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sailboat in St. Thomas, Danish West Indies

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The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 1926

The Sinking of the Schooner, 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 most of her passengers who were returning home to their […]

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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 needed, she was brought to the Creque Marine Railway. There, her dimensions were […]

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Irma II of the Virgin Islands

Find Your Family on this 1918 Passenger List!

During the early twentieth century, sailing vessels were the lifelines for island residents.   Below are the stories of some of them and their tragic fates. 📚 1912   – SYRIA 1916   – SPIDER 1920s – EAGLE […]

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British sloop, LA GRACIA transports cane workers ~ British Virgin Islands ~ 1918

Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917

Between 1914 and 1939, the Dominican Sugarcane plantations employed hundreds of seasonal cane workers from the British Virgin Islands! 🇻🇬  According to Canefields of the Dominican Republic, by Will Johnson, the sugar factories in La Romana and San Pedro de […]

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The Loss of the British sloop, SYRIA off St. Thomas, Danish West Indies ~ 1912 By Valerie Sims

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 […]

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The inter-island sloop, EAGLE at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1920s. By Valerie Sims

Rare Photograph of the EAGLE at the Railway ~ 1920s

Ever wonder what the inter-island sloops were transporting below in their holds? Some may think it contraband and many times it was, but mostly it was passengers, cases of fruit, […]

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The Fate of the Mail Boat, TO WINDWARD from the US Virgin Islands ~ 1932 By Valerie Sims

How a Crew Survived their Ship’s Sinking ~ 1932

During the 1920s and 1930s, the yawl, To Windward transported mail and passengers between the islands.  Its owner was Captain Christian Moller. On August 15, 1932, they departed Christiansted for Denmark by way […]

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The FLIGHT brings party-goers to Tortola for the August Festival in the 1940s.

The Yacht, FLIGHT Takes Party-Goers to Tortola ~ 1946

For many years members of our family enjoyed the annual August festival in Tortola! Here is an excerpt of an article written by W. Evelyn Pickering.   It appeared in the August 17, 1946,  VI […]

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