Why discover Nevis with Pam Barry...
Pam was born in Philadelphia, her grandfather was born in Nevis. It could be said Pam’s story began on her first evening ever on Nevis in 1963 as a fifteen year old, she and her sister Jan lay on two small twin beds conversing late at night. Pam confessed, “I don’t know about you but I want to live on Nevis”. Her sister quickly asked, “What are you going to do here?”. Pam replied, “I don’t know, I just have such a strong feeling about Nevis that I really want to live here”. Could this young girl at this tender age have uttered her destiny? She would be the family member to reconnect five generations of Huggins family history back to Nevis. It was just in her blood.
If it were easy everyone would do it...
The unspoiled ways of life on the island appealed to her. There were very few homes with electricity. Most men (fishermen and farmers) only had donkeys for transportation. She wanted a more simple life and the food was so fresh. You could use just a mask and snorkel to dive up some lobsters or conchs from the beach. Her life became such an adventure. It was in 1969 when she married Frank and moved to Nevis after college and after 4 years of working for American Airlines. It was still hip to be hippy so in order to put goat water soup and sour sop desert on the dinner table, they looked around at the island’s resources and noticed there were plenty of goat and sheep wandering around. So they started a small backyard business of tanning the animal skins. The messy tanning was Frank’s job. Pam took the soft and sweet smelling final product, with the help of Mella, a Nevisian, and made bags, belts, pillow covers and small piece work rugs. At that time their shop was one of only two gift shops on the island and the only sign on the road for miles.
Who could have known...
In 1975 the Barry’s invested in Golden Rock Inn, a stunningly beautiful 16 room inn on a sugar plantation with more stone buildings on property than the other four inns on Nevis. It was built by Pam's ancestor in 1801 through 1815, located 1000 feet above the shore on the edge of the rainforest where monkeys and wild donkeys reside. So naturally the grounds and surrounding area are one of her favorite guided tours. Her father’s family history did not begin at Golden Rock but rather when two Irish brothers arrived on Nevis in 1680 as trained blacksmiths to help build the newly relocated main town called Charlestown. The Huggins family lived continuously on Nevis Island until her great grandfather (the island doctor) died of a fever in 1897, then her Aunt Julia died a spinster in 1910. It isn’t surprising that Pam would want to become an owner and manager of the Golden Rock Inn. The adventure of running the small Inn lasted for 37 years, something she absolutely loved doing.
The purple chicken...
Pam does not run short on passions, and her love of birds is certainly one of them. Pam had numerous encounters with birds during her many years at Golden Rock Inn. It may be quite possible the birds invited themselves into Pam’s life. One day a hummingbird landed and sat on her head while she was speaking on the phone. Once at breakfast a little Hawk brought his own lizard to join her and kept turning to look at her while they ate their meals. For about 11 years it wouldn’t be abnormal to find Pam with a parrot perched on her shoulder while tending to her guests. But her beloved parrot found her own mate and flew away. Her bird passion began earlier in her youth. These stories would not be complete without mentioning The Purple Chicken. As Easter rolled around in Pennsylvania, Pam and her sisters would be given five dollars by their mother to spend at the 5 & 10 Store. “Please don’t spend your money on one of those dye injected baby chicks!”. Pam didn’t particularly see the problem of a bright colored chick, in fact she bought herself her favorite color, a purple one. The deed was done and Chickie was raised in her bedroom until the Purple Chick went missing. A lonely Amish woman who lived next door in a deserted greenhouse stopped by Pam’s home. In her exchange she exclaimed, “God has answered my prayers and sent me a little friend so I won’t be so lonely”. When she described the chicken Pam insisted it was hers but her mother swiftly hushed her. Later she explained to Pam that the lady needs that purple chicken more than she does. “Just think, you are the one who helped give God’s gift to such a lonely lady!”
An unfortunate event...
A car accident, the dust settled, the two vehicles were repaired and Pam met Dane. It was out of this collision a new friendship came about with Pam and Dane. To start archery as a sport is Dane’s passion and soon became yet another passion that grabbed a hold of Pam and The St. Kitts & Nevis Archery Association was created in 2013 and continues today.
Not a quirk...
If you see Pam looking down at the ground for no apparent reason please know this isn’t such a bizarre quirk of Pam’s, but rather another little passion of collecting antique china shards that can often be found on back roads and dirt footpaths on the island. Pam continues to collect them and incorporates them into some of her art work.
With the many years of tending to her guests at Golden Rock Inn, it is with the same love, enthusiasm, and hospitality that she can help each one of you in “Finding Nevis” for yourself.
PAMELA BARRY
+1.869.661.5407
+1.869.469.2274
ONISLAND@FINDINGNEVIS.COM
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