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The Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission, or Jonestown, as it came to be known was constructed in the middle of dense Guyanese jungle. Work began in 1975. Temple members eventually cleared eight hundred acres with only axes and chain saws, constructed cottages, a pavilion, communal kitchen, laundry, bathhouse, classrooms, medical centre, operational radio room and eventually a sawmill.Because of the initial lack of a sawmill most of Jonestown had to be constructed from imported wood. Most people were engaged in either clearing the jungle, farming and building new cabins for the twenty or thirty new residents that arrived every week toward the end of 1977.
The cottages were constructed as a plain frame out of rough cut wood with shutters for windows, open porches, and wooden plank runways laid between them. Inside, the cottages looked similar to their exterior appearance. Built on the spot bunks, tables, chairs and other basic furniture.
The fields were planted with Kasava roots, pineapples, melons, mangoes and citrus trees. Other smaller fenced plots held cabbages, carrots, greens and potatoes. Resident Odell Rhodes remembers it as "by about a million miles the hardest work I ever did, but it wasn't like you kept waiting for the day to end or anything like that. You were out there with all your friends and you knew you were doing it so people you loved would have food to eat-and I didn't mind at all. It felt good to me."
Food was also in abundance at first. Rhodes again, "I never ate so much in my whole life. I guess it's what working can do you, but the food was damn good too, and you could have as much as you wanted."
On Sundays there were excursions to swimming holes in the jungle and other areas a few miles out of Jonestown. Sunday was also an open house, and most of the local Guyanese neighbours would come to take advantage of the free medical clinic, have a Sunday dinner and watch a movie.
For many Jonestown became home. For the homeless and deprived who had joined the Temple in America it was simply the best home they had ever had, and the most meaningful work they had ever undertaken. For Jones it was a socialist utopia on earth, a chance to be rid of the oppressive pollution, and prejudice that he believed characterised modern America. The dangers of the Guyanese jungle were mirrored by the dangers of the America, and Jonestown was there to protect it's inhabitants. to create a new centre an, axis mundi for the Peoples Temple. "It's the only U.S. communist society alive, and we sure as hell don't want to let that down." Jones said at a rally in 1978.
Visiting Jonestown an officer from the US agency for international Development gave a glowing assessment of the project,"Crops have been planted and harvested of all indigenous foods. The level of operations, the quality of field work performed and results achieved will serve as a model for similar developments in the hinterland."
Odell Rhodes remembers that when he left the settlement on errands the ride back was always the best part, he was so pleased to be back. "Every time we passed the front gate I felt Like cheering."
Life changed in Jonestown in the Autumn of 1977. As the pressures from the group of Concerned Relatives over the custody case of John Victor were brought to bear on Jones. He responded, feeling the community was under imminent threat of attack. Gradually Jones made the settlement more insular. Open house on Sunday was curtailed. Temple members were ordered to stay in the compound and not associate with outsiders. Increasingly time was taken up by meetings, which often focussed on their 'enemies', the Concerned Relatives. Productivity in the fields fell, the building program virtually stopped. At Jones' request more Temple members continued to flood in to Jonestown from America, causing overcrowding, resentment and a very real sense of danger.
Rhodes remained optimistic, and along with almost all of the community still regarded life in Jonestown as better than any other prospect they might face. His loyalty to the community was also undented by the apparent pressure the Concerned Relatives were exerting over the community.
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