March 21, 2005 – Eighty-eight years ago, on the afternoon of March 31, 1917, in Fort Christian, St. Thomas, the Danish Acting Gov. Commander Henri Konow and U. S. Commander Edwin T. Pollack, representing the new American government of the Virgin Islands, signed an agreement officially transferring ownership of the Danish West Indies, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, to the United States of America. The Danish flag, also called the Danneborg was lowered and the American flag was raised. On that same day, similar ceremonies were held in Christiansted and Frederiksted.
This March 31, the St. Croix Friends of Denmark and the St. Croix Landmarks Society are hosting the annual commemoration of Transfer Day beginning at 10 a.m. at the Lawaetz Family Museum in Little La Grange. The Carl and Marie Lawaetz Museum is the ancestral home of the Lawaetz family since the 1890’s and is filled with West Indian furnishings and surrounded by historic ruins and tropical gardens. The St. Croix Landmark Society maintains the site.
According to a press release issued on Monday, music for the occasion will be by Bill Bass, Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights and the Joyful Voice Community Choir. Also on tap is a performance by the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School dancers, a short story reading by 6th grader N’Qwanda Williams and anecdotes from local speakers.
Admission is free and food and drinks prepared by Good Chew Catering of the St. Croix Vocational School will be on sale.
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