Devon House, 26 Hope Road Kingston

Devon House is a historic Jamaican tourist attraction and hangout spot that is nestled on 26 Old Hope Road. It was built in 1881 by George Stiebel. He was the first black Millionaire in Jamaican history. Lovers of antiques will love the guided tours because Devon House is filled with antiques which range from Ornate Porcelain Chandeliers to mesmerizing paintings and photographs.

Devon House physical features and architecture

Devon House is the beautiful end product of an older, British style of architecture. The buildings that were built on the property are very strong and durable in nature but the also have a unique type of beauty going for them. The palms that surround the grounds of Devon house are apart of its signature landscaping and helps to greatly add to the beauty of the property. There is a courtyard out side of the Greathouse where benches that are meant to accommodate a man with a sword are located.

Stiebel managed to place a gambling room in the attic of the building. Tourists usually wonder the grounds in order to get a better glimpse of the beautiful property. The lawns of Devon house are luscious and green and are perfect for a picnic underneath the beautiful Kingston sunset. The trees provide the perfect shade for picnic blankets.

Foods and pastries

The Devon House grounds is home to a bakery and who could ever forget the ice cream shop, which is home to some of the best ice cream in Jamaica and some even say in the World. The signature ice cream is served in a variety of flavours and many people come from all over the country just to sample the desert. The ice cream shop has a variety of flavours which are all sure to impress. Tours of the Great House include a free scoop of the World famous I-Scream.

Ice Cream Flavours

Devon House I-Scream is ever expanding, with well over 20 flavours and counting, and one of the best ice cream brands you will ever taste. I have several favourites, including Devon Stout, Cookie and Cream (#1 on my list), Pistachio, and the classic Rum & Raisin. There are also more new flavours, including One Drop, Rocky River, and Crunchie Munchie, which have become huge hits with a lot of people.

You might be tempted to try them all but the servings are hefty, so you will probably need several trips before you can even cover half the menu. When buying, you can order anywhere from a single cone to a quart of ice cream, and if you like, you can ask for the flavours to be mixed. One more thing (yes, I could talk about Devon House I-Scream all day), the lines for ice cream can get pretty long, especially on weekend days and between the hours of 6 – 9 pm, so pick your days and time well when visiting.

The former carriage house and courtyard are home to several shops. Tourists and locals alike can stop by the souvenir shop to buy a variety of authentic Jamaican memorabilia and products. The Bakery is also situated in the courtyard and this bakery sells a variety of Jamaican pastries and baked goods such as patties, cakes and puddings. The unique style and texture of the patties make it a must sample pastry for tourists and locals alike. The patties may be worth a bit more than regular Jamaican patties but the price difference is worth it.

The Devon House Heritage Site is owned by the Government of Jamaica, and falls directly under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. The property is currently managed by The Devon House Development Company Limited, which became operational in February 2002 to oversee the re-development of Devon House, and manage its promotion and maintenance as the premier cultural attraction and center of activity in the capital city.

Built in 1881, on a 32 acre estate, the mansion now reposes in an 11 acre landscaped environment set well back from the roads that intersect between Hope and Waterloo Roads. Its lush, sprawling lawns provide an ambience that soothes the mind and soul, and offers an enviable shopping experience for both local and overseas visitors. Patrons to Devon House can partake in the fascinating history of the site, which was built by Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel

How did Devon House get it’s name?

This stately building is a national heritage site. It was erected by George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire. It sits on a sprawling, 11-acre estate and was one of the several mansions that comprised the so-called ‘Millionaire’s Circle’ in that part of Kingston back in the late 19^th century.

The name comes from the property previously being called Devon Penn before Stiebel made his wealth in Venezuela and returned to purchase it. Stiebel was the son of a German Jew and a black housekeeper. Having achieved the feat of becoming the first black Jamaican to reach his level of affluence, he went about creating a mansion fit for a king.

A tour of the house will give you great insight into what luxury living was all about more than 130 years ago in the Victorian era. You will especially love it if you’re a history buff. The house itself has been renovated, after being under threat of being demolished in the 1960s. However, much of its old-world charm has been preserved in the brick and lattice work that pervades the design of the mansion, as well as in the detailed craftsmanship of the ornate furnishings, some artifacts, and the artwork on many of its walls.

Devon House was opened to the public as an attraction in 1968, before being named a heritage site in 1990. Over the years, thousands of tourists and Jamaicans alike have passed through its gates.

National Monument

The mansion has been a designated national monument since September 1990. The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment manages the property and maintains it through its agencies, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Tourism Product Development Company.

Devon House underwent its first restoration in the 1960’s under the supervision of architect Tom Concannon assisted by Raymond McIntyre. In 1974, the mansion was refurbished for the second time in the Victorian style. The interior was refurbished by Mr. Sergio Dello Strologo and Mr. Raymond McIntyre undertook the task of restoring the mansion from its use as an art gallery to its original status as a private dwelling. During this time the crystal chandelier in the ballroom dating from George Stiebel’s time was found broken in two parts. It was restored by John Thompson. The restoration of the antique furniture located for the house was done by Mr. Robin Morris. In 1984, the mansion was reopened to the public.

Now fully restored to the former glory, this national landmark is of primary importance and stands as a “center of excellence” in the nation’s capital. Visitors to Devon House can tour the mansion and experience a walk back in time, enjoy the peace and quiet of the lush lawns and gardens or shop or dine in any of the several establishments on site.

This historical site enjoys prominence of location and the mansion’s status as an architectural gem is unchallenged. It forms a tangible part of Jamaica’s history, with its origins reaching back as far as early as the 17th century, when original structures that still form part of the present mansion were constructed. Devon House’s status remained undiminished throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, and today constitutes an iconic feature of Jamaica’s record of the past.

Management of the Devon House Historical Mansion

A management team consisting of an Executive Director, a Property Manager, Marketing and Events Manager and an Accountant undertakes the day to day operations of the Devon House Heritage Site. Support staff includes an Administrative Assistant, Tour Guides, and Ancillary and Ground Staff. A Board of Directors is appointed by the Minister of Tourism and Entertainment and overseas the overall management of the property.

Vision Statement:

Devon House presents a unique and extraordinary opportunity for multiple experiences in a center of excellence in the city, combining heritage, park facilities, restaurants and shopping for the best of what is authentically Jamaican. Here, the arts, education and entertainment co-exist to give Jamaicans and tourists alike a space that appeals to the senses.

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to preserve an environment which combines an historic setting of a heritage site with the natural beauty of its surroundings to offer our visitors an authentic Jamaican experience.

Board of Directors

Mr. Geoffrey Messado – Chair
Ms. Minion Jean Wright – Deputy Chair
Mrs. Dorothy Carter-Bradford
Mrs. Thalia Lyn
Mrs. Diana Stewart
Mrs. Jean Barnes
Hon. Marigold Harding
Ms. Geneel Attala
Ms. Sophia Williams
Ms. Janice Lindsay
Ms. Samantha Chantrelle
Mr. Martin Lyn
Ms. Dawn Hyde

Ms. Ann Hodges
Mrs. Theresa Roberts

Executive Director, Mrs. Janette Taylor

Conclusion

Devon House is deeply rooted in Jamaican culture and the location was has recently been made a UNESCO heritage site . George Stiebel is the owner original owner of the estate and he was also the first black Jamaican millionaire. He revolutionized the way black Jamaicans thought about wealth he showed us that no matter what our colour or class is as Jamaicans, we all can still achieve great things. The World famous I-Scream that is served at the Great house is considered to be one of the best tasting ice creams in the World by many persons.

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Habits everybody should quit to become successful

The dream of becoming successful is a dream that we all have. The thing is that there are some habits that everybody should quit in order to become successful. We all have bad habits that are hindering us from achieving our goals and dreams. In order to drop the bad habits we have to develop a mindset that is welcoming to change and progress. When we become welcome to change and progress it give us the confidence we need in order to push towards our goals.

The first bad habit you should drop on your quest for success is the habit of doubting yourself. Self doubt is something that hinders all of us from achieving our goals . It causes a fear within us, a fear for the unknown and a fear of being bold enough to take that extra leap that will put us one step closer to achieving our goals. The faster we get rid of self doubt is the faster we will more likely be to succeed.

Confidence can sometimes determine whether we get what we desire in life or not so it’s time to kick that habit of self doubt to the curve . The next habit you should get rid of is the habit of putting things off. Change is something that may take time and it is hard for everyone, and so is self improvement. The work required to get things done is hard and so it may be easy to put things off but the thing is in most cases tomorrow never comes. Thinking you will get things done tomorrow is just an excuse and it and it just means that you either don’t want to do it or you just want the success and not the hard work that comes with it.

Habits everybody should quit to become successful- doing the same things over and over again

As the great scientist and inventor Albert Einstein once said “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. We all have ideas and goals that we all want to achieve but may of us keep doing the same things over and over thinking that the results won’t be the same. We all need creativity in our lives and it is always good to be able to adapt to any situation. We need to be creative because if we keep using the same approach every time it will just produce the same results. Instead of doing things the same way over and over again and expecting the same results we should try to find smarter and more applicable ways to solve our problems no matter how hard or difficult they may seem.

Sometimes life get difficult and we may become frustrated because of how difficult things are but the thing is we often expect things to work themselves out. Many of us expect our colleagues or co-workers to solves the daily challenges we experience at work or with our businesses. Hoping that things will work themselves out is a bad habit that we all need to quit. Things don’t always ‘magically’ fix themselves and so the best solution to every problem is always to fix it yourself.

We often say yes to every idea that people throw at us. It is never a good idea to say yes to every request or idea that people may throw at us. We should always try to think things through and suggest better ideas to others. It is not always in our best interest to say yes to every request that others might ask of us. When we say yes to something it simply means that we are saying no to something else that could be even more important. A good example of this is saying yes to overtime at work, this could mean that you are saying no to dinner with you family or an even run. Next time you should think about the repercussions before saying yes.

Take Responsibility for your mistakes

It’s no secret that we all fail sometimes, and it can be very hard not to blame others for our failures. It is inevitable that we will all fail in life but we should always try to act responsibly and avoid blaming others for our failures and mistakes. We should always act responsibly and never blame other for our own failures. You shouldn’t blame others when you don’t get what you want and stop trying to justify your poor choices.

Another habit among the habits everybody should quit to become successful is the habit of focusing on the negatives in our lives. There are always negative circumstances in life that we have no control over but there are also alot of positive experiences and so it is always possible to live with a positive perspective if we want to cultivate success in our lives. We should try our best to focus on the good. W should not neglect the negatives but the truth is we don’t have to pay too much attention to it either. If we concentrate too much on the negatives then we will never be satisfied.

One of the most important habits to quit is the habit of fearing failure. Instead of feeling bad about our failures we should look at the positives and be happy that we tried. Failure is a very important aspect of our personal growth and without it we wouldn’t be as happy and as grateful for the things that we have achieved in our lives. Failure is inevitable and so there is no need to fear it. We should embrace it and try to learn from it instead. Failure may be a unsavoury flavour but it is an ingredient that is necessary for our success.

The last habit that we all need to quit in order to achieve success is to quit looking for the easy way out. Everyone who has achieved success in life has faced some type of hardship. Hardships will always arise in our lives and everyone faces adversity. One of the main secrets to success is the fact that we should never give up when pursuing our goals. There are more Habits everybody should quit to become successful but for now we will just leave it here.

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