Periodically the board of directors reviews and updates the Bylaws of the St John Historical Society to better reflect the needs of the growing organization. This was last done in 2011 and adopted in January 2012. At the October 3rd board meeting, the board approved with amendments a set of changes and additions proposed by a subcommittee of the board. The board proposes the following changes to its…
Over the years, the St. John Historical Society has become aware of an increasing demand placed on the wealth of images that the society has accumulated and posted on its website. Some of this material is in the public domain, some is on permanent loan to the society with unlimited or limited use permission, while still others are owned outright by the society. Regardless, the…
(A presentation by Ken Wild, summarized by Diana Hall) Members of the St. John Historical Society present at the April 8 membership meeting learned that 2013 was an extremely productive year for the National Park Service Archeology Program as Virgin Islands National Park Archeologist and Cultural Resource Manager Ken Wild updated the audience on the program’s accomplishments. Wild, who graduated from the University of Tennessee…
Last week, we posted a link to the Tradewinds article on the initial archaeological survey work being undertaken at Bellevue, along with some important background information as to the Historical Society and the St. John Community Foundation’s objectives. That posting can be viewed here. On August 3rd, Tradewinds provided a follow-up to the initial reporting and we link that latest article here. Further Background While Alan Armstrong’s work this summer was…
With technology opening so many new doors, there has never been a better time for history to be shared throughout the world. The St. John Historical Society Board of Directors is pleased and excited to announce the launch of our new website, complete with a blog, media library, online store, newsletter sign-up, links to our YouTube, SlideShare, and Facebook accounts, and more. We may be…
Background… On March 28, 2013, the St. John Historical Society entered into a 99 year lease agreement with the St. John Community Foundation for a small parcel of land on the Bellevue Estate, off Gift Hill Road, on St. John. The parcel being leased is part of a larger piece of the land gifted to the Foundation by Reliance Housing, largely because of the important…
The following article is a special Five Quarters supplement written and designed by SJHS member Valerie Sims. It tells the tale of the legendary Captain Franz Romer, who set out to make the first recorded crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a sea kayak. The SJHS Media Committee is grateful for Valerie’s captivating contribution. Please click on the link to see photos and read the…
(Contributed by SJHS Member Kim Viner in the city of Laramie) On the high plains of southeastern Wyoming stands a wonderful 1892 mansion built by Edward Ivinson. Edward was one of the most prominent men in the community for many years and a noted philanthropist later in his life. The fully restored house is now the home of the Laramie Plains Museum (LPM). Despite being…
Tucked away in a corner of Cruz Bay, between establishments reflecting modern life in this little island town, is the final resting place of six Free-Colored St. Johnians who died between 1820 and 1879. Although Cruz Bay’s Free-Colored Cemetery is incredibly significant for myriad reasons it had been all but forgotten until last month, when local residents joined forces with the St. John Historical Society…
The ruins of the Bellevue estate house and plantation compound sit prominently atop a wooded knoll in the Gift Hill area of St. John’s Cruz Bay Quarter. The estate was originally created by a merging of two early-period Danish colonial land grants, each with a recorded measurement of 3,000’ by 1,500’ (Danish feet). Added to these tracts was a smaller, 500’ by 3,000’ parcel, acquired…
(Summarized by Jessica Hornbeck.) Magda Smith, long-time St. John resident, student of art history and former Director of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council, introduced those gathered at our November membership meeting to native Virgin Islands artist Albert E. Daniel with his own words: Albert E. Daniel (with Mass Hysteria), 1980 (Photo by Ray Miles) “Never had a lesson in my life, some call me a…
(On November 6, 2010, the St. John Historical Society and Cleans Islands International, which manages the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) for the University of the Virgin Islands, co-hosted a 40th anniversary commemoration of the Conclusion of the Tektite II project at VIERS. Don Near is a long-time Interpretive Ranger at Virgin Islands National Park. Don wrote this article for an internal Park publication…