The Bottom

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The Bottom (formerly Botte) is the capital and largest town of the island of Saba,<ref name=STB>The villages of Saba (Saba Tourist Bureau)</ref> the Caribbean Netherlands. It is the first stop on the way from Saba's Port in Fort Bay towards the rest of the island. In 2001, it had 462 inhabitants of the total 1,349 islanders.<ref name="pop"/> It is the administrative center of Saba.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

The first European settlements occurred around 1640, by colonists from Zeeland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":12">Template:Cite book</ref> After a landslide destroyed their original settlement, these settlers established a village in The Bottom.<ref name=":12" /> The original name of the village was De Botte, old Dutch for "The Bowl", referring to its geographical position in a valley surrounded by the various mountains.<ref name=":0" /> "The Bottom" is an English corruption of this name.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the Dutch settlers, Irish, English, and Scottish settlers followed, along with enslaved Africans, and the main language of the island's villages became English.<ref name=":0" />

File:Sacred Heart Church, 1935 Vertical (6549989089).jpg

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

By the 1860s, The Bottom was one of 7 main districts, with St. John's, Windwardside, Booby Hill, Mary's Point (Palmetto Point), Hell's Gate, and Middle Island.<ref name=":03">Template:Cite book</ref> The Bottom district had its own elected head, as did the other districts.<ref name=":0" /> In 1865, the population of The Bottom was 616 inhabitants.<ref name=":03" /> In 1877, construction of Sacred Heart Catholic Church began in The Bottom;<ref name=":03" /> the church is still operational today, although the building was replaced in 1909 and again in 1934.<ref name=":0" />

Throughout the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, most men in The Bottom engaged in farming or fishing. They also engaged in shipbuilding, which was one of Saba's industries in the 19th century.<ref name=":0" /> Most women engaged in domestic work in the home, as well as hatmaking and local drawn thread work known as Saba Lace.<ref name=":12" />

File:Collectie Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen TM-60060975 Gezicht over The Bottom Bottom fotograaf niet bekend.jpg

Image of The Bottom circa 1911

By 1900, The Bottom was one of four main villages on Saba, along with St. John's, Windwardside, and Hell's Gate.<ref name=":13">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1909, a navigation school opened in The Bottom; it operated until 1922.<ref name=":12" /> In 1919, construction began on the Weselyan Holiness Church in The Bottom;<ref name=":0" /> the church is still operational today. In 1923, Queen Wilhemina Library opened in The Bottom;<ref name=":0" /> the library is still operational today. Saba's first movie theater opened in 1953, and its second in 1964.

File:Saba's First Church (6549997211).jpg

Wesleyan Holiness Church

In the early-to-mid-20th century, there was extensive emigration from Saba, and The Bottom's population was cut almost in half.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":0" /> By 1972, the population of The Bottom had decreased to 341 inhabitants.<ref name=":0" />

In the mid-to-late-20th century, there was economic development on Saba, and especially in The Bottom and Windwardside. The first supermarket opened in The Bottom in 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1992, the Saba University School of Medicine opened in The Bottom. In 2001, the population of Windwardside was 462 inhabitants.<ref name="pop2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Infrastructure

The Bottom is home to the government offices, a hospital, a nursing home, Juliana Sports Field, three churches, a library, the Queen's Hotel resort, and various shops, restaurants, and bars. The Bottom is also the location of the Saba University School of Medicine.<ref name="STB" />

The city also has the largest Cruyff Court in the world, Cruyff Court Saba.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Events

As capital of the island, The Bottom hosts a number of events throughout the year.

During the summer, the island's Carnival celebration (called Saba Carnival or Saba Summer Festival) takes place. Usually in late July, Saba Carnival is a weeklong festival that includes live music, food, dancing, games, and parades.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Carnival Village, where the majority of the events take place, is located in The Bottom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each night during the week, there is live music at Carnival Village.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The jourvert parade (very early Saturday morning)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> begins in Windwardside and ends in The Bottom. The Grand Parade and the Second Parade take place in The Bottom on Saturday and Sunday.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Locals and tourists congregate in The Bottom for the parades,<ref name=":1" /> which include energetic music, colorful floats, and troupes wearing colorful costumes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Another event held in The Bottom is Saba Day. This is the celebratory national day of the island, when all offices, schools and businesses are closed. The islanders honour their diversity and culture through various activities, performances and parades.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Bottom hosts a concert at the sports field, where local (and neighbouring) Caribbean artists come to perform.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> There are fishing competitions at sea, drawing competitions for children, dance performances, cookouts, and more.<ref name=":2" />

Hiking

The Bottom is the location of many trailheads.

• The Ladder consists of 800 steps leading down to the sea. The trail starts in The Bottom between the hospital and Wells Bay.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> These stairs were used to bring cargo ashore and up to The Bottom.<ref name=":3" /> The trail takes approximately 1 hour round trip.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Sandy Cruz Trail: It can begin in The Bottom<ref name=":02">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> near the Queen's Hotel, and end in Hell's Gate. The trail has views of Diamond Rock and the northern coastline.<ref name="STB2">The villages of Saba (Saba Tourist Bureau)</ref><ref name=":02" /> It takes roughly 2.5 hours to complete if begun in The Bottom, and 2 if begun in Hell's Gate.<ref name=":02" />

• The Crispeen Track (or Crispeen Trail): It can begin on the Mt. Scenery trail and leads down into The Bottom. The trail goes through secondary rainforest, and has overhead views of The Bottom. The trail takes approximately 1-1.5 hours one-way.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />
• The Bottom Mountain Trail: It can begin in The Bottom near the Queen's Hotel, or the junction at Rendezvous on the Mt. Scenery trail. The trail goes through mostly dry forest and some rainforest, and has overhead views of The Bottom.<ref name=":3" />
• Tara Ground Trail: It can begin on the Bottom Mountain Trail or Crispeen Track. The Trail goes through secondary forest and passes by ruins of old farmland.<ref name=":3" /> The hike takes about 45 minutes (from the Bottom Mountain trail junction to the Crispeen Track junction).<ref name=":4" />
• Buds Mountain Loop: It is an alternate way to go up or down Mount Scenery. It connects to Bottom Mountain Trail. It goes though secondary rainforest, as well as rainforest near the top.<ref name=":3" /> It takes 1.5 hours uphill.<ref name=":4" />
• Parish Hill Trail: It can begin in two different locations in The Bottom, either behind the hospital or at the beginning of the road that leads down to Fort Bay from The Bottom. The trail goes up to the top of Parish Hill, which is a volcanic dome.<ref name=":3" /> The hike takes about 1.5 hours.<ref name=":4" />

Gallery

• The mayor of Saba.jpg

  Saba's Government House

• The Bottom Central Park with Fire Department (6549994025).jpg

  Saba's Central Park with Fire Department

• The Bottom, Saba's Capital (6549984361).jpg

  The Bottom's signboard

• Governor's residence, The Bottom, Saba Residentie van de gouverneur, The Bottom, Bestanddeelnr 935-1474.jpg

  The Governor's residence

• Wilma's house in Saba.jpg

  Traditional Saban cottage in The Bottom

• Saba University School of Medicine (6550000009).jpg

  Saba University School of Medicine buildings

• Saba Artisan Foundation (6549991327).jpg

  Saba Artisan Foundation entrance

• My Store- Your One Stop Shop (And Only Option) (6549994923).jpg

  Grocery Store in The Bottom

• Old Home Detail in The Bottom (6549993103).jpg

  Building in The Bottom

• The Bottom Raised Cemetery (6549987009).jpg

  Raised cemetery in The Bottom