SALAMANDER 2024_March | Page 74

Guy Steuart III
Witnessing historical events , from the island ’ s independence to natural disasters such as the 2020 pandemic , Steuart says the resort has endured because of its people and its legacy – not just among guests but also the generational workers who have contributed to every detail .
The story of the iconic Half Moon begins in 1954 when 17 businessmen – among them Donald Deskey , designer of New York City ’ s famous Radio City Music Hall ; Harvey Firestone Jr . of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co .; and Steuart ’ s grandfather ,

HALF MOON HISTORY AND HIGHLIGHTS

74 I SALAMANDER 2024
TIMELINE :
1954 - Half Moon opens with six employees .
1959 - Chris Blackwell released his first record under the Island Records label by jazz pianist Lance Hayward , who was the house band leader at Half Moon . In December 2016 , Steuart obtained the original record and found a Volume 2 to be played at an on-site party with Hayward ’ s family and the original drummer from the band , Clarence ‘ Tootsie ’ Bean .
1960 - Rose Hall and Half Moon set out to design
Jamaica ’ s greatest golf course with designer Robert Trent Jones Sr .
1961 - The Prince of Wales ( now King Charles III ) first visited Half Moon with his father .
1962 - Jamaica gained independence Aug . 6 . Princess Margaret , Countess of Snowdon , visited to open the Jamaican Parliament and all cottages were fully booked at Half Moon , which served as the official guesthouse for the
opening . Queen Elizabeth II visited multiple times years later .
1965 - Half Moon comprises 60 rooms .
1975 - Half Moon employs 264 people .
1979 - Half Moon purchases the Colony Hotel , adding 25 acres of land and 500 meters of waterfront to the Half Moon property . Architect Earl Levy converted the Colony cottages into one-bedroom villas . The area was known as Oleander until 2017 when it was replaced by Eclipse .