The Schooner, Gaviota Today marks the 95th anniversary of the hauling of the ill-fated schooner, Gaviota at the Creque Marine Railway. This beautiful, three-masted, trading schooner was built in Cataño, Puerto Rico by Guillermo Valello in 1920. Designed for the inter-island trade, she was captained by Juan Cruz. On this day, she made the 100-mile voyage for repairs at Hassel Island. Gaviota’s Fate […]
US Virgin Islands
The 3 Most Captivating Qualities About St. Thomas ~ 1912
St. Thomas, with its beautiful, commodious harbour and strategic position in the Caribbean, has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. In March of 1912, one visitor was so impressed with her experiences on the island, that she wrote a letter to the local newspaper. Mrs. McDonald and her family were traveling on the Victoria Louise, bound from New York to St. Thomas. Below are a […]
How Pencil-Written Notes and Photographs Preserved Schooner’s History ~ 1920
The Meteor Today marks the 96th anniversary of the arrival of the vessel, Meteor, at the Creque Marine Railway. Sailing over one hundred miles, Captain Prince brought the schooner to Hassel Island to utilize its maritime facilities. As she has hoisted up the ramp, her dimensions were quickly recorded, 75 feet by 25 feet. Today, those pencil-written notes and rare photographs are the only evidence to her size […]
Leon A. Mawson Remembers Civil Rights Leader, Rothschild Francis ~ 1930s
In 1987, Leon A. Mawson published his first book, Persecuted and Prosecuted. It was about the life of the Civil Rights leader, Rothschild “Polly” Francis. While working as a court stenographer in St. Thomas during the late 1920’s, Mr. Mawson was privy to the prejudices and injustices directed at Mr. Francis in the court room. As a reluctant […]
How a Small, Ceramic Ornament Brought Back Memories of Childhood ~ 1930s
Have you ever encountered an object from your childhood that you haven’t seen in years, and all of a sudden, a flood of memories returned that you had long forgotten? This happened to our mother recently when she spotted a delicate figurine, originally belonging to her grandmother, on a relative’s bookshelf. Her family member was given the item […]
The Formation of the St. Thomas Rifle Club ~ 1935
The Rifle Club Besides classic cars, the men in our family loved target practice! Leon A. Mawson, Henry O. Creque, and Dante de Lagarde enjoyed this sport as well as their friends, Albert Commissiong, Carl Martin, Denis Souffront, Norman Griggs and Mr. Towles. Forming the Rifle Club In 1935, an additional nine members joined together to form an official […]
ELSIE BAKER Performs in the Virgin Islands! ~ 1932
In the 1930s, famous celebrities were invited to the islands by the first civilian Governor, Dr. Paul M. Pearson. He held a deep love for the arts and believed the island community would as well. One of the first artists he invited was Louise Stallings. Others included the Hampton Quartette, the poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, as […]
How Early Medical Pioneers Made a Difference ~ 1932
KUDOS to the early medical pioneers that advocated for higher levels of health care in the islands! Dr. Mortenson, Dr. Knud-Hansen, Dr. Christensen, Dr. Stafford, Dr. Lanclos and Dr. Sumner were just a few of the individuals who made a difference in the medical and dental fields during the early twentieth century. Prior to 1917, there were just a few dedicated […]