Saturday, Aug. 26, there was an overwhelming attendance of volunteers who turned out to help clean up Hassel Island. Families, couples, singles, young, old, it didn’t matter, everyone showed up in mass assembly. But what is the interest and importance of Hassel Island? To answer that, let’s look at its history. Hassel Island forms the western edge of St. Thomas’s harbor. The island is approximately 135 acres in area. The highest elevation on the island is the southern peak, at 267 feet. The...

As children, both Dr. Leonard Richardson & I, Etienne A. Gibbs, knew Mr. Amadeo Estrill as the friendliest man on St. Thomas who wasn't shy to walk up to anyone and spark a friendly conversation after a greeting of "Good morning!" or "Good afternoon!". Everyone on Main Street in Downtown Charlotte Amalie knew Mr. Estrill by his unique features: painter's coverall, smile, laughter, friendliness, but most impressively, his colorful expletives! I have never known Mr. Estrill's expletives to...

Euell Aira Nielsen, a native of Sewell, New Jersey, recently relocated to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. A living historian, Euell is the 3rd of 4 generations to be members at the First African Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA), the nation's oldest African American Presbyterian congregation, founded by a former slave in 1807. Euell has operated several small businesses, to include, Herstories (historical portrayals), Twist This (balloon twisting), Island Treazures (handmade crafts) &...

The most anticipated of national holidays are the 3 days of Festival in August (August Monday) that are set aside to commemorate the 1 August 1834 emancipation of African slaves. British Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival 28th July - 9th August 2017 = A celebration of their ancestors' freedom from colonialism & their cultural history. During that time, they showcase the culture & history of their people in grand style with extravaganzas of local & international music, pageants,...

July 3rd, Emancipation Day (E-Day) in the US Virgin Islands, is public holiday commemorating abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies in 1848. E-Day is celebrated in many former colonies on various dates to recognize the abolition of slavery, serfdom, or other forms of servitude. The Danish West India Company settled on part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, which is now known as the US Virgin Islands, in the 17th century. The trans-Atlantic slave trade to the archipelago began in...

The St. John Festival is a month-long event that starts with steel pan performances & pageants, then builds up to the week of July 3rd (Emancipation Day) and the 4th (Independence Day). That final week is party time with the big events: the Village, the Food Fair, & the Parade. Carnival is the biggest annual event in the Virgin Islands & throughout the Caribbean. In the US Virgin Islands: VI Carnival on St. Thomas in April/May; the St. John Festival in June/July; & St....

According to Mrs. Cedelle Petersen-Christopher, "Cariso is a melodic memory of our African past. It is an art form that was brought to the Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean during the enslavement of West Africans. It is a form of communication that was done secretly so that the slave master could not understand. It is an art form that was sung by the ancestors to transmit secret messages of rebellion; freedom songs of historical and current events; storytelling of long, long ago;...

Caribbean music genres are diverse. They are each synthesis of African, European, Indian,& Indigenous influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves, & contributions from other communities (such as Indo-Caribbean music). Some of the styles to gain wide popularity outside of the Caribbean include, calypso, dancehall, reggae, reggaetón (musical genre coming out of Puerto Rico in the late 1990s that were influenced by hip hop, Latin American, & Caribbean music), salsa,...

Memorial Day, the day we pay respects to our fallen military, is observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates all servicemen & servicewomen of the United States. People visit cemeteries & memorials on Memorial Day. Since the attack on America on September 11, 2001, a total of 147 women deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait have lost their lives in service to America. Most Americans, & even members of the media, not aware that 147 brave servicewomen have died in the War...

Mr. Joseph Lorand, Veteran Postman, celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a letter carrier in the Danish West Indies. On May 31, 1911, Mr. Lorand was recognized for his great contributions. He was awarded the silver cross of Dannebrogsmand. As acting Government Secretary, Baumann made the presentation, he praised & congratulated Mr. Lorand for this high distinction & for 25 years of dedicated service. ~ Courtesy ofVINTAGE VIRGIN ISLANDS™ National Maritime Day, celebrated May 22nd in the...

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It is celebrated similarly in the US Virgin Islands. Another celebration is the anniversary of Moravian Church on St. Thomas. St. Thomas Police Week: May 14-May 21, 2017 May 14: VIPD Officers to attend church.  May 15: Memorial Service &...

Born Sept. 15, 1899 in her Bunker Hill home on St. Thomas in the then Danish West Indies, Mrs. Blanche Mary Joseph Sasso, is the youngest of 5 children, & was known affectionately as Mamma Sasso, Auntie Blanche, Granny Sasso, & The Grand Lady. The Grand Lady & her sister played an important role in Virgin Islands history in 1921 when they embroidered the territory's first flag. Mrs. Sasso went on to educate generations of young Virgin Islanders. Since she was a child, Mrs. Sasso...

The Virgin Islands Carnival Committee announces 2017 Virgin Islands Carnival theme: “A Centennial Commemoration for our 65th Carnival Celebration” as submitted by Mr. Clement “Cain” Magras. History of St. Thomas Carnival: The 1st carnival was staged in 1912 during the final years of Danish occupation & lapsed during World War I. Revived in 1952; Carnival has become the 2nd largest festival in the Caribbean. A month-long series of dazzling pageants & talent shows are held to choose...

The demise of the islands’ first residents, the Indians, was evident when the first Europeans after Columbus arrived in the late 1500s. Many countries expressed interest in the islands in the 1600s, including Holland, France, England, Spain, Denmark, & the Knights of Malta. But it was the Danes who established the first settlement on St. Thomas in 1672, expanding to St. John in 1694. St. Croix was added to the Danish West India Company in 1733, & plantations soon sprung up all over...

Valerie will address some of the events she attended: Parades, Book Launchings, Museum Openings, Fundraisers, Tour of the Danmark Training Schooner March 26, 2017 2:00 p.m.: Parade starting at the National Park Dock and ending at The Battery, Cruz Bay, St. John. 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Governor’s Reception at The Battery. 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.: Cruz Bay Block Party at Franklin Powell Park. March 29, 2017 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Governor’s Reception at Fort Christian in Charlotte Amalie, St....

Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson: Dr. Cita is an executive consultant, speaker, author, certified mediator, & life coach. Describing herself as a student-for-life, Dr. Cita holds advanced degrees in Management, Leadership, Human Resources Development, & Social Psychology. A decorated veteran with 29 years of service, Dr. Cita is passionate about giving back to the community, especially in areas of youth education, the homeless, & disabled veterans.  Mrs. Turiya Hodge: Turiya is the...

The St. Thomas Harbor is one of the most important commercial ports in the West Indies of the 1800s. The harbor was a free port. Traffic there was extensive because of its good situation & fine facilities. It was popular among merchants & trading companies for its good facilities: the West Indies’ largest floating dock, good machine shops, clear channel marking, & inexpensive harbor fees. But it was also notorious for 2 problems: hurricanes & diseases, particularly yellow...

Main Street traverses east-west through Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas, parallel to the Waterfront to the South. As the capital and the largest city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie was founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer houses" or "beer halls"). The Main Street, the main tourist shopping center, is known for its Danish colonial architecture, building structure and history, with streets and places throughout the city with Danish names. Charlotte Amalie has many residential...

Main Street traverses east-west through Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas, parallel to the Waterfront to the South. As the capital and the largest city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie was founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer houses" or "beer halls"). The Main Street, the main tourist shopping center, is known for its Danish colonial architecture, building structure and history, with streets and places throughout the city with Danish names. Charlotte Amalie has many...

Our continued tour of the Main Street stores and their proprietors is pre-empted until next week. In keeping with the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming Virgin Islands Transfer Centennial celebration, we'll address several locals who intend to call-in with some tidbits and memories. Because this year, 2017, is the US Virgin Islands Centennial Year when the United States Virgin Islands will commemorate the transferring the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States 100 years...

Main Street traverses east-west through Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas, parallel to the Waterfront to the South. As the capital and the largest city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie was founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer houses" or "beer halls"). The Main Street, the main tourist shopping center, is known for its Danish colonial architecture, building structure and history, with streets and places throughout the city with Danish names. Charlotte Amalie has many...

Our stroll down Main Street continues; however, today we shall focus on the Rothschild Francis Square, our turn-around point. Better known as Market Square, it has long been a center of activity on the island of St. Thomas. In fact, the remains of a significant pre-Columbian settlement were uncovered near there in 2014 when a Main Street construction project turned up 2,000-year-old pottery and many other artifacts.  The square has a dubious reputation as the site of many slave auctions in...

We continue our virtual stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. First, a brief history Saint Thomas and its harbor, particularly because it is in the capital city of Charlotte Amalie: After St. Thomas became a free port, it experienced palmy days during the second half of the 18th century as a regional shipping center. A significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses along Dronningens Gade. St. Thomas...

Join us as we continue our stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. First, a brief history Saint Thomas, particularly its capital city of Charlotte Amalie: After it became a free port, the island experienced palmy days during the second half of the 18th century as a regional shipping center. A significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses along Dronningens Gade. Shipping from Denmark fluctuated heavily...