St Thomas Virgin Islands

Kyle Flynn St. Thomas 1962 - 1972 Stories from life on a Caribbean Island For Ford, Oliver, Jane, & Jack

From The Bluegrass To The Islands of Pirates, Buccaneers, & Freebooters August, 1962 One of my first memories at age five is the “Map of Famous Pirates, Buccaneers and Freebooters” which hung on the wall of my small bedroom at our home on Redbud Lane in Winchester Kentucky. I remember thinking about the Pirates and their adventures, roaming the Caribbean sea. This pirate map got packed away when we moved to St. Thomas but reappeared years later when we retrieved it from storage at my grandparent’s farm in Maysville Kentucky. This 1938 map is one of my prized possessions and now hangs on the wall above my desk in Boca Grande…an island off the coast of Florida.

Brief History of the Island bought from France. All three islands Fort Christian became Danish Crown Colonies. Danish Flag and Sailor St Thomas is one of three United States During the 1700s St. Thomas became a Virgin Islands and one of many islands trading center while St. Croix and St. that formed in the Caribbean Sea. John had plantation economies, mainly They form a long, partly volcanic growing sugar. island arc, starting with the “Greater Antilles” to the north-west and running In 1848 a slave revolt erupted on St. down to the continent of South Croix that prompted the abolition of America. The “Lesser Antilles” form slavery in the Danish West Indies. the eastern boundary of the Caribbean During the mid 1800s, with the advent Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. of steam ships, St. Thomas became a coal station for ships traveling between Christopher Columbus was credited North and South America. with discovering St. Thomas during his second voyage to the New World. For In March of 1917 following World War many years after its discovery, it was I, the United States purchased St haven for pirates because of its Thomas, St. John, and St Croix for sheltered bays. Blackbeard and $25MM from Denmark. The U.S. Bluebeard are two of the best known wanted the islands to ensure having pirates that often used St Thomas as a additional military bases in the base. Caribbean. The capital of the island group is Charlotte Amalie. In 1671 the Danish West Indian Company received a charter from King By 1960 the population of St. Thomas Cristian V and two ships were was approximately 15,000. In1970 it dispatched to take possession of St. had almost doubled to 30,000, and by Thomas. In 1673 a ship of 103 slaves were sent to the island to work on the 2010 it was 51,600. The island has 32 plantations…followed by many more. square miles, is about 4 miles wide In 1717 St. John was claimed by the and 13 miles long, and the highest Danish and in 1733 St. Croix was elevation is Crown Mountain at 1,555 feet

Moving To St. Thomas, V.I. At the beginning of the summer of La Coca Falls, El Yunque 1962, Chip and I again visited National Rain Forest My brother (Chip) and I spent our first my father in Fort Lauderdale. My Christmas with our father, and not Mom and John had just returned from Jane (38) Kyle (11) , & Chip (13) with our mother, in 1961. My father their second trip to the Virgin Islands. Lewis Flynn, my stepmother Helen, That night they met Chip and me at and my sister Liz had moved to Fort my father’s house and we walked over Lauderdale, Florida from Kentucky in to the nearby beach. We sat on a 1960. The story told was that because bench looking at the ocean and they my Mom (Jane) was upset about not told us we were moving. I was having us with her, John (my excited, but I am not sure if I knew Stepfather), decided to take her on a what I was excited about! All I knew Christmas vacation in the Caribbean. about the Caribbean was that this is They traveled to both St. Thomas and where pirates lived…as evidenced by St. Croix. my pirate map. Following this trip, they both decided Mom and John decided that we would that life was short and that they live on St. Thomas rather than St wanted to make major changes. Croix because of Antilles School. I During World War II John LeBus was eleven and Chip was thirteen served in the Navy as an Ensign on an when we left Old Hickory, Tennessee ocean going tug. His time in the and moved to St. Thomas. On Pacific exposed him to the ocean and September 6, 1962 we boarded a Pan the idea of island living. The catalyst American 707 jet in Miami and that enabled the move to St. Thomas headed for Puerto Rico where we was the sale of a Pennsylvania oil well spent a couple of days exploring that that he inherited from his Aunt Bertha island. One of our stops was at the El LeBus. The fifteen thousand dollars Yunque rain forest. I am standing in he received is equivalent to about front of a water fall with my “buzz” $120,000 in 2018 dollars. haircut, looking a little over weight, and with a big smile on my face. In addition I have a faded picture of

From Puerto Rico we flew to From the airport we took a St Thomas on a “Caribair” DC taxi to the “waterfront” area, 3. These planes were the work This is a stretch of road that horse of World War II and runs along the harbor of many were used in private Charlotte Amalie. When we aviation for years after the reached town we stopped at a war. well known bar and restaurant called “Sebastian’s” to have When you fly into St Thomas, lunch. We had a table facing the approach is over the ocean. the street and a view of the Looking out the left side harbor. I remember thinking window, we skimmed over the as I sipped my Coke, brilliant blue water as the tip WOW….I cannot believe we of the island came into sight. are going to live on this Caribair DC 3 Charlotte Amalie Water Front The DC 3 bounced down on beautiful island! I also the runway and we came to a remember thinking that I was lurching stop on the very short going to have a much more runway. In 1962 the airport diverse set of friends than I terminal was an old World had in Old Hickory Tennessee. War II hangar. There was a second level in the building converted into a bar and waiting area. After getting settled on the Island, one of the things my Mom and John loved to do in their free time was to go down to the airport, have a drink, and watch the parade of diverse and unique people that would arrive and leave the Cyril E. King Palm Passage / Converted Warehouse airport.

Down Island Sloop Selling Cargo Open Air Palm Passage Interior That evening John and I walked the length of the waterfront. with palms and other tropical growth. On the first level were Small island sloops would dock and unload their cargos of shops, businesses, and restaurants. The second floor had bananas, mangos, papaya, coconuts and Coca Cola. service businesses and the third floor, ringing the structure, Watching the people, hearing the calypso language, and was apartments. experiencing the island’s commerce, is another memory I will always cherish. When we arrived to take possession of our apartment, as is typical of life in the islands, it was not ready. As a result the We rented a third floor apartment in “Palm Passage”, number landlord agreed to put us up at a place called “Mountain C-4, for our temporary lodging. This building is located Top”. This small hotel was located at the top of Crown between the waterfront and Main Street. Most of the Mountain, the highest point on the island. Mountain Top is waterfront buildings were old 18th century warehouses that still in business, but it is nothing like it was in 1962. At that were being converted into shops and other businesses. Palm time there were about twelve rooms at the hotel and one Passage had just been renovated and our two bedroom was restaurant. The restaurant view looked “down island” brand new. Our apartment faced the interior courtyard and towards St. Johns and the British Virgin Islands. There is not Main Street. The center of the complex was open and filled a more beautiful view in all of the Caribbean.

After a couple of days we were In 1962 there was very little able to move into our crime on the island. The locals apartment. Chip and I shared a and Continentals, at least as it small bedroom with two bunk seemed to an eleven year old, beds. All our worldly were friendly and caring with belongings had been packed one another. I had no into four large trunks and restrictions on where I could shipped to the island. Our wander in town. One of my clothes consisted mainly of duties for Mom and John was to shorts and tee shirts. We had no walk a few blocks down Main air-conditioning or heat in the Street, with a dollar in hand, to apartment, only the trade winds. buy them a bottle of Cruzan We lived at Palm Passage for Rum at A. H. Riise Liquor store. about seven months. A. H. Riise Liquors on Main Street In June, 1840, the Danish Government officially appointed Albert Heinrich Riise as the exclusive pharmacist for the island of St. Thomas and granted him monopoly status to produce alcohol. This monopoly was given in exchange for Riise's obligation to give medicine to the poor without charge. A special relationship has In 1760, a sugar mill began crushing cane at the current site of the Cruzan Rum distillery on the island of St. Croix. 1962 View of Charlotte

Antilles School Eventually Antilles added a Antilles School Main Building high school, with the first 1964 - New Antilles Classrooms, Harbor in Background Chip and I were enrolled in class graduating in 1967. I Antilles school. I was attended Antilles through the entering the 6th grade and 9th grade before also going to Chip the 8th. In 1962 the boarding school. school only had grades up through the 8th grade and so The sixth grade class students Chip only had one year until were Brooks Brown, Heidi leaving for St. Andrews Maas, Donna Howe, Claudia boarding school in Boca Dunn, Al (Ace) Gilbert, Chris Raton Florida. My class had & Clay Olsen, Robbie about a twelve students while Moran, Mac Davis, Jeff Chip was the only boy in a Farrow, Katherine Fischer, class of five. The total Jane Kilgour, Tawny Weber, student body numbered about and Polly Medlicott. Many fifty students. The majority of of those classmates are the student body was made shown in the Christmas up of “Continentals”, Program photo in the Photo children of parents who had Gallery section. Brooks moved to the island from the Brown was one of the first States. people I met on the island because her mother operated The school was located on a a business in Palm Passage four-acre site above the West called Tropic Tours. Brooksie Indian Company docks in an had long brown hair, big area called Havensight. We brown eyes, a beautiful had small open-air smile and yes… I was classrooms and held smitten. assemblies on a terrace with its panoramic harbor views.

On school mornings, Chip and I Mr. Theodore (Ted) Wagner was my would be dropped off at history teacher and he lived in a small Emancipation Park, next to the bungalow on campus. He always historic Grand Hotel. We would wait brought to class what we thought was with the other Antilles town children a glass of water when in truth the to catch a small bus to the school. If I liquid had a faint dark coloring which arrived at the Park early, I would we decided was either rum or walk a couple of blocks to an island bourbon. Needless to say, Mr. bakery where they made fresh Wagner enjoyed teaching. delicious “Pates” or meat empanadas. Eating these did nothing For sports activities, we would be to help my weight issue. bused to a field at Long Bay near the island’s public high school. The picture, shows our teacher Martha Antilles Students at Long Bay Field Martha Kenny and several of my friends. Kenny (teacher) Hugging Heidi Maas Ace Gilbert can be seen at the left background as pitcher. Antilles, to say the least, was nothing In 1965 I played in the first organized like my Old Hickory elementary flag football game in the Virgin school. At our first PTA meeting, a Islands. There were six players on bar was set up in the assembly room each team and each player had two and Chip was tasked with bartender red flags attached to their belt. We duties. (He was 14). These PTA would play games against All Saints meetings were mainly social events and St. Peters & Paul Schools. The for the parents and teachers. At one final game was called the “Banana of these meetings, my Mom and John Bowl”. I would go on to play met their life long friend, and my football throughout high school. teacher, Martha Kenny. Miss Kenny was a wonderful teacher and helped I also played one year of basketball in me navigate through my early teens. the 9th grade when I was 15 years old; however I had no coaching and I was not very good. Kyle (13) In Basketball Uniform

While sitting in our class rooms, brother was lucky enough to be The German sailing ship Gorch Foch II also visited we would often become distracted. invited onto the ship and took St. Thomas in 1963. This ship was built in 1958 On several occasions “Tall Ships” several photos of her and her crew. and was based on the plans from the first Gorch would visit St. Thomas. In 1962 While the ship was in port, the Foch. The original ship was taken as war the 295 foot barque Danmark Antilles school girls were “goo reparations by the Soviets. came sailing into the harbor under goo eyed” over the young Danish full sail. This barque is a Danish sailors. When it set sail to depart, Her sister ship, the Horst Wessel, launched in 1936, government’s training ship. our teachers took us out of class to was taken from the Germans by the Americans as a During World War II the ship was witness this beautiful event. war prize and became the barque Eagle. She is used loaned to the U.S. for training by the U.S. Coast Guard as a training ship for new Coast Guard members. My cadets. Because of these wonderful memories, I used the image of the Eagle as the symbol for my business, The Financial Discovery Group. A print of the Eagle hung in my office and now hangs in my den in Florida. The Danmark Setting Sail in St. Thomas Harbor Antilles Students watching the Danmark Raise Her Sails

Estate Pearl By 1955, John’s marriage was John LeBus showing his coming apart. A marriage counselor Mother the Construction As soon as we arrived, John started told him he needed to “get away” looking for property to build a house. from the cause of his struggles, my View From Our Home Estate Pearl was a new development Mom. John moved to Old Hickory on the north side of Crown Mountain. Tennessee because of the nearby lake One of the lots faced North West and his dream of building boats and toward Puerto Rico and looked down he started Ensign Boat Works. towards Hull Bay and out to Inner Brass and Outer Brass islands. Very After realizing that he could not save little of this area was developed. John his marriage, he divorced and used his machete to hack a path married Jane in 1959. Mom sold Red through the property so we could see Bud Lane and we moved to Old the view. A dry stream bed, or what Hickory. When we arrived, John was was called “The Gut”, was next to our building the first single hull property. It ran about 2 miles down fiberglass cabin cruiser. This area of the mountain all the way to Hull Bay. Tennessee became a hub for new boat The tropical growth and rock designs using fiberglass. formations along the Gut were beautiful and untouched from The plan for our house was very development. I spent many hours simple. Two bedrooms, one bath, an exploring and playing in this area. open living area with a small kitchen and small dining area. Building John LeBus could design and build anything on St. Thomas was difficult. almost anything. After the war ended Building supplies were costly and in 1945, he moved to Winchester hard to obtain. Once his house plans Kentucky. He became a retailer were complete, he found and hired (radios and appliances), a farmer and four helpers. These men were down built furniture in his spare time. He island immigrants from St Kitts, St also built a beautiful house in the Vincent and Antigua. I remember Colby Hills area of Winchester for his that two of their names were Lock wife Cacki and his two boys. and Sol.

They had no construction bill was for electricity. We Estate Pearl Living Room experience, but they were young, moved into the house in March very strong and were willing to of 1963. There were no ceilings learn. It took about seven in the house with all of the months to build the house. Our rooms being open to the others. family became very close to The Trade Winds cooled the these very kind island men. house. John eventually added a ceiling to the bathroom, for the The house was built of concrete privacy of our guests. block with all of the concrete mixed and poured on site. The Chip and I shared a small foundation of the house was the bedroom on the back of the “cistern”. All of our water, house. Mom and John’s room including drinking water, ran off had the ocean view. The view the roof and into the cistern. The from the living room was roof of the house was covered spectacular looking out to the with fiberglass, a first in the ocean with no other houses in Virgin Islands. Our only utility sight. Privacy was always paramount for John LeBus. Jane & John LeBus at New Home Entrance to House

Getting Around The Island These bikes started to appear all over the island. As soon as I saw one…I wanted one; however I set my In 1962 there was a mix of very old and a few newer American sights on a real motorcycle…a black Honda CA 90 cars on the island. A Volkswagen dealer opened about the time touring motorcycle. To me, it was the most beautiful we arrived and their sales took off. The Beetle was perfect for thing I had ever seen. the island with its small size and engine in the rear. The “bugs” were able to zip up and down the mountains and handle the My challenges were to get my Mom to approve and rough roads. Soon after we arrived we bought what became finding the money to buy it. In 1964 the price was known as “Old Blue”. A 1962 Blue VW Bug. Old Blue $400 or in today’s dollars about $3,430. At the age of remained in the family until Mom and John left the island. Chip thirteen, I had no savings. After telling John of my and I both learned to drive a stick shift in this car. In 1964 my plans, he agreed to match me dollar for dollar for each parents bought another cream colored VW. These were dollar I was able to save. The agreement was that I wonderful cars and I have many memories of riding around the would turn my savings over to him and we would island in them. record the amounts in a journal. (I still have that journal) So I set out over the next year to save every Old Blue 1963 Keep Left! penny I could get my hands on, including birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as for chores around the house. On St Thomas, one of the hold overs from the brief rule of the I also I became a baby sitter for a some of the British, is that you drive on the left side of the road. We would neighborhood children. often see tourist who would forget this fact and strike out on the wrong side. By the time I reached my fourteenth birthday, I had saved $200 which John matched. I was told that I The driving age for automobiles in St. Thomas was 18 years old. would be getting the motorcycle but probably not until The driving age for a motorcycle was only 14 years old. In 1963 well after my birthday. To my great surprise, on my a Honda motorcycle dealer opened in town. The most popular birthday, John came riding up to our house on a brand motorbike was the Honda 50 Cub (step through). new Honda. I later learned that on the way up the mountain, he had “set the bike down” on the switch back curve coming up the Crown Mountain road and burned his leg on the muffler. Needless to say I was thrilled to be the owner of this wonderful machine. I insisted that the new motorcycle be parked in my bedroom that night.

My mom was, rightly so, worried about my safety on the At the beginning of the 9th grade I was allowed to drive myself motorcycle. In those days there were no helmets and even to Antilles. I purchased a set of leather saddle bags, filled them though it was hard to go very fast on the island, it was with my books, and took off for the first day of school. I was dangerous. For the first two months I was only allowed to drive “cool”. My classmates were in awe of my Honda 90; however it around the circle of our subdivision. There were only 4 house as soon as I drove into the parking area for the motorcycles, I along the road and the circle was about a mile long. So around found that I had competition. Ken Burch, a student two years and around and around I would go. older than me, had a white Honda Dream 150. To become legal, I needed to get my motorcycle license. In I will always remember the beauty of driving around the island 1964 the St. Thomas motor vehicle unit was based in Fort and specifically my daily drive to school. The roads in St Christian. Inside the fort there were several government offices. Thomas were narrow and the pavement covered with pot holes. I passed my written test and then a policeman took me out to the Our house on Crown Mountain was at an elevation of about parking lot and said “son, drive this bike around the parking lot 1200 feet. I would pull out of our subdivision onto to the West so I can see if you can drive it”. I was nervous but passed the End Road and after a short distance I would turn right onto test. From that point on, I was able to ride my Honda all over Crown Mountain Road. the island. The island was a different place in 1964. No stop lights and not much traffic outside of Charlotte Amalie. My motorcycle gave me a sense of freedom that I will never forget. My 1964 Honda Kyle (14) Headed to School on Honda with Saddle Bags

As I approached the top of Crown mountain, there was View of Hassel and Water Islands a small farm on my right with a little donkey always View of Charlotte Amalie and West Indian Company Docks grazing. The tropical growth at the top of the mountain was much more lush and the temperature much cooler than at sea level. When I would get to the top and cross over the ridge, I was presented with a view that looked down on the south side of the island. I could see the airport directly below and the town of Charlotte Amalie was to my left. I could tell immediately how many cruise ships were docked at the West Indian Company or were anchored out in the harbor. I would then begin the rapid decent down Crown Mountain. On the way I would pass the Japanese themed houses called the “Shibui” development, navigate the hairpin turn near Contant Estates, and pass the ruins of an old sugar mill near the bottom of the road. As I arrived at the only stop light on the island, I would turn left onto Veterans Drive. Going straight would have led to the submarine base and turning right went to the airport. Veterans Drive ran along the coast, past French Town, the old cemetery, and then on to the waterfront. Passing through town I would continue on towards the West Indian Company docks. I turned right on to Frenchman Bay Rd and motored up the hill to Antilles School which was on the right side of the road overlooking the harbor. Not a bad commute!

Ocean Liners & Cruise Ships Over the next four years we boarded some of the most beautiful and important ocean liners in the world. This was My best friend in St. Thomas was Al (Ace) Gilbert. Ace’s before the days of the mega cruise ships when cruising was mother was Norwegian and his more civilized. Ships we visited included. USS United Danish stepfather was the States, SS France, RMS Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, assistant dock master at the West MS Nieuw Amsterdam, MS Rotterdam, MS Kungsholm, SS Indian Company. In 1962 more Argentina & Brazil, SS Shalom, SS Homeric, Ms Breman, cruise ships began to visit the MS Europa, and the SS Independence. Military ships would island. The docks were located also visit and we went on the USS Long Beach (cruiser) and about 300 yards down the hill the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. from our school. Ace was able to get passes for us to visit the ships My favorite ship was the Nieuw Amsterdam. We went on from his stepfather. We quickly this ship several times and thought the pastry chef was the best in the business. My favorite smaller ship was the Stella SS France in Background learned that in most cases we did Polaris. This was an elegant ship with beautiful lines. not need a pass. The crew did not question two young boys When researching some of the travels of my grandparents, roaming the ships. If we had to blend in, we would walk up Frank and Maude Hendrickson, I found that they had taken to passengers and offer to carry their shopping bags up the a cruise on the Stella Polaris in 1955 and had visited St. gangway. Once on board we had free rein to explore, Thomas. Seven years later, not knowing they had been on partake of the lunch buffet, and watch movies in the theater. the ship, I got to board and tour this magnificent ship. In the early sixties security was almost nonexistent. Also during that time the ships would not leave port until late at night so the passengers would be going on and off the ship day and night. USS United States SS France MS Nieuw Amsterdam Norwegian MV Stella Polaris

The Queen The forty year old Queen had Queen Elizabeth & Prince Phillip traveled from the Bahamas to Tortola Class trips at Antilles School were on the Royal Yacht Britannia. different from class trips in the States. During February of 1966, Queen The island had been cleaned up, Elizabeth and Prince Phillip traveled houses painted, and Union Jacks flew to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands from new poles. Business men to dedicate the Queen Elizabeth loaned seven luxury cars to the royal Bridge, also called the Beef Island entourage including an early 60s Bridge. A few of us at Antilles white Cadillac convertible. Cheering jumped at the opportunity to see the islanders lined the road to catch a Queen. Early on the morning the glimpse and as they rode directly past Queen was to arrive, my girlfriend our group, Ace was able to snap a Polly Medlicott, my good friends Ace picture of the Queen and Prince Gilbert, Marcy Horwitz and Susan Phillip. On the trip back to St. Wanless and I, took a boat from Red Thomas, our ferry boat passed by the Hook (marina) on the east end of St. royal yacht Britannia. Even at that Thomas to Road Town, Tortola. age we were thrilled to have the opportunity to see the Queen. Marcy under Royal Banner Tortola Policeman Kyle, Polly, Susan & Marcy

Carnival performers would walk in the parades Antilles School 1963 - Flower Drum down the main street of St. Thomas. Song. Chip Flynn Pulling Rickshaw One of the highlights of the year in St. Thomas was “Carnival”. This Antilles, along with the other island spring time event became an annual schools, would participate in the cultural celebration beginning in parades. In 1963 the theme for our 1952. West Indians loved Carnival school’s parade was “Flower Drum with its Caribbean food, calypso steel Song”. Probably not politically drum music, unusual costumes and correct in today’s world, we dressed colorful parades. The Moko Jumbie and applied makeup to look asian. stilt walkers originated from West My brother pulled a rickshaw as the African traditions and were brought rest of us paraded behind him. to the Caribbean with the slave trade. Antilles school was 90% continentals Several of these brightly dressed and so we stood out in the sea of West Indian revelers. A Mocko Jumbie / St. Thomas Antilles School 1964 Float Carnival Revelers Parading on Main Street

Hassel Island Fort Willoughby Hassel Island lies within and forms part of the harbor of The Royal Mail Inn on Hassel Island was a hang out for Charlotte Amalie. On the southern tip of the island are the many of the island’s families we knew. During the early ruins of a British fort named Fort Willoughby, built during sixties, a ferry ran from the waterfront to the Inn. On the Napoleonic War. There is also a garrison house several occasions Ace Gilbert and I would take the ferry nearby. Before the British, the Danes built Prince and hike to the fort. We would camp out under the stars in Frederik's Battery or Fort Frederik on the same site. In the the ruins of the fort and talk about all of the things that 13 1840s, the St. Thomas Marine Railway Slip was year olds talk about…mainly girls. We also brought with constructed on the north end of the island. This facility us a transistor radio to listen to 60s era music. I clearly allowed large ships to be pulled out of the water for remember hearing and liking the group the Animals and repairs. Later renamed the Creque Marine Railway, it is their song, “The House of the Rising Sun”…and having no one of the earliest steam-powered marine railways in the idea what they were saying happened in that house. western hemisphere and perhaps the oldest surviving Sitting under the stars, on the tip of Hassel Island, looking example of such a railway. back towards the lights of the town, and being with my best friend, are memories I cherish.

Interesting Characters Wouk’s tale is about a New York press agent, Norman Paperman, who leaves his high-pressure life in the city to The early sixties was the beginning of rapid change for the run a hotel in “Amerigo” called the Gull Reef Club. He islands. Tourism was increasing from jet travel and more thought he could now have a carefree life, but instead cruise ships were visiting the island. More “Continentals” Paperman collides head on with the reality of running a were also moving to the islands to seek adventure, escape a business in the Caribbean, with predictably comic previous life, or for job opportunities. Over the years, there consequences. were many interesting characters who visited and called St. Thomas home. “Following the trade winds to these unfrequented islands -- mesmerized by the shimmering turquoise, watching for that In 1958 Herman Wouk and his wife Betty moved to St. illusive flash of green at sunset, walking the cobbled streets where Thomas. He had already written The Caine Mutiny, activity slows under the sun -- who wouldn't begin to dream, just Marjorie Morningstar, and This Is My God. Later he would a little, about chucking it all; about pulling up roots and heading write The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Once south for good.” he arrived, he bought a 12,000 foot gated home overlooking Charlotte Amalie and the harbor. He also purchased a small In 1962, my brother Chip was in the 8th grade and was hotel on Hassel Island named the Royal Mail Inn. It was thirteen years old. His class at Antilles had four girls and named after The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company which him. One of his classmates was Lane Yeager whose parents operated on Hassel Island from about 1850 until the 1870s. ran the Royal Mail Inn for the Wouks. We would often take This small Inn became the inspiration for his 1965 book, the ferry to Hassel Island for parties and to “hang out”. Our Don’t Stop The Carnival. parents also visited this small Inn for parties. Years later, my brother told me that this was the place where he could go to get free beer from his classmate Lane. Herman Wouk’s son Nathaniel, was one year younger than Chip and was in the 7th grade. They became friends and Nat would have my brother over to their estate. On one of these occasions, Herman Wouk gave Chip his new book about the Jewish faith, “This is My God”. Royal Mail Inn Herman Wouk

We also became friends with the family of (Lovatt) , an untrained volunteer who would Gregory Bateson, an anthropologist described live with and observe the dolphins 24/7. A as one of the great intellectuals of the 20th documentary, “The Girl Who Talked to century. He was married to Margaret Mead Dolphins” is about this research and can be and after his divorce he married Lois seen on Netflix. Cammack. They came to St. Thomas in the early sixties and I was friends with his son, Our Antilles School english teacher, Dick John Davidson Eric Bateson. Gregory was the director of a Gist, went to school with and was friends secret laboratory called The Dolphin Point with John Davidson. Davidson was a singer, Laboratory. This facility was researching the an actor, and in later life he became a game intelligence of dolphins. It was located at the show host. He recorded, twelve albums in eastern end of the island at Coki Bay. The the 60s & 70s. In 1965 he came to St. facility was designed to bring humans and Thomas to visit Mr. Gist. When he was dolphins into closer proximity and was the introduced to our class, the girls were besides brainchild of an American neuroscientist, Dr themselves and they competed to see who John Lilly. could talk to and get closer to this attractive talented star. One of Dr. Lilly’s most controversial experiments was giving dolphins LSD to test Another Famous personality who was born their intellect. Chip worked one summer at the on St. Thomas was Kelsey Grammar. He facility and got to know Bateson. moved to New Jersey as an infant but Later Bateson employed Margaret Howe frequently came back to the island and was often seen drinking at “Sebastians”, the local bar on the waterfront. Interestingly, Kelsey Grammer Grammar went to Pine Crest Academy in Ft. Margaret Howe Lauderdale FL for high school. My sister Elizabeth attended this school and I went to boarding school at St. Andrews in Boca Raton, Florida and where we played Pine Crest in Football. Gregory Bateson

The Goodhearts In 1963, John and Harry were approached by a woman…I only remember her first name as being Charlotte, who One of the first families we met on the Island was the dreamed of building pontoon houseboats that would be Goodhearts. Harry and Jeannie Goodheart had two anchored in the area called Yacht Haven. John knew how children, Buddy and Nancy. They built a house in Estate to work with fiberglass and Harry knew the ins and outs of Pearl before John built our house. Their house was unique the island construction business. A partnership was and a truly Caribbean home with only the bedrooms and formed. Charlotte owned the “Carlotta”, a large schooner bathrooms enclosed. The living spaces, including the type sailing vessel. Charlotte invited the Goodhearts and kitchen, were open to the outside. This could only happen LeBuses on a sail down the the chain of the Lesser Antilles in a temperate climate like St. Thomas. islands so that they could develop their business plan. Mr. Goodheart had sold his dry cleaning business in John & Jane LeBus / Jeannie & Harry Goodheart Denver, “pulled up stakes”, and moved to St. Thomas. on the Carlotta When John met Harry, they discovered that they had both lived in Denver Colorado during their youth and had, in fact, gone to the same school. The Goodhearts became part of the “LeBus” party circuit. Harry and Jeannie were heavy drinkers and sadly Jeannie died of liver disease at a relatively young age. Their son Buddy left the island for school the year we arrived. Nancy was a year older than me and we became very good friends. She was very artistic and owned the most amazing sea shell collection I have ever seen. Her bedroom walls were lined with shelves displaying her spectacular collection. In later life Nancy would move to Bradenton, Florida and become recognized as an accomplished artist.

Nancy and I were left at the Goodheart house and were taken care of Jane on the Carlotta by our teacher, Martha Kenny. The story I am told is that as the Grenada Carlotta sailing trip progressed, Charlotte, the Goodhearts, and the captain became increasingly inebriated. About half way through the trip they encountered rough weather. The captain was too drunk to captain and so the crew, and John, had to take over. At the next island they came too, which I believe was Grenada, my Mom and John had had enough and at dusk they abandoned ship and took a dingy to shore. They were dropped off at a deserted beach and eventually found a dirt road leading away from the beach. Night had fallen when they came upon an islander who took them to a “friend” who had small motel. Eventually they found their way back to St. Thomas from this adventure. While the houseboat project was started and a few fiberglass pontoons were built, the project was never completed. I am not sure that Charlotte had thought through having houseboats anchored in a harbor that often experienced rough seas. Harry Goodheart’s next business venture was “Tread-Nu”. Products coming onto the islands were shipped in from Puerto Rico or the States, including tires. Tires wore out quickly on the rough St. Thomas roads so Harry concluded that a tire re-treading business would thrive. He hired a couple of the same workers that built our house, leased space at the “Sub Base”, and bought the equipment needed for the process. During the summer of 1966 Mr. Goodheart hired me to help around the shop, write out receipts and take deposits to the bank. I was 15 and it was my first job.

Nancy Goodheart Kyle with Sadie Nancy Goodheart had a female dog that was part sheep dog constantly biting me with her puppy teeth. She also did not named “Poopsie”. Before we moved to Estate Pearl, take instruction well. That summer my Mom and I went Poopsie escaped, bred with another island dog, and had to the States to visit family. John said that when we puppies. Nancy kept one of the males out of that litter. returned, HE would have that dog trained. He failed. A During 1964, Poopsie went into heat and her now mature few weeks after I returned, we decided that we were not male offspring promptly mated with her. Nancy kept the the right family for Sadie. Sol, one of the workmen who puppies in a bathtub and, unfortunately, the Goodhearts did built our house, wanted a dog so we gave him Sadie. not control the flea population. Somehow I persuaded Mom and John to allow me to take one of the pups. I took Like so many of the people who came to St Thomas, the her home, got rid of the fleas, and I named her Sadie. Goodhearts were “characters” with interesting back stories. Nancy had a very good heart and I have very fond memories of At thirteen years old I did not understand the problems of our time together. inbreeding. Sadie was a very cute puppy….but she was

Island Employment Kyle and Southern Air Transport C-46 VW Shipped to Miami on Southern Air Transport John LeBus was part of my life for more than fifty years. After John served in the Pacific as an Ensign, he returned to Winchester, Kentucky. He and his wife Cacki were friends with my parents. One of his business ventures during that time was with my father. Together they owned a combine harvester and would reap, thresh, gather, and winnow crops for other farmers in Kentucky. After my parents 1952 divorce, John would often come to our house and take me out to his farm. Many years later, he would often joke that he married my Mom (when I was eight years old) to be with me. The truth was, he had fallen for my mother. It took him seven years and marriage counseling to finally come to terms with this fact. He moved to Old Hickory Tennessee in 1957 to “get away” and to pursue a dream of building boats….but that is another story. John spent the first year building our house and then went into business with Harry Goodheart (See the Carlotta story). After that enterprise failed, he decided to find employment. He became the Station Manager for Southern Air Transport at the Cyril E. King airport. John found it a little unusual that he had to get a federal security clearance to work for the company. We later found out that this Transport Company was purchased by the CIA in 1960 and was used, as a front, to ship arms and other goods to Central American countries. During the eighties the company was involved with the infamous “Iran - Contra” affair in Nicaragua. In the early 60s the company had three World War II twin- engine transport aircraft called C-46 Commandos. The picture shows me standing in front of one of these planes.

In the summer of 1964, my parents decided to take us on a the bank. From this contract he formed “Estate Pearl road trip across the United States. They purchased a new Products”. He ended up producing a variety of ornamental 1964 Volkswagen station wagon and had Southern products. During June of 1967 he wrote a semi-annual Transport fly it to Miami where we started our trip. This (spoof) report about the business and outlined how the VW was not being sold in the U.S. and we got lots of looks, company had a new headquarters…located in the back yard both for the car and our Virgin Islands license plate. of our house. Features of the new factory included open air sides, dirt floor, tin roof and a new electric mixer. He was Southern Transport had lots of debt and very poor now able to work and create in his tropical element. infrastructure. Shortly after our trip out west, John quit the company because of his frustration with the inability of the I always admired the ability of my step-father to work with company to fulfill contracts and the poor customer service. his hands and create things. He built our St. Thomas home, created the Estate Pearl products, built beautiful wood John had had enough of working with a partner and furniture, carved unique objects and built detailed ship working for an employer. He went back to his knowledge models. Before coming to the island, he designed and built of fiberglass and decided to make concrete products in the first single hull fiberglass cabin cruiser. He was truly fiberglass molds. A new Barclays Bank was being built in an artist using his engineering skills, architectural abilities, town along the waterfront and he was able to get a contract and construction knowledge to create his life’s work. Many to build the concrete balustrades that would line the front of of his creations are still being enjoyed by our family today. Estate Pearl Factory 1966 Barclay Bank with New Balustrades Estate Pearl Concrete Products

Creations of John LeBus Original Sketch of Ensign Boat Works Fiberglass Cabin Cruiser Two Masted Sailing Ship Mayan Planting Pots - Two Of These Are Now At Wood Ball In USS Eagle Coast Guard Training Ship Cage Carving Our Boca Grande, FL Home

Our Last Years On The Island and found it to be in a state of disrepair with junk spread out all over the property. Not exactly the island paradise I In 1966 I left St Thomas and entered St. Andrews School had described to them. in Middletown, Delaware. Going from the Caribbean sun Ann and I attended several reunions both on the island to a cold Delaware winter was a shock to my system. and off the island with many of my 1969 Antilles When we arrived in St Thomas in 1962, the island had a classmates. During my last visit I thought about Thomas population of 16,000. With the advent of more air travel, Wolfe’s book, “You Can’t Go Home Again”. But that the closing in 1960 of Cuba to tourist, and with the thought did not stop me from knowing that you can hold explosion of cruising in the Caribbean, the island onto your favorite memories. I often think about, and am population grew to 32,000 by 1970 and to more than grateful for, the island people, my wonderful schoolmates 45,000 in 1980. Today the population stands at about and the beauty of the islands of the Caribbean. I will 51,000. always appreciate my Mom and John making this adventurous decision for our family so that we could live For the ten years we lived on the island we were spared on and explore one of the islands from my childhood being hit by any major storms. In 1989 hurricane Hugo Pirates, Buccaneers, Freebooters map. struck and in 1995 hurricane Marilyn. Both of these storms decimated the island. In addition, population Jane and John LeBus, St. Thomas 1970 growth and over development led to traffic problems and strains on the infrastructure. The growing difficulties with life on the island, along with my grandparent’s age and health issues, resulted in Mom and John deciding to move back to the States. They sold our house in April of 1971. I, along with my then girlfriend and future wife Ann, visited our home one last time in March of 1971 during our college spring break. I was glad that I got to show Ann my beloved childhood island. Over the years I have returned to St. Thomas several times. Once with Ann and my boys on a Caribbean Christmas cruise. We visited our old home in Estate Pearl

Photo Gallery Kyle John Opening His First coconut With His New Machete 1963 Antilles School Christmas Program Kyle & Jane at Stumpy Bay Beach

The Danmark Tall Ship Sailing Into Charlotte Amalie Harbor As An Island Sloop Sails Out 1963 Antilles School Christmas Program 1966 New Havensight Antilles School Classrooms Aircraft Carrier USS Forestal Anchored Off Of St. Thomas

1963 Newly Constructed Estate Pearl Home 1962 Kyle Cooking At Palm Passage Apartment Chip Standing On Rock Next To House Near Aerial Photo Of Estate Pearl - Path Leading Down To The “Gut”. After Heavy Arrow Points to Our House Rains the Gut Carried Runoff Down to Hull Bay.

Estate Pearl Living Room Early 60s Aerial Tram Way - John Built Fiberglass Components The Flying Goose That Flew From Harry S Truman Airport circa 1966 (Now the Cyril E. King Charlotte Amalie Harbor to St. Croix airport) I witnessed the first Eastern Airlines 727 Commercial Jet to Land in St. Thomas

Blackbeard’s Castle (Skytsborg) Erected 1679 By Danes as a Watchtower - Lore Is That Blackbeard Also Used It As A Watch Towers In 18th Century Bluebeard’s Castle - Now The 99 Steps (actually 103) -Built In The Mid Part Of Bluebeard’s Hotel 1700s From The Ballast Bricks Out Of The Danish Tall Ships Coming From The Old World

1963 Lane Yeager (8th Grade) Carnival 1963 Kyle (left) getting Make Up for Antilles School Entry in Carnival “Flower Drum Song” Parade 1963 Sapphire Beach - Visit of Sister Elizabeth, My Gorch Foch German Sailing Training Ship Father (Lewis) and My Stepmother Helen at Anchor in Charlotte Amalie Harbor

1962 Chris Olsen - Waiting for the 1962 Heidi Maas - Heidi’s 1966 Brooks Brown…And Her Long Antilles Bus at Emancipation Parents Owned and operated Brown Hair - Brooks And Her Sisters Park, Charlotte Amalie. Chris Sapphire Beach. Owned and Operated Tropic Tours Had a Twin Brother Clay

1966 Polly Medlicott in a Yacht Haven Fashion Show 1965 St Thomas Hells Angel Wearing My Garnett Cross Dick Gist - Our Popular English Teacher - 1967 Spring Break - Elida Duffield Also Local Radio Personality Wassmann With Kyle At Sapphire Beach

1964 Kyle, Chip, Jane & John 1966 Antilles End Of Year Party - TOP - Marcy, Michelle, Jane, Susan, BOTTOM - Polly, Elida, Brooks, Tawny 1966 Kyle Leaving For Boarding School 1967 Summer After Boarding School

Summer of 1967 Kyle Flynn & Ace 1967 Kyle & Ace With Motorcycles 1967 Summer - St John Camping Gilbert Working On A Construction Trip With Ace…Off Road. Project At Our Estate Pearl Home 1967 Summer - With Ace’s Family on the tugboat Thorvald - 1967 Ace And Aunt Gudney From Left: Uncle Roar Pedersen, (Kyle), Mother Bobby Larsen, Aunt Gudney Pedersen, & Friend - Stepfather Ove Larsen piloting

1962 - Magens Bay “Unspoiled” St Thomas Post Office Where We Received Our Mail 1971 Kyle and Ann on St Thomas Beach 1995 Christmas Norway (Formerly the SS With the Nieuw Amsterdam in Background France) Cruise. Will, Ann, & Asa at Estate Pearl

2001 Reunion- Teachers Martha Kenny & Dick Gist 90s - Acey & Brooksie 2013 Kyle (Re-living Childhood) August 2001 Charleston SC ’69 Class Reunion Restoration Of A Classic 1965 Honda 305 Dream Top Row - Ace Gilbert, Heidi Maas Culler, Peggy Blackman, Tawny Weber / 2nd Row - Loretta King, Jane Kilgour, Mac Davis, Polly Medlicott, Cathrine Fisher / Bottom Row - Kyle Flynn, Elida Duffield Wassmann, Brooks Brown, Claudia Dunn Frazier, Donna Howe Miles, Marcy Horwitz

2009 Ace & Kyle Return To Hassel 2009 Antilles Reunion Class of 1969 Magens Bay Background - Back Row - Kyle Flynn, Elida (Duffield) Wassmann, Al (Ace) Gilbert, Brooks Brown, Claudia Dunn Frazier, Jane Kilgour, Front Row - Robbie (Moran) Dudovick, Polly Medlicott, Peggy Blackman, Loretta King, Marcy Horwitz, Heidi (Maas) Culler, Donna (Howe) Miles, Susan (Wanless) Barac Garrison Building Near Fort On Hassel Island