In 1965 James and Ardie Grover, newlywed Peace Corps volunteers, were sent to the little village of Placencia. Their journey from Belize City took them 12 hours by boat, traveling along Belize’s lush coast. Back then traveling by sea was the only way to go – there were no roads in and the idea of an airport had not even been conceived yet. To pass the time they traded the last of their fluffy American white bread and cookies with fellow passengers for Creole bread and their first taste of the unusual Belizean dishes they would soon come to love. It was a long journey for sure, but imagine their pleasant surprise when the beautiful white sandy beaches of Placencia came into view.
Jim’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management enabled him to help the members of Placencia’s fishermen’s Cooperative along with Booth Fisheries of New York and the United Nations build a fresh water reservoir and an ice making plant. As a part of the project a small generator was introduced to provide electricity for the cooperative. As years went by the electricity was made available throughout the village in the evenings. The development of the Cooperative and the availability of electricity created a change in the way of life in Placencia. It allowed the fishermen bring their catches to Placencia where they could sell them rather than take them to Belize City. Thus, the money remained in Placencia to help families here.
In the mean time, while Jim was helping at the Fishermen’s Cooperative, Ardie was busy assisting Placencia’s midwife, Athelo Cabral, affectionately known as Aunt Telo in the delivery of the new generation of Placencia and teaching at the primary school. After teaching the children during the day Ardie taught the school’s 19-year old principal and the staff of 14-year old teachers fresh out of Standard VI.
Together, Jim and Ardie worked with CARE and brought in hand cranked sewing machines to teach children how to sew on them. This enabled families to sew their clothes more quickly and make them sturdier. The children and the Grover’s also gathered seashells, identified them with their common and scientific names and typed these names on cards supplied by Cottage Industries. (The manual typewriter was brought from the U.S.) The cards were then covered with cellophane, shipped to Belize City, and sold for $1.00. The children received 50 cents of each dollar that came from the cards they made.
Jim and Ardie lived in Placencia for two years. When the time came for them to say goodbye it was hard for both of them as well as the people of Placencia who had come to consider the Grover’s family. Before leaving Placencia, they purchased the present property where their home, White Sand Villa, now stands. This was a gift purchased from a local family. The colors of White Sand Villa are significant because Jim and Ardie’s first home in Placencia was red and white. Finally, in 2005, they were able to return and build their home on the beautiful white sandy piece of land that they daydreamed about many a cold winter night and which represents all their wonderful Placencia memories.
Jim and Ardie Grover
Jim and Ardie live in Colorado. They have three grown sons, daughters-in-law, six grandsons, and four granddaughters all of whom have been raised on stories of beautiful Placencia and the adventures Jim and Ardie had while there.
