Hauntings?

http://www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/magazine/archives/2003fall/feature2_1.php

Okay, so that link is to the Boab tree - question was most likely being asked with respect to buildings? I'm not sure about that, but I can tell you one thing - there should be some kind of pirate attraction on the island, like our very own Pirates of the Caribbean (although we couldn't call it that of course)......but some of those guys would surely haunt the place.

And what about the rooms that were used as jail cells at Fort Christian? Surely one or two must be haunted by their former occupants?????

I was thinking about the slave quarters - maybe at annaburg? There is a story that the water in Francis Bay/Mary's Point turns blood red on occasion. This is where the slaves threw themselves off the cliffs by the 100's to avoid capture during the revolution on St. John.
Pamela.

Kandi,

The African belief in haunted trees goes back to time immemorial. I’m not aware that Africans generally have a belief in haunted buildings. At the time of the slave trade, the typical African village consisted mostly of huts, not larger buildings. The article does mention that a jumbie can follow you home from a tree and get into your house.

Africans during the slave trade lived close to nature as hunters and gatherers and as farmers. As the article notes, it is only natural that large trees on the savannah (in Upper Guinea, for example) would have been impressive sights, that they would become community gathering sites (they provided shade from the heat), and that legend and folklore would be attached to them. These beliefs were brought to the Danish West Indies.

European settlers would have had a tradition of belief in haunted castles, cemeteries, shipwrecks, and places where tragedies occurred. I’ve never heard that any of the cemeteries, plantation ruins, or other buildings on St. Croix (where I live) are thought to be haunted, but I suspect that there are such stories, perhaps many. There may be some divers who believe in haunted shipwrecks in the USVI.

If you haven’t already, you might do a search on Obeah and on Anansi the Trickster. You might also contact someone at the Virgin Islands Humanities Council and try to get a copy of The Virgin Islands and Their People by J. Antonio Jarvis.

By the way, do you actually believe in these things? I see from another post that you’re from California. Stereotypes. Haha!

I only now of two haunted houses in St. Thomas. Not including Goevrnment House of course!
Dr. Saunders', the vet, office has been known to be haunted. No one could ever live there without getting the hell out of there ASAP because of ghosts I understand. Since he rented it and changed it to an office, I haven't heard anything. Maybe the ghosts appreciate the place to themselves at night with only the animals to haunt!
Up around the hill from me, there is a house that caught fire every day or so for quite some time. I remember sitting in school and the fire trucks racing up the hill to put it out and then no residue! They repeated this several times until they put a couple of crosses on the gate to the house, and to this day they are still there and no fires since!
Those are the only two I know about. I have never gone and investigated myself. Don't plan to!
Ronnie

FormerOhioGuy,

Yes, I do *actually *believe in this stuff, as I'm not only a very spiritual person,but also had experience with some myself. Do you not? Thats fine,but please , I would appreciate it if you would not be so snide in your question reguarding weather or not I "actually" believe in this stuff. (i.e laughing overtly about it)

Ummm yes I'm from California, what was the point of you pointing that out? That obviously had some sort of a point to your response in answering my question ,but I personally do not see how it fits with the topic, so perhaps since you like to talk so much you could elaborate for us all on how exactly my being from California fits into this topic at hand. Thank You 🙂

~Kandi

Hello Kandi,

The Vet's office Ronnie mentioned came to mind. And also another, but I can't remember where the building was; I keep thinking government hill - but I don't think thats right. In any case it was used as a dance school about 15-20 years ago and the students/teachers reported that doors and windows would close on their own and reopen, furniture would move, doors would lock ect. I think it was a doctors office originally...

Ronnie - does former dance school/doctors office sound familiar for an old building downtown?

--Islander

Kandi,

I’m sorry if you were offended. I was not trying to be snide. I respect people of all religious views. I find paranormal phenomena very interesting. I’ve taken a class in it. I once had two acquaintances in Ohio who are witches. California is widely known as a place where there are many believers in paranormal things.

Kandi:

Lighten up. Could be worse - you could be from Oregon.

Ronnie,

It's funny how you mentioned the house up the hill from you, because several members of my family have had quite a history with the house that my grandfather lived in (back in the states) and the exact same phenomena occured on his property.
After he passed away, back in the early 70's, for many years, various members of my family, including myself, have experienced unusual occurrences in the house and on the property.
I have had these same family members who lived in the house for a number of years, finally give up after the last fire occurred, and there is no photograph taken at the house (which still stands, though fire damage can't be seen) that doesn't have an aura in the picture. No matter who is in the photo, how many people, what action is taking place, or if someone is just standing or sitting, the same aura appears.
And yes, different cameras have been used. I could write a book on the amount of spiritual activity that has happened there. The property is still a part of our family, and probably could never be sold, because of its reputation. I actually make a rule not to speak of this anytime at night, it creeps me out too much.
I did think once of getting a TV documentary on the history of the place, but I'm not going to be the one to stay while it's being filmed or recorded!
And to Kandi's defense, I'm not from California, but if I told you where I'm from, I'd probably also get stereotyped, so I'll not indulge. Things are real, if you have a connection, spiritual or otherwise.
Oh, Sylvia Browne, if you're reading this, send me an email!!!

Islander I think the building you are talking about now houses the State Historic Preservation Offfice. May have been Dr. Knud Hansen's house or office back in the early 1900s.
Ronnie