Mary Villa is a large building situated at the top of Church Street and has spacious grounds attached to it. Handbook of Jamaica, 1883
Father Jaeckel's Mary Villa College, 1877 - 1888
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Father Jaeckel - how the College started - the history of the College - what came next?
~ Alumni
Indiana School Journal, Indiana State Teachers Association, Indiana. Dept. of Public Instruction - Education, 1890
JAMAICA. — A priest, Abbe Jaeckel, born in Coblenz on the Rhine, died recently at Kingston, Jamaica. He bequeathed his estate, 75000 marks, to the classical school at Coblenz; the interest of this sum to be used in paying pensions to the teachers.
Father Jaeckel's affairs in Jamaica were speedily wrapped up after his death. The equipment for his school was auctioned off, and Mary Villa was advertised first for rent and then for sale at auction; I have not so far found any reference to the purchaser.
Daily Gleaner, October 8, 1888
Daily Gleaner, December 1, 1888
Daily Gleaner, December 27, 1888
The Cambridge Exam results in the following year showed the success of three of his students. The fact that they had received coaching from William Morrison of the Collegiate School may indicate that some of Jaeckel's pupils moved to that school after his death. I have so far found no other reference to which school the students moved to.
Daily Gleaner, December 27, 1889
another Mary Villa College
However the ownership of Mary Villa worked out, it was used for a school for girls and little boys run by Charles Plummer and his daughters, until his death in 1899. The story of Charles Plummer and the Plummer family is one I am attempting to tell elsewhere. [Mr Charles Plummer]
Daily Gleaner, July 20, 1905
Daily Gleaner, December 3, 1888
In spite of the attempt to sell Mary Villa in 1905 the Plummer family seems to have remained there possibly until World War I. But over time the property was cut up into lots, probably completely by the 1920s, by when the property was merged into Fletcher's Town, now known as Fletcher's Land. I wonder if any vestiges of the house and fruit trees are still visible there.
