BAKING BREAD in Bahrain

The caption on the slide says "Native Baker Manama, Bahrain 57." So is this where the white substance from yesterday ended up? Was it used to build the oven or the bread?

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FLOUR everywhere!

Back from a brief trip myself, I now dive back into Donald Schnabel's trip to Bahrain in 1957.

The caption for this is "Gov wharf Bahrain 57." As to what these fellows are hauling off this barge on their backs…I'm guessing flour. Has to be flour. Okay, I'll admit these days my mind goes all over the place and flour is only one of the white substances I think of…which brings me to a brief story.

In the late 60s I worked in the office of a scale company in San Francisco down the street from the police department. On a pretty regular basis we used to get fellow 60s travelers who'd walk in and say, "I want to buy a scale to weigh ceramic powder." (nudge nudge wink wink) Happily the company would sell them a small scale suitable for their needs. What we didn't know at the time was that the police department was watching the comings and goings of these folks buying their scales for weighing "ceramic powder." We heard there was a whole collection of these scales in the evidence department.


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SLAVE FORT in Bahrain?

The captions on both of these snapshots says "Slave Fort Bahrain 57." I could not find anything about a slave fort online, but did find links about forts in Bahrain (here, here, and here). Perhaps a reader, far wiser than I, will find the hidden link to answer where and what this is. It does appear to have been under renovation.

Could there be a bluer sky?




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BRITISH REGIMENT in Sitra, Bahrain, 1957

"So, daddy, where did you serve in the military?"

"In the desert my son, in the desert."


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The caption for this photos says "British Regiment Sitra Bahrain." Another snapshot from Donald G. Schnabel's visit to Bahrain in 1957.

To read about Sitra click here. They paved paradise and put up car and furniture showrooms.

The MASONIC LODGE in Awali, Bahrain

If you want to know where your husband is in the evening be sure to check the Masonic Lodge. Looks like a fun place if you like Quonset huts in the desert.


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Have you ever been in a Quonset hut on a hot day? Memorable experience. There were several still on and off base in Hawaii when I lived there. In fact, my Brownie troop met in a Quonset hut. I still remember the stack of hula hoops sitting outside the door. Brown hula hoops…a lot of them!

I can't guarantee this is the exact place they're talking about, but it is an article about a Masonic Lodge in Bahrain. By government decree they no longer exist in Bahrain. Never would have seen that coming.

Another snapshot from Donald G. Schnabel's tour of Bahrain in 1957 and my submission for this week's Sepia Saturday. Not the least bit on theme, but I imagine a weary traveler would have some pleasant company here.

The OFFICE BOY

There is a story to be told from this photo. I've given you the title, The Office Boy, so now we just need the story behind those eyes. Is it a coming of age story in 1957 Bahrain of a young boy surrounded by people intent on wealth?



Another snapshot taken by Donald G. Schnabel in 1957 Bahrain.

The BAPCO JANITOR

The slide caption merely says "Janitor Manama 57." I'm guessing he is standing in front of the BAPCO office which was featured yesterday.



No name for the man, just his occupation. It's pretty rare to get a name to go with a vintage snapshot, let alone an occupation.

Another vintage slide from Donald G. Schnabel's visit to Bahrain in 1957.

The OFFICE OF OIL

When Donald G. Schnabel visited Bahrain in 1957 he was there for the oil industry. I can't prove it, but all indications are it was a business trip for oil, possibly Standard Oil. His visit included a visit to BAPCO, the Bahrain Petroleum Company.

The BAPCO was established in 1929 in Canada by Standard Oil Company of California for oil exploration activities in Bahrain. It took over Bahrain's assets of Gulf Oil.[1] In 1930 it obtained the only oil concession in Bahrain. On 31 May 1932, the company discovered the Awali oil field. In 1936 the Standard Oil Company of California signed an agreement with Texaco, which acquired a half of BAPCO's shares.

In 1975 more than 60% BAPCO's shares was acquired by the Government of Bahrain. In 1980, all BAPCO's shares were taken over by the Government of Bahrain. In 1999 the current Bahrain Petroleum Company was created when the Bahrain National Oil Company, established in 1976, merged with BAPCO. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

I find it fascinating how much the red star logo reminds me of the TEXACO star. The story is that the TEXACO star is to represent the "lone star" of Texas. So, which logo came first? The one in Bahrain or the one in Texas?

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It's NOT ST. ANDREWS

Here we have the parking lot at the Awali Golf Club in 1957 Bahrain. It's one big sandpit. Seriously, there is no grass. From what I could find online it seems to be a hangout for Westerners who are living and working in Bahrain.

Some interesting cars in the lot. Anyone know what they are?


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STREET SCENE, Manama, Bahrain, 1957

Doesn't look like much of a scene going on here, but Donald G. Schnable captioned this slide "Street Scene Manama 57." Were these little fellows simply standing on the side of the road or did Donald ask them to line up and pose? The question is where are they now?

And I'm wondering if that is Al Justain in the background chatting with the man in the khaki suit. Could this be a new version of Where's Waldo?


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Mount Jabal ad Dukhan, the MOUNTAIN OF SMOKE

This is the highest point in Bahrain, not including the high-rises. It's 440 ft./134 m above sea level.

The Mountain of Smoke is named as such because of the haze which often surrounds it on humid days. A number of caves of indeterminate type are in the vicinity of the mountain. (Source: Wikipedia)

So was the handsome driver driving down this road?


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