Discover the Fascinating History of Hassel Island! ~ US Virgin Islands ~ ValerieSims.com 🌺 Vintage Virgin Islands™

The Little Sloop, SORA Sails to the US Virgin Islands ~ 1942

The Sloop, Sora This little yacht arrived at the Creque Marine Railway for cleaning and painting in 1942. She was […]

Can You Name the National Flower of the US Virgin Islands?

The National Flower of the US Virgin Islands The Yellow Cedar is the National flower of the US Virgin Islands. […]

See the Damage to the Creque Marine Railway After Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Before Hurricane Damage The Creque Marine Railway is a special, historic property that first became a part of our family’s […]

Coaling ladies at work on Hassel Island, Danish West Indies ~ 1907

How the Coaling Women Persevered ~ 1907

One of the unique scenes on Hassel Island was the line of women who served as coal carriers or coal […]

Hurricane damage Derrick barge K-15 hauled at the Creque Marine Railway, Hassel Island, US Virgin Islands ~ 1933 By Valerie Sims

How Derrick Barges Help the Maritime Industry ~ 1933

The September 1932 hurricane wrecked havoc on the maritime industry in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.⚡ Boat owners […]

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 […]

The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 1926

The Sinking of the FANCY ME ~ 1926

Launching The Fancy Me The Fancy Me was a locally-built schooner that became infamous when she was lost in a hurricane with […]

Repairing the EL CARIBE by Hand ~ 1937

In 1937, this huge oil tanker hit a coral reef near Saona Island off the southeastern tip of the Dominican […]

The schooner, ZUHRAH at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

Finding a Few Photographs and Invoices Keeps One Schooner’s History Alive ~ 1920

During the 1920s, the schooner, Zurah was captained by the beloved Samuel Sewer. His vessel was an important link in the inter-island trade. ⚓ When repairs were […]

Glimpse the last known photograph of the ill-fated GAVIOTA at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1921 By Valerie Sims

Here’s a Glimpse of an Ill-Fated Schooner Before She Sunk ~ 1921

Surveying the damage to the schooner, METEOR at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island in the US Virgin Islands ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

How Pencil-Written Notes and Photographs Preserved Schooner’s History ~ 1920

The Mail Schooner, VIRGINIA Visits ~ 1921

The mail schooner, Virginia was originally built in Curacao in the Dutch West Indies. She was one of hundreds of vessels […]

Pumping out BARGE 718 at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1930 By Valerie Sims

Big Job Pumping Out The Barge ~ 1930

On December 28, 1926, a potential client representing the United Sugar Company in Humacao, Puerto Rico, inquired about having his barge hauled […]

Auctioning the EDGEWOOD in St. Thomas, Danish West Indies ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

See the Four-Masted Schooner Before She was Destroyed by Fire ~ 1920

Our ancestors purchased many of their properties at auctions! They bought Cane Garden Bay, Carrot Bay, a portion of Peter Island and Norman Island in the […]