OUR DANISH CONNECTION

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Our Danish Connection

The Scandinavian country of Denmark was among the European contenders for ownership of Caribbean islands and acquired St. Thomas in 1660, St. John in 1718, and St. Croix, purchased from France in 1733. (See page 48 for historical details.) Denmark left its mark here in many ways that have contributed to a close relationship between Danes and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the 1917 Transfer, bringing thousands of Danish visitors. Examples of this closeness are: • The handsome, still functioning 18th and 19th century architecture – official, commercial and private, built of Danish brick brought as ship ballast. • Ruins of many plantation structures that once produced sugar and rum, particularly former windmills that ground sugar cane. • The presence of four churches of the Danish

Lutheran denomination, with special sections for Danish gravesites in two old cemeteries. • Many African heritage and mixed blood families carrying Danish last names, even the use of historic Danish first names for

Crucian children. • A Friends of Denmark organization that enjoys exchange-visit festivals with its sister society in Denmark, the Danish West Indian

Society. • Access on the internet to over 5 million documents in the Danish archives relevant to the Danish West Indies, as our islands were called. • A friendly Crucian population that welcomes and looks out for visiting Danes. If you happen to be a visiting Dane, we bid you Velkommen!

70 illustrated articles from the pages of this magazine, 2009-2019, documenting in English and Danish the legacy of Denmark’s imprint on our culture. Undercover Books and Caribbean Museum

Center for the Arts, $20.

by Nina York

St. Croix is known for its extensive history that goes back 4,000 years. But the legacy from that distant past is confined to artifacts kept in museums. While interesting, that civilization bears little resemblance to our present time.

More meaningful are the images we have from the times when Denmark owned the three islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, particularly those from the late 19th and early 20th century when photography had become popular. The Danes who were stationed here as government staff or on military duty, fascinated by the tropical scenery and exotic lifestyles, preserved them in photo images as mementos to share with friends and family back home.

As we take in the many photographs from that time accessible on the web, we realize an emotional connection with those times. We recognize architectural treasures that still survive, amazing natural phenomena like the giant buttress roots of the kapok tree as a frame for a picnic, scenes of the local population engaged in daily chores, and a military parade showing nattily uniformed Danish soldiers.

We are privileged to have an extensive exhibit of such Danish West Indies history images and informative text at our Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, for which we can thank Mette Kia Krabbe Meyer, Senior Researcher at the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen, and Anne Walbom of the Danish West Indian Society. The exhibit, open to everyone, is in the lounge area by the staircase to the upper floor and the interisland flight gate.

Christiansted Municipal School, 1913. Andreas Lauridsen. Danish West Indian Society

Nina York, born in Denmark but a St. Croix resident since 1976, has been a contributor for this publication since 2009 and was its Managing Editor from 1990-2003. She now offers tours for visitors from Denmark and the mainland, does translations, and sells her books, historic maps, and print reproductions.