A reflection from Cinnamon Hill

Perched gently above the famed Rose Hall Great House in St James, the Cinnamon Hill Great House stands like a quiet guardian of Jamaica’s complex and colourful past. From the gardens below — where the air is thick with the scent of pimento and spice to the sweeping views of the northern coastline, this 18th-century estate is more than a relic. It is a reminder that beauty and resilience often grow from the most intricate roots.

Construction of Cinnamon Hill began in 1734 under Samuel Barrett Jr, a wealthy planter whose family would leave an indelible mark on the island. Though he died in 1760 before its completion, his son, Edward Barrett, one of the wealthiest men in Jamaica at the time and a founding force behind the port town of Falmouth, saw the house finished in 1784. Its stone and mahogany frame tells stories of ambition and transformation proof that even when the path is interrupted, the dream need not die.

By the 1960s, the estate passed through the hands of American entrepreneur John Rollins before it came to rest in the hearts of two musical legends: Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. For over 40 years, they made Cinnamon Hill their home, filling its rooms with music, meaning, and memories. Today, visitors can view Johnny Cash’s vast collection of memorabilia — a tribute to a man who sang life’s blues and blessings equally.

ROOTED IN GRACE

To walk through the gardens or sit under the trees that once shaded the Barretts and later the Cash family is to be reminded: life, like nature, moves in seasons. There is healing in the earth, purpose in our pauses, and hope in the heritage we preserve.

So,as we tend our inner gardens of health, mindfulness, and creative expression, may we live like the roots of Cinnamon Hill: deep, determined, and always reaching for light.

Never give up, even when the road gets tough. Your effort will speak long after you are gone. Others will see your vision and rise to help. Let your life be a song, filled with meaning, joy, and the courage to dream. It’s good to be here and even better to love and share along the journey.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com.