Estate North Star - I was blessed to have had the opportunity to reside and manage the property for two separate owners over several years. In the late '70's into the early 80's the North shore was a remote and pristine area and totally awesome. I did this while I worked at Antilles Air Boats and later, Coral Air. North Star was at the base of Mt. Eagle, the tallest mount (1,100 ft.) and the last light along the coast all the way to Ham's Bluff Lighthouse. I managed the property that consisted of 70 acres with 5 homes, until I left St. Croix for Hawaii in 1982.
I will share a bit of history of North Star from long ago, as well as my years on the property. I also will share a bit on those people that came to call North Star home,
even if it was for a little while.
The museum has the above plantation photo as Frenchman's Bay in St. Thomas. I know for a fact that this is Estate North Star on St. Croix. The original painting is hanging in the museum. Every building, structure, well, and contour of terrain is exactly as depicted in the painting. Frenchman's Bay does not resemble at all.
A copy was in the basement of the Whim Great House and were told of this error back in 1978.
Sam Irish was the full time grounds keeper at Estate North Star. Sam was from the British island of Anguilla. He live in a modest home behind Miss Mary's Bar in the village at La Vallee and he walked to North Star Monday to Friday every week. He was a good worker and a great friend. On my way home from AAB, I would stop by Miss Mary's to have cold one with Sam. I missed him after I moved to Hawaii.
Antilles Air Boats employee's that made North Star home over the years;
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Tom and Ann Anusewicz
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Chuck and Pat Billman - flight operations
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Pierre and Jean Champoux - flight operations
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Marty and ___Thompson - flight operations
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Kevin Murphy - maintenance
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Chuck and Renee McKay - flight operations
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- accounting
Estate North Star Ownership
Diving - put on the gear at the house and walk down to the water...and do this often..
Most houses hade their own cistern but we also had a major catchment with additional cistern that could provide additional supply of water.
Poinsettia's grow up the ruin walls
The bread fruit tree hangs over the back wall of the old factory.
A sketch from1978
The road from Cane By to North Star.
The top of Mt. Eagle.
click on above photo to open new view
The Mill at Estate Prosperity
2017
Just down the dirt road from Estate North Star was Davis Bay. Back in the 1970's Davis Bay was a remote location with a fantastic beach. Before you got to the beach you met a local named Dan Dan. Dan Dan put up a little toll gate across the road. He lived in a makeshift home amongst the ruins of an old sugar mill. He could be very intimidating running out of his house with a machete in hand, demanding to be paid to enter. He had absolutely no authority but it worked pretty well for him. I knew him quite well and would always bring him something but mostly a bottle of Cruzan Rum ($.99). When he saw me coming he usually was wearing a smile rather than carrying a machete.
Today, Renaissance - Carambola Beach Resort & Spa
1977
In 1977, Hollywood came to Davis Bay. The Island of Dr. Moreau was totally shot on location. They built a compound and caves for their production. I walked down to see a bit of the production and some of the cast would walk over to Estate North Star. Burt Lancaster, Michael York and Barbara Carrera and Richard Basehart. The photo above shows the clearing amongst the palms that was the compound that got burnt to the ground as part of the H.G. Wells story.
The only light between North Star and Hams Bluff was the lighthouse. A special remembrance.
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Estate North Star 2016
1981
dam photos by Tom Anusewicz 1981
Pool Maintenance - I remember when I drained the pool for a few repairs and repainting. I used an old 2" fuel hose from Antilles Air Boats. It was about 75'. I put the whole hose in the pool and filled it up with water, put my hand over the end and ran down the hill and syphoned the water in a matter of a few hours. Always had things to do at Estate North Star.
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Estate North Star 2017
