Photo Gallery

Gamboa 1975...by this time over 40% of the Silver Town residential quarters have been demolished. The School, Gym and Clubhouse are still standing;Church Square quarters are gone; Baptiste and Seventh…

The Gamboa Bridge spans the point of entry where the Chagres Rivers feeds into the Panama Canal. This beautiful photo of a recently refurbished Gamboa Bridge conjures up many old…

This photo of the bridge provides an aerial view that contextualizes the historic importance the bridge holds as a railroad connector to the Dredging Division (in the fore ground) and…

This maintenance department of the Panama Canal Company was responsible for keeping the canal free of debris produced by the ongoing landslides that were a constant threat at Gillard Cut,(also…

This United States Federal Post Office Building symbolized and actualized the virtual racial segregation practiced on the mainland USA in those days. Panama Canal Zone white US rate residents received…

We are hard pressed to remember why or who labeled the geographic groupings of ‘Gyambo’ residential buildings such as ‘Sugar Bowl’and ‘Dust Bowl’. We know that the latest group of…

This photo (circa 1950-1965) captures an unobstructed view of building #319. It is a local rate ‘stilted post’ design residential building, typical of those found on 'Front Street' and 'Church…

If this ‘Grandstand’ could talk! ‘Raa…ti…dixxx’!!! It would tell a lot of tings…as dem say…story would come to question!???!!! But…we will keep it clean and historic. The ‘Grandstand’ provided a…

As in most "Silver rate" towns, the "clubhouse" was the community center. This building was a real multipurpose structure. It housed a small diner with bakery/ ice cream parlor/ soda…

The second photo depicts a wide angle view of the school. Remember the early days circa 1940-1960? There were no class rooms at the base of the school building. It…

So many memories of our early schooling, and our teachers,( Ms. Henry, Ms. Moore, Ms. Phillips, Mr. Barton, Mr. Knowles (add others) and many others that nurtured, nourished and prepared…

This is the latest construction of Gyamboa’s St. Simon's Church. The first was in the same location; built circa late 1930's when some parishioners still lived 'across the ‘Gyambo’ Bridge'.…

This Church was constructed in the mid to late 1940's primarily as a place of worship for parishioners of Caribbean descent. The building construction was accomplished by members with skills…

The Catholic Church was one of the earliest built in Gamboa. Architecturally it was the largest and arguably the most eloquently designed. Most 'Gyambo' residents were descents of Caribbean cultural…

The view of McFarlane Parkway is magnificent, as it draws one’s eyes toward the perpendicular street that led up the ‘hill’, where the ‘white people’ resided. The end of the…

The young lady in this photo is Marion Holness. The photo was taken in front of the right end steps of Building# 319. It is difficult to figure out who…

We begin the ‘people and group’ photo gallery with Mr. French, a stalwart, indefatigable, every present and ever watching guardian, molder, in ‘loco parentis’. This man had an influence directly…

Mr. French’s organized sports planning and execution dates back to the early 1950’s (and most likely before then). This photo captures the youthful demeanor of guys who would become noted…

It is never an exaggeration to state that ‘sports’ played a critical role in shaping ‘Gyambo’s community life’ for the young, middle age and the virulent cohorts of all genders.…

Mr. French shaped character and influenced lives of ‘Gyambo’ young women and men alike by making the ‘sports’ the on- going center of community life. This photo is of the…

This is absolutely a ‘priceless’ photo of a 1953 Gamboa ‘Malta Vigor’ semi-professional baseball team. Each of the uniformed players on this team would become ‘big boy’ role models for…

This is a ‘seminal’ photo of ‘Gyamboa’s community at work’. In the early 1950’s the St. Simon Episcopal Church congregation decides to invest in the construction of a new church…

  Mrs. Smyth, first grade teacher and ‘playwright’ produced and directed this first grader’s play in the ‘Gyambo Gym’. There were many community school plays produced and attended by a…

‘Graduating’ from 'Gyambo' Elementary School to high school in Red Tank or later to Paraiso was a ‘big deal’! It meant riding the school bus from 'Gyambo' to high school…

Confirmation Sunday at the Catholic Church… a ritual that called for celebration…and ‘new clothes’! In the early days, this was a big event a rite of passage occasion that signified…

  How many of these Gamboa folks can you identify (Hint: This is a photo of their first communion in front of the Catholic Church)  

  Ribbing, kidding, teasing, clowning and making a ‘joke of everything’ was typical play in ‘Gyambo’. Indeed it is an endearing (or cruel…pending if you are the ‘butt of the…

‘Gyambo’ like other ‘Silver’ towns nurtured and grew its own ‘talent’, not only in sports, academics, technically skilled trade men and women, but in other fields as well. Arts and…

Gyambo boys Sorounding the jukebox at the teen club

Picture of Gyambo boys at the Teen Club

Non existent job opportunities feeds enterprising under the residential buildings

The Astronauts are arguably the most successful '‘Gyambo’ Singing group'. Unlike the Gay Crooners, who were also genuine ‘Gyambo’ talents, the Astronauts stayed in Panama and performed over many years…

This photograph of The Exciters, our dynamic hometown group was submitted by band member Antonio Rodriguez Perez. Starting with the back row, left to right are: Stanley Boxill (trombonist), Enrique…

The Gay Crooners, born of the stuff (socio-political and economic context of Canal Zone’) that challenged their ‘self-affirmation’. These were young men who were determined to 'make something of themselves'…

Rodney "Rod" Carew was born in 1945 in Gatun Canal Zone. The Carews lived on Building #282 in Dust Bowl. "Cline", as he was known in his early teens, was…

Bobby Prescott was born in 1931 in Colon. He resided in Gamboa Canal Zone (The Clubhouse Secretary's House) during his father's tenure as Manager of the Santa Cruz clubhouse. From…

David Leonard Roberts was born in 1933 in Panama City, Panama. His family lived on building #313 in "Gyambo". ... His US baseball career started in 1952. ... After strong…

Renaldo "Rennie" Stennett was born in Colon, Panama in 1951. The Stennett family lived on Building # 285 in "Dust Bowl" where Rennie excelled in various sports. His talents distinguished…

Ruperto Toppin was born in 1941 in Panama City, Panama and lived on Building #274 in the section of Gamboa/Santa Cruz Canal Zone named "38th Parallel". .. " Top" earned…