St John Historical Tour I
Description
St. John V.I. Historical Tour II:
Our tours are all full service and very exclusive. We pick up locally from any hotel cruise ship, or residence and deliver a comprehensive interactive tour and other common services by a trained and extremely knowledgeable tour guide. We also include at no additional cost: shopping, lunch and swimming time which are always optional for your convenience.
This is where we showcase a very unique island which is predominantly National Park. St. John is as beautiful as it is quiet and preserved. The tour starts in the capital which is a quaint public square, and travels through the National Park interior and many beaches: Caneel Bay, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Oppenheimer Bay, it also covers historical herbal medicines, statistics, interesting trivia and scenic views of the British Virgin Islands.
Note: We pick up from any locale (cruise ship, villa, hotel) between St. Thomas and St. John.
Features:
· Cruz Bay and its fortresses and churches
· Emmaus Moravian Church (Registry of Historic Places)
· Coral Bay
· Annaberg and Catherineberg Plantations
· Herbal Medicines and much more
Includes:
· Water or Beverage
· Cultural Snacks
· Surprises
Morning Tour
Afternoon Tour
St. John – Locator
Saint John was named after the saint; John the Baptist. “John the Baptist’s” real birth name is YaYa, however, the island was named Sankt Han by the Danes in their language. Even before the United States bought the territory Denmark had already adopted English (Germanic hybrid) as the official language.
As one of many islands and cays that Christopher Columbus named after the 11,000 mythical virgins that followed Saint Ursula on a pilgrimage – after which they were conquered by the infamous Attila the Hun in 462 A.D. – St. John has a strong tourism industry like its other sister islands now named in the English Language as is the territory of the United States Virgin Islands “America’s Paradise” .
Size: 19.5 square miles (9 miles in length and 5 miles in width)
Location: 18 degree north and 64 degrees west
Highest Point: Bordeaux, 1277 ft.
Population: 4,197(census 2000)
Language: English
Religion: Catholicism, Lutheran, Moravian,
Government: democratic
Economy: tourism based, service industry, construction, retail sales, manufacturing
Local and National Holidays
New Year’s Day – January 1
Memorial Day – May 28
Martin Luther King’s Day – January 15
V.I. Emancipation Day – July 3
President’s Day – February 19
Independence Day – July 4
Transfer Day – March 31
Labor Day – September 3
Holy Thursday – April
Columbus Day – October 8
Good Friday – April
Liberty Day – November 1
Easter- April
Veteran’s Day – Nov.11
Easter Monday – April
Thanksgiving Day – Nov. 22
Carnival – falls around July 4th
Christmas Day – Dec. 25
Christmas Second Day – Dec. 26
Notes: St. John is the most lush of the three islands. It is one of four Virgin Islands
and forty six cays that comprises the Virgin Islands. The island has one
senator that serves the people. Senators are elected every two years. There’s a
total of 15 senators in the legislature, St. Croix has seven and St. Thomas seven
Water Island the smallest of the four Virgins has no representation, but
only has a population of about 300 hundred people.
This island is a very expensive place to purchase land. Land here is a
commodity after Laurance S. Rockefeller donated 5000 acres to the Virgin
Islands National Park. The economy is based on tourism and other closely
related fields such as construction contribute to the islands economic base.
Saint John is known for one of the most successful slave rebellions in
Caribbean history.
St. John is surrounded by Great Thatch Island, Little Thatch Island, Whistling
Cay, Frenchman Cay, Tortola and the many cays that make up that British
Colony all on the northern side with Leduck Island, Flanagan Island and
Great St. James on the south.
St. John Historical Synopsis
“St. John is now entirely settled, so that there is no more land left to give away except at the Fort and the company’s plantation, which is still lying idle, as it is not surveyed. Next year the greater number of St. John inhabitants will begin paying the poll and land tax. There are already about 20 works built and others in the process of building…”, so wrote governor Moth to the to the company directors on March 16th, 1726. That is before Laurance S. Rockefeller donated over 5,000 acres of land to the V.I. National Park Service.
St. John (19.5 square miles – 18° n and 64° w) was named Sankt Jan (Saint John) by the Danes from Denmark. Named after a saint, it is no surprise that the island is a beautiful haven for anyone wanting to get away from the modernized world in need of nature and all that is left of this world that is not destroyed by man. St. John could be called land of trails; there are over thirty four different trails on the island many of them leading to hidden away pristine beaches.
First inhabited by people of African and African Asiatic (same difference) for many centuries Before Christ: Ortoiroid archaic people, Ciboney, Taino, Caribs were all inhabiting these islands some succession since time memorial. Living off of fish and some meat-kind like Iguanas, the indigenous people took care of each other and were also spiritual people based on the basic rituals and connections stemming from a larger group of spiritually oriented people in culture.
After existing here like so many other islands for millennia they were uprooted by colonization through “discovery” connected to the idea of Crusades and the Pope dividing the “new world”. St. John being very small and steep was left sparsely inhabited for many years after the Spaniards came: conquered, killed and abducted some of the indigenous peoples from the islands as proof of visitation to secure funding for a second visit to start developing real colonies for exportation of unwanted people in Europe such as the Moors, Sephardi, and relocating some and subsequently creating a slave colony in agricultural cash cropping – African Slave Triangle.
The British on nearby Tortola drove away potential colonizers with their desires of trying to inhabit St. John. It was mainly the Danes who tried several times to colonize. The Danes was already occupying St. Thomas 2 miles to the West of St. John. The Danes had to get special permission to inhabit St. John through some type of municipality and so by doing this it was established as Danish territory in 1684, but wasn’t cultivated fully until 1718. The governor of St. Thomas at the time was Erik Bredel – he oversaw the twenty European overseers, sixteen slaves and five soldiers that went to St. John from St. Thomas to plant the Danish flag, break bread, and drink to the good health and long life of their king.
In the year 1721, St. John was bustling with agriculture so much that there was “no room left for anymore planters,” with 39 deeds already handed out.
Soon after its short lived prosperity like an Omen, St. John was hit with a drought and a significant decline in agricultural production ensued without the prerequisites of water; fresh water. Salt water can’t be used to water plants or to drink. With no Sugar Cane, no sugar, rum, or molasses. These bouts with droughts that hit St. Thomas and St. Croix as well, made it a tough time for the Danes, but exponentially tougher for the African souls that were the first to die.
St. Croix always fared better in the agricultural department, however, St. John’s continuous depression caused a major slave uprising in 1733 because of the plantation owners and enslavers lack of further empathy and the rationing of food resources, converging on Amina intolerance despite the odds. This uprising unlike many others lasted for six months and encouraged other Africans to revolt.
The revolt was squelched with the help from the French colonizing Martinique. France had recently sold St. Croix to the Danes in nearby St. Thomas and St. John. The revolt started at the Fortsberg Fortress, and ended somewhere around Mary’s Point where many slaves jumped to their deaths rather than continue being slaves.
The sale of St. Croix to Denmark from France, proves that there was business interest and diplomatic ties between them. Denmark owned all of the Danish West Indies (St. John, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Water Island and approximately 46 cays from 1733 – 1917).
After 1755 St. John picked back up and was producing all the products that fueled the industrial age once again. After refusing several offers from Germany and an offer in 1866 by America, the Danes finally parted with the United States Virgin Islands as they were renamed by the U.S. and simultaneously reverting to what they were named initially by the first Europeans that came to this area. Columbus named this entire area of archipelagos; “de San Ursula Las Once Mil Vergennes”, from the story of ‘the mythical 11,000 virgins’ that followed Saint Ursula to martyrdom in Rome. During parts of Danish Rule Tortola and surrounding islands were already being referred to and generally called the British Virgin Islands.
St. John today has a new main port of entry on the western side of the island in Cruz Bay. In the olden days Coral Bay on the eastern side was the main port of entry and the capital. After agriculture declined and tourism started, the main port of entry was changed to Cruz Bay. The name Coral Bay has nothing to do with the coral in the ocean and everything to do with cows. Coral (Choral) is a transliteration of Kraal the Dutch name for cows. In the past there was a cattle range in Coral Bay where the buccaneers used to make “buccan” meat from the meat of the cows from the 17th century. Buccan, was a smoked meat that was very popular in the days of piracy and the early development of the Colonies.
Coral Bay has one of the best natural harbours in the world. It was regarded so by no other than Lord Nelson of Britain that was not out of place with a British Colony in Tortola B.V.I. in the background. He sailed to and spent time in St. John.
Coral Bay was used less after America bought the Danish West Indies from Denmark.
Today, many of the people are proud to be an “American citizen” and are comfortable with the Unincorporated Territory status through the masses, however, some of the more advanced minds may like to see the day when they can vote for the president of the United States or have full participation in Congress; that there are things that can be changed, brings some to feel that the relationship needs a little tweaking, such as being giving the right to vote for the president of the United States, since they too serve in the military at the will of the president. This is the feeling of some of its citizens.
Because of Laurance S. Rockefeller’s gift (land) donation (5000 acres = 2/3) in 1956, St. John’s land is a hot commodity and prices have skyrocketed exponentially since the 1980’s with such popular and wealthy people like Kevin Chesney buying and selling property there. This has disturbed some St. Johnians who argue that they cannot afford to buy land today at these higher than market prices.
St. John is a tranquil peaceful paradise with some of the finest beaches in the world; in fact words cannot express how very impressive the beaches are in St. John.
Based on the 2000 census a population 4,197 people live there but at the time you read this editorial that number will probably be higher with a boom in construction going on in 2003 – 2008. St. John’s boom will stop soon, but is necessary to adjust to the demand to get ready for the new millennium.
St. John is represented by a senator at large, who as a requirement has to live on the island. This person represents the people of St. John and acts as their voice on issues that most concern them. Senators get paid very well in ratio to senators from the U.S. but cost of living is much higher (33-50%) in rental properties, and up to 100% on food in some cases.
The island’s economy is based on tourism and it is rated as one of the best vacation spots in the world. It is quiet, peaceful, and unspoiled for the most part due to Mr. Laurance S. Rockefeller’s donation.
Beaches rated in the top ten lists of the world, they really are gorgeous.
St. John’s population is so small that the island is represented by one Senator At Large, while the sister islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix has seven each.
This beautiful island does not have an airport; you will have to sail or power boat to St. John, but with so many cays around, it makes for an enjoyable visual practice.
St. John has the finest Bay-Leaf trees in the world; the leaves have been harvested here for many years. The island roads are hilly and curvy. The bushes are filled with romantic ruins some are visible from the roads as you drive by. With the Bay Leaf trees mixed in with the Ginips, tamarind, and tropical and subtropical flora galore wider than the diversity found in the North American continent, it is an awesome sight.
St. John Historical Timeline
3500 B.C. – 2000 B.C.: Ceramic tribes. Highly civilized and able to make some incredible pottery, a testament to their intelligence and long existence is proof that any subsequent tribes after must have had the ability and disposition of a civilized being also. This contradicts the ill intended meaning of what the word caribbean or Carib was designated for. Caribbean really means “canibal-being; “they were not.
2000 B.C.: Vieques has been carbonated to have had life there. Vieques is very close in proximity to St. Thomas it’s not impossible to presume that fish could have been caught there or fresh water not retrieved or salt from the area. Due to proximity of Puerto Rico these natural presumptions can be made and supported by later carbon dating of groups.
1250 B.C. People living in St. Thomas -near by- of African origin based on carbon dated evidence of bones and artifacts that were actually found on location supports this anthropological history at a Hull Bay site on the beach.
Naturally there have been several groups over the millennia: Ortoiroid, Ceramic, Ciboney, Taino, the Caribs and others unknown. These people lived off of the fruits and vegetables of the land, and fish of the sea. The most important thing was that they were a civilized people.
Probably because they fought a good fight and seem to have made human sacrifice that is steeped in legend and mysticisms is probably the reason that Columbus projected and said that they were cannibals like others projected before him and has described them as such after.
There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that proves that the Caribs were cannibals. There are many ways to discover this as a truth if it was. Forensic abrasions to bones consistently would be evident in archaeological finds etc. The natives putting a head in a post does not translate as a diet of the people but out of fear and the acts of war that are otherwise unacceptable in their societies during peace are understandable and rationale for a people who had specific diets and a spiritual way of life.
Like a script on character, endonymical names were also given to these natives who were referred to as “Indians,” – for example- as Columbus tried to find a water route to India, and instead landed on Hispaniola in 1492. In his ignorance landed on Hispaniola and thought he found India coming all the way from Western Europe. Naming the region “Las Indias”, today everyone calls the original multi millenia people “Indians.” If Columbus can visit the Caribbean in 1492 what was to stop Africans and their descendants by language and skin colour from coming as far back as 3000 plus years previously. Nothing.
By the mid 1600’s almost all of the original inhabitants that lived here by choice and peaceful exploration were objectively killed, particularly in the smaller islands which had less land to hide in the interior. With nowhere to hide, or to escape the danger was avoided by very few. Save for bigger islands, or ones that had the ecological Eden that provided an almost impenetrable forest to get lost in, and water to out fires set to achieve the goals of getting rid of the original inhabitants and to prepare land for cultivation. At the very least challenging for the European Colonists and at worst the best environment to wage war against an enemy armed with guns. Islands such as Dominica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia had more land to escape into the interior.
+1000 B.C.: The earliest known pyramid in the Americas stands at La Venta in Tabasco, Mexico. Built by the Olmecs, the first major Mesoamerican civilization (a group famous for other firsts, like chocolate and the use of balls for sports), the pyramid dates to between 1000 B.C. and 400 B.C. American pyramids were generally built of earth and then faced with stone, typically in a stepped, or layered, shape topped by a platform or temple structure. They are often referred to as “stepped pyramids.”
Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca all built pyramids to house their deities, as well as to bury their kings.+
+100 B.C. Apart from the pyramids, Teotihuacan is also anthropologically significant for its complex, multi-family residential compounds, the Avenue of the Dead, and its vibrant, well-preserved murals. Additionally, Teotihuacan exported fine obsidian tools that are found throughout Mesoamerica. The city is thought to have been established around 100 B.C., with major monuments continuously under construction until about 250 A.D. The city may have lasted until sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries A.D, but its major monuments were sacked and systematically burned around 550 A.D.+
1492 – 1600’s: Diverse Europeans of: Spanish, English, Dutch, looking for tribal peoples to control as slaves in plantation system. The “Indian”
(Indies) terminology is established.
1600 – 1694: British Virgin Islands is established in close proximity and Danish settlement in St. Thomas well established (1665- 1694) by the Danes who were surveying St. John in close proximity to St. Thomas. Their desire grew after discussions with the British non interest. Water there and other condusive resources made it attractive and encouraging. It very quickly grew due to Denmark’s neutrality and multi national plantation sharing of the land.
St. Thomas was doing well for them except for the high mortality rates in St. Thomas at the beginning as they adapted to environment.
The Danes were not welcomed to settle St. John, initially they were driven off by the English in Tortola.
In 1665: The Danes planted their flag in St. Thomas with the help of a blond skipper by the name of Erik Nielsen Smidt.
In 1671: Construction of Fort Christian began in St. Thomas.
In 1672: Denmark took over the island of St. Thomas officially.
In 1673: Slaves were brought to St. Thomas by the Danes to work in the fields and plantations “day in and day out.”
Colonial Era
In 1694 – 1718: Denmark was granted permission to settle St. John by the British in 1694. Denmark was a non threatening nation and only had establishments in St. Thomas. Even though they received the permission they needed, they did not pursue the plantation system of agriculture until 1718.
In 1717: Planters from St. Thomas travel back and forth to St. John to cultivate sugar cane. In 1718 they had an official ceremony to inaugurate the establishment of St. John as a plantation colony.
In 1718: The Danish West India and New Guinea Co. settled St. John. They had an official inauguration of their presence and objectives for the island and also was responsible for naming the island Sankt Jan.
In 1721: 39 deeds were handed out by this time and St. John was a success.
In 1726: “St. John is now entirely settled, so that there is no more land left to give away except at the Fort and the company’s plantation, which is still lying idle, as it is not surveyed. Next year the greater number of St. John inhabitants will begin paying the poll and land tax. There are already about 20 works built and others in the process of building…”, Governor Moth, to the company directors on March 16th.
In 1733: The famous slave uprising that started at Fortsberg Fortress on Leinster Bay spread throughout the island and was the first successful slave rebellion in the Caribbean. The African slaves held the island for six months until the French came from as far away as Martinique to assist the Danes in recovering the island. They offered the slaves pardons to trick them to come out of hiding and then they killed them.Many had already committed suicide with the belief that they would go to heaven or some place better than what they had alive. The ill treatment and rationing of foods because of the droughts that were affecting the islands was cause coupled with the brutality of Slavery
In 1754: The Danish Crown took control of all three islands plantations in the Danish West Indies: St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
In 1756-63: The Seven Year War occurred where France and Sweden were allies with Austria and Saxony (Germans) against the German States.
In 1773: Boston Tea Party occurred; The British were placing taxes on the tea and it started a revolt.
In 1776: Sugar cane and all of it’s by products were doing so well that it would have been difficult to realize that there was such a successful rebellion in 1733. It took years to get planters to sign on to St. John again.
In 1776: American Revolution
In 1792: White Tail Deer was introduced as game.
In 1794: Christianborg was burnt down and the royal family purchased and moved into Amelienborg Palace.
In 1801-1802: Great Britain over threw the Danish government. Great Britain and France were at war. The Danes and France had good relations after having bought St. Croix from France in 1733, and therefore Great Britain was concerned about France getting their hands on Danish ships etc. Denmark at the time was flourishing from the Atlantic slave trade after having introduced slavery to the Virgin Islands for over one hundred twenty five years.
In 1805 and 1806: Great Fires of Charlotte Amalia burnt down much of Main St. Dronningens Gade (Queen Street).
In 1806-1816: Great Britain’s takeover
In 1809: Bernadotte Crown Prince and Regent was stripped of his powers.
In 1812: Napoleon invaded Sweden -Pomerania a former ally.
In 1816: After the Danes reclaimed the island from the peaceful British takeover, St. Thomas became a successful trading mecca again, while continuously declining in agriculture. Agriculture would never be productive again on the island.
In 1820’s: Slaves were exported to Puerto Rico, allowed by Governor Torre of Puerto Rico who could not import from Africa because of English pressure on Spain to sign a treaty to end the Slave trade and with Puerto Rico under Spanish control they were dependent on them to facilitate or or to follow the laws with attempts to end the wars between them. With agriculture declining in St. Thomas this was a great way for them to get rid of some of the Blacks on the island.
In 1825-26: Great fires burnt down areas in Savan, and the original Catholic Church edifice, the current Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (ca.2008) was built between1845 – 1848. The building codes were changed and required building with rubble stones and bricks.
In 1828: Peter von Schulton started a long 20 year affair with an African woman of mixed heritage, her name was Anna Heegard.
In 1837: The first steamship was built for North Atlantic ocean travel, The Great Western is launched
In 1848: Slavery was abolished all over the Danish West Indies on July third but was not officially read in St. John until the 5th of July.
In 1840’s: St. Thomas became a coaling and watering station for ships traveling between South America and the North. Cunard starts to provide commercial transatlantic sailings.
In 1847: King Christian VIII declared that all babies born after July 28, 1847 will be declared free and that all others will be free in twelve years. This angered the Africans and started the chain of wars and revolts lead by many individuals including General Budhoe. This resulted in the freeing of the Africans who were held captive as slaves in 1848.
In 1848: The African captives (slaves) were emancipated by the order of Danish Governor Peter von Schulton first in St. Croix and then in the Emancipation Garden on July 4th and subsequently on the 5th in St. John. France also abolished slavery and all related commerce. Anna is said to have been influential in Peter’s decision to free them.
The U.S. wins the war with Mexico and after winning, California was ceded to America and the Gold Rush began; but very few got rich.
The First Schleswig War 1848-51. Danes vs. the Germans of Schleswig-Holstein which Denmark previously ruled.
In 1852: Colonial Law first introduced to form a voice for the masses.
In 1861: The Civil War in the United States begins.
In 1863: Colonial Law was amended.
In 1863-1906: King Christian IX (1818-1906) ascends to the Danish Throne after King Frederik VII death. King Christian IX wife was strategic and fanatical with dynastic goals and organized six successful marriages of her off spring to different European Royal Houses making him her husband “The Father in Law of Europe”. In the early 21st century many European monarchs were directly descended from him:
- Russia- Nicholas II—-Princess Dagmar Czar Alexander III
- Greece- Constantine I Vilhelm / greece
- United Kingdom- George V —Alexandra /Edward VII
- Denmark- Christian X
- Norway- Haakon VII
- Thyra / Duke Ernst August of Cumberland
In 1864: Second Schleswig War Denmark lost South Jutland and Holstein Germany. This war was started by Prussia (Germans) and Austria.
Smallpox and dengue fever were widespread in the British islands and entry into Tortola was prohibited. The islands were put under quarantine to help stop the spread and fears that were brewing.
In 1866: The U.S. offers 7.5 million dollars for St. Thomas and St. John, the offer was made by Mr. William Henry Seward the Secretary of State at the time. Mr. Seward had recently lead the purchase of Alaska for 7.2 million from Russia and that deal was done the same year so the proposal was killed by the U.S. Senate 1868 and referred to as Seward’s folly because it was an unsuccessful bid. The amount offered was 7.5 million for St. Thomas and St. John.
A major hurricane and earth quake in the same year hit St. Thomas and caused a tsunami that destroyed many of the homes on the island.
In 1872: The Mongoose was introduced to the Caribbean to prey on the snakes. We still have the Puerto Rican Racer and Wild boas around the island.
The capital of the Virgin Islands was moved from St. Croix to St. Thomas.
*In 1874: The V.I. Legislature Building was erected as a Danish warehouse; it later became a U.S. Marine barrack, the first Charlotte Amalie High School and was turned into the Legislature Building in 1957. Today it is known as the Earl B. Ottley Legislature Building. Earl B. Ottley was a political figure who made and broke Careers.
In 1876: Alexander Graham Bell receives a U.S. patent for the telephone.
In 1879: Thomas Edison invents the light bulb.
In 1881: Booker T. Washington a former African slave was selected to be principle of the new Tuskegee Institute.
In 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge was completed.
In 1884 – 1946: D. Hamiltion Jackson was born on September 28th in St. Croix, Danish West Indies. He sucessfully petitioned the King of Demark to repeal laws that restricted freedom of the press and started the first free press on the island. In 1915 Jackson traveled to Denmark to protest the harsh living and working conditions of the people. He was the organizer and President of the first Labor Union. D. Hamilton Jackon was an educator, journalist, judge, lawyer and legislator. He died May 30, 1946.
In 1898: The Spanish American War begins. Puerto Rico was ceded to America.
In 1903: Wright Brothers made their first flight.
In 1904: U.S. takes over the construction of the Panama Canal.
In 1906: Colonial Law amended; the last of changes by the Danish Crown.
In 1917: The United States of America Pays $25,000,000.00 worth of gold to Denmark for the entire Danish West Indies (four islands and approximately 46 cays) on March 31. This deal took a period of 51 years and several offers on both sides to before the sale was accomplished.
America wanted a location in the Caribbean to secure the region with most of their concerns on Germany and there intentions. The Panama Canal was an opening that could have been a weak spot and they were not going to take any chances. America was interested in Santo Domingo (Hispaniola) and Cuba as well. Germany went on to start World War II. Germany also wanted to have a presence in the Caribbean and did; the Germans leased out large portions of St. Thomas between 1685 and1718 through the Brandenburg African Co. involved in the Triangular Slave Trade and had headquarters here for their German-American Hamburg Lines.
They occupied that whole building which is today part of the old Bern Ice Plant and that whole area across and south of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church built in 1844 -1848, There were other churches built in that location but were destroyed by fire previously in 1825-26.
Naval Rule Era
Naval Administrators governed the islands
In 1917-1919: James Harrison Oliver; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy administered the islands.
In 1920-1921: Joseph Wallace Oman; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy…
In 1921: Cyril E. King was born in the beautiful island of Saint Croix. This man was to become a great leader in the U.S. as well as in the Virgin Islands. This humble and great leader started going to school in St. Croix attending Catholic schools St. Ann’s and St. Mary’s and later in his life he received a degree from the American University in Washington D.C. and many honorary degrees and commendations.
▪ He was the first African to work in an office of a U.S. senator when he worked in Senator Humphrey’s (Minnesota) office from 1949-1961.
▪ He was the second elected Governor of the Virgin Islands.
▪ Appropriated funds to rebuild the airports world war II hanger that was used as a terminal and extended the runway into the ocean.
▪ He tried to empress on the people of the Virgin Islands to pursue agriculture.
In 1921-1922: Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy…
In 1922-1923: Henry Hughs Hough; Captain of the U.S. Navy…
In 1923-1925: Phillip Williams; Captain of the U.S. Navy…
In 1925-1927: Martin Edward Trench; Captain of the U.S. Navy…
In 1927-1931: Waldo Evans; Captain of the U.S. Navy…
In 1927: U.S. citizenship was granted to the people of the Virgin Islands.
*In 1936: The Organic Act was passed by Congress and was the first time that the people had something.
1936 the Organic Act was passed by Congress and was the first time that the people had something that started to resemble a legislature and democratic system. The people were on the path to an eventual self government. The Act also created two municipalities one in St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John as another due their close proximity and relatively small population in St. John relative to St. Thomas. Under Civilian Rule, governors were duly appointed by the President of the United States.
This quasi democratic system gave power to the governor to veto legislation. The legislature could over rule the governor with a two thirds majority with the President having the final veto power.
The District Court Extended the right to vote for legislative representative politicians to individuals over 21 years who were able to read and write in the Bill of Rights.
Civilian Rule Era:
Governors were appointed by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior
1931-1935: The first appointed Governor; Paul M. Pearson, was born on Oct.22, 1871 and died March 27, 1938…
1935-1941: The second elected Governor; Lawrence W. Cramer, was born on Dec. 26,1897 and died Oct.18, 1978…
1941-1946: The third appointed Governor; Charles Harwood, was born on May 14, 1880 and died on Oct.23, 1950, the Charles Harwood highway was named after him…
1946-1949: The forth appointed Governor; William Henry Hastie, was born Nov.17, 1904 and died April 21, 1976 he requested appropriations made to expand roads and other important facilities.…
1950-1954: The fifth appointed Governor; Morris Fidanque De Castro became the first native born Governor.
1954-1955: The sixth appointed Governor; Archibald Alphonso Alexander, was born May 14, 1888 and died Jan. 4, 1958. Archibald was appointed at a very mature age.
1941: The Navy builds airport, roads, and housing.
1941-1946: The third appointed Governor; Charles Harwood, was born on May 14, 1880 and died on Oct.23, 1950, the Charles Harwood highway was named in his honor after he asked for monies to be appropriated to improve roads hospitals and other infrastructural facilities.
1945-47: The submarine base was closed after World War II in St. Thomas after naval rule was already abandoned. The territory had fully arrived into civlian rule.
1946: Magens Bay Beach was donated to the Virgin Islands government by Arthur Fairchild, a contractual stipulation prohibiting the building of homes or hotels around the perimeter of the beach was arranged by Arthur Fairchild the owner of Magens Bay.
1955-1958: The seventh appointed Governor; Walter Arthur Gordon was born on Oct.10, 1894 and died April 2, 1976 at the ripe age of 81.
1956: Laurance Spelman Rockefeller the conservationist and heir to the Rockefeller fortune donates 5000 + acres (approximately 3/5of the island) to the V.I. National Park Service, he also donates 33,000 acres in the Grand Teton National Park. Serious about saving the environment he was the head of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality from the 1969-73. He also sat on many different committees that involved environmental protection. Laurance
served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after co-founding Eastern Airlines. Later on in his life his interests lead him to speculate in the hotel and technological industries.
1958-1961: The eighth appointed Governor; John David Merwin was first native born administrator of the Virgin Islands, a sign of things to come. He was born on Sept.26, 1921.
1961-1969: The ninth appointed Governor; Ralph M. Paiewonsky was born on Nov.9, 1907 and died on his birthday on Nov.9, 1991…
▪ King was appointed as Government Secretary by John F. Kennedy. This position was the equivalent of the Lieutenant Governors position today.
1969-1970: The tenth and last appointed Governor; Melvin Evans was appointed as Governor after the early resignation of Ralph M. Paiewonsky. Something very curious about his resignation, he was politically connected to the United States more than any other local elected or unelected would ever be and was involved with a lot of infraatructural developmental programs as well as through the era of Prohibition. Retrospectively vobtroversial, some of it chronicled in a book “The ape of the Virgin Islands.”
Self Governorship Era
Term limited elected officials, a supreme court, and a constitution
1970-1974: The first elected Governor; Melvin Evans was elected by the people of the Virgin Islands he was the first person to be elected by the people after 53 years under American rule. Melvin was born on August 7, 1917 and died on Nov. 27, 1984. The time had come for the people to choose their own administrator. Melvin Evans should have been an easy choice because he served the people in that position by appointment of the President previously, but due to Cyril E. Kings popularity won by runoff election.
1974: Second elected Governor; Cyril E. King, was born on St. Croix April 7th, 1921 and died January 2nd, 1978 before he was able to complete his term in office.
1978-1987: Third elected Governor; Juan Francisco Luis was born on July 10, 1940…
1987-1995: Fourth elected Governor; Alexander A. Farrelly was born on Dec.29, 1925…
1995-1999: Fifth elected Governor, Dr. Roy Lester Schneider was born on May 13th, 1939.
1999: Sixth elected Governor; Charles W. Turnbull Ph.D. was elected.
2002: Governor Charles W. Turnbull was re-elected as the seventh governor.
2006: Eighth elected Governor; John P. DeJongh was elected, with his running mate and lieutenant Governor was Gregory R. Frances from St. Croix
2006: Julian “The Hawk” Jackson was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Julian Jackson was our four time middle weight champion of the world who insisted on training in St. Thomas, despite opportunities to use better facilities off island.
2006: The Virgin Islands government almost exceeds one billion dollars in revenue. This is evidenced progression in the islands economy,
2010: John P. DeJongh is reelected.
2014: Kenneth Mapp
2021: Governors Albert Bryan and Tregenza Roach. Currently: St. John is still preserved and is trying hard to balance paradise and development. The task of maximizing the limited amount of land space; a hot commodity, is daunting. The local government recently had to allocate some of National Park land to build a new school.
Architecturally the local homes are very ordinary. The more affluent homes have more interesting and unique designs many use the Dutch inspired styles creating a renaissance of that occurring all over the Caribbean. Many residents, both black and white are anti development and believe that the island is losing its undeveloped charm.
Historically: St. John has been producing the finest quality Bay Leaves in the world. The Bay leaf of the Laurel family has been noted by botanists, as the finest quality in the world as a Cinnamon Bay Leaf. They were used and exported by the Danes.
Government:
St. John has one Senator (at large). The other two islands St. Thomas and St. Croix has seven senators each for a total of fifteen total.
There is a growing desire in the community for changes to made in the legislative body in terms of its size and pay scale in ratio to population size and work necessary to be an effective representative for each district.
Currently in the executive branches of government a Governor and Lt. Governor are elected every four years with a maximum of 2 term limits. The fifteen senators in the legislative branches that are elected every two years can run for office indefinitely without term limits. There is also a Delegate to Congress that has voting rights in the Commititee.
Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and are approved by the Legislature. They head: Agriculture, Police, Housing Parks and Recreation, Education, Tourism, Planning and Natural Resources, and Public Works.
Judicial branches are the District Court of the Virgin Islands and the Territorial Court.
The Organic Act which was passed by Congress in 1954. This has given the people of the Virgin Islands a right to create their own constitution and supreme court, with some limitations, as Federal Law is foundational to its rights as a Territory to reflect its values and peculiarities in and as a society of people with specific needs and concerns.
C.A.R.I.C.O.M. exists in the Caribbean to unite and engage these islands in trade, however the Virgin Islands only has observance status to stay intuned with industrial development, tourism, environmental and insular regional changes as a united Caribbean society. This limited participation represents the limitations in trade and other areas that can be of increased benefit to the territorial security in the economy and potential trade in regional markets sensitive to growth and potential stability.
African descendants comprise a large portion of the population at about 80%, Whites 10%, Indian 10%.
Notes:
Laurance S. Rockefeller donated 5,000 acres of land that established the National Park Service and preservation process.
Local people also donated land for the increased protection of this gem of an island, today 3/5 National Park.
Robert Oppenheimer lived in St. John after moving after his days facing excommunication after the McCarthy era scrutiny.
Colonial Era
1694 – 1718: Denmark was granted permission to settle St. John by the British in 1694. The name St. John was originally Sankt Han by the Danes, however taken from the African Hebrew Semitic name Yohanan. Denmark was a non threatening nation and only had establishments in St. Thomas. Even though they received the permission they needed, they did not pursue the plantation system of agriculture until 1718.
1718: The Danish West India and New Guinea Co.’s settled St. John. They had an official inauguration of their presence and objectives for the island and also was responsible for naming the island Sankt Jan.
1721: 39 deeds were handed out by this time and St. John was a success.
1726: “St. John is now entirely settled, so that there is no more land left to give away except at the Fort and the company’s plantation, which is still lying idle, as it is not surveyed. Next year the greater number of St. John inhabitants will begin paying the poll and land tax. There are already about 20 works built and others in the process of building…”, Governor Moth, to the company directors on March 16th.
1733: The famous slave uprising that started at the Fortsberg Fortress on Leinster Bay spread throughout the island and was the first successful slave rebellion. The African slaves held the island for six months until the French came from as far away as Martinique to assist the Danes in recovering the island. The French had recently sold St. Croix to the Danes in that same year. They offered the slaves pardons to trick them to come out of hiding and then they killed them. Many had already committed suicide with the belief that they would go to heaven or some place better than what they had alive.
1754: The Danish Crown took control of all three islands plantations in the Danish West Indies: St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
1773: Boston Tea Party occurred; The British were placing taxes on the tea as a last resort to maintaining a push back against tax exemptions, and it started a revolt, through the destruction of the tea by dumping it into the ocean. .
1776: Sugar cane and all of its by products were doing so well that it would have been difficult to realize that there was such a successful rebellion in 1733. It took years to get planters to sign on to St. John again.
1776: American Revolution
1805 and 1806: Great fires burnt down much of Main St. Dronningens Gade
1825-26: Great fires burnt down areas in Savan, and the original Catholic Church edifice, the current Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (ca.2008) was built between 1845 – 1848. The building codes were changed and required building with rubble stones and bricks.
1848: Slavery was abolished all over the Danish West Indies on July third but was not officially read in St. John until the 5th of July.
1864: Smallpox and dengue fever were widespread in the British islands and entry into Tortola was prohibited. The islands were put under quarantine to help stop the spread and fears that were brewing.
1872: The capital of the Virgin Islands was moved from St. Croix to St. Thomas.
1917: The United States of America Pays $25,000,000.00 worth of gold to Denmark for the entire Danish West Indies (four islands and approximately 46 cays) on March 31. This deal took a period of 51 years and several offers on both sides before the sale was accomplished. America wanted a location in the Caribbean to secure the region with most of their concerns on Germany and their intentions. The Panama Canal was an opening that could have been a weak spot and they were not going to take any chances. America was interested in Santo Domingo (Hispaniola) and Cuba as well.
Germany went on to start World War II. Germany also wanted to have a presence in the Caribbean and did; the Germans leased out large portions of St. Thomas between 1685 and 1718 through the Brandenburg African Co. involved in the Triangular Slave Trade and had headquarters here for their German-American Hamburg Lines.
They occupied that whole building which is today part of the old Bern Ice Plant and that whole area across and south of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church built in 1844 -1848. There were other churches built in that location but were destroyed by fire previously in 1825-26.
Naval Rule Era
Naval Administrators governed the islands
1917-1919: James Harrison Oliver; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy administered the Islands.
1920-1921: Joseph Wallace Oman; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy.
1921: Cyril E. King was born in the beautiful island of Saint Croix. This man was to become a great leader in the U.S. as well as in the Virgin Islands. This humble and great leader started going to school in St. Croix, attending Catholic schools (St. Ann’s and St. Mary’s) and later in his life he received a degree from the American University in Washington D.C. and many honorary degrees and commendations.
§ He was the first African to work in the office of a U.S. senator when he worked in Senator Humphreys (Minnesota) office from 1949-1961.
§ He was the second elected Governor of the Virgin Islands.
§ Appropriated funds to rebuild the airport’s world war II hanger that was used as a terminal and extended the runway into the ocean.
1921-1922: Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle; Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy.
1922-1923: Henry Hughs Hough; Captain of the U.S. Navy.
1923-1925: Phillip Williams; Captain of the U.S. Navy.
1925-1927: Martin Edward Trench; Captain of the U.S. Navy.
1927-1931: Waldo Evans; Captain of the U.S. Navy.
1927: U.S. citizenship was granted to the people of the Virgin Islands.
Civilian Rule Era
Governors appointed by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior
1931-1935: The first appointed Governor; Paul M. Pearson, was born on Oct.22, 1871and died March 27, 1938.
1935-1941: The second elected Governor; Lawrence W. Cramer, was born on Dec. 26,1897 and died Oct.18, 1978.
1941-1946: The third appointed Governor; Charles Harwood, was born on May 14, 1880 and died on Oct.23, 1950, the Charles Harwood highway was named after him.
1946-1949: The forth appointed Governor; William Henry Hustie, was born Nov.17, 1904 and died April 21, 1976.
1950-1954: The fifth appointed Governor; Morris Fidanque De Castro became the first native born Governor.
1954-1955: The sixth appointed Governor; Arcihbald Alphonso Alexander, was born May 14, 1888 and died Jan. 4, 1958. Archibald was appointed at a very mature age.
1956: Laurance Spelman Rockefeller the conservationist and heir to the Rockefeller fortune donates 5000 + acres (approximately 3/5of the island) to the V.I. National Park Service. He also donates 33,000 acres in the Grand Teton National Park. Serious about saving the environment he was the head of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality from 1969-73. He also sat on many different committees that involved environmental protection. Laurance served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after co-founding Eastern Airlines. Later on in his life his interests led him to speculate in the hotel and technological industries.
1955-1958: The seventh appointed Governor; Walter Arthur Gordon was born on Oct.10, 1894 and died April 2, 1976 at the ripe age of 81.
1958-1961: The eighth appointed Governor; John David Merwin was the first native born administrator of the Virgin Islands, a sign of things to come. He was born on Sept.26, 1921.
1961-1969: The ninth appointed Governor; Ralph M. Paiewonsky was born on Nov.9, 1907 and died on his birthday on Nov.9, 1991.
§ King was appointed as Government Secretary by John F. Kennedy. This position was the equivalent of the Lieutenant Governors position today.
1969-1970: The tenth and last appointed Governor; Melvin Evans was appointed as Governor after the early resignation of Ralph M. Paiewonsky. Something was very curious about his resignation. He was probably aware of the upcoming elections and the changes that were on the horizon. To save embarrassment he was probably asked to resign.
Self Governorship Era
Term limited elected officials, a supreme court, and a constitution
1970-1974: The first elected Governor; Melvin Evans was elected by the people of the Virgin Islands he was the first person to be elected by the people after 53 years under American rule. Melvin was born on August 7, 1917 and died on Nov. 27, 1984. The time had come for the people to choose their own administrator. Melvin Evans should have been an easy choice because he served the people in that position by appointment of the President previously, but due to Cyril E. Kings popularity won by runoff election.
1974: Second elected Governor; Cyril E. King, was born on St. Croix April 7th, 1921 and died January 2nd, 1978 before he was able to complete his term in office.
1977: Cyril E. King wrote a congratulatory letter to Dawuud N. Nyamekye; formerly David M. Horsford, on his victory as the 25th Prince of Carnival.
1978-1987: Third elected Governor; Juan Francisco Luis was born on July 10, 1940.
1987-1995: Fourth elected Governor; Alexander A. Farrelly was born on Dec.29,1925.
1995-1999: Fifth elected Governor, Dr. Roy Lester Schneider was born on May 13th, 1939. Dr. Schneider was a former Prince of Carnival in St. Thomas and as governor pushed for the hospital to be named after him. An obvious affinity for women of a lighter or white complexion he was viewed by many as being pompous.
1999-2007: Sixth elected Governor; Charles W. Turnbull, Ph.D., was elected.
2002: Governor Charles W. Turnbull was re-elected as the seventh Governor.
2007: Eighth elected Governor; John P. DeJongh was elected, with his running mate and lieutenant Governor, Gregory R. Frances from St. Croix.
Currently: St. John is still preserved and is trying hard to balance paradise and development. The task of maximizing the limited amount of land space; a hot commodity, is daunting. The local government recently had to allocate some of National Park land to build a new school. Architecturally the local homes are very ordinary. The more affluent homes have more interesting and unique designs. Many use the Dutch inspired styles creating a renaissance occurring all over the Caribbean.
Many residents, from all backgrounds, are anti development and believe that the island is losing it’s undeveloped charm.
Historically: St. John has been producing the finest quality Bay Leaves in the World. Noted by botanists, the leaves were used, and still are today, to produce Bay Rum. This is a potential industry that has not received enough attention.
Government: St. John has one Senator (at large). The other two islands, St. Thomas and St. Croix, have seven senators each for a total of fifteen. Under the new constitution these dynamics may change. There is now a growing desire in the community for changes to be made in the legislature. Currently, in the executive branches of government, a Governor and Lt. Governor are elected every four years and fifteen senators in the Legislative Branches are elected every two years. There is also a Delegate to Congress but without voting rights in the House.
Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and are approved by the Legislature. They head Agriculture, Police and Housing, Parks and Recreation, Education, Tourism, Planning and Natural Resources and Public Works.
In the judicial branch, the District Court of the Virgin Islands and the Territorial Court exists.
Population: 4,157
Notes: St. John’s time-line has important information of St. Thomas V.I. , included because decisions made in St. Thomas affected St. John’s history directly.