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 […]
St. Croix 🇩🇰
Local Star Gazers Turned out to See a Solar Eclipse ~ 1897
The Solar Eclipse As exciting as it was for many to witness the recent solar eclipse, imagine what it was like for those living one hundred and twenty years ago! 🌖 Days before the event, Danish Astrologer, Carl Frederick Pechule gave an account of what was to be expected on July 29, 1897. Seldom was an […]
The Thrills and Dangers of Animal-Driven Carts ~ 1906
Before automated vehicles commanded the streets, horse carts, donkey carts, oxen and mule carts filled the narrow, dusty roadways delivering much-needed supplies. Types of Carts There was the milk cart, water cart, sugar cart and more, each with a designated function. Because of the sometimes erratic behavior of the animals, there was more than a fair […]
Pot Sellers of St. Croix ~ 1907
This is a wonderful image featuring the types of cooking pots used in the islands ~ 1907 It was captured by Mrs. Emilie Langkjaer who moved to St. Croix with her family in 1898. Many of her photographs became popular postcards. Her husband was Chairman of the Board for the St. Croix Hojere Skole in Frederiksted. […]
44 Ships Belonging to the North Atlantic Fleet Pass St. Croix ~ 1917
Imagine looking out to the horizon and seeing a flotilla of battleships coming into view. This happened in 1917 on a cloudy, January morning when citizens in Christiansted witnessed an unusual fleet of Naval ships just beyond the three-mile limit. As word spread, residents rushed down to the shore to see for themselves. When they noticed the first battleship […]
Honoring Alexander Hamilton’s Birthday
#OnThisDay At 17 years of age, Alexander Hamilton wrote a captivating letter to his father about a devastating hurricane that destroyed much of St. Croix in 1772. Once published, it changed the course of his life and history forever. Today is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Alexander Hamilton. 🎈 SaveSave SaveSave Discover 6 Important Quotes […]
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, […]
Running a Mom and Pop Shop in St. Croix ~ 1900
Ever wonder what the mom-and-pop stores sold in the Danish West Indies? Generally speaking, EVERYTHING! Our forefather opened several stores in his lifetime, each with an eclectic collection of items from various places around the world. Opening the Store On August 4, 1900, Henry O. Creque opened a store in St. Croix. It was called The American Notion […]