Category Archives: Historic

Searching for Singapore’s Last Water Wells

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Remember Singapore

Water wells were once part of the essential amenities for the residents in Singapore. Its water supply was used by the villagers for cooking, drinking, washing and bathing purposes. It took more than four decades before they were totally replaced … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Historic | Tagged Ann Siang Hill, Bullock Cart Water, Gu Chia Zhui, Sembawang Hot Spring, Somapah Village, Tua Jia Kar, Water Wells | 16 Comments

Singapore’s Grandfathers’ Roads – Legacies of Our Pioneers

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Remember Singapore

Last weekend, a campaign called “Is this your grandfather’s road?” was carried out at Tiong Bahru estate to discourage motorists from parking illegally and obstructing the traffic. The “grandfather’s road” phrase has been always a popular and catchy one, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural, Historic | Tagged Abraham Solomon, Ahmad Bin Ibrahim, Alberto Eber, Amber Mansions, Benjamin Henry Sheares, Cecil Clementi Smith, Cheang Hong Lim, Chew, Chew Boon Lay, Chia Ann Siang, Dr Albert Winsemius, Eu Tong Sen, Grandfathers' Roads, Grange House, Henry Lloyd, Joo Chiat, Joseph Elias, Killiney House, Lim Bo Seng, Lim Boon Keng, Lim Nee Soon, Lim Tua Tow, Mohamed Eunos bin Abdullah, Neo Tiew, Robert Fullerton, Seah Liang Seah, Singapore Pioneers, Sir Henry Keppel, Sir Stamford Raffles, Syed Ali bin Mohammed Al-Junied, Syed Shaikh bin Abdul Rahman Alkaff, Tan Kim Seng, Tan Tock Seng, Thomas Oxley, Veerasamy Naidu, Whampoa Hoo Ah Kay, William Farquhar, Zubir Said | 63 Comments

A Forgotten Past – Two Decades of Chaos

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Remember Singapore

The quiet night of 8th December 2013 would be remembered for years to come, as Singaporeans were shocked by the news of a riot erupting at Little India. Most expressed disbelief, as riots and violent strikes were almost unheard of … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Chinese Middle School Riots, Hock Lee Bus Strike, Little India Riot, Maria Hertogh Riot, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Riots, Pulau Senang, Race Course Road, Racial Riots | 6 Comments

Heritage Tour around Colonial Changi

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Remember Singapore

Changi, best known for the internationally famous airport Singaporeans are proud of. Or, to some, that delicious nasi lemak at the hawker centre of Changi Village. But Changi is much more than that. More than a dozen buildings and landmarks … Continue reading →

Posted in Exotic, Historic | Tagged Biggin Hill, Changi Air Base, Changi Murals, Changi Prison, Changi Road, Changi Tree, Changi Village, Civil Service Club, Commando HQ, Digby Road, Fairy Point, Gaol Gates, Garrison Church, Johore Battery, Kitchener Barracks, Manasseh Meyer, Manston Road, Monster Guns, Netheravon Road, Old Changi Hospital, Prisoners-Of-War, RAF Singapore, Royal Air Force, Royal Engineers, SAF, SAF Boys' School, Second World War, Selarang Barracks Incident, Selarang Camp, Singapore Infantry Regiment, Sree Ramar Temple, Stanley Warren, The Turnhouse | 76 Comments

Mata.Mata: History of The Singapore Police

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Remember Singapore

The much-advertised English drama Mata.Mata has finally made its debut on Channel 5 last night. Mata refers to eye in Malay, but mata-mata generally means policeman (or watchman), where a patrolling policeman of the olden days was the “one on … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Beach Road, Central Narcotics Bureau, Central Police Station, Criminal Investigation Department, Detective Branch, Francis James Bernard, Hill Street Police Station, John Le Cain, Joo Chiat Police Station, Kampong Patrol, Lower Barracks, Mata-Mata, Maxwell Road, Neigbhourhood Police Centre, Neighbourhood Police Post, Police Coast Guard, Police Radio Division, Polis Negara Singapura, René Henry de Solminihac Onraet, Singapore Police Force, Song Kok Hoo, Straits Settlements, Thomas Dunman, Traffic Police, Upper Barracks, Volunteer Special Constabulary, Wilfred Skinner | 43 Comments

A Forgotten Past – ‘Prison on Fire’ at Pulau Senang

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Remember Singapore

Many movie fans are familiar with Chow Yun-Fat’s blockbuster “Prison on Fire”, a 1987 Hong Kong classic that featured inmates rioting against the prison authorities. Few, however, are aware that a similar incident had happened in Singapore in the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Daniel Stanley Dutton, Penal Reform Experiment, Pulau Senang, Secret Societies, Singapore 1960s | 25 Comments

A Journey into Singapore MRT’s Past

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Remember Singapore

It seems like it was only yesterday when the grand opening ceremony of the North-South Line was held at the Toa Payoh station. A total of 26 years has since passed, as the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system becomes an … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Captain SMRT, Chewing Gum, Circle Line, East-West Line, Light Rapid Transit, Mass Rapid Transit, North-East Line, North-South Line, Ong Teng Cheong, SMRT, Toa Payoh MRT Station | 67 Comments

Once in Our Life, Two Years of Our Time

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Remember Singapore

“Training to be soldiers To fight for our land Once in our life Two years of our time Have you ever wondered Why must we serve? Coz we love our land And we want it to be free, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural, Historic | Tagged 11B, 1206, 2359, 5BX, Basic Military Training, Battle Inoculation Course, Camouflaged No.4 Uniforms, Central Manpower Base, Chao Keng, Charlie Company, Cheong Sua, Eye Power, FIBUA, Full Battle Order, Goh Keng Swee, GPMG, IPPT, M16, Marksmenship, MINDEF, National Service, Nee Soon Camp, ORD, People’s Defence Force, Physical Training Instructor, Pulau Tekong, ROD, SAF Cookhouse, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Infantry Regiment, Standard Obstacle Course, Temasek Green, Wayang | 103 Comments

60 Years of Community Centres

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Remember Singapore

Community centres are commonly found in the West, especially the United States and the United Kingdom. Largely catering for the needs of the grassroots, some of their oldest community centres were built in the early 20th century. After the Second … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Community Centre, Community Clubs, Consumers' Club, Hock Choon Village, Jin Ai Village, Kampong Chai Chee, Kampongs, Kebun Baru, Koh Sek Lim Village, Mobile Library Services, National Servicemen, People's Association, Plantation Avenue Village, Pulau Ubin, Serangoon Community Centre, Siglap Community Centre, Tiong Bahru Community Centre, Void Decks, Yio Chu Kang Track 14, Zehnder Road | 29 Comments

Printing and Minting: The Singapore Dollars and Coins

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Remember Singapore

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has just announced that the new set of Singapore coins will be introduced in mid-2013. Belonging to the Third Series since independence, the designs of the new coins feature five of Singapore’s most iconic … Continue reading →