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Vintage Stories from the Virgin Islands

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Local Boats ⛵️

The Disappearance of the Fishing Sloop, KITE ~ 1901

The Loss of the British sloop, KITE from Tortola, British Virgin Islands ~ 1901 By Valerie Sims

Note: This image is a part of the Estus H. Magoon Collection, Item No. 1398. It was used to share this story and is not an actual image of the Kite.. The British sloop, Kite was a popular vessel sailing between the islands of Tortola and St. Thomas during the 1890s. Like so many island boats, it […]

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

The Schooner, Eagle Last year, I shared a fascinating story about the inter-island sloop, Eagle. Included were rare photographs of her crew and some of her passengers.  The Owner In late 1916, the owner of the Eagle was Captain Oswald Waldemar George of St. John. His route spanned the seas between the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. The Eagle, like the Zuhrah, Fancy Me, […]

Lost at Sea! A Jost Van Dyke Sloop Vanishes Without a Trace ~ 1916

Imagine saying farewell to your loved one at the dock as they boarded a boat, then discovering later that they never made it to their destination. On a dark and rainy evening in January of 1916, Mr. C.H. Berrian hugged his wife goodbye as she boarded a boat destined for West End, Tortola. She had been […]

The Disappearance of the Sloop, SPIDER ~ 1916

The Loss of the Spider ~ 1916 By Valerie Sims

St. Thomas was struck by one of the most destructive hurricanes in the history of the Danish West Indies! ⚡ The unforgettable date was October 9, 1916. The Spider Captain William Creque, the brother of our direct ancestor, sailed right into its fury. On that fateful day, he was the captain on board the Spider. The 45-ft sloop […]

The Sinking of the Schooner, FANCY ME ~ 1926

The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 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 families. It was one of the most tragic events that occurred in the maritime history of the British Virgin Islands. The schooner was built on Hassel […]

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

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

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 recorded as 50 feet in length by 15 feet wide.   Selling the Zuhrah In December 1922, the Zuhrah was sold to Mr. Antonio Cesin and Carlos […]

Find Your Family on this 1918 Passenger List!

Irma II of the Virgin Islands

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 1923  –   LA GRACIA  1930s –  TO WINDWARD 1930s –  FANCY ME The Courageous Captain Sewer The Danish sloop, Irma II carried mail, supplies, and passengers as far […]

Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917

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

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 Macoris paid between $20 and $30 weekly for six consecutive days of work.   In the Leeward islands, the average salary was barely $12 per […]

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