When I first saw this faded photograph of an ocean liner, I thought I would never know her identity. 📷 Like most of the photographs in our ancestors albums, nothing was written on the back of the picture. As I looked closely, I realized that the ship wasn’t anchored inside the Charlotte Amalie harbor, but rather, behind Hassel Island,where all the oversized […]
🇺🇸 St. Thomas
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 of Portsmouth, England with a cargo of mail. The Wreck Unfortunately, five hundred miles off Lisbon, the vessel ran into trouble! Gale force winds battered the boat until most of […]
How ALL SOUL’S DAY Was Honored ~ 1930s
Generations of our family were raised in the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Thomas. Every year, we followed the traditions of the Catholic faith, celebrating and commemorating the religious doctrine. All Soul’s Day All Soul’s Day, celebrated on November 2nd, was a day of prayer and was honored with a pilgrimage to the […]
The Loss of a Loved One Aboard the SS Proteus ~ 1941
As I was flipping though the pages of an old album, a small faded photograph of a sailor in his uniform fell onto the floor! I picked it up and didn’t recognize the person. As the family historian, I feel as though I can identify everyone, regardless of age in a photograph. Curious, I contacted a relative […]
Dancing with the Danmark Cadets ~ 1951
Above, the Governor, Morris F. de Castro observes the Conga line at Government House, while hosting a party for the Danmark cadets. My mother remembers fondly the pretty, lace dress she wore that evening with the tangerine lining underneath. The first of many visits of the Danmark occurred on January 17, 1934. She was a picturesque […]
Purchasing the FIRST Commemorative Stamp ~ 1937
When the announcement of the issuing of a commemorative stamp for the US Virgin Islands was published, many island citizens were eager to purchase a small part of their heritage! 🇻🇮 On December 15, 1937, my grandfather attempted to be one of the first to purchase his set but was deprived of the privilege. That honor went to Enrique Vazquez, a […]
The JUMPING Jumbie Bed ~ 1934
Growing up in the US Virgin Islands has been a fascinating experience, one that I could never forget. Where else could one say they lived in a haunted house where strange happenings were the norm? 👻 My grandmother shared many haunted house stories with us and some we experienced first hand. However, this story is one […]
Honoring the Men of the MARION ~ 1930s
The USCG Marion was a 125-foot patrol boat. She carried 20 enlisted men. After finding this photograph of the USCG Marion’s crew in our family’s album, I was curious about their deployment in the islands. The photograph was obviously taken at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island, a business our great-grandfather owned. He must have taken it while […]