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| Leon Walton Young was born on May 11, 1876 in Congo Town in the western section of Fox Hill. His mother, Miss Caroline Pratt was of the Yoruba African tribe. Her mother was among the first generation of children born in Fox Hill after a settlement of freed slaves were established there in 1834. At an early age Young became a ship's and house carpenter. He emigrated to Key West, Florida in his early 20's and worked for a few years. Upon his return home Young's reputation as a reliable, intelligent and productive worker attracted the attention of Charles Bethell, a prosperous liquor merchant and property developer who hired him as his building superintendent. By 1926 Young had become such a well know and successful builder that he was awarded lucrative sub-contracts for the construction of Fort Montagu Hotel. Young became a successful property developer for many years. Among his purchases was extensive acreage in Fox Hill mainly in the Congo Town area on the south side of Bernard Road, which he named Village Estates. Village Estates was his major development. He also built a small night-club and hotel which he named the Walia Hotel. Mr. Young was married three times and fathered three children by his first wife and one by his second wife. He was elected to the House of Assembly for the Eastern District of New Providence on January 6, 1912 and he represented the same constituency until May 21, 1942. In 1960 at the age of 84, he suffered a severe stroke and was bedridden for a while. After his stroke he became a converted Roman Catholic. He died two years later from a second fatal stroke on July 30, 1962. He was 86 years old. The L. W. Young Secondary School was named in his honour. |