Cedar Avenue before 1884

This is a photographic reproduction of Cedar Avenue by James H. Stark, which appears in "Stark's Illustrated Bermuda." Published in an illustrated guidebook, this image offers a glimpse into Bermuda's colonial past. Stark's narrative blends idyllic scenery with subtle markers of British influence, seen in the “well-to-do and English” figures strolling Cedar Avenue. Notice that “the majority of the people collected there are colored,” suggesting a racial hierarchy that structures the social landscape. The presence of British soldiers further underscores Bermuda's status as one of "England's strongholds." Stark’s description of the street as bordered by "Pride-of-India trees" hints at the intertwined histories of colonialism and the natural landscape. Stark's illustration invites us to consider the complex relationship between identity, power, and place in this colonial context.