Imagine looking out to the horizon and seeing a flotilla of battleships coming into view! 🔭 On a cloudy, January morning, citizens in Christiansted witnessed an unusual fleet of Naval ships just beyond the three-mile limit. As word spread, residents rushed down to the shore to see for themselves. When they noticed the first battleship round Ham’s Bluff, instead of […]
St. Croix 🇩🇰
Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916
Last year, I shared a fascinating story about the inter-island sloop, Eagle. Included were rare photographs of her crew and some of her passengers. The Owner In late 1916, the owner of the Eagle was Captain Oswald Waldemar George of St. John. His route spanned the seas between the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. The Eagle, like the Zuhrah, Fancy Me, La Gracia and Spider were […]
Running a Mom and Pop Shop in St. Croix ~ 1900
Ever wonder what the mom-and-pop stores sold in the Danish West Indies? Generally speaking, EVERYTHING! 🍞👞 👢🍵 🐠 Our forefather opened several stores in his lifetime, each with an eclectic collection of items from various places around the world. Opening the Store On August 4, 1900, Henry O. Creque opened a store in St. Croix. It was called The American […]
How the VALKYRIEN’S Band Honored Their Commander ~ 1916
HMS Valkyrien After rumors of an impending disturbance among the laboring class began to surface, the local government sent a despatch to Denmark for support. They sent the cruiser, Valkyrien with a complement of approximately 230 men. Upon her arrival, she was welcomed warmly with the customary salutes and flags. Finding everything in order, […]
The Landing of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in St. Croix ~ 1916
Governor Lars Christian Helweg-Larsen on left stands next to Colonel Theodore Roosevelt (wearing a suit of dark grey tweed) and Mr. R.L. Merwin with distinguished guests in the rear. Photo Source: Digital Collection at the University of the Virgin Islands. Used with permission. Theodore Roosevelt Valentine’s Day was extra exciting for residents of St. Thomas and […]