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This is not a quiz. i don't know the answers, but would like to. When was the road to STJ's East End completed? How about Centerline and the north shore road? The Salt Pond road? When did the island get electricity?
I think Mooie's was the first bar on STJ. What was the first place in Coral Bay? I remember when Skinny's was named Redbeards. Was that the original name of the place?
When was the building on the ferry dock constructed?
When did The Kite burn?
Was the Maho Camps area undeveloped before Stanley built on it?
What did Hamilton and Frett do before Maho?
And on STT, when was the new terminal built at the airport?
Maho was guest cottages owned by the Denham family.
The new terminal, early nineties I think.
I have a film from 1939 that stated there were no cars on the island then.
Rockefeller did Caneel in the mid 50s, so I suppose some of those roads were done then but the Denhams and Gibneys were there from the 40s, so I guess roads did go as far as Maho!
The Kite burned late 70s, early 80s.
Coral Bay had Sputnik's with Arnett Marsh at the helm as far back as I can remember.
Hamilton and Frett, taxiing I guess. Paris was doing it before Frett.
Not very accurate, but a start!
RL
Think that I remember that Coral Bay was the more active area compared to the Cruz Bay area because it was the center for shipping and ease of anchoring there. Can't help with specific dates for sure but I do enjoy every once and awhile going over to the Historical Society's pix @ http://www.stjohnhistoricalsociety.org/Photographs.htm#
There is a picture of the "dock" in 1940 and "downtown" Cruz Bay in 1951 then an overview of Cruz Bay 1956 and love the pix of the "hippies" ... and the dock as I remember it the very first time.
We first went to STJ in the mid-80s. There was no buildings on the ferry dock on STJ, just the old concrete dock. The Kite was still there. So the Peter Bay development wasn't there, nor were many of the mammoth concrete condos and villas in Cruz Bay or anywhere. Skinny's was Redbeards. The STT airport still had the old terminal, which had a definitely 3rd world feel to it. I don't think I recall a Paris at Maho, but do believe that both Frett and Hamilton were driving out there. Morgan's Mango was World Headquarters (or something close), which was much more bar than restaurant then. Mrs. Maeda had a nice rooftop restaurant. And Inner Visions were playing at Fred's.
I thought I heard that the East End road wasn't completed until the late 70s and Vie opened her stand soon afterward.
I believe Hamilton used to be the maintenance manager at Maho back in the day. He used to talk to me about how he built most of the guest cottages.
Great questions - looking forward to hearing all the answers 🙂
Pia
Paris ran his safari back in the 70s when I used to there for the 4th of July eek. Remember the Lobster Hut?
RL
CShell,
I love that link and looking at the old pics. I have some of Fredrick von Scholten paintings...err... rather prints and just love the way the island used to look. I know you can't stop progress and population, but the islands must have been so beautiful before they were built up. I think that's why people love STJ so much is that it has a limit on the areas you can build and maintains it rural atmosphere.
Ron, If you feel up to it, I would love to read some of your thoughts on the islands thru the years. Not that you are that old or anything, but surely relatives have told you stories (good ones) too??? You are 30 something, right? 😛
Great questions!!!
Hi Pia! If I make to STJ again (I will), I will definitely look you up. Enjoy some island time for me will ya?
Teresa
I need a ghostwriter for my stories!
I once invited Mr. Guy Benjamin to speak to our Rotary Club in ST. John. Instead of talking about the old days which we wanted he branched off into an interesting topic.It was the old days, but he talked of my Great Grandfather Alfred Harris Lockhart who, at one time, owned about a third of St. John! He talked his arrival on a yacht into Caneel Bay where he mounted a white ,in his white linen suit, to go out and visit his estates. He told me the kids ran all the way from town to greet him! Still trying to catch up with him to record the story.
RL
Ronnie--
Now that we got you started, I have a boatload of questions. But first, when/how/from where did your family get to the VI? What are some of your early memories? I love this kind of personal history. It really strikes me how much change there's been on the islands in our lifetime. There's certainly been significant change in my hometown, but not of the order that's taken place in the Caribbean in the past decades. It also must have been quite a trip that Guy Benjamin could remember your great grandfather.
My Great Great came over to St. Croix from Scotland mid 1800s. He was an engineer of some sort specializing in windmills.
My Great was born in Fredericksted in 1862, was orphaned at age 10. Moved to St Thomas and was raised by some cousins of his mother. He opened his first dry goods store at age 20. It snowballed from there. Along with the properties and estates he acquired, he owned an import business, soda factory, bakery, dairy, lumber yard, hotel, and a department store!
RL
Ron,
You've got to write a book! I know you're busy, but you are the island historian, even at your young age of 30! 😉 This is by far the most interesting thread so far. Please tell us more.
Ronnie
So your family has lived on STT, but also owned property on STJ? Any family members ever live there? When you speak of the "estates", were these agricultural property or just real estate holdings? Were they still in your family when Rockefeller was buying up land?
Not to take the attention from Ron's wonderful history - I've learned so much from him - but the Tradewinds does a column "historical bits and pieces" which is fun to read too. Years ago a police officer on St. John, before the condos were built there, told me that the actual gallows used to be at Gallows Point and that's how the area got it's name. Made sense since the cemetary is there too but never knew if it was really true and never remember to ask Ron.
Bought that book, loaned it to a friend, hope to get it back....soon.
The estates in St John were for cattle as well.
RL
Nice pics promo, I go those as well.
Wow - excellent photo's. Any chance of you posting them on the "other" forum I'm sure they would love them.
Pia
He died long before Rockefeller came around. He left the estates to different children some of whom I suspect sold to Rockefeller. My Grandfather kept Leinster Bay and Waterlemon key for our family. In 1972 we sold it to the NPS.
RL
