Vintage Stories from the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands History and Culture in Photographs
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 in the 1940s. His specialty was Hudsons and Studebakers. The Hudson Motor Dealership Leon A. Mawson opened his first showroom on Main Street at 11 Dronningens Gade on August 18, 1946. He had been selling Hudson […]
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 story to tell? 📷 A few months after finding this photograph, I stumbled upon a newspaper clipping about this very same car! 🚕 Apparently, it was involved in a collision with a telephone post! In the 1920s, […]
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 Normandie Bar opened for business in 1937, many of my family members considered it their favorite watering hole! My Uncles Frank, Richard, Ron and even my father were frequent visitors to this establishment, much to the disillusionment of my […]
Carnival Ball Held in Honor of Former President, Theodore Roosevelt ~ 1916
The third Carnival to be held in St. Thomas, was planned to coincide with the arrival of one of the most admired men in the world. The honoured guest was former US President, Theodore Roosevelt! He and his wife, Edith were traveling through the West Indies aboard the SS Guiana. They planned to make a brief stop in St. […]
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, St. Thomas, after visiting the public schools. The First Lady of the United States was joyously received by enthusiastic crowds when she landed at Kings’ Wharf in St. Thomas for a short stay. The Community […]
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 species of Bat Fish in the St. Thomas! While diving off the Creque Marine Railway, Henry Creque speared something he thought was a fish, but on closer inspection was not so sure. It turned out […]
This Schooner’s Photograph Became a Popular Postcard ~ 1912
After I saw this postcard online of a vessel at the Creque Marine Railway, I thought I would share a recent discovery I made about it. Creque Family Photo Collection In our family’s collection, I found two faded photos of this identical schooner! They were 8×10’s, mounted on yellowing card stock. On the right-hand corner […]
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 this very ship! During Governor Pearson’s term (1931-1935), he promoted the love of music and the arts by inviting various groups of singers, and lecturers to the island. Invited Performers In 1932, the Hampton Quartet and Elsie Baker performed. A few […]
A Moment with a Movie Star: DANA ANDREWS ~ 1951
Have you ever met a movie star? It’s an exciting experience, especially for a starry-eyed student growing up on a small island. While chatting with my mother about her childhood memories, she shared this encounter with the famous movie star, Dana Andrews. He arrived in St. Thomas to film an underwater movie with co-stars Richard […]
The History of the St. Thomas Wharf Dem by Dr. Dante Beretta
“At St. Thomas, the town is the island and the harbor is the town.” William Gifford Palgrave St. Thomas, with its deep natural harbor and strategic location, has been an important center for shipping and trade for centuries, and its success can be attributed to the many wharves available for easy access. The wharves, in […]