Nov. 1, 2002 – Members of the St. Thomas Historical Trust Inc. elected a newly reconstituted Board of Directors at a special meeting held Oct. 10. Designated officers and Board members for 2002-2003 are Enrique Rodriguez, president; Susan Laura Lugo, vice-president; Peggy McConnell, treasurer; Lois Hassell Habteyes, secretary; and directors Felipe Ayala Jr., Raul Carrillo, Angel Dawson, Gail de Forest, Mary Ann Hickey, Cynthia Jerry, Sean Krigger, Ronald S. Lockhart and Edith de Jongh Woods.
Established in 1984 as a Virgin Islands not-for-profit organization, the mission of the St. Thomas Historical Trust is to identify, protect and preserve the historical identity, structures, sites and cultural heritage of St. Thomas through education, advocacy and promotion.
Newly adopted top priorities for the 2002-2003 term include developing strategies to provide legislative and financial incentives for preservation and restoration projects, and the promulgation of information on historic sites and structures on St. Thomas.
The Trust also announced that by the end of November the first in a series of historical license plates will be available for purchase. Each limited edition plate will depict "St. Thomas and Harbor View" by artist Fritz Melbye (1850) and may be ordered for any registered vehicle either in the Historical Trust’s numbered series beginning with "H-1" or with custom personalization.
The cost of all "H-" numbered plates is $50 ($45 for Trust members), with the first 50 plates in the numbered series reserved for sale to those individuals or companies designated as Platinum Patron contributing members of the Trust. Personalized plates will cost $100 ($90 for Trust members) and are available to everyone. Proceeds from all license plate sales will go directly to benefit Trust projects. To place an order, contact President Rodriguez at 779-6429 ext. 22.
The Trust will continue its current volunteer projects and responsibilities for training docents for historic Haagensen House and curating the historical collections at Haagensen House and Villa Notman. Trust members also will continue to volunteer to organize and conduct walking tours of the historic district in Charlotte Amalie, to promote interest in and respect for local history through presentations at St. Thomas schools, and to present to the public topics of historical interest in a monthly radio format.
Persons and organizations interested in volunteering to be a part of the Trust’s dynamic communitywide efforts are urged to contact the St. Thomas Historical Trust about establishing or renewing membership.
Membership committee chair Gail de Forest can be reached by phone at 774-3266 (days) for more information. To inquire about membership or to volunteer via email, interested parties may send a message to HistoricalTrust@attglobal.net, or write to St. Thomas Historical Trust, P.O. Box 11849, St. Thomas, VI 00801.
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