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Waterloo House

Waterloo House
Map
Alternative names
Waterloo Guest House
General information
StatusDestroyed
Architectural style
Georgian
LocationBlack River, Jamaica, 44 High Street[1]
Year built1819
DestroyedOctober 2025
Website
www.waterlooguesthouseja.com

The Waterloo House was the first private house in Jamaica to be lit by electricity.[2] It was located in Black River, Jamaica.[3] The house was built in 1819 and was named in honor of the Battle of Waterloo for a branch of the Shakespeare family.[4][5] John William Leydon is reported to be the first owner of the house.[6] Leydon's sons were the ones to install electricity in the house.[6] The house was bought in 1938 by Ferdinand Stewart.[6] The Waterloo House became a guest house in 1972.[4] It was destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.[4]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Waterloo Guest House". Jamaica Travel and Culture. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Correal, Annie; Adams, David C. (29 October 2025). "Melissa Leaves Black River, Centuries-Old Jamaican Port Town, 'Totally Destroyed'". New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Black River first town in Jamaica to receive electricity". Jamaica Observer. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Paul, Annie (25 November 2025). "A decolonial wind? Hurricane Melissa decimated western Jamaica's colonial buildings". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Black River: From heritage to hope". Jamaica Gleaner. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Waterloo Guest House steeped in history". Jamaica Gleaner. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2025.

18°01′30″N 77°51′04″W / 18.0249°N 77.8512°W / 18.0249; -77.8512