David Hamilton Jackson Day In 1915, Jackson declared November 1st a public holiday in honor of the publishing of his first newspaper, The Herald. 🗞 Seven thousand people from all parts of the island gathered on the St. Croix wharf to celebrate with him! His newspaper’s motto was, “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”. Here’s a link […]
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Honoring Hurricane Heroes Past and Present
HMS Valkyrien ~ Crew Hurricane of 1916 Just over 100 years ago, a hurricane in October of 1916 tore through the Virgin Islands with a vengeance—leaving a path of destruction similar to hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. 🌧 The damage was of historic proportions for its time and it left a lasting impression […]
How Crown House Survived the Hurricane of 1916
By Dr. Dante Beretta For every bad, there is a good. West Indian saying When the barometer reading steadily dropped and the weather turned ominous, island residents understood this as a foreboding sign. 💨 Our grandfather, George Beretta fastened the jalousies and shutters and made his last-minute preparations. The Berettas hunkered down in their family home, Crown […]
My Mother’s Memories of Mary’s Point ~ 1940s
The history of Francis Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands: In this post, you’re going to learn a little information about the Creque family’s home at Francis Bay and the enjoyable memories my mom had there during her childhood. The property was sold to Laurence Rockefeller in 1954, and became a part of the Virgin […]
A Hurricane Prayer for the Protection of the Virgin Islands
After Hurricane Irma hit the Virgin Islands destroying everything in its path, I started to think about life differently. ⛈ No longer do I want to hold on to so many material things. I started perusing my file cabinet with a view to throwing as much as I could away. While sifting through […]
Two Treasured Paintings Document a Memorable Moment in Virgin Islands History ~ 1801
Battle of West Kay, Courtesy of Bruun-Rassmussen, Auctioneers of Fine Art Two Rare Paintings Incredibly, two paintings depicting the Battle of West Kay off St. Thomas are being offered at auction today at Brunn Rasmussen, Auctioneers of Fine Art. Former Governor, Captain Carl V. Jessen received the golden sword of honor for bravery from King […]
10 Scenic Views of St. Thomas ~ 1930s
Scenic Views of St. Thomas 🔭 Saint Thomas At mention of thy famous name, O Island of the Sea! I feel again I have a claim Within thy boundary. I live again the vivid scene Of childhood’s fitful hour, An thou’rt always so serene, My fabled Iv’ry tower! What heart-pangs I have known beneath The blossoms […]
Collecting Postcards From The Past
I love collecting various postcards of the Danish West Indies and the British Virgin Islands. Here is a small sampling from St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. Based on this advertisement from 1913, it’ll take a lifetime to collect all of them. 🙂 Postcards from the Past This Virgin Islands postcard […]