Altona Lagoon is a serene and scenic lagoon located on the eastern side of Christiansted. Known for its tranquil waters and lush natural surroundings, the lagoon is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike who enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and birdwatching. The surrounding mangrove forests add to the lagoon’s ecological richness, […]
Hardens Gut is a historically significant area located in the Frederiksted area of St. Croix, in the vicinity of the Ball Park, on what was once Estate La Grange. The term “Gut” refers to a ravine or watercourse, which is common terminology in the Caribbean for natural waterways that channel rainwater from the hills to
The Estate Whim Museum’s mission is “to advance the understanding and appreciation of the humanities and the unique historical and cultural legacy of St. Croix and the entire Virgin Islands, through preservation, research and education.” It is hard to understand how this can be achieved seeing the disrepair that exists today. This pre 1995 photo
Historical Context Marronage refers to the act of escaping from slavery and establishing independent communities, often in remote and inaccessible areas. Enslaved Africans on St. Croix, as in other parts of the Caribbean, sought freedom from oppressive conditions by fleeing into the island’s interior or other less accessible regions. The rugged terrain of St. Croix,
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I felt it necessary to juxtapose how the lighthouse looked when it was first in operation with how it looks today. Sad. This shows the lighthouse, apparently in operation in 2006 but had already been deactivated in the mid 1990s. Marcus Bodio (deceased) had provided the illumination. It can be seen to already be deteriorating
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Location: 17°45’44.99″N 64°53’10.14″WEstate Northside. NA-37 Monks Bath is a feature, located in the north-west of St Croix, approximately 3.7 miles north of Frederiksted. According to one story, monks carved the pool to stay clean without using their fresh drinking water. However, others say that the pool was built in the 1950s or 60s by property owners who
The discussion began with a query regarding waterfalls on St. Croix, emphasizing the importance of defining what constitutes a waterfall. Some define it as water cascading down a steep slope (type 1), while others consider it as water free-falling (type 2). In the case of St. Croix, where the streams flow only following recent rainfall,
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In 1733, the Danish West India-Guinea Company acquired St. Croix from the French for 750,000 Livres. To comprehend its value today, we need to convert this amount into present-day dollars. The Livre tournois, serving as the French Pound in medieval France, predates the French Franc introduced in 1795. In 1720, the Livre was valued at
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When you wish upon a starYour dreams will take you very far,But when you wish upon a dreamLife ain’t always what it seems [Earth, Wind & Fire] In a thought-provoking piece, F. D. Flam, a columnist for Bloomberg, highlighted that “Follow the science” is more of a slogan than a concrete policy. This sentiment is
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On the Estates page, I delve into the intricate process of mapping and surveying St. Croix to formally define estate boundaries. Reflecting on the modern ease of land observation through Earth Observing Satellites, I am struck by the remarkable task of surveying and demarcating estate boundaries on St. Croix with such apparent precision. The method
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