The Schooner, Gaviota Today marks the 95th anniversary of the hauling of the ill-fated schooner, Gaviota at the Creque Marine Railway. This beautiful, three-masted, trading schooner was built in Cataño, Puerto Rico by Guillermo Valello in 1920. Designed for the inter-island trade, she was captained by Juan Cruz. On this day, she made the 100-mile voyage for repairs at Hassel Island. Gaviota’s Fate […]
Creque Marine Railway ⚓️
How Pencil-Written Notes and Photographs Preserved Schooner’s History ~ 1920
The Meteor Today marks the 96th anniversary of the arrival of the vessel, Meteor, at the Creque Marine Railway. Sailing over one hundred miles, Captain Prince brought the schooner to Hassel Island to utilize its maritime facilities. As she has hoisted up the ramp, her dimensions were quickly recorded, 75 feet by 25 feet. Today, those pencil-written notes and rare photographs are the only evidence to her size […]
The Mail Schooner, VIRGINIA Visits ~ 1921
The mail schooner, Virginia was originally built in Curacao in the Dutch West Indies. She was one of the hundreds of vessels to visit the Creque Marine Railway for service and repairs. According to the railway’s surviving records, Virginia arrived on May 4, 1921. Herman Creque jotted down her dimensions as he spoke with her captain. She was 60 feet in […]
Big Job Pumping Out The Barge ~ 1930
In 1930, a potential client representing the United Sugar Company in Humacao, Puerto Rico, inquired about having the company’s barge hauled at the Creque Marine Railway. He spoke with Mr. Creque, who promptly responded with the price of hauling: 75 cents/gross ton, plus launching and each day on the rails. Repairing the Barge Three days after Christmas, […]
Rare Photograph of the EAGLE at the Railway ~ 1920s
Oct 21, 1930, V.I. Daily News Ever wonder what the inter-island sloops were transporting below in their holds? Some may think it contraband and many times it was, but mostly it was passengers, cases of fruit, home grown vegetables and cattle. During the early 1900s, a popular little sloop called the Eagle was making the […]
Servicing the USS RANGER at the Railway ~ 1925
Source: Library of Congress The USS Ranger In August 1924, a deadly hurricane caused severe damage to the homes on Tortola and many in the US Virgin Islands. The USS Ranger came to the rescue! When called upon, she transported lots of workers to the outlying islands to assist those in need. Governor Philip Williams was so grateful […]
Repairing the MAMIE COYLE ~ 1929
Photo Source: Memphis Public Library and Information Center The Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island provided hauling and marine repair services to hundreds of vessels during its ownership by the Creque family, 1910 – 1978. Historic vessels with fascinating histories routinely scheduled slots on the slip weeks in advance. Mamie Coyle’s History One such vessel was the Mamie Coyle. […]
The Yacht, FLIGHT Takes Party-Goers to Tortola ~ 1946
For many years members of our family enjoyed the annual August festival in Tortola! Here is an excerpt of an article written by W. Evelyn Pickering. It appeared in the August 17, 1946, VI Daily News. Below the article is a link to the kind of music played by band, Conjuncto Tropical. Can you imagine the party-goers dancing to this and the […]