Cruz Bay Painting A rare coastal watercolor of Cruz Bay, St. John in the US Virgin Islands is up for auction. It’s by the Danish artist, Andreas Riis Carstensen. Carstensen specialized in maritime scenes using bright tropical colors which reflected the natural beauty of his environment. This rare find is signed by Carstensen himself in the […]
St. Jan 🇩🇰
The Oldest Inhabitant from St. John Dies ~ 1909
The Obituary of Salome Anthony of the Island of St. John Finding obituaries in the old newspapers is a wonderful way to learn about the history of the Island’s inhabitants. I found Salome Antony’s obituary fascinating. She was reported to be the oldest inhabitant from the island of St. John to pass away. Here are […]
How the Moravian Church in St. John Celebrated their First Harvest Festival ~ 1901
What was a Harvest Festival and how was it celebrated in St. John? A Harvest Festival was an annual get together that celebrated the success of the harvest grown in a given region. It was a time when families displayed their appreciation for the nourishment crops provided. The week was traditionally honored with Church celebrations and family […]
Close Call for Two St. John Fishermen When Their Boat Capsized ~ 1908
Fishermen’s Boat Capsizes Two local fishermen swam for their lives using nothing but the buoys from their fishpots to stay afloat. It happened over a hundred years ago on a blustery, Saturday morning in September, in the midst of hurricane season. Between 9 and 10 am, Thomas Rymer, and his friend, Alexander Benjamin were out […]
Pass It On, An Inspirational Poem ~ 1913
Here’s a little poem to brighten your day, found in the Danish newspapers. 🗞 Pass It On by Rev. Henry Burton Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on T’was not given for thee alone. Pass it on Let it travel down the years, Let it wipe another’s tears, Till in heaven, the deed appears— […]
Africa Arise, An Inspirational Poem by Charles A. Emanuel ~ 1912
The following poem was found in a little book called, A Souvenir by Charles A. Emanuel from St. Thomas. ~ 1912 There are so many wonderful poems written long ago about the Virgin Islands. I love discovering them and sharing them here on the blog. Africa Arise By Charles A. Emanuel Africa arise! The dawn […]
11 Different Uses for St. Johns Bay Rum ~ 1917
Different Uses for St. Johns Bay Rum According to this old advertisement, St. Johns Bay Rum was a popular remedy for everything! It was used as fragrant toilet water, hair lotion, shampoo, shaving disinfectant, an invigorator, a headache cure, for rheumatism, dyspepsia, heartburn, protection against mosquitoes, and as a remedy for seasickness! To learn more about […]
How Whit Monday was Celebrated in St. John ~ 1906
Discovering a Clue to this Postcard’s Identity Unbeknownst to me, this postcard image held one important clue to its date and occasion.🔎 I’ve been trying to identify it for a long time until a friend from St. John, spotted the schooner, Viking anchored in the background. With this information, I was able to find the […]