MY COCOLI Now for a little Cocoli history. (Circa 1941) Way beyond your dreams lies Cocoli....where the living was easy. Cocoli Service Center, clubhouse, movie theater and commissary. The Cocoli Clubhouse began operation under the Special Engineering Division in 1940 and became a Panama Canal Clubhouse in March 1945. The clubhouse was transferred to the US Navy on March 1, 1953 Cocoli was built in the early 1940's as a residence for the labor force engaged on the third locks projecton on the west bank near Miraflores Locks. The community consisted of 356 family apartments, 24 bachelor apartments and 160 bachelor rooms along with other buildings and facilities. In addition, Cocoli had its own clubhouse, commissary, theater, dispensary, gas station, post office, fire station, elementary school and several churches. Cocoli was a typical residential community of single family. duplex, 4-family, 12-family and bachelor quarters. The construction was tropical structures with wood siding and corrugated metal roofing. Cocoli was turned over to the US Navy on January 1, 1952 and used as housing for military and civilian personnel working for the Navy. Panama Canal employees were relocated to Balboa, Ancon and Diablo. On July 1, 1964 the Cocoli Housing Community was acquired by the US Army to meet their increased housing needs. The number of buildings had decreased by some 90 units. Today the community is fenced off by ARI, the Republic of Panama's agency is charged with disposing of properties in the former Canal Zone. Cocoli is in a bad state of dispair. The time and the elements along with the termites and the house wrecker have left Cocoli with few sagging houses and many concrete slabs where once stood proud tropical housing for those who lived in Cocoli. Should you make a trip today down old La Bruja Road you will find many empty streets and roads. Will Cocoli ever come back to its glory days? That is the question that only time will answer. The Cocoli Post Office opened July 1, 1941 and closed June 30, 1954. Stamps back then were only 1/2 cent. When it closed people who lived in Cocoli went to the Naval Station Rodman Post office for their mail. It remained vacant for many years. Just ahead of the termites, bats and cucarachas the Boy Scouts of Cocoli Troop 13 used it briefly in the 50's. After they left for a better building it was again vacant. Then it opened as an Arthur Murray Cholita Dance Studio in the mid 80's where couples would dance till the wee hours of the morning on weekends to wild music from a blaring jukebox or a local band such as the well-known group called the "String Busters" of the past that were really hot in the 50's. Then the band disbanded when their leader Bruce left and joined the Air Force in July of 1958. In August of 1961 it was vacant again. But in the 80's it was the place to be in a Saturday night. The refreshments at the dance studio flowed like water... Then in the early 90's it again was silent and vacant. Cocoli was becoming a ghost town... the end was near for what would finally become of that proud township called Cocoli carved out of the dense jungle on the west bank. This is a typical street found in most townsites in the old Canal Zone. In Cocoli we had some of these same streets. An interesting note is that the Walkers, the Bergs, the Batemans and many more lived in Cocoli in tropical quarters such as these... I lived on Tamarind Avenue closer to the Cocoli Grade School and gym. The Batemans lived on Sago Avenue and the Walkers lived on Nicobar Street. The Bergs lived in "Sleepy Hollow." Yes, it was a fun place to live. Then in the mid 50's came the era of technicolor and super Kodak color. The whole world became all the colors of the rainbow. So Cocoli got a splash of color. We kids loved it! This is a typical 4-family Tropical. There were many of these in Cocoli. My school in Cocoli. All the magic of living in the old Canal Zone started here. Later it would continue as all the kids went on to Balboa High School. The bus ride to Balboa would be a daily adventure. What kid would want to miss that? Cocoli had some real power hitters on this team. These sluggers made Cocoli proud. Maybe you recognize somebody you know or just maybe you are part of this great team. Baseball was quite popular in the old Canal Zone. Here is another Championship team from Cocoli. The number one watering hole on the west bank of the Panama Canal Siestas Siestas in the afternoon Power naps we call them Always welcome, don't you know In a hammock or in the bed, if too hot......then on the floor. Never say no to a siesta, Make it for hours, if you can, If not then 30 minutes will do just fine. Si! Very refreshing once it is done. Viva Siestas! One by one..... Have you had your siesta today?

Yes,the Cocoli Theater showed 2 movies a night. A real favorite of mine was "Casablanca." What a picture show. Bogie could always make you feel you were part of the action on the screen. Yes, indeed... the airport scene was just awesome! Yes, the line where Rick says, "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship..." echoes volumes of how good Casablanca was received by the general public. If you haven't seen it... I strongly recomend it! You will be glad you did. The US Navy has been part of the Canal Zone since the beginning... Here is the battleship Ohio going through the cut in the Panama Canal in 1915. To believe.....to reach.....to strive is to keep a dream alive. If you use each today as a chance to reach out, to learn something more of what life's all about....... If you follow your dreams, strive to make them come true..... Then life's sure to bring all the best things to you. ----Unknown When you have heard it all... Carpe Diem. Yes seize the day! Escape to Panama Too Many Secrets Latest book ... More about my books ... It has been a real pleasure sharing something more about my town Cocoli as I remember it. Feel free to check out other pages.....you'll be glad you did! So take care and drop by again. We will all be here, God willing. Hasta la Vista. See you on the flip side. Photo Credits: Author, Bill Fall, Montana, CZ and PCC Archives Little Stories to enjoy Sing and rejoice, tra-la-la, for fortune is smiling upon you!