Recently, several friends on Facebook have wondered about the identity of a Veteran Postman seen in this postcard image above. Mystery Postman Identified! While researching another topic, I stumbled upon the postman’s name in an old newspaper! He is Mr. Joseph Lorand, the longest-serving postal service worker in the Danish West Indies! Receiving an Honorary Award […]
St. Thomas 🇩🇰
GRUNDLOV Constitution Celebrated! ~ 1914
The Grundlov Celebration ON THIS DAY in 1914, the Grundlov celebration took place at the Apollo theatre in St. Thomas. This historic celebration marked the granting of a new Constitution for Denmark and the Danish West Indies! Hundreds attended the meeting wearing their red and white badges, in what was, the first patriotic celebration of its kind. History of Denmark’s Constitution Mr. […]
Taking the Last Danish Census ~ 1911
By Dr. Dante Beretta Census Day The 1st of February 1911, Census Day, was an important day for the town of Charlotte Amalie in the Danish West Indies and a busy day for at least two of my ancestors. Choosing the Census Takers The Danish Police Magistrate appointed two respectable inhabitants for each street who were the census takers for […]
Discovering One of the Earliest Stories by J. Antonio Jarvis
J. Antonio Jarvis Great discovery!! Here is one of the EARLIEST stories published by J. Antonio Jarvis! He was only fifteen years old in 1917 when this story was published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper. HOW WOLF SAVED TOM by J. Antonio Jarvis Tom was living near the river and he had a pet […]
How a New Name for the Danish West Indies was Chosen ~ 1917
Choosing a New Name Months prior to the official Transfer Day ceremony, a resolution was submitted to the House of Representatives with a recommendation for a new name for the Danish West Indies. They wished to name the islands in honor of Admiral George Dewey. Admiral George Dewey Admiral Dewey was a US Naval officer […]
How a Heartfelt Letter Written 100 Years Ago Still Has Meaning ~ 1902
As I perused through fragile, old letters and newspaper clippings that have been saved by many generations in our family, there was one hand-written letter that stood out among the rest! 📝 It was a sympathy letter from Max E. Trepuk to his friend, Henry O. Creque upon the death of his father, John Bedford Creque (1902). The Letter My […]
Sugarcane Laborers Return Home on a German Cargo Ship ~ 1912
During the summer of 1912, many seasonal sugarcane laborers from the British Virgin Islands, working in the Dominican Republic, returned by steamer to St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies. SS Prasident At the end of July, the German passenger-cargo ship, SS Prasident departed Kingston, Jamaica with eight passengers en route to Santo Domingo. She picked up at […]
Sad Sea Catastrophe: The Loss of the British Sloop, SYRIA ~ 1912
The history of the Creque family is filled with intrigue and adventure! However, it also has its fair share of calamities. Six branches of the family have been involved in terrible sea catastrophes! Six Sea Catastrophes In 1902, J. Creque, a fireman aboard the cable ship Grappler, lost his life after Mount Pelee in Martinique erupted. In 1941, a relative of a […]