There used to be a zoo in Punggol!! This is something new for me!
Click on the link below to read about Nick's research and quest to pinpoint where the zoo used to be located:
http://lionraw.com/2013/09/18/discovering-punggol-zoo/
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Punggol Beach Massacre
Take a trip to Punggol Beach and experience the quiet life, freedom and nature on the clean beach.
The beach brings back grim memories to older generations because during the World War II in 1942, 400 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese soldiers. Located at Punggol Point, this place is also known as Punggol Beach Massacre. The location has been marked as a national heritage site.
The Sook Ching massacre (Chinese: 肅清大屠殺) was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, after the British colony surrendered in the Battle of Singapore on 15 February 1942 during World War II. Sook Ching was later extended to include Chinese Malayans. The massacre took place from 18 February to 4 March 1942 at various places.
The Punggol Beach Massacre cost the lives of 300 to 400 Chinese, who were shot at Punggol Beach on 28 February 1942 by the Hojo Kempei firing squad, the auxiliary Japanese military police responsible for all killings that took place in the massacre. The victims were some of the 1,000 Chinese males detained by the Japanese after a door-to-door search along Upper Serangoon Road. Several of these men had tattoos, a sign that they could be triad members, with the Japanese assuming that such individuals were anti-Japanese.
Resources:
▪ Street Directory - Travel Guide
▪ Wikipedia
The beach brings back grim memories to older generations because during the World War II in 1942, 400 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese soldiers. Located at Punggol Point, this place is also known as Punggol Beach Massacre. The location has been marked as a national heritage site.
The Sook Ching massacre (Chinese: 肅清大屠殺) was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, after the British colony surrendered in the Battle of Singapore on 15 February 1942 during World War II. Sook Ching was later extended to include Chinese Malayans. The massacre took place from 18 February to 4 March 1942 at various places.
The Punggol Beach Massacre cost the lives of 300 to 400 Chinese, who were shot at Punggol Beach on 28 February 1942 by the Hojo Kempei firing squad, the auxiliary Japanese military police responsible for all killings that took place in the massacre. The victims were some of the 1,000 Chinese males detained by the Japanese after a door-to-door search along Upper Serangoon Road. Several of these men had tattoos, a sign that they could be triad members, with the Japanese assuming that such individuals were anti-Japanese.
Resources:
▪ Street Directory - Travel Guide
▪ Wikipedia
Related Posts:
▪ Punggol Point
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Punggol Reclamation
In 1983, the government announced that it would undertake a reclamation project in which 277 ha of land would be reclaimed over the next three years at a cost of $136 million. The Straits Times reported on 5 March 1983 that the reclaimed land would be used for certain industrial and agricultural activities at first, but would eventually be supplanted by flats supplanted by flats developed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). The report also stated that the reclaimed soil would come from Tampines, the granite quarry at Pulau Ubin, and dredging the seabed off Punggol.
The Northeastern Coast Reclamation Project
In October 1984, Parliament approved yet another reclamation scheme for Punggol, this time a massive project known as the Northeastern Coast Reclamation Scheme. The scheme would reclaim 875 ha of shallow foreshore and swampland at the northeastern coast of Singapore from Pasir Ris to Jalan Kayu (including Punggol). Costing $874 million, the project was undertaken by the HDB, which served as an agent for the Ministry of National Development (MND) in executing the project. The reclamation was to be implemented in four phases lasting a period of nine years (1985-1993). An HDB study estimated the amount of soil needed for the reclamation to be approximately 76 million cubic metres, half of which was to be obtained from HDB development sites and the other half imported. The bulk of the newly reclaimed land was reserved for the construction of flats while the remaining portion was set aside for refuse tipping, as well as industrial and recreational purposes.
Phases I and II of the project were completed by the end of March 1990. The third phase, scheduled to run from April 1988 till the end of 1990, was part of the development of Punggol New Town. The fourth phase was supposed to commence in 1990, but was deferred as the North-Eastern Sector landuse concept plan was not finalised yet. Part of the Punggol 21 development plan, the last phase involved reclaiming 155 ha of foreshore between Punggol and Coney Island (also known as Pulau Serangoon) at an estimated cost of $320 million. Under the plan, Coney Island was to be enlarged and the land off Punggol extended narrowing the channel (referred to as "river") between them to at least 100 m wide. The 2.5 km long river would have vertical seawalls on both sides.
Environmental effects
A three-year annual study (1998-2000) on the effects of coastal reclamation at Sungei Punggol on macrobenthic community (referring to organisms living on, in, or near the river bed or benthic zone) revealed that the family number and abundance of macrobenthos increased significantly away from the reclaimed areas. Besides the obliteration of the swamps on the mainland, environmentalists were also concerned over the gradual loss of flora and fauna on Coney Island. For instance, in 1998, Dr Ho Hua Chew, who heads the conservation committee of the Nature Society (Singapore), expressed concern over the impact of urbanisation on the 30-odd species of birds that inhabited the island.
By Marsita Omar & Alex Ong
26 Nov 2007
Extract of article published on Singapore Infopedia!
National Library Board 2008.
Click here for full article.
The Northeastern Coast Reclamation Project
In October 1984, Parliament approved yet another reclamation scheme for Punggol, this time a massive project known as the Northeastern Coast Reclamation Scheme. The scheme would reclaim 875 ha of shallow foreshore and swampland at the northeastern coast of Singapore from Pasir Ris to Jalan Kayu (including Punggol). Costing $874 million, the project was undertaken by the HDB, which served as an agent for the Ministry of National Development (MND) in executing the project. The reclamation was to be implemented in four phases lasting a period of nine years (1985-1993). An HDB study estimated the amount of soil needed for the reclamation to be approximately 76 million cubic metres, half of which was to be obtained from HDB development sites and the other half imported. The bulk of the newly reclaimed land was reserved for the construction of flats while the remaining portion was set aside for refuse tipping, as well as industrial and recreational purposes.
Phases I and II of the project were completed by the end of March 1990. The third phase, scheduled to run from April 1988 till the end of 1990, was part of the development of Punggol New Town. The fourth phase was supposed to commence in 1990, but was deferred as the North-Eastern Sector landuse concept plan was not finalised yet. Part of the Punggol 21 development plan, the last phase involved reclaiming 155 ha of foreshore between Punggol and Coney Island (also known as Pulau Serangoon) at an estimated cost of $320 million. Under the plan, Coney Island was to be enlarged and the land off Punggol extended narrowing the channel (referred to as "river") between them to at least 100 m wide. The 2.5 km long river would have vertical seawalls on both sides.
Environmental effects
A three-year annual study (1998-2000) on the effects of coastal reclamation at Sungei Punggol on macrobenthic community (referring to organisms living on, in, or near the river bed or benthic zone) revealed that the family number and abundance of macrobenthos increased significantly away from the reclaimed areas. Besides the obliteration of the swamps on the mainland, environmentalists were also concerned over the gradual loss of flora and fauna on Coney Island. For instance, in 1998, Dr Ho Hua Chew, who heads the conservation committee of the Nature Society (Singapore), expressed concern over the impact of urbanisation on the 30-odd species of birds that inhabited the island.
By Marsita Omar & Alex Ong
26 Nov 2007
Extract of article published on Singapore Infopedia!
National Library Board 2008.
Click here for full article.
Matilda House
Matilda House is one of the oldest houses in Singapore. Located in Punggol, it is very close to the Soo Teck LRT Station. The house was originally built in 1902 for Mr Joseph Cashin, whose family history in Singapore can be traced back to the early 1840s. It has entrances on two sides of the main building, an open balcony at the front facade, and a long verandah. The house is now uninhabited and is currently in ruins.
Matilda House was given conservation status by Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority in February 2000. Despite redevelopments in the surrounding area, it stands as a reminder of the past to the residents of Punggol. It is a frequent haunt for photographers, especially for those who want to take night shots of the place.
Click here for full article from Wikipedia.
Check out SPI (Singapore Paranormal Investigators) exposé of the Matilda House.
Article comes complete with write-up, day & night patrol overview and lots of pictures.
Matilda House was given conservation status by Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority in February 2000. Despite redevelopments in the surrounding area, it stands as a reminder of the past to the residents of Punggol. It is a frequent haunt for photographers, especially for those who want to take night shots of the place.
Click here for full article from Wikipedia.
Check out SPI (Singapore Paranormal Investigators) exposé of the Matilda House.
Article comes complete with write-up, day & night patrol overview and lots of pictures.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Punggol Early History
Located in the vicinity of the Punggol Jetty, Punggol was believed to have existed 200 years ago before Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. The Punggol area used to be a well-established rural district dotted with farmhouses and farm structures, which were serviced by roads and dirt tracks. It was one of the oldest settlements in Singapore. The original settlers were predominantly Malays.
The early Chinese immigrants, who settled in Punggol from the mid 19th century onwards, were engaged in plantation work, mainly rubber. As more and more Chinese immigrants settled in Punggol, poultry farming and pig rearing activities flourished. Trading on farm produce, fruits and vegetables was carried out in the marketplace at the former eighth milestone of Punggol Road. The Serangoon River mouth became the docking point for fishing boats where fishermen gathered to sell their catch.
In the 1960s, basic amenities like piped water, electricity, paved roads, and drainage systems were introduced through government and self-help programmes. It was also at this time that television became popular and antennas could be seen installed on many kampong rooftops.
Poultry and pig farms were gradually phased out when redevelopment commenced in the 1970s. The last pig farm closed down in 1990. Land vacated by resettled farmers were then tendered out on short term leases for non-pollutive agricultural activities, which included hydroponic non-pollutive vegetable and orchid farms that used to flourish along the Cheng Lim Farmways and Buangkok Farmways. These farms existed along with old kampongs and low-rise residential areas. Most of these farms have given way to the high-rise HDB flats of Sengkang New Town and Punggol New Town.
Historically, Punggol was populated mostly by Teochews and Catholics. The end of Upper Serangoon Road is known to Teochews as kangkar or "river bank" or "river mouth". Ferries were used on the Serangoon River as transport. An old market was also located here. The Catholic missionaries arrived here 140 years ago and set up churches and schools. A Malay kampong, which has since been cleared, could also be found at Tanjong Punggol. At the end of Punggol Port Road, Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen auctioned their catch at the wholesale fish market.
During the Second World War in 1942, about 400 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese military forces at Punggol Point, the northern tip of the area, in what was to be known as the Punggol Beach Massacre as part of the Sook Ching Massacre. Today, that location has been marked as a national heritage site by the National Heritage Board.
Punggol was also known for its sumptuous seafood and boatels that provided services like docking and renting of boats for boating, water skiing and skindiving lessons. These seafood restaurants and boatels have since been relocated in the mid-1990s to facilitate land reclamation works.
Article extracted from Wikipedia
Related Posts:
▪ Punggol Etymology
▪ Punggol Point
▪ Punggol Beach Massacre
▪ From slums to world-class city
The early Chinese immigrants, who settled in Punggol from the mid 19th century onwards, were engaged in plantation work, mainly rubber. As more and more Chinese immigrants settled in Punggol, poultry farming and pig rearing activities flourished. Trading on farm produce, fruits and vegetables was carried out in the marketplace at the former eighth milestone of Punggol Road. The Serangoon River mouth became the docking point for fishing boats where fishermen gathered to sell their catch.
In the 1960s, basic amenities like piped water, electricity, paved roads, and drainage systems were introduced through government and self-help programmes. It was also at this time that television became popular and antennas could be seen installed on many kampong rooftops.
Poultry and pig farms were gradually phased out when redevelopment commenced in the 1970s. The last pig farm closed down in 1990. Land vacated by resettled farmers were then tendered out on short term leases for non-pollutive agricultural activities, which included hydroponic non-pollutive vegetable and orchid farms that used to flourish along the Cheng Lim Farmways and Buangkok Farmways. These farms existed along with old kampongs and low-rise residential areas. Most of these farms have given way to the high-rise HDB flats of Sengkang New Town and Punggol New Town.
Historically, Punggol was populated mostly by Teochews and Catholics. The end of Upper Serangoon Road is known to Teochews as kangkar or "river bank" or "river mouth". Ferries were used on the Serangoon River as transport. An old market was also located here. The Catholic missionaries arrived here 140 years ago and set up churches and schools. A Malay kampong, which has since been cleared, could also be found at Tanjong Punggol. At the end of Punggol Port Road, Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen auctioned their catch at the wholesale fish market.
During the Second World War in 1942, about 400 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese military forces at Punggol Point, the northern tip of the area, in what was to be known as the Punggol Beach Massacre as part of the Sook Ching Massacre. Today, that location has been marked as a national heritage site by the National Heritage Board.
Punggol was also known for its sumptuous seafood and boatels that provided services like docking and renting of boats for boating, water skiing and skindiving lessons. These seafood restaurants and boatels have since been relocated in the mid-1990s to facilitate land reclamation works.
Article extracted from Wikipedia
Related Posts:
▪ Punggol Etymology
▪ Punggol Point
▪ Punggol Beach Massacre
▪ From slums to world-class city
Punggol Etymology
Punggol Point or Tanjong Punggol appears as Tanjong Rangon on Franklin and Jackson's 1828 map of Singapore. Punggol, also spelt as Ponggol, means "hurling sticks at the branches of fruit trees to bring them down to the ground" in Malay. It could also refer to a place where fruits and forest produce are offered wholesale and carried away. These possible names indicate that Punggol was a fruit growing district. The place is said to take its name from the river Sungei Ponggol. Yet another interpretation is that it is a rendezvous point for those who await the wholesale agent who buys and takes the produce to the market.
Ponggol also means "a stump of a tree", especially "a high stump". There are suggestions that the word is Tamil (Pongal, "the feast of the boiling rice", is celebrated when the sun enters the sign of Capricorn), but the word is clearly Malay and not Tamil.
Article extracted from Wikipedia
Ponggol also means "a stump of a tree", especially "a high stump". There are suggestions that the word is Tamil (Pongal, "the feast of the boiling rice", is celebrated when the sun enters the sign of Capricorn), but the word is clearly Malay and not Tamil.
Article extracted from Wikipedia
Friday, February 06, 2009
Ponggol or Punggol?
Fang Zhirong came across this signboard near Punggol (or is it Ponggol?) which showed two versions of the streetname.
He was puzzled enough to send this query in.
STOMP did a check, and dug up this Straits Times article on the spelling of the town name.
May 8, 2001
For instance, few in Punggol or Ponggol, as it is sometimes spelt, can recall the activity of "hurling sticks into trees to bring fruit down", that could have prompted the area's Malay name.
However, there is another possible meaning of the word - a "place where fruit and produce are offered wholesale."
It appears that both are correct.
Article and photo source: Stomp
Related posts:
▪ Punggol Etymology
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