Chatting With Dr Leonard Richardson

Main Street traverses east-west through Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas, parallel to the Waterfront to the South. As the capital and the largest city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie was founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer houses" or "beer halls"). The Main Street, the main tourist shopping center, is known for its Danish colonial architecture, building structure and history, with streets and places throughout the city with Danish names. Charlotte Amalie has many residential buildings and stores of historical importance, with several of them on Main Street. Before the time of the Danish West Indies (1754–1917), the city was known as Taphus for its many beer halls. Taphus is Danish and directly translates to "beer houses", "beer halls", or (most literally) "taphouse". In 1691 the town received a more respectable name by being named Amalienborg (in English Charlotte Amalie) in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714). Between 1921 and 1936,

Our stroll down Main Street continues; however, today we shall focus on the Rothschild Francis Square, our turn-around point. Better known as Market Square, it has long been a center of activity on the island of St. Thomas. In fact, the remains of a significant pre-Columbian settlement were uncovered near there in 2014 when a Main Street construction project turned up 2,000-year-old pottery and many other artifacts.  The square has a dubious reputation as the site of many slave auctions in the 18th century and was later the site of much economic, social, and political interaction.  The cast iron bungalow, named after vendor Miss Sanderilla "Miss Sandy" Thomas in 1984, that dominates the square was constructed in about 1904 and was rebuilt after being badly damaged by a truck in 2003. The bungalow was populated by spirited local women in their bright and colorful headdresses and skirts while selling their fruits, homemade pastries, local drinks, and goods. It was rare that male vendors would sell under the

We continue our virtual stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. First, a brief history Saint Thomas and its harbor, particularly because it is in the capital city of Charlotte Amalie: After St. Thomas became a free port, it experienced palmy days during the second half of the 18th century as a regional shipping center. A significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses along Dronningens Gade. St. Thomas Harbor became one of the most important commercial ports in the West Indies of the 1800s. The traffic in the harbor was extensive because of its good situation and fine facilities. It was popular among merchants and trading companies for its excellent facilities: the West Indies’ largest floating dock, good machine shops, clear channel marking, and inexpensive harbor fees.  But it was also notorious for 2 problems: hurricanes and diseases, particularly yellow fever and cholera. In the 1800s, an average of 2,000-3,000 shi

Join us as we continue our stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. First, a brief history Saint Thomas, particularly its capital city of Charlotte Amalie: After it became a free port, the island experienced palmy days during the second half of the 18th century as a regional shipping center. A significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses along Dronningens Gade. Shipping from Denmark fluctuated heavily along with world economic trends. Between 1755 and 1838 an average of 53 expeditions per year were sent from the home country to the Danish West Indies. Almost every ship took a direct course across the Atlantic, while just a very few sailed along the triangular route. After the British occupations of the islands ended in 1815, their trade and shipping soon prospered again. Partly thanks to the intense traffic to and from the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America, which achieved freedom around 1820, pa

Come with us as we stroll down the middle section of Main Street, also known by its Danish name, Dronningens Gade. Let us turn our attention to a brief history Saint Thomas, particularly its capital city of Charlotte Amalie, for a moment. After being turned into a free port, the island experienced palmy days during the second half of the eighteenth century as a regional shipping center. Furthermore, a significant amount of exchange of goods took place via the large merchant houses of Charlotte Amalie. Shipping from Denmark fluctuated heavily along with world economic trends. Between 1755 and 1838 an average of 53 expeditions per year were sent from the home country to the Danish West Indies. Almost every ship took a direct course across the Atlantic, while just a very few sailed along the triangular route. After the British occupations of the islands were over in 1815, their trade and shipping soon prospered again. Partly thanks to the intense traffic to and from the former Spanish and Portuguese col

We welcome you back after our Holidays hiatus. Thank you for re-joining today, the first of our shows for 2017. With 2017 the year of the centennial of the transfer of the US Virgin Islands to the United States, we will focus our shows all year long on topics, places, and people related to Transfer Day, including the pre- and post- periods. Today we will focus on a local Virgin Islander who has contributed significantly to the Virgin Islands community, and continues to do so. I'm referring to Mr. Leonard Brother B Bonelli, a contemporary we honor and thank. As the year evolves, periodically we will be graced by our Featured Contributor, Valerie Sim, Ms Vintage Virgin Islands herself and the editor of Vintage Virgin Islands. During her visits, she will grace us with tidbits of Vintage Virgin Islands. You'll discover fascinating events that occurred in the history of the Danish West Indies, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands! Many of the photographs she'll share were taken between th

It’s that time of year when Dr. Richardson and I (Etienne A. Gibbs) would like to take time to send special and heartfelt holiday wishes and music to all our faithful audience family and friends in appreciation and thanks. So, this Christmas Eve we want to do something different.What and Why? Simply because we're in the holiday mood and we want to send Shoot Outs in the best way possible.So here goes: To our faithful Stateside family and friends: It’s time for carols and snow, time for being on the go. So take a moment here and there to show those most special that you care.   To our local faithful family and friends: Take delight in all the fun. Spread warm wishes to everyone. Enjoy the season while it’s here for its memories will last throughout the year.   To our fellow-Rotarians, past and present: May the magic and the thrill of the holiday season stretch on. Happy Holidays to you and yours!   To our current and past fellow-faculty and staff of UVI:

Dr. Maxine Nunez, DPH, MPH, MSN, CNE, RN is a retired Professor of Nursing from the University of the Virgin Islands &  former Academic Dean of the St. Thomas Campus.  Dr. Nunez studied community health/public health administration & research at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health & Hygiene where she earned her doctorate. Research activities include serving as research core director of the EXPORT Exploratory Center from 2004 to 2009 at UVI.  During that time, Dr. Nunez mentored junior researchers, reviewed research proposals, & designed & conducted her own research study in the area of diabetes self-management in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the first study of its kind in the territory. Through the research activities of ECHORN (The Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network) Dr. Nunez intended to counter the negative impact of the spiraling occurrences of NCDs & their complications. (ECHORN, a collaborative research study, examines the lifestyles, eating habits, &a

Welcome home Homer Hans Bryant & his Bryant Youth Professionals (YPP) Dance Company. Former principal dancer with the world-renowned Dance Theater of Harlem, his professional credits span from a command performance for the Royal Families of Norway & England to the motion picture, The Wiz, with Diana Ross & Michael Jackson. A former member of Prima Ballerina Maria Tallchief’s Chicago City Ballet, his teaching & training experience includes working with Canada’s mesmerizing Cirque Du Soleil productions of Mystere, Alegria, Quid am, & Saltimbanco. While Mr. Bryant was growing up on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, dance classes seemed unattainable, but, as a teenager, he moved to New York to pursue a dancing career. After joining the first African-American classical ballet company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, he reached major milestones in the 1970s: performing on Broadway. In 1990 his career led him to Chicago & in 1992 he founded the Bryant Ballet School, later renamed the Chicago Mult

During the past 3 weeks in the edition of "Centennial Countdown" in the Virgin Islands Daily News, Dr. Ronald Harrigan's article was published about the Virgin Islands' education foundation that was laid long before Transfer Day. It was a 3-part series on the development of a system of education for the free & enslaved population in the then-Danish West Indies, leading to a literate population by the time emancipation in 1848 & the islands' transfer of March 31, 1917. Dr. Harrigan has had a one-of-a-kind experience at UVI starting as a student, then an entry- level employee, & rising through the ranks in administration & academia. Now retired, after working at UVI for 38 years, Dr. H. has left an impact on UVI. Dr. H. joined the staff of the then-College of the Virgin Islands in 1972, after earning a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. He was designated a junior officer trainee in a program designed to train young Virgin Islanders for leadership positions at the institution. Shortly

Dr. Ronald Harrigan & I were classmates at CVI 1966-1967. Dr. Leonard Richardson, my neighbor from our youth, were members of the Boys Scout Troop sponsored by Sts. Peter & Paul School. These gentlemen have immersed themselves in educating the masses abroad & our Fellow-Virgin Islanders. Retired Dr Harrigan, with a PhD in Education, is actively educating via his recent articles & upcoming book. In the Oct. 27th edition of "Centennial Countdown" in the Virgin Islands Daily News, his article was published about the Virgin Islands' education foundation that was laid long before Transfer Day. It was the first of a 3-part series on the development of a system of education for the free and enslaved population in the then-Danish West Indies, leading to a literate population by the time emancipation in 1848 and the islands' transfer of March 31, 1917. Dr. Harrigan is a part-time professor of education at UVI, president of the Virgin Islands Genealogical Society, chairman of the Virgin Islands Sports