Red Light mystery

Life is full of mysteries. Like, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or, what's the meaning of life?

One mystery that has been nagging the people of Red Light district in rural St Andrew for decades, is how the area got its name. There are many theories floating around, but seemingly no definitive answers. The Gleaner was in Red Light district recently and sought answers from the area's residents.

"It was a prostitute house that was on the hill," said Raymond Green, a 70-year-old farmer.

"It had a big red light on top of it, so when the prostitutes were there, they would turn the light on so people would know they were open for business. It was especially used to signal to the soldiers at Newcastle," said Green.

The golden ager said that was the story he grew up hearing and he firmly believes it.

But 64-year-old Ralph Stewart has heard a different story.

"It wasn't anything about any prostitutes. I don't know about that. The story I know is that there was a big bright light in the community. It was a red light, like a red street light. It didn't have anything to do with prostitutes. It was just a red light to brighten the place. It was there for years, and when the English soldiers came and saw it, they gave the place that name," said Stewart.

"People have a lot of different stories to tell, but I don't believe most of them. This is the one that makes the most sense to me, so I have no reason not to believe it," he said.

Shaun Blake said he heard that Red Light district got its name from red roses that used to grow wild there long ago.

"My grandmother told me that the place used to be covered in red roses. It had so many red roses that when people were on the flat and looked up, it looked like there was a red light on in the area," said Blake.

"My grandmother used to live there so she should know. It seems to make sense to me."

And so, the mystery continues.