#OnThisDay in 1914, one of my favorite authors sailed into Charlotte Amalie harbor. Captain Frederic A. Fenger, was an adventurous explorer with several Caribbean books to his credit. Books About the Virgin Islands One of my favorites was his 1926 novel, “The Cruise of Diablesse”. He also wrote Alone in the Caribbean which chronicled his […]
Celebrities
How a Family Historian Discovered Where Hugo Larsen Painted One of His Masterpieces ~ 1905
By Dr. Dante Beretta A little over 100 years ago, a talented young Danish artist named Hugo Larsen, visited the Danish West Indies. During his three year sojourn in the West Indies, he spent the majority of his time on the island of St. Thomas, creating many drawings and paintings. My favorite Hugo Larsen is […]
A Famous English Actor Causes Quite a Stir ~ 1903
Did you know that one of England’s most popular actors visited St. Thomas? Edward Compton visits St. Thomas Edward Compton was an English actor, renowned for his performances of the 18th century, Shakespearean plays. When the RMS Solent stopped in St. Thomas, news traveled fast about the distinguished passenger on board. Mr. Compton was on a tour through […]
ELSIE BAKER Performs in the Virgin Islands! ~ 1932
In the 1930s, famous celebrities were invited to the islands by the first civilian Governor, Dr. Paul M. Pearson. He held a deep love for the arts and believed the island community would as well. One of the first artists he invited was Louise Stallings. Others included the Hampton Quartette, the poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, as […]
How a Welterweight Champion Won His Title ~ 1932
During the 1930s, supporting the welterweight champion was big entertainment in the US Virgin Islands. While researching an old family photo of a boxer I believe to be El Matahombre, I found over forty articles about the sport. El Matahombre’s real name was Carlos Christian. He was known as the Man Killer. Originally from Puerto Rico and trained by the great Esau Stephens, he moved to […]
Douglas Fairbanks Sr and Lady Ashley Attract the Crowds! ~ 1935
Would you believe this photograph was only an inch wide by an inch and a half in height? 👀 I found several of these miniature photos in our family’s photo album and couldn’t imagine who they might be. Our ancestors documented many events in the history of the Virgin Islands, so I knew, with a little digging, […]
Listening to a Pulitzer Prize Winner, Edna St. Vincent Millay ~ 1935
At the suggestion of her physician and close friends, Edna St. Vincent Millay arrived in St. Thomas for a lengthy, restful holiday during the Christmas season of 1935. Welcoming Edna St. Vincent Millay Bandmaster, Alton A. Adams, a local celebrity himself, was one of the lucky ones to be the first to greet her. Bandmaster […]