Orange Park

Nestled in the hills of Yallahs, St. Thomas, Orange Park has a rich history that stretches back to its days as a thriving coffee plantation. In Jamaica, where coffee plantations were traditionally found in the mountains and sugar cane dominated the lowlands, it was uncommon for both crops to be cultivated on the same estate. Orange Park stands out as a historical exception, with early records from 1821 indicating that the property, owned by John Dick and Richard Dick, produced 62 tierces of coffee destined for London. By 1839, the estate had passed into the hands of George Taylor and spanned 515 acres, with a substantial portion dedicated to coffee cultivation, alongside woodlands, roads, and grounds for the estate’s workers. The Great House, a symbol of the plantation’s prominence, occupied 33 acres. The estate’s production diversified over the years, including pimento and cattle by 1847 under the ownership of William P. George. However, by 1882, under Robert Sylvester’s ownership, c…