Chatting with Dr Leonard Richardson

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 National Park Service acquired about 95% of Hassel Island in 1978 and is working to preserve and interpret the island’s rich history. Three sites on the island are owned by the Virgin Islands Government, and there are 3 private in-holdings. Originally, Hassel Island was a peninsula. In the 1860s, the Danish government separated the land from mainland St. Thomas with the hopes of creating better water circulation in the harbor. The earliest documentation of the ownership of Hassel Island is under the name Estate Orkanshullet. This Danish name is translated to Hurricane Hole. Today, the island is named after James Hazzell, who purchased the land in 1784 and whose family maintained a presence on the land until the 20th century.  There are many alternate spellings of the family name. Hassel Island is open for public visitation. Explore the website to learn about Hassel’s rich history, the many unique sites on the island, and the constant conservation, preservation, and interpretation efforts made by the National Park Service, the St. Thomas Historical Trust, and dedicated community members. Courtesy of the Virgin Islands National Park and the St. Thomas Historical Trust at www.HasselIsland.org/

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 be malicious or used in anger. My guess is that he  suffered from what today psychiatry would refer to as Tourrete's Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics & vocalizations, often accompanied by the compulsive utterance of obscenities. Born on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Nov 1, 1908, Mr. Estrill died of a stroke at the age 91, July 26, 2000, in Central Florida where relocated the year before. Mr. Canada Lee was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata March 3, 1907, in New York City. His father, James Cornelius Lionel Canegata, was born on St. Croix & migrated to New York. Raised by his parents in Harlem, Mr. Lee had an aptitude for music. He made his concert debut at age 11, performing a student recital at Aeolian Hall. But after 7 years of music studies, without explanation, he put away his violin & ran away from home. In 1921, aged 14, Mr. Lee went to Saratoga Springs, New York, & began a 2-year career as a jockey. Mr. Lee later starred in Welles's Broadway production of Native Son (1941). A champion of civil rights in the 1930s & 1940s, Mr. Lee was blacklisted & died shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Perhaps his most famous film role was in Alfred Hitchcock's movie, Lifeboat (1944).

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) & Dimaje (photography). Her interests and hobbies include animals, reading & researching, spending time with family, traveling, riding her bike, photography (including underwater photography}, crafting, genealogy, & historical research. In March 2017, Euell received an award for her 62+ writings on African Americans for the website, Blackpast.org . Since then she has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles about her cemetery photography, military service and historical re-enacting. She is currently working on a manuscript about her past influential church members. Euell attended Freedom Theater, Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) & Community College of Philadelphia. A wife, mother of 3 boys, & grandmother to 3 girls, Euell is also a US  Army Reserves Vet & the Chaplain for the 2016-2017 administration of Zeresh #103, Order of Eastern Star. Before relocating to St. Thomas, USVI, Euell took on the task of becoming a living historian, assuming the role of Patriot, Hannah Till, a former cook to George Washington, Lafayette, and their troops, and former member of First African Presbyterian Church. Visit Euell's historical works at: http://j.mp/2vFekGy

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, Food Fairs, J'ouvert (early morning street jamming), parades, gospel celebrations, & folklore presentations. Visit the Virgin Islands Festival on Facebook to stay up to date on all the Festival Celebrations. The major national holidays in the British Virgin Islands: New Year's Day (1 January), Commonwealth Day (13 March), Sovereign's Birthday, Territory Day, Festival (the first Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday in August; a/k/a August Monday), Saint Ursula's Day (21 October), & Boxing Day (26 December). In November 2000, the Legislative Council replaced the holiday commemorating the birthday of the heir to the throne with a national holiday commemorating the birth of H. Lavity Stoutt (7 March). 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. Festival is celebrated with beauty contests, calypso competitions, food fair, parades, public musical performances, dances, & family reunions. Religious holidays include Christmas, Good Friday, & Easter Monday. Read more: www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/British-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz4nK4wCG5B 

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 1673. Slaves mainly worked on sugarcane plantations. They were forced to work in difficult conditions and were treated inhumanely. This led to several large revolts, such as the 1733 slave insurrection on Saint John which lasted for 6 months. In 1835, Peter von Scholten became governor of the islands. He tried to lighten the burden of the slaves by permitting the private ownership and creating schools for them. When a non-violent [sic] slave revolt broke out on the island of Saint Croix in 1848, von Scholten decided to emancipate all slaves. Slavery on the Danish West Indian Islands was officially abolished on July 3, 1848. The anniversary of this event was declared a public holiday in the US Virgin Islands along with the Fourth of July when slaves in the United States were emancipated. E-Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent. It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude. Courtesy in part by:  https://anydayguide.com/calendar/2177 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day     

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. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Carnival in Dec./Jan. In the British Virgin Islands: the BVI Emancipation Festival on Tortola in July/Aug. & the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival in April. Here's an abbreviated calendar of the fore coming events: 18 June: The FESTIVAL PRINCESS PAGEANT at 6:00 pm Winston Wells Ball Field 24 June: Festival Queen Pageant at 8:00 pm Winston Wells Ball Field 25 June: Festival Food Fair & Coronation at 1:00 pm Franklin A. Powell, Sr. Park 25 June: Festival Boat Races at 3:00 pm Cruz Bay Harbor 28 June: Festival Village Grand Opening of O'Connorville at 7:00 pm St. John Festival Village 30 June: Festival Children's Village at 6:00 pm St. John National Park Field 2 July: Festival Poker Run at 12:00 pm Cruz Bay Waterfront 2 July: Festival Horse Races at 1:00 pm Clinton E. Phipps Race Track 3 July: Festival Emancipation Program at 1:00 pm St. John Festival Village 4 July: J'ouvert at 4:00 am St. John National Park Field 4 July: Festival Parade at 11:00 am St. John National Park Field 4 July: Festival Fireworks at 9:00 pm Cruz Bay Harbor Visit St. John Festival Schedule: www.vicarnivalschedule.com/stjohn/

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; and to make biting and stinging social commentary." "Cariso which means 'carry it so' was sung by women exclusively in a call and response style accompanied by the men playing the barrel drums. At times the women would compete with each other and use their wit, poetic skills, and singing ability. It is on the sugar cane fields, towns, and villages, vegetable and fish markets this art form was practiced throughout the Caribbean. Long ago it was called Cariso and today it is called Calypso." "It’s important for me to share this art form that was handed down from generation to generation.  It must be continued for the preservation of the history of the Virgin Islands." Cedelle Petersen-Christopher, born on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands to Edna & Pierpont Petersen, was the 10th child of the family. Almost all of her siblings were in the music industry whether singing, drumming, limbo dancing, or playing bass, you would hear the rhythms throughout the house. Cedelle, with her sister, Sherryl Petersen, joined the St. Croix Talent Club in the 1960s to sing blues & R&B in local shows & many Caribbean islands. After graduating high school, she attended UVI where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Education & a Master's in Education from Cambridge College. Cedelle taught as a school teacher for 31 years before retiring in 2014.

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, soca, & zouk, among others. The Caribbean is also related to Central American and South American music. The complex & deep origins of Caribbean music are best understood if you have knowledge of Western Hemisphere colonial immigration patterns, human trafficking patterns, the resulting melting pot of people each of its nations, & territories. Thus, this resulted in an influx of original musical influences. Colonial Caribbean ancestors were predominantly from West Africa, West Europe, & India. In the 20th & 21st centuries, immigrants also come from Taiwan, China, Indonesia/Java, & the Middle East. In addition, neighboring Latin American & North American (particularly hip hop & pop music) countries have naturally influenced Caribbean culture & vice versa. One must understand these influences to have a deep understanding of the resulting Caribbean music that reflects the culture of the people. Although there are musical commonalities among Caribbean nations & territories, the variation in immigration patterns & colonial domination tends to parallel the variations in musical influence. Language barriers (Spanish, Portuguese, English, Hindustani, Tamil, Telugu, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Yiddish, Yoruba, African languages, Indian languages, Amerindian languages, French, Indonesian, Javanese, & Dutch) are one of the strongest influences. Courtesy of Wikipedia.org

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 on Terrorism. With few exceptions, news stories about their tragic deaths usually appear only in the military press, or in small hometown newspaper stories & TV accounts that rarely capture national attention. Military hospitals nationwide have cared for many female heroes who have lost limbs. When 2 women Marines & a female sailor were killed in a Fallujah truck attack in June 2005, 11 more were sent to Brooke Medical Center in Texas, which specializes in the treatment of severe burns. 100s have received medals for serious injuries & for personal valor under fire. Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the Civil War. The Southerners honored their dead was the inspiration. After World War I, Memorial Day was extended to include all servicemen who died in any war or military action. Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day & the later Memorial Day were held on May 30th, regardless of the day of the week on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create 3-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. 

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 US each yea, reflects the gratitude that Americans have for the maritime industry & the benefits it brings to the country. It also recognizes ships & seafarers who have held a special place in the nation's history. Many communities & organizations in the US observe National Maritime Day in a variety of ways. Activities & events include open houses & special celebrations hosted by seaports. Some businesses may host special luncheons while other people attend memorial observances at Merchant Marine memorials. National Maritime Day is an observance but it is not a federal public holiday in the United States. Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern States honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men & women who died in any war or military action.Originally known as Decoration Day, its current name did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day, then Memorial Day, used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. On Armed Forces Day, the 3rd Saturday of May, we celebrate & thank those who are currently serving in the military.

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 & Parade at 4:00 pm from Emile Griffith Park to Fort Christian Parking Lot May 16: Mariel Newton Command’s Show & Tell Health Expo at Alvin McBean Ballpark at 9:30 am to include the VIPD Specialized Units. Students & Senior Citizens to attend. Health screening conducted by Dept. of Human Services. May 17: Show & Tell Cruz Bay, St. John at Julius Sprauve School at 2:00 pm to include VIPD’s K:9 Unit, Forensic Unit, Bomb Unit, Highway Safety, & VI Fire Service. May 18: Police in the Schools at 8:30 am to read to students. Family Game Night at VIRPO Bldg (former USO) at 7:00 pm. Everyone invited for fun, food, drinks, dominoes, pool, Bingo etc. May 19: Membership Drive Fish Fry at VIRPO at 5:00 pm to recognize to active employees with 20 years of service + with care packages to the less-fortunate. May 20: Family Fun Day at Emile Griffith Ballpark 11:30 am for entire family's day of fun, food, drinks, games. May 21: Law Enforcement Family Beach Day at Magen’s Bay Shed # 3 at 11:00 am, the last lap for Police Week 2017 events. VI Retired Police Organization Headquarters will be open & hosting activities every evening all week. Courtesy of www.Facebook.com/POLICEVI/

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 can remember her birthday brought rain. Tropical Storm, Jeanne, brought heavy downpours & gusty winds. "That's another melee," Mrs. Sasso stated. "From the time I was about 10 years up to now, there's never been a birthday without rain." Mrs. Sasso graduated Convent School on St. Thomas, where her musical talents were encouraged. She soon took up playing the cello & the piano. In fact, family members recall that her love for music continued to her final days. Eventually teaching on both St. Thomas & St. Croix, Mrs. Sasso began her teaching career in the public schools in 1921. Specializing in teaching the performing arts, she developed her own school on the 1st floor of her family home. Married to Ernest D. Sasso, a former Finance Commissioner, in 1921, the birth of their only child, Leah, led to the closing of her school. She later returned to teaching at Sts. Peter & Paul School in 1950, at which time she taught kindergarten, first, & second grades until 1967, the year after her husband died. Mrs. Sasso, named Teacher-of-the-Year on several occasions, died of respiratory failure at the age of 105 at 11:45 p.m. May 11th, 2005, surrounded by family members, at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. Although her daughter, Leah, followed her in death, Mrs. Sasso is survived a large extended family & a circle of close friends.

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 royalty to reign over the festival. Fun events such as a boat race, Greased Pig Contest, & Toddlers Derby entertain everyone. A series of elimination contests to crown top performers are called Calypso Tents. Calypsonians offer a satirical commentary on the state of the islands, oftentimes mocking the shenanigans of politicians. Other popular events held during Carnival is J'ouvert, a food fair presenting the islands’ best traditional eats & a competition to crown the King & Queen of the parade. The children's & adult’s parades close the lively month with brilliantly costumed & decorated troupes & floats. Theresa Marie Arnold-Davis, Cultural Fair Honoree: Theresa Marie Arnold-Davis has a passion for cooking which she developed during childhood as her family cooked for themselves & others as a means of living, with little education. Born on St. Croix to Leroy Arnold & Josephine Mulrain, Theresa has been participating in the Virgin Islands Carnival Cultural Fair since 1991. On this the 25th year of her participation, she is overjoyed to be named as the 2016 Carnival Cultural Fair Honoree. Also the 2014 St. Croix Carnival Food Fair Honoree, she became the 1st person to be honored by both Carnival Committees. Courtesy of http://www.vicarnival.com/

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 the islands. A treaty with the Dutch of Brandenburg in 1685 established St. Thomas as a slave-trading post. More than 200,000 slaves, primarily from Africa’s west coast, were forcibly shipped to the islands for the backbreaking work of harvesting cane, cotton, & indigo. St. John & St. Croix maintained a plantation economy, while St. Thomas developed as a trade center. Stripped of their dignity & freedom & fed up with the harsh conditions, in 1733 slaves attacked St. John’s Fort Frederiksvaern in Coral Bay, crippling operations for 6 months. In 1792 Denmark announced the cessation of the trade in humans. Freedom was not granted to slaves until 1848, when Moses “Buddhoe” Gottlieb led a revolution on St. Croix, 17 years before emancipation in the United States. After the freeing of slaves & the discovery of the sugar beet, agriculture in the islands declined. The industrial revolution ended the need for the islands as a shipping port, thus changing the economic environment. Little was heard of the islands until World War I, when the United States realized their strategic position & negotiated the purchase of the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. Although the islands were purchased in 1917, it wasn’t until 1927 that citizenship was granted to Virgin Islanders. The Organic Act of 1936 allowed for the creation of a senate, & from there the political process evolved. 

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. Thomas. March 30, 2017 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Governor’s Reception at Government House in Christiansted, St. Croix. March 31, 2017 Transfer Day Activities 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Parade on St. Croix. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Ceremony on St. Croix. 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Parade on St. Thomas. 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.: Ceremony on St. Thomas. April 2, 2017 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.: Centennial Gala Ball at Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort and Spa on St. Croix. Tickets are $75.00 each and can be purchased at Anally Farms or Undercover Books. www,ValerieSims.com/ www.VITransferCentennial.org www.Facebook.com/USVITransferCentennial/

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 owner of Myabah Consulting Services & founder of Social Media Saturdays, an online platform she's dedicated to helping professionals, organizations, & companies grow their business by social media strategic planning in the area of lead-generation. She understands that owning & operating a business come with many challenges but believes that social media marketing should not be one of them. Now back home. Mrs. Sara W. Connell: Sara, 2nd child of 6 born to now-deceased Arturo & Elesa Watlington, married to Olman Connell, is an alumna of Sts. Peter & Paul School. She became a Teacher at CAHS, Ivanna Eudora Kean HS, in the Adult Night School Program, Asst. Principal & Principal at IEKHS, & Principal at her alma mater, & an Educational Specialist at the Dept. of Labor, among countless others.  Ms. Ivanna Eudora Kean: An educator for 52 years, Ms. Kean began her teaching career at the Hospital Gade School (now the J. Antonio Jarvis Elementary School). She later became the principal of the Vester Gade (now Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School). Miss Kean taught at the George Washington School (now Evelyn E. Marcelli Elementary School), the J. Antonio Jarvis Elementary School, and Charlotte Amalie High School. On February 27, 1979, this beloved educator passed away leaving a legacy behind.

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 fever & cholera. In the 1800s, an average of 2,000–3,000 ships came annually to St. Thomas. In the 1860s, this increased to 4,600 annually. About half of the tall ships arrived from Caribbean ports & a quarter from European ports. Vessels under the Danish flag made up a smaller share. In the 1820s, it was 23%; in the final year before the sale in 1917, it was only 13%. Most ships in the 1820s sailed under an American flag, but in the 1910s British ships had become completely dominant. The vessels in the harbor became larger. In the 1st half of the 1800s, the average tonnage increased from 60 to 100 metric tons. From the 1820s to 1916, the total tonnage increased from 150,000 to 900,000 metric tons annually. In 1823, the first steamship ever put in to St. Thomas was a small North American steamer. From the 1860s onward, steamships came to the fore in earnest. In 1864 they accounted for 10% of the tonnage in the port. In order to hold their own in international competition, extensive improvements were made to the harbor by the Danes at the start of the 1900s. The basin was deepened, wharves were constructed & conditions were generally improved. There were great expectations for the increased traffic that would pass the Danish colony on the way to & from the newly-opened Panama Canal. However, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 frustrated all expectations, & the colony was sold to the USA in 1917.

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 buildings and stores of historical importance, with several of them on Main Street. During the time of the Danish West Indies (1754–1917), the city was known as Taphus for its many beer halls. Taphus is Danish and directly translates to "beer houses", "beer halls", or (most literally) "taphouse". In 1691 the town received a more respectable name by being named Amalienborg (in English Charlotte Amalie) in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714). Between 1921 and 1936, the city was named St. Thomas. In 1936 it was renamed Charlotte Amalie.

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 buildings and stores of historical importance, with several of them on Main Street. Before the time of the Danish West Indies (1754–1917), the city was known as Taphus for its many beer halls. Taphus is Danish and directly translates to "beer houses", "beer halls", or (most literally) "taphouse". Therefore, in today's episode, we shall attempt to continue our tour of Main Street from the Rothschild Francis Square to The Alvaro de Lugo Post Office, also known as the Emancipation Garden Post Office. Additionally, we have some relevant tidbits and surprises. March is designated as Virgin Islands History Month. This month is also the month when the Virgin Islands celebrate its centennial under the American flag. Dr. Denise Bennerson, a resident of Frederiksted, St. Croix, has created a United States Virgin Islands 100 Years Commemorative Pin as a keepsake and souvenir to commemorate this historical event. This limited-edition pin displays the Denmark Flag, the US Virgin Islands Flag, and United States Flag along with the shaking of hands to represent the current friendship between all places. To get your limited-edition United States Virgin Islands 100 Years Commemorative Pin while they last, go to https://goo.gl/fJfKyK

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 ago (March 31, 1917 to March 31, 2017), the US Virgin Islands Centennial Year will be recognized by many as one of yearlong activities.  Also, we are the first to announce In keeping with the Transfer Day Centennial celebration, I'm proud to mention that my good friend and colleague, Dr. Denise Bennerson, has made her contribution to the yearlong Transfer Day Centennial celebration. Dr. Bennerson, a photographer and Virgin Islands conservative historian of the US Virgin Islands, has created a United States Virgin Islands 100 Years Commemorative Lapel Pin is now available. The US Virgin Islands Centennial Year will be recognized by many as one of yearlong activities. Therefore, the United States Virgin Islands 100 Years Commemorative Lapel Pin is destined to become a keepsake and souvenir to commemorate this historical event. This limited-edition lapel pin is displayed in our slideshow.  To get your United States Virgin Islands 100 Years Commemorative Lapel Pin and other Virgin Islands lapel pins while they last, go to https://goo.gl/fJfKyK .

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 buildings and stores of historical importance, with several of them on Main Street. Before the time of the Danish West Indies (1754–1917), the city was known as Taphus for its many beer halls. Taphus is Danish and directly translates to "beer houses", "beer halls", or (most literally) "taphouse". In 1691 the town received a more respectable name by being named Amalienborg (in English Charlotte Amalie) in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714). Between 1921 and 1936, the city was named St. Thomas. In 1936 it was renamed Charlotte Amalie.

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 the 18th century and was later the site of much economic, social, and political interaction.  The cast iron bungalow, named after vendor Miss Sanderilla "Miss Sandy" Thomas in 1984, that dominates the square was constructed in about 1904 and was rebuilt after being badly damaged by a truck in 2003. The bungalow was populated by spirited local women in their bright and colorful headdresses and skirts while selling their fruits, homemade pastries, local drinks, and goods. It was rare that male vendors would sell under the bungalow. French farmers and fishermen selling functional straw crafts, fish, and produce were once commonplace at the Square; they sold their goods from the perimeter of the Bungalow.  Today the Square several farmers and fishermen still carry on the tradition by selling their wares there each weekend, with Friday and Saturday mornings being most busy.

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 Harbor became one of the most important commercial ports in the West Indies of the 1800s. The traffic in the harbor was extensive because of its good situation and fine facilities. It was popular among merchants and trading companies for its excellent facilities: the West Indies’ largest floating dock, good machine shops, clear channel marking, and inexpensive harbor fees.  But it was also notorious for 2 problems: hurricanes and diseases, particularly yellow fever and cholera. In the 1800s, an average of 2,000-3,000 ships came annually to St. Thomas. In the 1860s, this increased to 4,600 annually. The vessels in the harbor became larger and larger. In the first half of the 1800s, the average tonnage increased from 60 to 100 metric tons. From 1820 to 1916, the total metric tonnage increased from 150,000 to 900,000 annually.  About half of the tall ships arrived from Caribbean ports and a quarter from European ports. Vessels under the Danish flag made up a smaller and smaller share. In the 1820s, it was 23%; in 1916 just before the transfer, it dropped to 13%. Most ships in the 1820s sailed under an American flag, but in the 1910s British ships had become completely dominant. More on the topic of the St. Thomas Harbor to come in future episodes.

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 along with world economic trends. Between 1755 and 1838 an average of 53 expeditions per year were sent from the home country to the Danish West Indies. Almost every ship took a direct course across the Atlantic, while just a very few sailed along the triangular route. After the British occupations of the islands ended in 1815, their trade and shipping soon prospered again. Partly thanks to the intense traffic to and from the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America, which achieved freedom around 1820, partly due to the increasing trade and shipping with the United States, further promoted by the commercial treaty which was signed by the 2 countries in 1826. However, the decisive breakthrough for the port came when the British post packet boats began to put in to Saint Thomas from 1835. It was simply the most conveniently situated Caribbean harbor for ships coming from Europe, and a very well equipped port with floating dock, repairing shops, lighthouses, bunker facilities, etc. From 1839 onwards steamships made their entry with a vengeance, because the British Royal Mail from that year onwards began to send its many post steamers directly from Southampton to Saint Thomas. The Danish harbor thus became the center of the Royal Mail’s extensive activities in the Caribbean. Soon bunker coal became one of the harbor’s most important products. 

Come with us as we stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. Let us turn our attention to a brief history Saint Thomas, particularly its capital city of Charlotte Amalie, for a moment. After being turned into a free port, the island experienced palmy days during the second half of the eighteenth century as a regional shipping center. Furthermore, a significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses of Charlotte Amalie. Shipping from Denmark fluctuated heavily along with world economic trends. Between 1755 and 1838 an average of 53 expeditions per year were sent from the home country to the Danish West Indies. Almost every ship took a direct course across the Atlantic, while just a very few sailed along the triangular route. After the British occupations of the islands were over in 1815, their trade and shipping soon prospered again. Partly thanks to the intense traffic to and from the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America, which achieved freedom around 1820, partly due to the increasing trade and shipping with the United States, further promoted by the commercial treaty which was signed by the 2 countries in 1826. However, the decisive breakthrough for the port came when the British post packet boats began to put in to Saint Thomas from 1835. It was simply the most conveniently situated Caribbean harbor for ships coming from Europe, and a very well equipped port with floating dock, repairing shops, lighthouses, bunker facilities, etc. From 1839 onwards steamships made their entry with a vengeance, because the British Royal Mail from that year onwards began to send its many post steamers directly from Southampton to Saint Thomas. The Danish harbour thus became the centre of the Royal Mail’s extensive activities in the Caribbean. Soon 1 of the harbour’s most important products became bunker coal. 

We welcome you back after our Holidays hiatus. Thank you for re-joining today, the first of our shows for 2017. With 2017 the year of the centennial of the transfer of the US Virgin Islands to the United States, we will focus our shows all year long on topics, places, and people related to Transfer Day, including the pre- and post- periods. Today we will focus on a local Virgin Islander who has contributed significantly to the Virgin Islands community, and continues to do so. I'm referring to Mr. Leonard Brother B Bonelli, a contemporary we honor and thank. As the year evolves, periodically we will be graced by our Featured Contributor, Valerie Sim, Ms Vintage Virgin Islands herself and the editor of Vintage Virgin Islands. During her visits, she will grace us with tidbits of Vintage Virgin Islands. You'll discover fascinating events that occurred in the history of the Danish West Indies, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands! Many of the photographs she'll share were taken between the early 1900s to the 1970s. I wonder what tidbit Val has in store for us today. Visit Vintage Virgin Islands at http://ValerieSims.com/. The recorded autobiography of Mr. Bonelli is courtesy of Focus VI Radio Magazine, your weekly radio magazine hosted and produced by Kysha Wallace and Peter Ottley of PEO Productions. Focus VI is a lifestyles magazine that include health, fitness, family, financial planning and personal development, along with special features on people of the Virgin Islands. Visit Focus VI at http://FocusVI.com/.

It’s that time of year when Dr. Richardson and I (Etienne A. Gibbs) would like to take time to send special and heartfelt holiday wishes and music to all our faithful audience family and friends in appreciation and thanks. So, this Christmas Eve we want to do something different.What and Why? Simply because we're in the holiday mood and we want to send Shoot Outs in the best way possible.So here goes: To our faithful Stateside family and friends: It’s time for carols and snow, time for being on the go. So take a moment here and there to show those most special that you care.   To our local faithful family and friends: Take delight in all the fun. Spread warm wishes to everyone. Enjoy the season while it’s here for its memories will last throughout the year.   To our fellow-Rotarians, past and present: May the magic and the thrill of the holiday season stretch on. Happy Holidays to you and yours!   To our current and past fellow-faculty and staff of UVI: Warmest greetings of the Season and Best Wishes for Happiness in the New Year.   To all our former UVI students: Here's wishing you a Beautiful Holiday Season and a New Year of Peace and Happiness.   To the IT and Library staff of the Ralph Paiewonsky Library: Remembering you with warm wishes for a happy and peaceful holiday season.   For all Small Businesses everywhere: Warmest Holiday Greetings and Prosperous New Year Wishes!   To each and everyone, friends we know or friends we haven't met yet: May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter, and goodwill.

Dr. Maxine Nunez, DPH, MPH, MSN, CNE, RN is a retired Professor of Nursing from the University of the Virgin Islands &  former Academic Dean of the St. Thomas Campus.  Dr. Nunez studied community health/public health administration & research at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health & Hygiene where she earned her doctorate. Research activities include serving as research core director of the EXPORT Exploratory Center from 2004 to 2009 at UVI.  During that time, Dr. Nunez mentored junior researchers, reviewed research proposals, & designed & conducted her own research study in the area of diabetes self-management in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the first study of its kind in the territory. Through the research activities of ECHORN (The Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network) Dr. Nunez intended to counter the negative impact of the spiraling occurrences of NCDs & their complications. (ECHORN, a collaborative research study, examines the lifestyles, eating habits, & health behaviors associated with cancer, diabetes, & heart disease in adult men & women living in the Eastern Caribbean. Funded by the National Institute for Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD), ECHORN presents a unique opportunity to identify risk & protective factors for chronic disease in a diverse population over time.) Footnote: Shirley Lorraine Franks, Nurse, Author of A Foreign Nurse's Guide to America; Nursing Background:  Graduate of the University of the Virgin Islands & University of Phoenix: Nurse author, nurse educator, & entrepreneur.

Welcome home Homer Hans Bryant & his Bryant Youth Professionals (YPP) Dance Company. Former principal dancer with the world-renowned Dance Theater of Harlem, his professional credits span from a command performance for the Royal Families of Norway & England to the motion picture, The Wiz, with Diana Ross & Michael Jackson. A former member of Prima Ballerina Maria Tallchief’s Chicago City Ballet, his teaching & training experience includes working with Canada’s mesmerizing Cirque Du Soleil productions of Mystere, Alegria, Quid am, & Saltimbanco. While Mr. Bryant was growing up on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, dance classes seemed unattainable, but, as a teenager, he moved to New York to pursue a dancing career. After joining the first African-American classical ballet company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, he reached major milestones in the 1970s: performing on Broadway. In 1990 his career led him to Chicago & in 1992 he founded the Bryant Ballet School, later renamed the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center  (CMDC) to reflect the diversity of dance & the student body.  Mr. Bryant is currently also Assistant Artistic Director for Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. CMDC is the only contemporary ballet school in the world that teaches Hiplet™, a ballet class that fuses classical pointe technique with Hip-Hop & urban dance styles. He created & trademarked Hiplet™ to make ballet accessible to all, by mixing it with current popular songs that will be familiar to audiences who don’t normally attend ballet performances.  A strict disciplinarian, his slogan "The Fun is in the Discipline, The Discipline is in the Fun" has become a mantra mantra for his current & former students and their parents.

During the past 3 weeks in the edition of "Centennial Countdown" in the Virgin Islands Daily News, Dr. Ronald Harrigan's article was published about the Virgin Islands' education foundation that was laid long before Transfer Day. It was a 3-part series on the development of a system of education for the free & enslaved population in the then-Danish West Indies, leading to a literate population by the time emancipation in 1848 & the islands' transfer of March 31, 1917. Dr. Harrigan has had a one-of-a-kind experience at UVI starting as a student, then an entry- level employee, & rising through the ranks in administration & academia. Now retired, after working at UVI for 38 years, Dr. H. has left an impact on UVI. Dr. H. joined the staff of the then-College of the Virgin Islands in 1972, after earning a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. He was designated a junior officer trainee in a program designed to train young Virgin Islanders for leadership positions at the institution. Shortly after, he was transferred to the St. Croix campus as an assistant to the student services officer & was tasked with bringing registration, counseling, academic advising, records management, student orientation, & student activities services in line with St. Thomas.  “It was in this position that I began to get more involved in higher education administration from an educational perspective,” said Dr. H., who before had dreams of teaching business owners how to become successful. He went on to earn a Master Degree in Education & a Doctor of Education degree. After 2 years on the St. Croix campus, Dr. H. transferred back to the St. Thomas campus as a student personnel officer. In this first supervisory position he honed skills which eventually led him to the top Student Affairs position, Vice President for Student Life & Development.

Dr. Ronald Harrigan & I were classmates at CVI 1966-1967. Dr. Leonard Richardson, my neighbor from our youth, were members of the Boys Scout Troop sponsored by Sts. Peter & Paul School. These gentlemen have immersed themselves in educating the masses abroad & our Fellow-Virgin Islanders. Retired Dr Harrigan, with a PhD in Education, is actively educating via his recent articles & upcoming book. In the Oct. 27th edition of "Centennial Countdown" in the Virgin Islands Daily News, his article was published about the Virgin Islands' education foundation that was laid long before Transfer Day. It was the first of a 3-part series on the development of a system of education for the free and enslaved population in the then-Danish West Indies, leading to a literate population by the time emancipation in 1848 and the islands' transfer of March 31, 1917. Dr. Harrigan is a part-time professor of education at UVI, president of the Virgin Islands Genealogical Society, chairman of the Virgin Islands Sports Commission, and associate professor of education at UVI. Dr. Leonard Richardson was educated  at the Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School & the Charlotte Amalie High School. He attended the then-Morgan State College, now Morgan State University (MSU), where he received a BA degree with double majors in English Literature & History. He was appointed to the position of Coordinator of Language Arts for the Virgin Islands Dept. of Education under the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Linda Creque. He went into the classroom & schools as an administrator, assistant principal, & coordinator in Language Arts, English as a Second Language (ESL), English Language Learning (ELL), & the Coordinator for the English Writing Proficiency exam at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Public Education in the Danish West Indies This week students in my three classes and I at UVI were treated to a serendipitous presentation by my former CVI classmate, Dr. Ronald Harrigan, who discussed the history of education in the Danish West Indies. In his recent article in the Virgin Islands Daily News, Dr. Harrigan stated, "While there is a plethora of information in the print media on this topic, there is still much more to be researched and shared, especially with those who may only be familiar with our history of education under the United States flag. This paper will address the development of a system of educational institutions that was established during the Danish colonial period, leading to a majority literate population of whites and free and enslaved Africans by the time of emancipation in 1848. When the islands were transferred to the United States in 1917, scholars generally theorize that there was about an 85 percent literate population in the Danish West Indies." Today Dr. Richardson and I will further discuss this and the following topic: David Hamilton Jackson from St. Croix, "The Black Moses" After the Danish sale of the West Indies to the US in 1917, Jackson became a judge in Christiansted and politician in the islands until his death in 1946. Today on the islands, he is a hero by the black population, the Black Moses, who helped his people escape a life of slavery. In the Virgin Islands, Nov. 1st, the day of the first publication of Jackson’s paper, is a public holiday: David Hamilton Jackson Day and Bull and Bread Day.

Do you intend to vote in this election, November 8, 2016? Then visit the official web site of the Elections System of the US Virgin Islands at www.vivote.gov. Their goal is to answer any questions you may have about the election process. Within their site, you will find information for voters, candidates and poll workers, including links to state and federal web sites, Board Meeting Agenda’s, information on community outreach events and newspaper articles. Their greatest desire is to see all eligible residents register and VOTE! The right to vote is one of our most cherished privileges as American citizens. They offer you several convenient ways to exercise your right: Absentee Voting and at the polls. "On behalf of the Election System of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is a pleasure and honor for me to welcome you to our web site. It is my hope that this medium provides easy access for all local election-related information." "It is our goal is to ensure that all visitors to this website have access to the necessary information and resources. This site will be updated regularly, especially during an election year, providing a current Calendar of Events for candidates and voters alike." ~ Caroline F. Fawkes, Supervisor - Elections System of the VI

The present Legislature of the Virgin Islands is a 15-member body in which all the legislative powers of the territory are vested. It enjoys the powers & privileges held by most state legislatures of the United States. The Capitol Building, in which the body is housed, is located on the Island of St. Thomas. The Capitol Bldg is an exceptional example of 19-century classical architecture. This building replaced 2 earlier military structures dating to the periods of 1827 & 1873. The present building was constructed in 1874, at a cost of $29,000, for the purposes of military barracks for Fort Christian & a battery installation. The Roman numerals on the portal of the building are MDCCCLXXIV (1874). The building was used to house the Danish Militia & the Gendarmes until 1917. The formal Transfer Day ceremonies of the islands from Denmark to the US took place on the grounds of the building on March 31, 1917. From that time until 1931, when the transfer to civil government took place, the building was used as a barracks for the US Marines. From 1931 to 1955 the building was used as the site of the Charlotte Amalie High School with an interruption during World War II caused when it was taken over by the military to incarcerate prisoners brought to St. Thomas off a Vichy ship captured by the US Navy in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. In 1957, the Legislature, which formerly met on the top floor of the Enid Baa Library, & the Dept. of Social Welfare, moved into the building with the Legislature occupying the top floor & Social Welfare the 1st floor. However, as the Legislature & its staff expanded, it became necessary to occupy both floors. Around 1970, the Legislature occupied the entire building. Visit the Legislature: www.legvi.org and click the links in "Staying Connected".

The present Legislature of the Virgin Islands is a 15-member body in which all the legislative powers of the territory are vested. It enjoys the powers & privileges held by most state legislatures of the United States. The Capitol Building, in which the body is housed, is located on the Island of St. Thomas. The Capitol Bldg is an exceptional example of 19-century classical architecture. This building replaced 2 earlier military structures dating to the periods of 1827 & 1873. The present building was constructed in 1874, at a cost of $29,000, for the purposes of military barracks for Fort Christian & a battery installation. The Roman numerals on the portal of the building are MDCCCLXXIV (1874). The building was used to house the Danish Militia & the Gendarmes until 1917. The formal Transfer Day ceremonies of the islands from Denmark to the US took place on the grounds of the building on March 31, 1917. From that time until 1931, when the transfer to civil government took place, the building was used as a barracks for the US Marines. From 1931 to 1955 the building was used as the site of the Charlotte Amalie High School with an interruption during World War II caused when it was taken over by the military to incarcerate prisoners brought to St. Thomas off a Vichy ship captured by the US Navy in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. In 1957, the Legislature, which formerly met on the top floor of the Enid Baa Library, & the Dept. of Social Welfare, moved into the building with the Legislature occupying the top floor & Social Welfare the 1st floor. However, as the Legislature & its staff expanded, it became necessary to occupy both floors. Around 1970, the Legislature occupied the entire building. Visit the Legislature: www.legvi.org and click the links in "Staying Connected".

Albert Edward Daniel, a native of St. Thomas and the son of Lucy Ann & Charles Daniel, of Charlotte Amalie, was born on May 16, 1897 in the then Danish West Indies. He lived all his life on St. Thomas. Although he had no formal training in the field of Art, he became a self-taught artist and sculptor with an original approach to his subject matter. It is significantly coincidental that he should have spent his early years living in the same house at 14 Dronnigens Gade in which houses the Enid M. Baa Public Library & Archives. Joseph Patrick Gimenez, born March 17, 1893 on St. Thomas, obtained his early formal education at the local grammar school and the Convent of La Sainte Union de Sacre Coeur on St. Thomas. In 1914 when he began writing poetry, he wrote his first poems in Spanish & published many of them in the Dominican papers. He later became known as "The Virgin Islands Mystic Poet". Canada Lee, the adopted name of Lionel Cornelius Canegata, was a noted 20th Century jockey, boxer, & actor. Born on May 3, 1907 in New York City’s San Juan Hill district, he attended Public School 5 in Harlem. He began his musical education at the age of 7, studying violin with the composer, J. Rosamond Johnson. At the age of 14 he ran away to the Saratoga Race Track in upstate New York to become a jockey. After 2 years of jockeying he became a horse exerciser for prominent racehorse owners. Camille Pissarro (10 July 1830 – 13 November 1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist & Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas in the Danish West Indies, now the US Virgin Islands. His importance resides in his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Pissarro studied from great forerunners, including Gustave Courbet & Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. He later studied & worked alongside Georges Seurat and Paul Signac when he took on the Neo-Impressionist style at the age of 54.

This month is the Hebrew Month of Elul, a time of deep reflection and prayer for the Jewish people.  The month ends with the beginning of their new year, Rosh Hashanah, which takes place this year Sunday evening, October 2nd, 2016. Jews will begin the year of 5777.   A week later, on October 11th, 2016, they will celebrate Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement. Jews around the world, and in St. Thomas, of course, will gather in synagogues that evening and the next day to confess their sins, ask for forgiveness, and make an attempt to begin their year the right way.  They fast on Yom Kippur so that they can focus on their prayer, and on their inner reflection. It is an emotionally draining day, and a powerful day of self-study. The Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, but their synagogue still gives homage to their historic, Sephardic roots. In addition to the sand on the floor, their mahogany pews face one another, rather than the Bimah (a raised platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read). You're invited to visit their synagogue, in person or online, whether to worship or explore, and see how the rich Jewish history of St. Thomas lives on.   Visit them on their website: http://synagogue.vi/ or on theirFacebook page: www.facebook.com/synagoguevi/

"Hubert Harrison was an immensely skilled writer, orator, educator, critic, and political activist who, more than any other political leader of his era, combined class consciousness and anti-white-supremacist race consciousness into a coherent political radicalism. Harrison's ideas profoundly influenced "New Negro" militants, including A. Philip Randolph and Marcus Garvey, and his synthesis of class and race issues is a key unifying link between the two great trends of the Black Liberation Movement: the labor- and civil-rights-based work of Martin Luther King Jr. and the race and nationalist platform associated with Malcolm X." "The foremost Black organizer, agitator, and theoretician of the Socialist Party of New York, Harrison was also the founder of the "New Negro" movement, the editor of Negro World, and the principal radical influence on the Garvey movement. He was a highly praised journalist and critic (reportedly the first regular Black book reviewer), a freethinker and early proponent of birth control, a supporter of Black writers and artists, a leading public intellectual, and a bibliophile who helped transform the 135th Street Public Library into an international center for research in Black culture. His biography offers profound insights on race, class, religion, immigration, war, democracy, and social change in America."--BOOK JACKET. Dr. Jeffrey B. Perry, an independent archivist, bibliophile, historian & working-class scholar formally educated at Princeton, Harvard, Rutgers, & Columbia. For 40+ years he's been active in the working class movement as a worker & as a union shop steward, officer, editor, & retiree. Dr. Perry, preserved & inventoried the "Hubert H. Harrison Papers".  Visit him at: www.JeffreyBPerry.net/

The founders of Virgin Islanders United, Inc. set out to design an organization that would provide the best of the civic &  social worlds, & become a full-service organization for Virgin Islanders at home & abroad. The original slogan for the organization was “Three Islands, One Love” denoting the then 3 Islands that constituted the U.S. Virgin Islands. Years later however, the slogan was changed, to acknowledge the addition of Water Island to the territory chain, & to reflect a more global tagline, “Taking the US Virgin Islands & The Caribbean to the Next Level of Performance!” Upon setting up the infrastructure & ground rules of the organization, through the implementation of a Constitution, the founders then set their eyes upon the task of electing Leadership: Kevin Hughes was elected as the 1st President; Anna Branigan was elected Vice President; Ivor Penha, Treasurer; & Karen Nelson-Hughes Secretary. The 1st Caribbean Cultural Fest, & those that followed, all had 1 thing in common - “Caribbean Star Power!” From the beginning, the festival attracted the biggest names in Caribbean music. The event quickly rose to prominence in the New York Caribbean, outdoor, concert scene. Caribbean Cultural Fest has become known as the place, where you can see Icons, performers who literally define the genres of Quelbe, Calypso, and Soca Music: Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights-live and direct from the U.S. Virgin Islands; Shirlaine Hendrickson, The Soca Monarch of Trinidad & Tobago; Singing Francine, The 5x International Calypso Queen of the World; Calypso Rose, The Undisputed Calypso Queen of the World; The Legendary Chalkdust; Celebrated Crucian Calypsonian, Prince Galloway; and Whadablee, The Calypso King of The U.S. Virgin Islands.

John Gottliff, a/k/a Moses Gottlieb, General Buddhoe, Bordeaux, was born enslaved on March 19, 1820 at Estate La Grange, a large sugar plantation near Frederiksted, St. Croix in what was then the Danish West Indies.  John Gottliff’s activities on July 3, 1848 & the  following days that have been chronicled by many writers. Dr. Svend E. Holsoe has provided the most reliable account, which is based on eyewitness testimonies extracted from official court records and other first-hand accounts. Holsoe shows that Gottliff was one of several persons who stood out among the crowd on July 3rd, but that he did not appear to be directing the action. After July 3rd, instead of joining those seeking revolution or retribution, Gottliff rode around the countryside urging protesters to lay down their weapons, cease looting &  property destruction & return to work. Nonetheless, after calm had been restored, he was arrested & imprisoned by the Danes as a ringleader of the insurrection. Gottliff’s role as an instigator of the rebellion is somewhat controversial. Throughout his intensive interrogations, he steadfastly maintained that he had nothing to do with organizing or leading the uprising. Holsoe has reached much the same conclusion & has identified Moses Robert of Estate Butler Bay & others as the principle organizers. But, several insurgents did identify John Gottliff as the chief organizer, & this role has been tentatively accepted by Dr. Neville Hall &, less critically, by other historians. Whatever the truth of the matter, the Danish colonial officials decided, without a trial, to deport Gottliff in 1848. Documentary evidence has recently emerged that he was landed in Trinidad. He later made his way to New York City, where he appeared in the office of anti-slavery crusader Lewis Tappan in 1850. Thereafter, nothing further is known of him.

In today's episode we'll take a look at three distinguished and unique ancestors:  Johannes Sobotker (August 8, 1777 - March 23, 1854) was the son of a rich plantation owner and the grandson of the Government Secretary Johannes Sobotker.   Abraham Markoe (July 2, 1727 - August 28, 1806) was a Danish businessman living in Pennsylvania who actively supported American independence.   Adolph "Ding" Sixto, (February 17, 1858 - July 5, 1930) was born of VI parents on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. "A man with a dream" is probably the best phrase to his character. “Four of Johannes Sobotker's Children” in the slideshow below, courtesy of I Am a Child: Children in Art History (https://iamachild.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/christoffer-wilhelm-eckersberg-1783-1853-danish/)  The portrait of Abraham Markoe, courtesy of the University of the Virgin Islands Libraries and the Virgin Islands Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/pi_uvi/profiles1992/Patriots/Markoe_A/index.shtml) The portrait of Adolph Sixto, courtesy of the University of the Virgin Islands Libraries and the Virgin Islands Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/pi_uvi/profiles1992/Entrepreneurs/Sixto_A/index.shtml)

Born July 5,1893 in Colon, Panama, as 1st-born to Emma Blake & John Brouwer, Mrs. Maud Virginia Brouwer Proudfoot came to the Virgin Islands as a very young child. Married March 3, 1918 to Leslie Proudfoot, Mrs. Proudfoot started her career of public service in the 1920's with the American Red Cross, where she began her life of social work. Appointed by Gov. Paul M. Pearson July 1, 1933 as the first and only social worker in the newly established Dept. of Social Welfare, where she served in various capacities until she retired in 1963. For more than 60 years and for as long as she was able, Mrs. Proudfoot devoted her personal and professional life to those in need. Even though she considered herself a humble servant of the needy, her untiring commitment to the betterment of her fellow man resulted in an outstanding life's work. Most important to her were the times she could spend encouraging and supporting the elderly and the shut-ins; arranging a dignified burial for those who died without family or loved ones; reading and writing letters for the illiterate; accompanying patients to the Cancer Clinic in Puerto Rico; and lending an empathetic ear to those in need of counseling. Her life has been a testimony to her personal credo: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ~ Micah 6:8 (The New International Version)

Judah Philip Benjamin was born August 6, 1811 on St. Croix in the Danish West Indies (DWI, now the US Virgin Islands) to Jewish parents. At the time of his birth, his family was in transit from England to America. However, due to the War of 1812, they were forced to settle in the DWI until the war ended. They finally arrived in America in 1814, settling in Charleston, South Carolina. An exemplary student, young Judah, at the age of 14, entered Yale University. Two years later he was expelled for “ungentlemanly conduct” of an unspecified nature. Rumors that the tempest in New Haven involved gambling, carousing, or kleptomania that dogged him the rest of his life, particularly during the Civil War when the Northern press rehashed the scandal to tar the man they called the South’s “evil genius.”  In 1852, he was elected United States Senator, a post he retained until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 when he resigned to serve the Confederacy. He was the first Confederate Attorney General who later served as Secretary of War and Secretary of State, ultimately running the Confederate Secret Service on behalf of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Eventually, he moved to New Orleans where he apprenticed at a law firm. He began to study for the bar, a complicated course of action because, to become a lawyer in Louisiana, the state’s use of the Napoleonic Code required fluency in both English and French. In order to fulfill this requirement, he took a job teaching English to the daughter of a prominent Creole family, Natalie St. Martin, so that he could learn French.

We’re referring to the celebration of Memorial Day and the visit of Queen Margrethe of Denmark, the first sitting Royal to visit the Virgin Islands 40 years ago on May 28, 1976.  She is also the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Defense Forces. A constitutional monarch, Margrethe takes no part in political decisions aside from ceremonial state functions, such as appointing the Prime Minister, and does not express political opinions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark Not to be confused with Veterans Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all United States military veterans. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Louis Richard Sosthenes Behn (Jan 30, 1882 – June 6, 1957) was an American businessman who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) at the time of his death as a veteran of the US Army. Sosthenes was born in the island of St. Thomas, then part of the Danish West Indies. His ancestry was German on his paternal side, and French on his maternal side. He served in the United States Army and was commissioned a Captain June 19, 1917 while serving in the Signal Corp. He served with distinction during World War I. (History does not indicate that he bypassed the rank of Major.) Behn served with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France until February 1919. He was given command of the 232nd Field Signal Battalion, Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, Argonne. In recognition of his meritorious service during the WWI, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). He was a telephone executive, president, and founder of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT), one of the largest communications companies in the world. After his return from military service, along with his brother, Hernando, Lt Colonel Behn co-founded the Puerto Rico Telephone Company which eventually spawned IT&T. Under his guidance, IT&T was granted the monopoly of telephone service in Spain (Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España) in 1924 and purchased the international division of Western Electric. Margaret Dunlap Behn, his wife, born Sept 2, 1891, died January 26, 1977, is buried with her husband and son, Edward John Behn, in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery. Next week’s (28th May) topic: Mr. William Leidesdorff

Cherrie Raphaelia Creque was the only one as Miss Virgin Islands who placed as the Top 15 of Miss Universe 1971 while the very first queen of Virgin Islands was Priscila Bonilla who competed at the Miss Universe 1961 in the United States. Born on October 11, 1950 to James and Lavida (nee Blyden) Creque, Cherrie was raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She started school at the age of 3. During her sophomore year at Sts. Peter and Paul High School, Cherri became a member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation from high school, Cherrie attended Mercyhurst College In Pennsylvania but transferred to the University of the Virgin Islands. Sadly, her mother passed in the year of 2011. She was given a career opportunity as a beauty queen and won the titles of Miss Virgin Islands, Miss Universe, and Miss Caribe. During her reign as Miss Virgin Islands, Cherrie represented the USVI on promotional tours and appearances home and abroad. Her traveling experiences encouraged her to pursue a career as a travel agent.  Cherrie Creque is not just beautiful but articulate as well. The MC, Mr. Bob Barker, had fun during her interview segment. To date, no other woman from the US Virgin Islands has come close to duplicating Cherrie’s feat. 

Ms Enid Maria Baa, for whom the Public Library in Downtown Charlotte Amalie is named, played a huge role as a pioneer in establishing and managing the libraries of the US Virgin Islands. Ms Baa took part in establishing the very first High School library and went on to matriculate at Howard University. She moved on to Hampton Institute in the midst of her undergraduate career, graduating from Hampton's Library Science Program in 1933 Upon her return to the U.S. Virgin Islands, she became the first woman to occupy a cabinet position as she led the Dept. of Public Libraries. .Under her leadership, the territory's libraries flourished. She was an exchange librarian for the University of Puerto Rico and worked to encourage youngsters and adults to take advantage of the wonders to be found within books. Not content to rest upon her accomplishments, Enid M. Baa returned to scholarly pursuits (at Columbia University), finishing undergraduate work in English Literature and the Humanities. She honed her skills as a librarian at the university's library. Ms Enid M. Baa retired from government service in 1974; by now the fledgling Dept of Public Libraries had blossomed into the Dept of Libraries, Archives, and Museums! The St. Thomas Public Library was dedicated to her on March 30, 1978. She died on the island of her birth, St. Thomas, on July 25, 1992. ******* Courtesy of Friends of the St. Thomas Public Libraries who are also advocating strongly for the creation of a new library in the center of St, Thomas that would be accessible to the larger community. You can help. Visit them at: http://www.fostpl.org/

Mr. Alton Augustus Adams, Sr, born in 1889 on the island of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, is remembered as the first black bandmaster in the United States Navy, when he was appointed as such in 1917. “Although naval policy at the time restricted blacks to menial jobs, Adams and his all-black ensemble provided a bridge between the local population and their all-white naval administrators. His memoirs, edited by Mark Clague, with a foreword by Samuel Floyd, Jr., reveal an inspired activist who believed music could change the world, mitigate racism, and bring prosperity to his island home.” [The Memoirs of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., First Black Bandmaster of the US Navy] His music was performed by the bands of John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman and his march "The Governor's Own" (1921) appears as the first selection on the bicentennial album Pride of America. Bandmaster Adams' story and his music underwent a renaissance in recent years with the United States Navy Band rediscovering his compositions and his memoirs being included in a book published in 2007. We know him best here in the territory as the composer of our Virgin Islands March. On another topic: Queen Elizabeth of England has two birthdays every year (lucky her). Her actual birthday was April 21 but she will celebrate her 90th with the nation officially on June 10, 2016. The Queen’s official birthday date does change each year but is generally held on a Saturday in June. The Queen visited our neighbors in the British Virgin Islands in 1977. To bring that story to life is Valerie Sims of www.VintageVirginIslands.com .

Ralph Moses Paiewonsky (Nov. 9, 1907, St Thomas, Danish West Indies – Nov. 9, 1991, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands) was a businessman and politician who served as the 9th civilian governor of the US Virgin Islands from 1961-1969. The son of Jewish Lithuanian immigrants to the Danish West Indies, Ralph Paiewonsky graduated from New York University in 1930nwith a degree in chemistry. His father owned A.H. Riise & Co. Ltd., an apothecary, general store, and a bay rum distillery in St. Thomas. After he returned to the Virgin Islands, his father bought the government-owned beverage rum distillery on St. Croix. After Ralph found out that the shortage of water limited expansion, he proceeded to develop yeast strains which could ferment a mixture of molasses and seawater. After expansion, he sold the distillery and turned to converting the general store to a gift boutique. He managed various family businesses and was a founder of the West Indies Bank and Trust Company in 1954. In 1961, he was appointed Governor by President John F. Kennedy. Gov. Paiewonsky's administration established the Dept. of Housing & Community Renewal in 1962, and began a program of land acquisition and home construction. Approximately 8,000 new homes were built under this program during his term. He also supported public education reforms and the establishment of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in 1962. Paiewonsky served as chairman of UVI's board of directors until his death; UVI's library on St. Thomas is named for Paiewonsky. We're honored to have Valerie Sims of Vintage Virgin Islands blog drop by to share a tidbit or two. Welcome, Valerie! Visit Vintage Virgin Islands at www.VintageVirginIslands.com/

There are Many Ways to Learn from Our Ancestors: Full genealogy an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms regular descent of a person, family, or group of organisms from a progenitor or older form:  pedigree the study of family pedigrees an account of the origin and historical development of something The Caribbean Genealogy Library, website and FacebookThird-Party Oral Results Family member Non-family member, for example, The Friends of Denmark  Library Collection  University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Libraries, 2000 Digitalization Award Project. The Caribbean Genealogy Library, website and Facebook The Virgin Islands Public Library System  The Importance of Knowing Our HeritagePoor Richard's Almanack as an example of a historical document   The Importance of Cultural Heritage    Why Your Heritage Is Important

Note: This show was postponed last Saturday due to a technical glitch in the system beyond our control. When one wants to learn more about one’s ancestors, one turns to sources of information. When it comes to learning more about our Virgin Islands ancestors, an extensive and readily available source is as close as the Internet via our University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Libraries, more specifically, their 2000 Digitalization Award Project. The UVI Libraries, in partnership with the VI Division of Libraries, Archives, & Museums (DLAM), were awarded a National Leadership grant for digitization from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in 2000. The Project sought to enhance access to sources of information on VI's history and culture for scholars, students, historians, and researchers in the territory and abroad. The award was given for the purpose of digitizing USVI's materials in areas of biography, education, history, and culture for access on the Internet. Materials were drawn from the libraries' collections include: Funeral Booklets - developed for memorial services detailing life and family history of the deceased;  Historical Photographs - documenting events in political and social life of Virgin Islanders;  Newspaper Articles - commentaries written by local ecologist Olasee Davis to highlight environmental, historical, and cultural issues;  Project Introspection materials - developed by the VI’s Dept. of Education to document and explain history and customs of Virgin Islanders & used in the K-12 school program;  Research Reports and Occasional Papers - findings on agricultural, home economics practices, & historical events of the region. The documents can be searched through the UVI Libraries online catalog.