Projects
Step Street Project Hassel Island Committee
Step Street Project
The Step Street Project of the St Thomas Historical Trust has the objective of raising public awareness as to the historical value and uniqueness of Charlotte Amalie’s 45 step streets, and to initiate and coordinate programs to renovate, restore and maintain these valuable historical and cultural objects as present day working infrastructure, of benefit to the community.
Over the years many of these step streets, although used daily by hundreds of Virgin Islanders on their way to school, work and their personal business, have been allowed to run down and in some cases are severely decayed due to neglect and lack of maintenance. On the other hand those step streets that have been kept up such as the well known “99 steps” are a source of pride in their community and are well known island wide. These few examples also serve as a model as to what may be achieved by beautification and restoration of these fine examples of our public architectural heritage.
The intention of the St Thomas Historical Trust is to partner with the various communities and community organizations and on a phased basis restore, renovate and beautify about 3 to 5 step streets per year. In the first round of restorations we will be partnering with “My Brothers Workshop”, MBW. They have been working with at risk young men and women in the community by teaching them building and construction skills. MBW have been active in restoring a number of historical buildings will training the youngsters in construction and social work skills.
The restoration process being contemplated will replace broken bricks, archways and entrance columns, ensuring compliance to the historical specifications. Beautification with easy to maintain and drought resistant plants as had occurred in the past, will be done. In some instances lighting and handrails will be added for additional safety and convenience of the adjacent community.
It is felt by our organization that the benefits which will accrue by the successful implementation of this project will be
- Increased awareness by the public of the wonderful historical heritage of our island.
- Serve as a catalyst for improvements and increased community interaction, beautification and pride in the adjacent communities.
- Increased opportunities for safe recreational facilities for exercise and relaxation in the town of Charlotte Amalie.
- Additional visitor attraction spots which can in turn improve economic activity in our town.
The award of this grant to the St Thomas Historical Trust will be very beneficial to realizing this project.
Step Street Committee
Philip Sturm
Felipe Ayala
Cathy O'Gara
John Woods
Sean Krigger
Hassel Island Committee - Submission for Annual Report
Committee Members
Alton Adams
Joanne Bozzuto
Charles Consolvo (Chairman)
Mark Hardgrove
Ronnie Lockhart
Tom Moore
Willie Wilson
Frazer Drummond (Liaison, Friends of the National Park)
Committee Objectives
In cooperation with the Virgin Islands National Park Service(VINPS), the committee established the following short term objectives for completion by the end of 2011:
- Complete a cultural landscape plan for Creque Marine Railway
- Transport and install equipment containers
- Rehabilitate iron cistern
- Conserve old steam operated machinery
- Implement Landscape plan
- Rehabilitate old catchment and cistern
- Repair east dock wall of the marine railway slip
- Replace roof on Royal Mail building
- Provide electrical service to equipment containers
- Establish new trails to link Shipley's Battery with Cowell's Battery, including mapping of structures and collection and curation of artifacts.
- Install donated vernacular French house alongside slipway
Thanks to the generosity of our Hassel Island Fund Donors, the VINPS has been able to contract the services of an intern to complete the cultural landscape plan for the Creque Marine Railway, and possibly a trail plan for the rest of the island. The iron cistern has been cleared, cleaned and waterproofed, and is awaiting plans for a roof to complete it. The equipment containers have been purchased through the generosity of the Friends of the National Park and are awaiting transportation from Florida. Funding for the dock wall and roof on the Royal Mail building is being provided by the VINPS.
In August, the Trust received a grant in the amount of $44,500 from the American Battlefield Protection Program. Together with the contribution of $10,600 from a donor, this will fund a study of Ft. Frederik (now Ft. Willoughby) on the southeast end of Hassel Island to provide the historic documentation of the fort, the battle fought between it, a Danish ship and two British ships in 1801, an underwater survey around the immediate foreshore, and a stabilization and restoration plan. This is a significant accomplishment for the Trust, and reflects acknowledgement and approval of our status from the Federal Government.
We would like to urge you to become a donor to the Hassel Island Fund to assist us in opening up and interpreting this wonderful piece of maritime heritage in our harbor. In addition, if you are willing to volunteer your services, please contact our Executive Director, Pamela Reid, at execdirector@stthomashistoricaltrust.org.
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