St. John Ferry 1949 (photo by Fritz Henle)

Day Trip to St. John 1907

In 1907, there was scheduled service to the St. Thomas, Danish West Indies by ships, which arrived once a month. A 1907 travel guide outlined the following day trips for tourists to St. John:

“Visitors to St. John would leave Charlotte Amalie at 5:00 A.M. and travel overland to Red Hook or Smith Bay. There they would meet a sloop that had left Charlotte Amalie with their baggage, which was loaded on board the night before. This sloop also carried ice and other cargo bound for St. John.

“An alternative plan for a visit to St. John would be to arrange for a rowboat to take passengers and their baggage across Pillsbury Sound to Cruz Bay.

“Upon arrival the tourists would wait in Cruz Bay for ponies that would take them to Bordeaux. They would return via a dirt path along the St. John’s north shore that is now the North Shore Road.

“At the end of the day the visitors would take the downwind trip back to Charlotte Amalie where they would arrive in the early evening.”

(From the Short Guide to St. Thomas and St. Jan, written by J.P. Jorgenson in 1907, a travel guide written in English, which was by then the language of the Virgin Islands.)

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 79F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 40%
Water Temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 82.9 degrees F
Sunset: 6:29 PM AST

St. John Live Music Schedule Monday March, 18

Aqua Bistro
Matt Mitruk
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
T-Bird
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Trivia Night
8:00
777-3316

Concordia
Open Mic with Ben Marr
3:30 – 5:30

La Tapa
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Maho Bay Camp
Bo & Lauren
8:00

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

See Weekly Schedule

Cruz Bay Dock 1971

St. John 1925
“It is overgrown with herbage for cattle, with open woods of aromatic trees, thronged with beautiful birds. Views from breezy hilltops are unrivaled for magnificent panoramas of vividly green isles, countless beaches of cream- white sand, glittering surf, dark blue or green sea, and bright blue sky. Nature invites riding, hunting, fishing, bathing, boating and a free wild life. On ruined estates all over the island are old cannon, relics of days when buccaneers hid in the land-locked bays from French and Spanish cruisers. Regular communication with St. Thomas is maintained by several sloops.”
From the Geographic Dictionary of the Virgin Islands, compiled by J.W. McGuire for the Department of the Navy. The price of the book in 1925 was 25 cents.

St. John 1967
“…St. John today looks very much as it must have looked to Columbus in 1493 – green densely clad mountaintops rising steeply from the sea, with only an occasional glimpse of houses to spoil the illusion that the island is uninhabited. The two principal communities are Cruz Bay, the main port of entry, and Coral Bay. The total population is presently about 800, of which some fifty are Continentals who have made St. John their home…. read more

St. John Weather
Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 77 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 25 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Sunset: 6:29 PM AST
Water Temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor): 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Beach Bar
St. Patty’s Day Party
Dave Gerard
4:00
777-4220

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Sambacombo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Dave Gerard
6:00
779 4982

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

Cruz Bay Dock, St. John 1965 – photo by Bob Garrison

St. John Events

Oppenheimer Recovery Beach Party

From 11AM- 4PM walk, run or swim to Oppenheimer beach to indulge in some St John Limin’!

Soak, feast and groove to Live Music, cool libations and an Island Style Clam Bake & BBQ.

All proceeds will benefit Love City St John Cancer Fund

$5 shuttle service across from Mongoose Junction please use public parking lot

NO PARKING AT OPPENHEIMER BEACH- volunteers contact Judy Whitley jwnp1234@yahoo.com

St. John News

Course Record Broken in 8 Tuff Miles
By Lynda Lohr — February 24, 2013

David Riddle, 31, an aviation engineer from Cincinnati, set a course record in Saturday’s 8 Tuff Miles race with a time of 45 minutes and 46 seconds, 14 seconds faster than the old mark.

Riddle was the first of 1,207 runners to cross the finish line at the Coral Bay Ballfield. The race started in Cruz Bay…. Read more

8 Tuff Miles Results

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers in the afternoon
High of 79 degrees F
Winds from the ESE at 5 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Sunrise: 6:41 AM AST Sunset: 6:23 PM AST
Water temperature 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Sambacombo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-9713

Cruz Bay 1965

Cruz Bay Recent

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 79 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the South at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunset: 6:43 AM AST – Sunset: 6:22 PM AST
Water temperature: 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Banana Deck
Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels
6:00 – 9:00
693-5055

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Erin Hart
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
James
9:00
777-3316

High Tide
Inner Vision
8:30
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Jazz with Rich and Greg
6:00 – 9:00

Morgan’s Mango
Mark Wallace
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Lauren Jones Magnie
6:00
779 4982

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

At the Dock in Cruz Bay 1941 – photo by Jack Delano

St. John Events – Sunday February 17

St. John Arts Festival – Cruz Bay Park
Beginning at 2:00 pm
Gospel Concert
St. John Church Choirs
Quadrille dance performance

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then clear with rain showers
High of 79 degrees F
Winds from the ESE at 10 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunrise: 6:45 AM AST – Sunset: 6:21 PM AST
Water temperature: 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule – Sunday February 17

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Sambacombo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

International Hotel – Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI photo by Jack Delano 1941

St. John Arts Festival - Saturday February 16

Hike to Estate Beverhoudtsberg
St. John Historical Society
9:00 am

Cruz Bay Park
Beginning 12:00 noon
Love City Pan Dragons
Steel Pan Music
Love City Leapers
Jump Rope Team
Ball room dancing exhibition

Broadway Comes to St. John
Westin Ballroom
St John School of the Arts

Sunday, February 17

Cruz Bay Park – Beginning at 2:00 pm
Gospel Concert
St. John Church Choirs
Quadrille dance performance

See Full Schedule

St. John Live Music Schedule

Castaways
Mikey P 9:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cruz Bay Prime
Mike Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Luba
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:30
693-3304

Rhumblines
Lauren
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Tom Mason & the Blues Buccaneers
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Hot Club of Coral Bay
6:00
779 4982

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then clear with rain showers
High: 79 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ESE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain: 20%
Sunrise: 6:46 AM AST – Sunset: 6:20 PM AST
Water Temperature: 82.9 degrees F

Cruz Bay Dock 2013

Cruz Bay Dock 1941- by Jack Delano

cannon knob

Notice the cannon in the 1941 photo. Until the recent renovation of the Cruz Bay Park, the old cannon was partially buried with the muzzle face in the ground and most of the barrel standing straight up.

Backtime St. John, people took advantage of the cannon knob to tie up their horses and donkeys when making a visit to Cruz Bay.

St. John Weather

High Surf Advisory
Clear with rain showers in the afternoon
High of 77 degrees F.
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunrise: 6:47 AM AST – Sunset: 6:19 PM AST
Water Temperature: 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule Wednesday February 13

Aqua Bistro
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 8:00
776-5336

Castaways
Flip Flop Rock
8:00
777-3316

Cinnamon Bay Campground
Inner Visions
9:00
776-6330

Coconut Coast
St. John Flutes
5:30 -7:00
776-6944

Cruz Bay Prime
Sambacombo
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Shipwreck Landing
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:30

Sun Dog Cafe
Wednesday Night Jam
Lauren & Mark Wallce
7:30-10:30
244-9713

Friday morning and the Cruz Bay Post Office has a line of customers that’s pressing against the door, the counter is piled high with packages and on the floor are four huge mail sacks. There’s one person working behind the counter and another working in the back room. Everything’s moving slowly. Outside in the parking lot, as usual, are several cars parked outside of the prescribed parking areas.

This unusual parking situation has developed in response to the lack of adequate parking in Cruz Bay, such that some Post Office customers will park temporarily, as best they can, while they send and get their mail often carrying packages into or out of the building.

Some sort of social contract has governed this tradition, which has developed both out of convenience and lack of police enforcement to the letter of the law. Specifically the parked car should not impede the flow of traffic around the parking lot and the driver should remove their vehicle as soon as they’re finished with their post office business. Most of the blocked in vehicles are aware of the situation and will wait patiently or ask at Patricks West Indian Delight to ascertain the identity of the driver and their whereabouts of the blocking vehicle if it needs to be moved more quickly. It’s clearly not the best scenario possible, but it has seemed to work out.

But last Friday, for whatever reason police officers began ticketing the illegally parked cars while the drivers were waiting inside the post office and Saturday – No police – no tickets.

Such is life in Love City.

David Wegman Christmas Party
Tall Ship Trading
3:00
Art Show – Music – Treats!!!

St. John Live Music Sunday 12/16

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

Miss Lucy’s
Samba Combo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-971

See Weekly Music Schedule

St. John Photo of the Day

Carib Tide leaves Cruz Bay, St. John Bound for Red Hook, St. Thomas

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday March 17

 Beach Bar – St. Patrick Day Party – Groove Thang – 4:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
Driftwood Dave’s – Guitarist James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00
Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30
Skinny Legs – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982

See Weekly Schedule

A Day at Sea in the trusty and beloved Caribe 15DL - Photo by Michelle Collins

It was a busy weekend on St. John. The beaches were crowded (by St. John standards anyway). There was plenty of activity with swimmers, snorkelers, kayakers, paddle boarders and sunbathers enjoying the clear, sunny and breezy weather. The popular manta ray was also at the beach making its way between Francis and Maho to the delight of all.

On Sunday, two mini Cruise ships, the Seabourn Sojourn and the Sea Dream I, lay at anchor outside of Cruz Bay along with a mega yacht so big that could have easily been confused as a third cruise ship.

The winds were gusting from the east southeast, and along with a strong tide, the offshore seas were quite rough with steep closely spaced waves. This was experienced first hand making the passage across Pillsbury Sound on the way to St. Thomas to “get a little culture in my life. Navigating the sound was accomplished thanks to my trusty Caribe 15DL and a Yamaha 60. The culture came thanks to Pistarkle Theatre’s Sunday matinee performance of “Red”, which I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend to others. (Two more performances are scheduled for March 9th and 10th at 8:00 pm.)

Another weekend in Paradise…

St. John Weather

Clear with a high of 84 degrees. Winds from the ESE at 20-30 12-20 mph. Water temperature 81 degrees. Sunset 6:26 pm Atlantic Standard time. In other words another typical, beautiful day on St. John

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Monday, March 5

High Tide – Rascio on Steel Pan – 4:00 – 6:30 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay – Open Mic with Bo & Lauren – 7:00
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

See the weekly St. John live music schedule