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