A Treasure in Distress
"A Treasure in Distress"
Thus it was described by Alton Adams, Jr., the moving force behind the current efforts of the Trust, in his presentation on the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island in July of 1999. Originally a peninsula in the harbor of St. Thomas, Hassel Island or "Estate Orkenhullet" (Danish for hurricane hole) has a long and complex history, and is rich in historic structures and artifacts. First inhabited by the Arawak Indians, within less than a hundred years after Columbus' discovery of the Virgin Islands, the Arawaks were gone, taken as slaves or dying from disease or violence. In 1607, Captain John Smith, founder of Jamestown, stopped here for wood, water and turtles, noting in his diary that it was a delightful spot.
When the first Danish settlers arrived in 1666, they found a few scattered Dutch, English and French residents. This first attempt at colonization was unsuccessful. However, in 1671 a new attempt was made and was successful. By 1680 the port of Charlotte Amalie was a thriving hub for trade, much of it with pirates, as well as providing a place for provisioning. In 1682 a British warship burned a pirate ship in the harbor, "La Trompeuse". Sugar, molasses, tobacco and indigo were the major trade items, but for St Thomas, the exports to Denmark rarely amounted to more than one or two shiploads per year.
Estate Orkanhullet included several residences as well as being utilized for grazing goats and cattle. During the 1700s, especially during years when the European powers were at war, St. Thomas thrived on trade as a neutral port. During the American Revolutionary War, powder, arms and shot were provided to George Washington's army through St. Thomas. From the 1840s to the 1870s, the presence of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company brought a new prosperity to the harbor. After their departure, the economy faltered, until the Danish West Indies (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix) were purchased by the United States in 1917.
In 1978, 95% of the Hassel Island was sold to the National Park Service by the Paiewonski family, becoming part of the Virgin Islands National Park. For almost thirty years, despite a few well-meaning but ultimately futile efforts, this treasure has sat untouched and deteriorating. Now with the support of the partners below, a beginning has been made in restoring the property as a living testimony to the rich historical heritage of St. Thomas.
Public Sector Partners
Virgin Islands National Park
Office of the Governor
The Honorable Donna Christensen
Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office
Private Sector Partners
St. Thomas Historical Trust
Major Financial Supporters
Charafs
Pryors
Cassanellis
Other Financial Supporters
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park
Sea Tow, Inc.
Thanks to this partnership, under the leadership of Mark Hardgrove, Superintendant of Virgin Islands National Park, and especially the financial contributions of the supporters of the Trust and Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, a new and substantial effort has begun.
We hope on this site to intrigue you with highlights of our progress, as well as a history of the island as it is uncovered. You are invited to join the St Thomas Historic Trust to assist us in this effort.