Chatting with Dr Leonard Richardson

Saturday, Aug. 26, there was an overwhelming attendance of volunteers who turned out to help clean up Hassel Island. Families, couples, singles, young, old, it didn’t matter, everyone showed up in mass assembly. But what is the interest and importance of Hassel Island? To answer that, let’s look at its history.

Hassel Island forms the western edge of St. Thomas’s harbor. The island is approximately 135 acres in area. The highest elevation on the island is the southern peak, at 267 feet. The National Park Service acquired about 95% of Hassel Island in 1978 and is working to preserve and interpret the island’s rich history. Three sites on the island are owned by the Virgin Islands Government, and there are 3 private in-holdings.

Originally, Hassel Island was a peninsula. In the 1860s, the Danish government separated the land from mainland St. Thomas with the hopes of creating better water circulation in the harbor. The earliest documentation of the ownership of Hassel Island is under the name Estate Orkanshullet. This Danish name is translated to Hurricane Hole.

Today, the island is named after James Hazzell, who purchased the land in 1784 and whose family maintained a presence on the land until the 20th century.  There are many alternate spellings of the family name.

Hassel Island is open for public visitation. Explore the website to learn about Hassel’s rich history, the many unique sites on the island, and the constant conservation, preservation, and interpretation efforts made by the National Park Service, the St. Thomas Historical Trust, and dedicated community members.

Courtesy of the Virgin Islands National Park and the St. Thomas Historical Trust at www.HasselIsland.org/

As children, both Dr. Leonard Richardson & I, Etienne A. Gibbs, knew Mr. Amadeo Estrill as the friendliest man on St. Thomas who wasn't shy to walk up to anyone and spark a friendly conversation after a greeting of "Good morning!" or "Good afternoon!". Everyone on Main Street in Downtown Charlotte Amalie knew Mr. Estrill by his unique features: painter's coverall, smile, laughter, friendliness, but most impressively, his colorful expletives!

I have never known Mr. Estrill's expletives to be malicious or used in anger. My guess is that he  suffered from what today psychiatry would refer to as Tourrete's Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics & vocalizations, often accompanied by the compulsive utterance of obscenities. Born on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Nov 1, 1908, Mr. Estrill died of a stroke at the age 91, July 26, 2000, in Central Florida where relocated the year before.

Mr. Canada Lee was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata March 3, 1907, in New York City. His father, James Cornelius Lionel Canegata, was born on St. Croix & migrated to New York. Raised by his parents in Harlem, Mr. Lee had an aptitude for music. He made his concert debut at age 11, performing a student recital at Aeolian Hall. But after 7 years of music studies, without explanation, he put away his violin & ran away from home. In 1921, aged 14, Mr. Lee went to Saratoga Springs, New York, & began a 2-year career as a jockey.

Mr. Lee later starred in Welles's Broadway production of Native Son (1941). A champion of civil rights in the 1930s & 1940s, Mr. Lee was blacklisted & died shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Perhaps his most famous film role was in Alfred Hitchcock's movie, Lifeboat (1944).

Euell Aira Nielsen, a native of Sewell, New Jersey, recently relocated to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. A living historian, Euell is the 3rd of 4 generations to be members at the First African Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA), the nation's oldest African American Presbyterian congregation, founded by a former slave in 1807.

Euell has operated several small businesses, to include, Herstories (historical portrayals), Twist This (balloon twisting), Island Treazures (handmade crafts) & Dimaje (photography). Her interests and hobbies include animals, reading & researching, spending time with family, traveling, riding her bike, photography (including underwater photography}, crafting, genealogy, & historical research.

In March 2017, Euell received an award for her 62+ writings on African Americans for the website, Blackpast.org . Since then she has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles about her cemetery photography, military service and historical re-enacting. She is currently working on a manuscript about her past influential church members.

Euell attended Freedom Theater, Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) & Community College of Philadelphia. A wife, mother of 3 boys, & grandmother to 3 girls, Euell is also a US  Army Reserves Vet & the Chaplain for the 2016-2017 administration of Zeresh #103, Order of Eastern Star.

Before relocating to St. Thomas, USVI, Euell took on the task of becoming a living historian, assuming the role of Patriot, Hannah Till, a former cook to George Washington, Lafayette, and their troops, and former member of First African Presbyterian Church.

Visit Euell's historical works at: http://j.mp/2vFekGy

The most anticipated of national holidays are the 3 days of Festival in August (August Monday) that are set aside to commemorate the 1 August 1834 emancipation of African slaves.

British Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival 28th July - 9th August 2017 = A celebration of their ancestors' freedom from colonialism & their cultural history. During that time, they showcase the culture & history of their people in grand style with extravaganzas of local & international music, pageants, Food Fairs, J'ouvert (early morning street jamming), parades, gospel celebrations, & folklore presentations. Visit the Virgin Islands Festival on Facebook to stay up to date on all the Festival Celebrations.

The major national holidays in the British Virgin Islands: New Year's Day (1 January), Commonwealth Day (13 March), Sovereign's Birthday, Territory Day, Festival (the first Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday in August; a/k/a August Monday), Saint Ursula's Day (21 October), & Boxing Day (26 December).

In November 2000, the Legislative Council replaced the holiday commemorating the birthday of the heir to the throne with a national holiday commemorating the birth of H. Lavity Stoutt (7 March). The most anticipated of national holidays are the 3 days of Festival in August (August Monday) that are set aside to commemorate the 1 August 1834 emancipation of African slaves. Festival is celebrated with beauty contests, calypso competitions, food fair, parades, public musical performances, dances, & family reunions. Religious holidays include Christmas, Good Friday, & Easter Monday.

Read more: www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/British-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz4nK4wCG5B

July 3rd, Emancipation Day (E-Day) in the US Virgin Islands, is public holiday commemorating abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies in 1848. E-Day is celebrated in many former colonies on various dates to recognize the abolition of slavery, serfdom, or other forms of servitude.

The Danish West India Company settled on part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, which is now known as the US Virgin Islands, in the 17th century. The trans-Atlantic slave trade to the archipelago began in 1673.

Slaves mainly worked on sugarcane plantations. They were forced to work in difficult conditions and were treated inhumanely. This led to several large revolts, such as the 1733 slave insurrection on Saint John which lasted for 6 months.

In 1835, Peter von Scholten became governor of the islands. He tried to lighten the burden of the slaves by permitting the private ownership and creating schools for them. When a non-violent [sic] slave revolt broke out on the island of Saint Croix in 1848, von Scholten decided to emancipate all slaves.

Slavery on the Danish West Indian Islands was officially abolished on July 3, 1848. The anniversary of this event was declared a public holiday in the US Virgin Islands along with the Fourth of July when slaves in the United States were emancipated.

E-Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent. It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude.

Courtesy in part by:

 https://anydayguide.com/calendar/2177 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day

The St. John Festival is a month-long event that starts with steel pan performances & pageants, then builds up to the week of July 3rd (Emancipation Day) and the 4th (Independence Day). That final week is party time with the big events: the Village, the Food Fair, & the Parade.

Carnival is the biggest annual event in the Virgin Islands & throughout the Caribbean. In the US Virgin Islands: VI Carnival on St. Thomas in April/May; the St. John Festival in June/July; & St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Carnival in Dec./Jan. In the British Virgin Islands: the BVI Emancipation Festival on Tortola in July/Aug. & the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival in April.

Here's an abbreviated calendar of the fore coming events:

18 June: The FESTIVAL PRINCESS PAGEANT at 6:00 pm Winston Wells Ball Field

24 June: Festival Queen Pageant at 8:00 pm Winston Wells Ball Field

25 June: Festival Food Fair & Coronation at 1:00 pm Franklin A. Powell, Sr. Park

25 June: Festival Boat Races at 3:00 pm Cruz Bay Harbor

28 June: Festival Village Grand Opening of O'Connorville at 7:00 pm St. John Festival Village

30 June: Festival Children's Village at 6:00 pm St. John National Park Field

2 July: Festival Poker Run at 12:00 pm Cruz Bay Waterfront

2 July: Festival Horse Races at 1:00 pm Clinton E. Phipps Race Track

3 July: Festival Emancipation Program at 1:00 pm St. John Festival Village

4 July: J'ouvert at 4:00 am St. John National Park Field

4 July: Festival Parade at 11:00 am St. John National Park Field

4 July: Festival Fireworks at 9:00 pm Cruz Bay Harbor

Visit St. John Festival Schedule: www.vicarnivalschedule.com/stjohn/

According to Mrs. Cedelle Petersen-Christopher, "Cariso is a melodic memory of our African past. It is an art form that was brought to the Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean during the enslavement of West Africans. It is a form of communication that was done secretly so that the slave master could not understand. It is an art form that was sung by the ancestors to transmit secret messages of rebellion; freedom songs of historical and current events; storytelling of long, long ago; and to make biting and stinging social commentary."

"Cariso which means 'carry it so' was sung by women exclusively in a call and response style accompanied by the men playing the barrel drums. At times the women would compete with each other and use their wit, poetic skills, and singing ability. It is on the sugar cane fields, towns, and villages, vegetable and fish markets this art form was practiced throughout the Caribbean. Long ago it was called Cariso and today it is called Calypso."

"It’s important for me to share this art form that was handed down from generation to generation.  It must be continued for the preservation of the history of the Virgin Islands."

Cedelle Petersen-Christopher, born on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands to Edna & Pierpont Petersen, was the 10th child of the family. Almost all of her siblings were in the music industry whether singing, drumming, limbo dancing, or playing bass, you would hear the rhythms throughout the house. Cedelle, with her sister, Sherryl Petersen, joined the St. Croix Talent Club in the 1960s to sing blues & R&B in local shows & many Caribbean islands. After graduating high school, she attended UVI where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Education & a Master's in Education from Cambridge College. Cedelle taught as a school teacher for 31 years before retiring in 2014.

Caribbean music genres are diverse. They are each synthesis of African, European, Indian,& Indigenous influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves, & contributions from other communities (such as Indo-Caribbean music). Some of the styles to gain wide popularity outside of the Caribbean include, calypso, dancehall, reggae, reggaetón (musical genre coming out of Puerto Rico in the late 1990s that were influenced by hip hop, Latin American, & Caribbean music), salsa, soca, & zouk, among others. The Caribbean is also related to Central American and South American music.

The complex & deep origins of Caribbean music are best understood if you have knowledge of Western Hemisphere colonial immigration patterns, human trafficking patterns, the resulting melting pot of people each of its nations, & territories. Thus, this resulted in an influx of original musical influences.

Colonial Caribbean ancestors were predominantly from West Africa, West Europe, & India. In the 20th & 21st centuries, immigrants also come from Taiwan, China, Indonesia/Java, & the Middle East. In addition, neighboring Latin American & North American (particularly hip hop & pop music) countries have naturally influenced Caribbean culture & vice versa. One must understand these influences to have a deep understanding of the resulting Caribbean music that reflects the culture of the people.

Although there are musical commonalities among Caribbean nations & territories, the variation in immigration patterns & colonial domination tends to parallel the variations in musical influence. Language barriers (Spanish, Portuguese, English, Hindustani, Tamil, Telugu, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Yiddish, Yoruba, African languages, Indian languages, Amerindian languages, French, Indonesian, Javanese, & Dutch) are one of the strongest influences. Courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Memorial Day, the day we pay respects to our fallen military, is observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates all servicemen & servicewomen of the United States. People visit cemeteries & memorials on Memorial Day.

Since the attack on America on September 11, 2001, a total of 147 women deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait have lost their lives in service to America. Most Americans, & even members of the media, not aware that 147 brave servicewomen have died in the War on Terrorism. With few exceptions, news stories about their tragic deaths usually appear only in the military press, or in small hometown newspaper stories & TV accounts that rarely capture national attention.

Military hospitals nationwide have cared for many female heroes who have lost limbs. When 2 women Marines & a female sailor were killed in a Fallujah truck attack in June 2005, 11 more were sent to Brooke Medical Center in Texas, which specializes in the treatment of severe burns. 100s have received medals for serious injuries & for personal valor under fire.

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the Civil War. The Southerners honored their dead was the inspiration. After World War I, Memorial Day was extended to include all servicemen who died in any war or military action. Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day & the later Memorial Day were held on May 30th, regardless of the day of the week on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create 3-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May.

Mr. Joseph Lorand, Veteran Postman, celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a letter carrier in the Danish West Indies. On May 31, 1911, Mr. Lorand was recognized for his great contributions. He was awarded the silver cross of Dannebrogsmand. As acting Government Secretary, Baumann made the presentation, he praised & congratulated Mr. Lorand for this high distinction & for 25 years of dedicated service. ~ Courtesy ofVINTAGE VIRGIN ISLANDS™

National Maritime Day, celebrated May 22nd in the US each yea, reflects the gratitude that Americans have for the maritime industry & the benefits it brings to the country. It also recognizes ships & seafarers who have held a special place in the nation's history. Many communities & organizations in the US observe National Maritime Day in a variety of ways. Activities & events include open houses & special celebrations hosted by seaports. Some businesses may host special luncheons while other people attend memorial observances at Merchant Marine memorials. National Maritime Day is an observance but it is not a federal public holiday in the United States.

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern States honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men & women who died in any war or military action.Originally known as Decoration Day, its current name did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day, then Memorial Day, used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell.

On Armed Forces Day, the 3rd Saturday of May, we celebrate & thank those who are currently serving in the military.