By Dr. Dante Beretta For every bad, there is a good. West Indian saying When the barometer reading steadily dropped and the weather turned ominous, island residents understood this as a foreboding sign. 💨 Our grandfather, George Beretta fastened the jalousies and shutters and made his last-minute preparations. The Berettas hunkered down in their family home, Crown […]
Danish West Indies
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 […]
Unveiling the Bust of King Christian IX ~ 1909
Long ago, it was recorded that August 5, 1909, would always be remembered in the “history of St. Thomas”, as the day the public monument to King Christian the Ninth was erected. Not true. Many have forgotten what August 5, 1909, meant for so many Danish citizens. King Christian the Ninth For many, King Christian was the most beloved Danish […]
The Yacht, Diablesse Visits St. Thomas ~ 1914
#OnThisDay in 1914, one of my favorite authors sailed into Charlotte Amalie harbor. Captain Frederic A. Fenger, was an adventurous explorer with several Caribbean books to his credit. Books About the Virgin Islands One of my favorites was his 1926 novel, “The Cruise of Diablesse”. He also wrote Alone in the Caribbean which chronicled his […]
How Panama Hats Became So Popular ~ 1913
The “Tourist Day” line of postcards was a novel idea in the Danish West Indies! They were produced to show visiting traveler’s the island’s beauty and various offerings. During the early 1900s, steamers like the Victoria Louise and the Megantic brought tourists to the islands in record numbers. When they came ashore, enthusiastic vendors guided them through their eclectic line of postcards, hats, craftwork […]
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 […]
How the Coaling Women Persevered ~ 1907
One of the unique scenes on Hassel Island was the line of women who served as coal carriers or coal porters on the coaling dock. The baskets of coal averaged 80 to 100 pounds, yet these coaling women carried them on the tops of their heads without steadying them with their hands. Here’s an interesting […]
The Disappearance of the Sloop, SPIDER ~ 1916
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 […]