USVI-On-Line

Here's a nice article that gives a glimpse into how the island used to be not all that long ago:

http://homepage.mac.com/stjohnsuntimes/ ... licia.html


It also mentions that the writer is working on a book that I look forward to reading. I've really enjoyed Guy Benjamin's writings.

Marvelous !!!

Great article. Thanks.

One of my greatest pleasures is listening to stories from long ago by some of our St. John senior citizens. St. John and the Virgin Islands real wealth is in its culture and interesting people.
Thanks Lex!

You also may find interesting reading Jamesie & the All-Stars. Lex you may remember them as "Jamesie and the Happy Seven". They played around STJ and at Fred's many Old Years night.

http://www.jamesieproject.com/

Thanks for that link, Lex. I haven't checked that site for a while. I would definitely buy her book, it sounds like it will be similar to "St John People."

Great article on Miss Felicia. What an honor it would be to have known such a wonderful woman...so full of knowledge many of us will never know.

Also good reading/video trailer on Scratch music & James Brewster. So glad the technology is here to keep indigenious & cultural ways of life continuing...especially through music.

Very nice article! I haven't read St. John People yet either, but I will.

So true about the elders and how the youth of today do not always get the understanding of the generations and how wonderful it is to use Bush Medecine.
One of my best times on island even before I lived there was spending time with Miss Lucy.
I also love spending time with Mr. Benjamin.
I would love to see a community center where the youth would have a chance to hear these wonderful stories, heck for all of us to hear these wonderful stories..........

LOVED the article, and the woman. Thank you for sharing. Makes me wonder how we all end up focusing on the wrong stuff...
?

Thanks for sharing. I am always fascinated by the characters and culture of STJ. Also that it's still accessible-- but won't be forever.

I'm glad folks are taking time to write this stuff down.

Miss Felicia was a magical woman. On our 1st trip to STJ about 10 years ago our daughter, then 4, was mesmerized by her basket-making and we sat at her feet for over an hour at Annaberg and chatted her up. When she started to pack up for the day she asked if we could give her our address and she would send our daughter the basket - which she did a few months later. What a prized possession and a representation of how human beings SHOULD always treat one another.

Over the years we sought out Felicia, but were only able to connect with her once more a few years later. So sad to read of her passing. Thanks for sharing the article.

I also found some more recent "historical" photos on a related website from the 70s era, I thought they were interesting also...obviously not native caribean history, none the less, a glimps into the island in days gone by...

http://www.seestjohn.com/gallery_hannele.html and this one--- http://www.seestjohn.com/gallery_old_st ... hotos.html

Wow. Thank you so much for posting those links. I LOVED that old dock. Used to always walk out to the edge of it after dinner & just sit out there, dangling my legs over the water & looking out at the beauty, smelling the magical smells and listening to the island sounds--music in my ears, heart, & soul.

Was Clay Griffith, Melanie's brother?? Used to go to the old Ellington's; never realized it was actually owned by the Duke himself! 1st time I saw the Oppenheimer pics though I did know that history. I often have imagined what that house looked like when they lived there--now I know!

Thank you, thank you!