Description of Shans Bungalow:
This charming and historic Caribbean cottage is only steps away from famous Cane Garden Bay's sugar-white sand and turquoise waters! Its simple facade belies its beautifully furnished interior: two large, fully air-conditioned rooms offer a wonderful new kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a dining area and sitting area with a comfortable queen day bed, cable TV, DVD and CD player, a powder room, and a spacious king bedroom/bath suite in the rear. A 9-foot arched doorway affords a view from the master suite to the white sand and aqua ocean directly across the street. This bedroom suite opens to a very private enclosed deck featuring a double teak platform bed for secluded sunbathing and lounging, and a wet bar. Thick plastered stone walls keep the villa hushed and serene inside. Indonesian and Caribbean teak furnishings, locally-crafted light sconces, artful tiling throughout, and deluxe finishing touches crowned by stunning handcarved wooden doors make Shans Bungalow an excellent accommodation for a couple or small family - but the true allure of Shans is its location right on the eastern side of famous Cane Garden Bay, known as the tranquil side. You can walk just across the road to get your toes in white sand and crystal clear ocean, or take a leisurely stroll down the seaside road to snorkel rentals and watersports, dining, dancing to live music at Myett's and Quito's, to Bobby's Grocery and varied small shops. Stop to chat with the local folks under the palms and shady seagrape trees, and watch the yachts sail into the blue distance. Once you stay at Shans, you'll want to return again and again; this special place will beckon wherever you are.
Cable TV, DVD/CD player, movie + music collections, books, games, full A/C in all rooms, hair dryer, safe for valuables, charcoal grill, wet bar, beach chairs + cooler
Shans Bungalow Amenities:
Pool Specs Cane Garden Bay's beach is about 10 steps from your front door
Nearest Beach Right across the street from the white sands of Cane Garden Bay!
Rental Notes:
SHANS BUNGALOW HAS A VERY FASCINATING HISTORY: Mr. Ivan Dawson, OBE, bought Parcel 22 from Mr. Thomas Blyden in 1959. That same year, he erected the building and opened a shop. Mr. Prince Stoutt and Mr. Joseph Thomas worked with Mr. Dawson during the construction of the building. All four sides except the one to the sea were made of stone (not well groomed), and the ocean side was plastered in concrete. The building was painted green, trimmed with white. Evergreen and other floral plants were planted against the front wall and on the north side. The plants bloomed gracefully; hence the name "SHANS EVERGREEN SHOPPE," which is now Shans Bungalow.
IT WAS A POST OFFICE: The shop was the first Post Office of Cane Garden Bay. Mr. Dawson brought the mail from Road Town (the capital of the British Virgin Islands) for the residents of Cane Garden Bay, Johnny Hill, Soldiers Hill and Ballast Bay areas. Mrs. Christiana Dawson (Shan), the wife of Mr. Dawson, distributed the mail as residents came to the shop, bought their stamps and left their letters to be sent to Road Town for posting. In 1960, Mrs. Dawson was officially given the post of Post Mistress, and Mr. Dawson continued to carry and bring mail until 1962, when a mail man was assigned from Road Town to deliver and receive mail from Cane Garden Bay twice a week.
IT WAS A BUSINESS OFFICE: A room at the front (currently the exact footprint of the kitchen) was used as the post office and as Mr. Dawson's office; he conducted his political, civic and religious business from that office. It was from that office via telephone (the yellow phone still located on the wall today!) that he contacted the former owners of the land where the Ivan Dawson Primary School is located. From the same room, he prepared applications for passports, recommendations for job applications, drafted legislative bills and proposals, spoke with tourists who stopped by to chat about the BVI, prepared speeches and prepared sermons.
COBBLER SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE: Mr. Dawson used the room at the back to do his cobbler work; he repaired shoes for residents of the area. Materials used were leather, tacks, thread, water, and black and brown shoe dye. The tools he used were hammer, awl, and shoe mantle (which can be seen on the wall today.) He also had a bunk bed in the room. Mr. Dawson would rest on the lower bunk, but no one slept on the top as his Bible, sankey, hymn book and prayer book were kept on the top bunk. There was a table with chairs, used as a dining table in that room. The middle room was used as a kitchen with a kerosene stove - later, a gas stove was purchased.
SHANS WAS A SHOP: Shans Evergreen Shoppe sold dry goods, canned food, onions, sweet and Irish potatoes, rice, sugar, flour, cornmeal, post cards, greeting cards, toiletries etc. Most items were displayed in a showcase, which Mr. Dawson made and which was located in the entry room of the Shoppe (today, this is the dining area of Shans Bungalow.) Copybooks and pencils were also sold. The Shoppe sold other items, but was famous for a cold frozen treat called a "Special." (Don't be too surprised if of one the residents of Cane Garden Bay asks you if there are any "SPECIALS" in Shans Bungalow!) The Shoppe also carried non-alcoholic beverages, which were kept in a kerosene refrigerator before there was electricity. When electricity arrived, two large freezers were bought and placed, one in the entrance room and the other behind the sales counter. (The actual cash drawer is now hanging on the Bungalow wall.)
SHANS SERVED AS A SPEAKING PLATFORM: The pavement area outside the front of the Shoppe was used by Mr. Dawson for political or community meetings. He also allowed others to use the area for the same purpose. A gas lamp was hung on one side of the building to conduct these meetings prior to electrical power.
In 1990, Mr. Dawson acquired Parcel 23 from Mr. Peter Haycraft (which is now the extended area of Shans Bungalow and its outdoor deck.) The Shoppe was officially closed in 1995 when Mr. and Mrs. Dawson could no longer operate such a business. In 2000, Parcels 22 and 23 were combined to form Parcel 145.
AND NOW, IT IS SHANS BUNGALOW: In 2005 (some 46 years later), using the same footprint, Shans Evergreen Shoppe was reestablished as Shans Bungalow, a very special historical place to stay!
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Shans Bungalow Villa -
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