Community News

The Oven

September 26, 2008

by Will Johnson

The oven belonged originally to the great grandparents of Mr. Will Johnson, they were George Rodney Johnson and Sarah Elizabeth Vlaun. They lived at a village called "Behind-The Ridge" located above the old sulphur mine. By the way, Will has the distinction of being the last child to be born in the village of Behind-The- Ridge.

Their son Daniel Johnson lived on the same spot and had a small grocery there when the mine was in operation in the early 1900's. Rebecca Levenstone once told Will that if Daniel had an item that was one cent less than The Bottom, that people would walk all the way from The Bottom just to take advantage of that one cent difference in price.

While most houses formerly had an oven, Daniels was also used commercially to bake bread for the men working in the sulphur mines.

When Saba's Treasure restaurant and garage was being renovated to improve the looks in the middle of Windwardside, Mr. Ernest Hassell suggested that it would be a good idea to have an old rock oven close to the restaurant.

Ernest who is a very good cook has a reputation for liking a good baked pig.

So after looking around at other possibilities, it was decided to dismantle the oven at Behind-the-ridge and bring it over. Ernest and his construction partner Andy Hassell took the old oven apart, numbered the firestones and reassembled them next to the kitchen at Saba's Treasure.

The idea is that as an extra service the restaurant will offer baked pig from time to time as part of their service to the public. Gregory Johnson is the new manager/chef at Saba's Treasure and in addition to his expansive menu, there are quite often special offerings.

Click here for a larger version of the top photo.

Click here for a larger version of the bottom photo.


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