We enjoyed reading the St. Croix Source’s three-part series about conditions in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the time they became part of the United States, as described in the 1917 special U.S. Census of the territory. The third part of the series capture a slice of the territory’s heritage.
The census officials’ highlighted that in 1917:
St. Croix was the “most productive” of the islands because of the sugar and related rum industry there.
91.2% of St. Croix’s land was devoted to crops and animal husbandry. Sugar was the primary crop.
For more of a glimpse of daily life on St Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John back then, read the full article here.
An unexpected oasis of divine and authentic Crucian treats awaits you at Eden South. A collection of t-shirts hanging on a line at the entrance is the undeniable landmark that indicates your arrival at the right location. This locally owned gift shop located in historic downtown Christiansted is committed to doing its part to preserve the culture of St. Croix.
Owner Mariel J. de Chabert-Percy opened the doors of Eden South in December 2016, but the origins of the business began almost a decade before from her home. Originally built in the 1800s, the building was formerly the historic home her husband’s grandfather built and where his mother and aunts grew up. Today, Eden South is dedicated to offering the best time-honored traditions of St. Croix. Their product lines – culturally authentic as described by de Chabert- Percy – are made only from in-season, locally sourced fruit and prepared in small batches for consistent quality. Jams and jellies, hot sauce and syrups, t-shirts, tote bags, books about island culture and history plus local artwork and photography can be found stacked on tables and lining the shelves of the store. De Chabert-Percy is the artist and designer of the store’s t-shirt line which features local recipes including the one-pot kallaloo stew and the ever-popular guavaberry liqueur. Additionally, the Crucian Spoken Word t-shirt provides the pronunciation of general terms and phrases in English, Scottish/Irish and Crucian. All items are conveniently packaged to help customers enjoy and express Crucian culture, wherever they may be.
Eden South is located at #3 Company Street next to Company House Hotel. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am – 3pm. For more information, call 340.713.1003.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Get hooked on world-class offshore sport fishing on St. Croix with Captain Cook Charters! Since 2016, Captain Colt Cook and his seasoned crew has offered half-day and full-day fishing charters aboard their 33-foot long sportfisher boat, Hook n’ Cook. Made by Pursuit Boats, Hook n’ Cook is used exclusively for offshore fishing of mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna and marlin. Inshore trips are also available as the company uses spinning or fly-fishing tackle to catch tarpon, snook, bonefish, snapper, mackerel and jacks. With accommodations for up to 6 people, offshore trips are available in 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-hour durations departing from Green Cay Marina on the island’s east end.
For as long as he could remember, Captain Cook has always considered fishing as a way of life. “I’ve always had a passion for salt water and marine life and knew I wanted to fish for a living,” said Cook. His love for the ocean steered him to the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Marine Biology. His vast marine world knowledge, many years of experience and countless hours logged on ships of all sizes is what sets Captain Cook apart. A scuba diving and free diving enthusiast, Captain Cook puts his heart and soul into making sure that each group has an unforgettable experience. He shared that there’s a high possibility that each charter will catch something. “We go out on each trip with a plan and use various methods to get some fish on the line.”
Beyond the catch, Captain Cook and his crew offer free, professional fish cleaning services. Once they’ve cleaned and bagged the charter’s catch, a hot grill or pan is all that stands between guests and their dinner. If an adventure trip is more your speed, Captain Cook Charters offers on-the-water outings that consist of snorkeling, sunset booze cruises and barhopping. Let them know what kind of trip you want, and they will make it happen!
Question: Will you put these recent rate increases into historical perspective for us?
Chris’ Answer: Looking back, starting in the 1980’s by decade, on a Freddie Mac 30 year fixed mortgage for a primary residence, the rates from the St. Louis Fed Survey looked like this:
1980’s – about 9.00% 1990’s – about 6.75% 2000’s – about 5.25% 2010’s – about 3.50% 2020’s – about 2.75% and we’re currently hovering just under 6%
We’ve all gotten accustomed to the low rates over the last 10 years. We’re now entering a period where the rates are normalizing and that rate environment is more in line with historical rates. These current rates are more in line with what the “cost of money” should be based on the last four plus decades.
Question: What effect is the increase in rates having on buyers and sellers?
Chris’ Answer:
Here are three things that have the potential to effect on buyers:
The cost of homeownership has increased.
It is affecting the ability of some buyers to qualify for a mortgage.
In markets such as this, some lenders tend to become a little more conservative. While I don’t expect them to change guidelines, I do expect that they may become more conservative in their pricing.
Sellers could be affected in these ways:
Second home sales, whether houses or condos, may begin to slow. This is a big part of the St. Croix market.
Investment and speculative buying may also begin to slow. These buyers are likely to search out other investment options which may be more attractive as rates increase.
As the real estate markets and players try to “right size” themselves after a few boom years, we may find that Days on Market will be affected.
