HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS A WALK AND A TALK

For March, the St. John Historical Society is continuing its monthly format of having both a formal meeting presentation and an outside activity.
The outing comes first. It's a shoreline trek from Oyen's Point east of Fish Bay to the ruins of the Little Reef Bay plantation at Genti Bay that will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, March 12. The event is a co-presentation with the St. John chapter of the National Audubon Society, whose members will share their knowledge of the abundant bird life to be found along the stretch of wilderness coast to be traversed.
At the Little Reef Bay ruins, society member David Knight will make an interpretive presentation on the background of the little-visited site, which is reached via a path from the beach at the bottom of the V.I. National Park's popular Reef Bay Trail. Knight will talk about Catherine Michel and her family, the owners of the estate from 1829 to 1871. There will be an opportunity to take a swim at the Little Reef Bay beach before heading back.
The trek should take about 45 minutes each way, according to Knight, and is moderately strenuous. Those wishing to participate should meet at the trail head above Genti Bay near the end of the Fish Bay Road at 1:30 p.m. Parking will be available nearby. It's recommended that participants bring drinking water, binoculars and sunscreen and wear a hat and shoes that can get wet without damage. For historical society and Audubon members and all students, there's no charge; for others, there's a $5 fee, payable on site. No reservations are necessary.
At the monthly meeting, Elizabeth Rezende, author, educator and president of the Society of Virgin Islands Historians, will present an address on Christiansted's free colored community of Free Gut. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Center of the St. Ursula Church in Cruz Bay. Funding for Rezende's presentation was provided by the V.I. Humanities Council. Guests are welcome and admission is free.
For additional information about either activity or the historical society, call SJHS president Margie Labrenz at 693-8808.