Hill, Warwick in the early 1900's. The trip was made possible by 95 year old Laura Bean, who is one of the areas oldest residents. A wealth of information, Mrs. Bean has succeeded in maintaining a fit body, mind, and memory.

Chatting about her life she said it was typical of many black Bermudians at the time. A warm, sweet, unassuming woman she was full of doubt that her memories are worth reporting and I therefore must thank her for indulging me.

The picture she painted was of Cedar Hill as mostly farmland. Her father Joseph Simons was a self-employed farmer who was ambitious and worked hard.

With his brother they managed to buy several acres of land on the hill and moved their families to the area when she was a young child.

"My father was an ambitious man. He owned the land here over a hundred years ago. He worked for himself and helped other men who worked for him,'' she said.

" Bermudians used to farm in a big way and my father was shipping away all the vegetables and other things he grew here. He also grew Easter lilies.

Farming was tough work and work went on day and night.

"He wasn't wealthy but he and his brother had a lot of property and they shared it after the farming went out. I don't know how many houses are on it now, but my father alone had enough property to give seven of his children enough land to build a house on.

"My husband built this house from the land my father gave me. Two of my brothers were able to put three houses on their property.

"My mother could not work because she had too many children to look after. I can remember being in that kitchen where my mother was and I can smell the cooking.'' Joseph Simons' wife was Lillian and they raised ten children. Laura was the fourth child and first daughter of the couple.

" I never went to school after I turned 11, because when I went 11 my mother had twins. She was between 40 and 42 years old, and she got sick because she had these babies, so that was it - I stayed home.

"I was the first girl. My mother raised 10 children but she lost about six babies and they were all girls, maybe one boy, but when I came along I was my mother's first girl that she raised so I was always my mother's right hand.'' But helping her mother meant Laura was unable to finish school.

"All my brothers and sisters went to Paget Glebe and were taught by Adele Tucker who was brilliant. They all received certificates and I never ever received a certificate. I used to go to a private lady, Miss Hill who taught me how to read.

"I had aunts who taught me lots of things and my mother taught me how to sew.

She was a dressmaker but she didn't have enough time to make for anyone but her own children.

"When I think of all the sewing we used to do in those days. Today if a woman is having a baby she can't even wash a diaper. In those days you had to wash everything. They used to have something like rubber pants over the diaper and if you were going out you would have to use a double nappie.'' "I raised my sisters and then I helped them because they had children. One of my sisters came to me when she came out of the nursing home with twins. I looked after her and I washed every diaper and nappie.

"In those days they dressed up babies in little white kimono type things and dresses. Expectant mothers who could sew would make all their baby's clothes and crochet and knit. Today the babies you see are dressed up like they are ten years old. I don't say anything because it doesn't matter -that's the way of life.

"And the children don't stay babies anymore they are just as smart as tacks, they're really something to handle and before you know it they are out of hand, so determined, good golly.'' But Mrs. Bean herself was always very active and admitted that may have been a large contributing factor to her longevity.

" At one time when I was young I had the impression that I was delicate but anyway that passed by. My husband always told me that I walk too fast for him.

If he was looking for me and I was in Hamilton he would say `you're always getting away from me and I can't find you'.

` "So I did a lot of walking. I wasn't thinking that I was walking for my health but that is what we did. If you wanted to go to the beach to swim then you had to walk over to the beach. I didn't have any bicycle.

" I've lived the longest of my whole family. Even my grandparents can you imagine? I don't have any idea why I'm living so long.

"I never realised until recently that I was old. I never felt old. People often ask me why my shoulders are not hunched forward and I am not stooped over. But I don't know why. I don't really feel old.'' Mrs. Laura Bean