Historic water well discovered at Charles Leopold Bell School site

COLE BAY--A water well was uncovered this week at the Charles Leopold Bell (CLB) School demolition site in Cole Bay under the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP). The well was found beneath one of the mango trees already being preserved as part of the project’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

During demolition of the concrete parking lot in front of the school’s administration building, workers noticed a circular concrete slab. When it was removed, a pool of water was revealed underneath. The NRPB’s supervising engineering firm, ILACO, instructed Windward Roads to halt work for assessment. An inspection involving the NRPB’s Environmental and Social (E&S) team and ILACO had already been scheduled, allowing the E&S team to be on site to give guidance and ensure procedures were followed.

After the water was drained, a circular stone-lined well about five feet deep was exposed. The well was examined by representatives of the FRLP team, NRPB’s E&S team, ILACO, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. Even after draining, groundwater continued to pool at the bottom.

Archaeologist Dr. Jay B. Haviser confirmed that the structure is a water well and described it as an opportunity to learn more about St. Maarten’s history. He believes it may date back to the late 1800s. According to Dr. Haviser, wells often preserve artifacts such as bottles, plates, and other items that may have fallen in over time, and given the location, there could be school-related materials inside.

The find supports oral history accounts referenced in the Cultural Heritage Assessment (2021/22), which documented local recollections of an “old well” near a “guard house” beside a mango tree. A 1916 Dutch colonial map showed no well in the area, leading researchers to believe it had been destroyed. The discovery therefore qualifies as a Chance Find under the FRLP’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

A Chance Find refers to the unexpected discovery of cultural or archaeological features during construction. The ESMF requires that such discoveries be recorded and protected in line with national cultural heritage standards.

The site around the well has been secured. A detailed archaeological assessment will be conducted to determine how the well should be maintained. Recommendations will be made for how to proceed during the next phase of construction. Relevant government departments have been notified, and demolition will continue in areas outside the secured perimeter.

The Cultural Heritage Management Plan and Chance Finds Report are available within the FRLP’s Environmental and Social Management Framework on the NRPB website at www.nrpbsxm.org/frlp

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