of Cruise operation remains.
June 10 Snake Cay residents (8 families?) moved into new houses in Spring City, Snake Cay now vacant.
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