Discover the Fascinating History of the US Virgin Islands!

Servicing the USS RANGER at the Railway ~ 1925

Source: Library of Congress The USS Ranger In August 1924, a deadly hurricane caused severe damage to the homes on Tortola […]

Repairing the MAMIE COYLE ~ 1929

Photo Source: Memphis Public Library and Information Center The Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island provided hauling and marine repair services to […]

CONSTITUTION DAY Celebrated! ~ 1937

On September 17, 1937, Constitution Day was celebrated in the US Virgin Islands! The signing of the Declaration of Independence as one of the most important […]

Louise Stallings Performs For Those Less Fortunate ~ 1932

Governor Paul M. Pearson was a great supporter of the arts! In 1932, he invited Miss Louise Stallings, a young American soprano to perform. […]

The Most Beautiful Ship in the World Visits St. Thomas ~ 1938

When I first saw this faded photograph of an ocean liner, I thought I would never know her identity. 📷 Like most of […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Watching the St. John-Pelican Cay Sloop Race ~ 1937

Boat racing was one of the sports our great-grandparents loved watching! In 1937, hundreds of spectators enjoyed watching a sailboat […]

Visiting a German School Ship! ~ 1938

I’ve looked at this photograph at least a hundred times, hoping to figure out what vessel our family members were […]

Listening to a Pulitzer Prize Winner, Edna St. Vincent Millay ~ 1935

At the suggestion of her physician and close friends, Edna St. Vincent Millay arrived in St. Thomas for a lengthy, […]

Selling Hudson Cars and Coty Cosmetics ~ 1937

The men in my family loved cars! 🚗 My great grandfather started importing Chevrolets in the 1930s and my grandfather followed suit […]

The Car Accident ~ 1931

Have you ever dug through a box of old family albums and come across an interesting photograph that seemed to have a […]

A Family Favorite: Frenchtown’s Normandie Bar ~ 1940s

(L to R) Rene de Lagarde, Tony Daniels and Dennis de Lagarde. “Standing next to our stand-by, Normandie”. When the […]

A Special Gift for the First Lady, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt ~ 1934

Governor Paul M. Pearson with Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and traveling companion, Lorena Hickok. Standing on the steps of Government House, […]

Rare BAT FISH Captured off Hassel Island! ~ 1939

Have you ever gone fishing and caught something you’ve never seen before? In 1939, a family member found a fascinating […]

Local Artists Thrilled as 30 Pianos Arrive on the SS DOMINICA ~ 1934

Within weeks of discovering this old photograph of the SS Dominica in our family’s collection, I came across an interesting article in the newspapers about […]