Really enjoyed going through the old photos. Very cool. Thank you for sharing!!

--Islander

These are beyond excellent. In the view of Sapphire Beach I can see a dot. It is my house! Of course I did not own it then. I also noticed that a lot of the land which is not covered by Tamarn (?) trees was more cleared. I assume for cows.

The pictures of the land show very little housing. And there were lots of places with more white sands. I assume these were salt ponds.

Is there any way that someone in the government could preserve these in some sort of a photo trip down memory lane? We could do an then a now theme.

I would be more than willing to work with the government on this. But I don't want to step on someone's heels. And we would need a release from the someone.

billd

Wow! Just finished looking at the old STT & STJ photos. That's when the islands looked & felt like islands. Some of the more modern places that keep popping up now, just don't belong on an island. Awesome pictures, truly enjoyed looking at them. Thanks!!!

Thanks for sharing your photos, also thank your sister. Nice of you to share.

I think it would be great if these could be shared with the local historical societies as well...Cheers

Thank you to the Dohm family for preservation and sharing. A number of these photos are on the St. John Historical Society Web Site, plus a quite a few other images,for those who are interested.... www.stjohnhistoricalsociety.org

Hi Billd you are absolutely correct with your observations about the photos. The areas that are not covered with wild tamarind and other foliage where indeed cow pastures. I believe at one point the area where Tutu Park mall now sits where actually a dairy farm. After the dairy moved to what is now mahagony run, the Hartman family used it for grazing beef cattle. In those days the entire eastern part of the island of St Thomas was more agricultural than what it is today. Hence, that's why you will hear the locals referring to areas such as Tutu, Smith bay and other eastern parts of St. Thomas as country. At that time it was truly country can't say that now.

Some more photos...

On the relocation board someone had recently shared this link with old photos from the Library of Congress of the Virgin Islands: http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&ct=6&w=8623220@N02&q=virgin%20islands&m=text.

And on the St. Croix Landmarks Society Website they have a nice selection of old St. Croix images. Here is their website http://www.stcroixlandmarks.com/. Once on the their website click on Photo Store and from the drop down you can make selections and view the albums.

--Islander

Thanks Islander for sharing the additional photos

Another place you can see a lot of historical pictures of the Virgin Islands plus more, go to: http://www.facebook.com/everythingandanythingvirginislands?ref=nf
You must be a facebook member and then become a fan! This page is coming up on 10,000 fans and had lots of information from now and historical. Enjoy!

As I looked over these I wished I could have visited the US VI in the 50 & 60's to see what they were in their more natural beauty. Now I am glad I didn't as the development over the last few decades would surely make me mourn the loss even more. Better to take in what is left and enjoy what they can still offer.

Thank you so very much for sharing.

Here is another site, they have some old postcards: http://www.antanlontan-antilles.com/caribbean-postcards/us-virgin-islands.htm.

All very interesting! Thanks again Levin for starting this thread!

--Islander

Hi Islander

Thanks for sharing the post cards. Have you notice that in some of post cards, Hassel Island was still part of St. Thomas? Amazing how things has changed over the years.

Hi Levin, regarding Hassel Island, I had not noticed. Thanks for pointing it out.

One of the things I had noted is that compared to today's USVI postcards, the old postcards seem to include more of people doing regular everyday things - fishing, at the market, playing dice or games, doing chores/work like carrying water or coal. Some of these scenes no longer exists however some do and there are new scenes. Today's postcards of people however are usually of models on the beach in swimwear. So I got to thinking perhaps there have been changes in people's attitudes toward having their photo taken, different photography trends/styles or maybe those types of postcards don't sell as well as scenery shots. Anyway thought that was interesting and of course the images themselves are interesting.

--Islander

Probably the subtle difference between information and infomercial. I noticed a similar difference between old postcards from England compared to those of today. It seems a postcard was meant more to inform about the location and provide a flavor of the area with an actual picture. Todays cards are more about showing what you can do or 'dressing' up a place to visit.

I strongly suggest that anyone interested in the history of STT become a member of the St Thomas Historical Trust:
www.stthistoricaltrust.org

It is indeed both amazing and very often very sad how development has (and continues to) virtually obliterate the past. I've only been here for 25 years but it's a hugely different island today than it was even when I arrived. One thing does remain constant, though - WAPA! It remains now as it was back then... :D;)

Chris at Work wrote:
Probably the subtle difference between information and infomercial. I noticed a similar difference between old postcards from England compared to those of today. It seems a postcard was meant more to inform about the location and provide a flavor of the area with an actual picture. Todays cards are more about showing what you can do or 'dressing' up a place to visit.

Chris, I don't think there's such a drastic change where PCs from England are concerned. Customers of mine recently traveled to England and, remembering the place where I spent several years of my childhood, sent me a postcard from there, a collage of five photos of local sights. It brought back many fond memories!

Chris at Work wrote: Probably the subtle difference between information and infomercial.

Good point Chris. Thanks.

--Islander

STT
I agree the pictures are nice and certainly the quality is improved but the subtle difference now is most pics only show the buildings and not the life going on around around or through the building. As with the old USVI postcards, my grandparents collection had towns people around the pub but no indication of the actual pub name or a picture of an actual cricket match. Today you might see a picture of "the classic British pub" complete with thatch roof and swinging sign or a picture of a cricket club house in Victorian white splendor with not a sole in sight. Subtle change indeed but a sign of the times.

The Tutu mall does sit on my families old cow pasture.