Christiansted, St Croix
photo by Norm Russelll
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In 1966, Two years after AAB started operations, Charlie Blair leased space at the end of the newly created Pan Am Pavilion to develop his seaplane terminal. Read more about the world's smallest airport and some of the businesses that were in ear shot of the Goose.
Pan Am Pavilion
Antilles Air Boats Seaplane Terminal
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photo by Nom Russell
Then & Now
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection / Alamy licensed
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from stories published VI Daily News 1979
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VI DIVERS
- Pan Am Pavilion
By the time Bret opened his dive shop in the Pan Am Pavilion in 1973, the Goose relocated to its new seaplane base a few blocks west but the AAB office was still maintained directly across from VI Divers.
1951 - 2023
FAA licensed mechanics, Jim Flannagan, Eric Crossfield and I, along with others, worked many hours on the AAB aircraft but we also spent a fair amount of time at VI Divers refilling our air and picking up new scuba gear. We dove regularly.
I have good memories of Bret and his team.
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The Comanche Mill was the iconic centerpiece of the .Christiansted waterfront and help guide the "Goose" to the seaplane
ramp next door.
The Club Comanche was originally established in 1756 as a townhouse for a Danish doctor. It is one of the oldest buildings in Christiansted and has been
SV Comanche - Ted Dale's 72' Yawl
the home to the Comanche Hotel since 1948.
The circa 1756 West Indian 4-story town house was constructed using coral mined from the channel in the Christiansted Harbor. Built with Danish ballast bricks left behind by ships hauling rum and molasses from St. Croix to Europe, timbers and planks salvaged from shipwrecks, and using wood from the island's legendary mahogany forest.
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The Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix was originally named "Comanche" after the 72 foot yawl that two adventurers, Ted Dale and Guy Reynolds, sailed from Cape May, New Jersey to St. Croix in 1948. They reported that the people of St. Thomas were so friendly that they were inspired to build a new Christiansted hotel to accommodate visitors from the mainland.
As stated, the Comanche was established in 1756 and in the past nearly 250 years it has gone through many changes and I'm sure we will see more in the future.
We can hope that owners, community and government will ensure that its history is preserved and assist its place for many years to come.
advertisement from Virgin Islander Magazine 1980
from The St. Croix Avis - June 6, 1967 / Ann Bronson's buy-lines
another shop that arrived in Christiansted in late 70's.
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Twila Wilson arrived in St. Croix about 1976 to take a break from her previous hectic work in the north and beyond. The break turned into a new and exciting adventure utilizing her previous year's experience and connections.
Java wraps
Twila Wilson
I remember when I managed Estate North Star for absentee owners back in the late 70's and early 80's, Twila told me she just bought a mill in Estate Clairmont and was in the process of renovation. It was more of a transformation and the envy of virgin islanders.
​Twila graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Interior Design with a concentration in textiles. Her first job was a junior designer in a Denver department store.
In 1971, after a year on the job, she went to Eurpoe for three months and her return trip stopped in New York. The stop took three years because she answered an ad of a firm starting to import goods and was sent to Singapore, Indonesia and Africa to buy and design their motifs and stylize them for the American market. Next was a design job in London. That is when Twila took time to visit friends in St. Croix. She came with an assortment of her favorite Indonesian print sarongs...enter Java Wraps.
Read more about Twila Wilson and her journey in design.
The Comanche Mill
The Mill at the Club Comanche was once the honeymoon suite at the hotel. It has been a tourist visitor center,
as well as a bar. Whatever its use, it will always be the icon of the waterfront.
1952
photo from New York Times - April 27, 1952
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1960
photo from Holland Redfield
1965
1970
1980
1990
2020
photo by Marijane Sipple (AAB copilot)
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The above story came from Liz Wilson an excerpt from "Several Flew Over the Goose's Nest"
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I will continue to post material about Antilles Air Boats and those that flew the Goose
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