Vintage Stories from the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands History and Culture in Photographs
Big Job Pumping Out The Barge ~ 1930
In 1930, a potential client representing the United Sugar Company in Humacao, Puerto Rico, inquired about having the company’s barge hauled at the Creque Marine Railway. He spoke with Mr. Creque, who promptly responded with the price of hauling: 75 cents/gross ton, plus launching and each day on the rails. Repairing the Barge Three days after Christmas, […]
Sugarcane Laborers Return Home on a German Cargo Ship ~ 1912
During the summer of 1912, many seasonal sugarcane laborers from the British Virgin Islands, working in the Dominican Republic, returned by steamer to St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies. SS Prasident At the end of July, the German passenger-cargo ship, SS Prasident departed Kingston, Jamaica with eight passengers en route to Santo Domingo. She picked up at […]
The Arrival of an Airship! ~ 1925
In 1925, one of the most remarkable events occurred in the history of the Virgin Islands. An incredible airship flew over the harbor of St. Thomas for the very first time! Commander Captain George W. Steel Jr. received a special request from Governor Phillip Williams. The governor wanted Captain Steel to […]
Tortola Sloop Caught With Contraband! ~ 1933
From 1920 to 1933, the US Virgin Islands was included in the nationwide ban during prohibition. Despite the law, many inhabitants imported liquor secretly. Contraband Found! In November 1933, a Tortola sloop was found wrecked on White rock off St. Thomas. The owner reported to Harbormaster Simmons that he had no idea how the vessel came to be in St. […]
Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917
Between 1914 and 1939, the Dominican Sugarcane plantations employed hundreds of seasonal cane workers from the British Virgin Islands! 🇻🇬 According to Canefields of the Dominican Republic, by Will Johnson, the sugar factories in La Romana and San Pedro de Macoris paid between $20 and $30 weekly for six consecutive days of work. In the Leeward islands, the average salary was barely $12 per […]
See the Four-Masted Schooner Before She was Destroyed by Fire ~ 1920
Our ancestors purchased many of their properties at auctions! They bought Cane Garden Bay, Carrot Bay, a portion of Peter Island and Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands, as well as properties in the Danish West Indies. One particular purchase our forefather loved was the Marine Railway on Hassel Island. He was proud to be the only bidder for the nine acre parcel. Photographs […]
Sad Sea Catastrophe: The Loss of the British Sloop, SYRIA ~ 1912
The history of the Creque family is filled with intrigue and adventure! However, it also has its fair share of calamities. Six branches of the family have been involved in terrible sea catastrophes! Six Sea Catastrophes In 1902, J. Creque, a fireman aboard the cable ship Grappler, lost his life after Mount Pelee in Martinique erupted. In 1941, a relative of a […]
Rare Photograph of the EAGLE at the Railway ~ 1920s
Ever wonder what the inter-island sloops were transporting below in their holds? Some may think it contraband and many times it was, but mostly it was passengers, cases of fruit, home grown vegetables and cattle. During the early 1900s, a popular little sloop called the Eagle was making the trek between Danish West Indies, Tortola and […]
How a Welterweight Champion Won His Title ~ 1932
During the 1930s, supporting the welterweight champion was big entertainment in the US Virgin Islands. While researching an old family photo of a boxer I believe to be El Matahombre, I found over forty articles about the sport. El Matahombre’s real name was Carlos Christian. He was known as the Man Killer. Originally from Puerto Rico and trained by the great Esau Stephens, he moved to […]
Douglas Fairbanks Sr and Lady Ashley Attract the Crowds! ~ 1935
Would you believe this photograph was only an inch wide by an inch and a half in height? 👀 I found several of these miniature photos in our family’s photo album and couldn’t imagine who they might be. Our ancestors documented many events in the history of the Virgin Islands, so I knew, with a little digging, […]