On 31, August 1772, a devastating hurricane hit St Croix. On September 6th of that year, Alexander Hamilton wrote a letter to his father James Hamilton on St Kitts which was later published by The Royal Danish American Gazette. Hurricanes are a common occurrence in this region, with many of us having experienced multiple instances. […]
Devastation in the Danish West Indies Read More »
I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” – 1915 Odd, the above image may look, but it is a fragment of the Oxholm map of the
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“Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing,And wine to one whose life is bitter.Let him drink and forget his poverty,And remember his trouble no more.” Proverbs 31:6-7 [NASB] The history of fermented beverages dates back to ancient times. Evidence from the late Stone Age suggests that intentionally fermented drinks were already in existence during the Neolithic
This post is about print newspapers that have contributed to the heritage of St. Croix. In today’s world of electronic media, there is a plethora of digital news – both extant and passed. The Royal Danish American Gazette, Volume 1, Number 1, was published by Daniel Thibou on July 7th, 1770, and was the first
The Newspapers of St Croix Read More »
This photo shows the inside the Estate Bodkin sugar windmill, focusing on the arrangement of vertical slots around the top and the operation of the mill cap. A tour guide’s explanation during a Tan-Tan tour, suggested that the cap was mounted in these slots, and raised, rotated and lowered, for trimming the sails, a notion
What Are Those Slots Used For? Read More »
Yes, railroads. Reports indicate the presence of narrow-gauge rail flatbed cars at Estate La Grange in the West End of St. Croix. Photographic evidence from the steam era highlights the use of these rail systems, along with ox-drawn carts, to transport sugarcane from the fields to the mill for crushing. A particular postcard, attributed to
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In 1970, Florence Lewisohn penned the definitive history of St. Croix titled “St. Croix Under Seven Flags,” highlighting the island’s rich past under the rule of seven different entities. It’s worth noting that this significant work has never been reprinted, a fact that many consider a societal injustice. Fast forward to 2018, when Stan Joines
The Seven Flags over St Croix Read More »
The bricks found in this region, whether as part of walls, walkways, gutters, storm drains, or even historic sugar windmills, serve both practical and aesthetic purposes. These bricks display a spectrum of colors, ranging from light yellow to deep red. Their abundance in the area dates back to the era of the sea trade with
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The sugar industry in the Caribbean traces its beginnings back to 1493 when Christopher Columbus introduced sugarcane to the region during his second voyage, bringing cuttings from the Canary Islands to Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic). In the 1640s, Barbados became one of the earliest and most successful sugar-producing colonies. A significant sugar
The Early Sugar Windmills of St Croix. Read More »
The historical events of St. Croix Emancipation and Fireburn are pivotal moments in the history of the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the backdrop of these events, significant occurrences shaped the course of history on the island. In July 1848, riots erupted among enslaved workers, marking a turning point. Governor
Emancipation and Fireburn. Read More »