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Just
close your eyes and imagine the Caribbean about
25 or 30 years ago.
Clean,
unhurried and unspoiled. Pristine living, practically
no crime, reefs teeming with fish. Gentle trade
winds. People as warm and genuinely friendly
as ever.
Now
open your eyes and discover the beautiful little
island of St. Eustatius, affectionately known
as Statia.
Welcome
to St.Eustatius ...
Statia
was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus.
Throughout a swaggering colonial era that followed,
the island had changed hands at least 22 times.
In
1636, near the close of the 80 year war between
Holland and Spain, the Dutch took possession.
During the 17th and 18th century, Statia was
a major trading center with some 20,000 inhabitants
and thousands of ships calling at her shores.
It
is hard for present day visitors to imagine
that this tiny island once had one of the busiest
ports in the region.
During
the latter part of the 18th century, St. Eustatius
was the major supplier of arms and ammunition
to the rebellious British Colonies in North
America and the subject of conflict among the
most powerful seafaring nations of the time.
For
a while, Statia was the only link between Europe
and fledgling American colonies. Even Benjamin
Franklin had his mail routed through Statia
to ensure its safe arrival. Statia remembered
as the emporium of the Caribbean, was nicknamed
"The Golden Rock", reflecting its
former prosperous trading days and wealthy residents.
On
November 16, 1776 the American Brig-of-War,
the "Andrew Doria", sailed into the
harbor of Statia firing its 13-gun salute indicating
America's long sought independence. The 11-gun
salute reply, roaring from the canons at Fort
Oranje under the command of Governor Johannes
de Graaff, established Statia as the first foreign
nation to officially recognize the newly formed
United States of America.
Each
year, thousands of ships anchored on the roadstead
of Oranjestad and the shore of the Bay was lined
with hundreds of warehouses packed with goods.
More trade (both legal and illegal) transpired
here after the end of the American Revolution
than on any other Caribbean island until Statia
reached its economic peak around 1795.
As
the eighteenth century drew to a close St. Eustatius
gradually lost its importance as a trading center
and most merchants and planters left the Island,
leaving their homes and warehouses. Through
the nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries
Statia became and remained a quiet island waiting
to be discovered by history minded visitors.
Fortunately,
in the 1960's and 70's, the people of Statia
became increasingly aware of the cultural value
of their unique heritage and initiatives were
taken to preserve and maintain it.
To
promote the exploration and dissemination of
the unique history and culture of this special
island, the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation
was founded. The founding members of the Historical
Foundation and its subsequent boards have provided
a vision that includes the creation of a world
class Museum, the impetus for the Historic Core
Renovation project and the establishment of
the St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological
Research (SECAR). New museums are also being
planned.
Plans
are also underway for a preservation of the
exterior structure of Honem Dalim, St. Eustatius's
Jewish Synagogue through the Historic Core Renovation
project. Additional funds are being sought from
private sources for a complete restoration that
would return the Synagogue to its former glory
and allow a place for future worship and as
a museum to the History of the Jews in St. Eustatius.
Links
& Sources:
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