St. John School children captured on film, US Virgin Islands ~ 1930s
St. Johnians, do you recognize these school children in this vintage photograph? Could they be your family members? 🔎
In 1933, Civil Engineer, Estus H. Magoon visited the school on East End and snapped this photograph of the students including the teacher and a member of the school board.
Remembering Doris Jadan of St. John, US, Virgin Islands
Tomorrow will be twelve years since our good friend and neighbor, Doris Jadan passed away. Had the opportunity to visit her gravesite today. ✟
Doris started the Environmental Studies Program at Julius Sprauve school and wrote many cook books and natural history books about St. John. 📚 She's missed very much by many.
Velcommen! Queen Margrethe II of Denmark visits the US Virgin Islands ~ 1976
On May 28, 1976, Queen Margrethe II and her family visited the U.S. Virgin Islands, stopping to see all three of the major islands, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix! 🇻🇮
The Queen was the first ruling monarch of Denmark to visit these islands, formerly known as the Danish West Indies.🇩🇰
Everyone was excited to extend a hearty welcome to them! Accompanying her on the royal yacht, Dannebrog, was her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Henrik and their two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.
Touring St. Thomas
With a large entourage of newspaper reporters, the Queen made her busy rounds of receptions, ceremonies and official functions. This is a great experience for both of us, she said. We feel so very much at home, though we are far from Denmark.
As the youngest Queen in the oldest Monarchy in Europe, one of her special duties was to place a wreath on the grave of a Danish military man in the old Danish Cemetery.
Other visits around St. Thomas included lunch at Denmark Hill, a visit to Drake's Seat and a tour of the Frederik Lutheran Church, the official church of the Danish West Indies. ✟
The Queen's favorite, however, was mingling with some of the friendly Market Square vendors and business owners as she paused to buy some produce.
Here, she met store owner Bill LaMotta and others, chatting to them casually as if they were old friends. She was surprised to learn that one of the landmarks nearby, the old well, was dedicated to her grandfather.
Queen Margrethe & family tour St. John
After a long day of touring, the Royals sailed over to Cruz Bay, anchoring just outside the harbor. The Cruz Bay park was decorated with welcoming banners and hundreds of fresh flowers in anticipation of her arrival.
After a brief ceremony, the family visited Annaberg and then a quick swim for the Prince's at Caneel Bay, where the above photograph was taken. 📷
Touring St. Croix
The next destination, St. Croix, was much anticipated. As the Queen's motorcade drove through Frederiksted, spectators lined the roads happy to finally see her.
She toured Fort Frederik, the Queen Louise home for children, then on to Little La Grange and Annaly where she was entertained by the Lawaetz family.
In Christiansted, she viewed the historic Steeple Building, the Customs and Scale house and, of course, Fort Christiansvaern where she spent extra time engaging with visitors who came out to see her.
"I am most impressed, she said, by the way in which so many old buildings have been preserved in the islands, buildings which are in many ways, typical of Danish architecture, from one of the most flourishing and graceful periods of our architectural history."
Awards Ceremony
Before departing, Queen Margarethe honored eight Virgin Islanders. They received awards on her behalf from the Danish Consul in the islands, Mr. Sven Larsen.
The list included Governor Cyril E. King, Senate President Elmo D. Roebuck, Senator Fritz Lawaetz, James Bough, Hein Christensen, Dr. Sven Larsen, Dr. John Moorhead, Enid Baa and Eva Lawaetz.
Today marks the 41th anniversary of Queen Margrethe's remarkable visit to our shores! 👑
Copyright © 2017 Valerie Sims. All Rights Reserved.
The St. John-Pelican Cay Sloop Race in the US Virgin Islands ~ 1937
In 1937, hundreds of spectators enjoyed watching a Thanksgiving sloop race competition! ⛵️
The course extended from the eastern end of St. John, around Pelican Cay in the British Virgin Islands and back to East end.
It was a lovely spectacle with fourteen boats representing every section of the island.
All watched as a steady procession of open sails with forebooms dancing in the east-southeast wind graced the horizon.
View of the Sloop Race
Our great-grandparents would have had a fantastic view of a segment of the race from their La Measure home.
Boat racing was one of the sports they loved watching.
Preparing the Boats
A week before the race, every boat was on the bay getting their bottoms scrapped and a new coat of copper paint.
The sails were mended and made as snug as possible, while five or six sandbags replaced much of the ballast.
The Party
People came from everywhere to see the race!
They traveled by boat, donkey or horseback.
The actual race only lasted three and a half hours, but the event lasted a day and a half! There seemed to be no end to the merriment! 🎼
The Winners of the Sloop Race
Joe Harley's, VINDICTIVE was the first boat to cross the finish line, fifteen minutes before her competitors!
He was closely followed by Charlie Smith's, ARROW and a few moments later, the OLIVE.
The party ran far into the night. There were games, a banquet, speeches and lots of cheers for the winner.
This was the biggest sloop race the island of St. John had ever seen! 🏆
Copyright © 2016 Valerie Sims. All Rights Reserved.