The "Musings From A Lonely Man: Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The first week of August and I haven't had my vacation!  And, boy do I need it!  I missed my long awaited visit to the island of Sint Maarten after they closed the island to those of us who live in the United States.  Seems we couldn't control the spread of COVID-19, so they didn't want us to contaminate their island.  Really don't blame them, but I need a long swim in the crystal blue waters of Orient Beach and some time in the sun so I don't appear as a ghost.  My wife Carol and I have called Sint Maarten our second homeland for close to 20 years now.  We enjoy the lifestyle and the many friends we have met on what is known as the "Friendly Island." My wife has her own personal jeweler on Front Street in the Dutch capital city known as Philipsburg.  The town was named after Commander John Philips who had done a great job in advancing the economy of Sint Maarten in the mid-1700s.  He was responsible for removing the island from the administration of St. Eustatius and become self-governing.  He revitalized the salt industry and brought in new settlers and convinced the plantation owners to move away from a subsistence economy to an export economy.  Sounds like an outstanding guy, but...and that's a real big but...seems that the name of Philipsburg was forced on the capital of the Dutch side of the island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin by the slave master John Philips.  It is said that John Philips, from all accounts, was no easy man to deal with.  I have read several accounts of dealings that involved Mr. Philips that were rather troublesome.  Today it is said that the grave of Commander John Philips, which is located at the first church on Sint Maarten and is a national monument, is hard to find since the graveyard is overgrown and some citizens don't even know where it is located.  The people of Sint Maarten are of an independent nature, and consequently carry along with them, a cheerful and independent spirit.  The island is more replete with natural resources than most other islands in the Caribbean.  Recently, many of the residents of Sint Maarten have decided to change the name of their Capital from Philipsburg to "Great Bay," since that is what it used to be ages ago.  I recently read that a petition that is circulating says: "Make Great Bay the official name of the Capital of St. Martin South."  Another petition is also circulating that reads in part: Great Bay is the traditional and historic name given to our capital by "Our" People.  Philipsburg is the name forced on our capital by the slave master John Philips.  To officially name Great Bay is to claim it as our own.  Actually, the name of Philipsburg appeared for the fist time in a letter from Philips himself directed to the board of the Dutch West India Company dated June 3, 1738.  I personally have already cast my vote online to change the name to Great Bay even though I'm not a resident of the island!  I read quite a few of the replies that accompanied votes and most said they were signing the petition because they believe our capital should not be named after an enslaver.  A few others said they are signing the petition because they feel they are slowly loosing not only their culture, but what we stand for as one people, one destiny and that includes our Sweet St. Maarten as well.  One more wrote that they were signing to honor our own and eliminate all portrayals of white privilege and dominance.  Perhaps if I ever have the chance to travel back to the island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin once again,  I will have the privilege of visiting Great Bay instead of Philipsburg.  I have added a few photographs that will give you an idea what the island of French St. Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten looked like in the past.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Click on images to enlarge them.

The empty land as it would have appeared in the days when John Phillips was alive.

Front Street in the town known as Philipsburg.

Mickel Deher overlooking the town named after Commander John Philips.

What the town looked like in 1955. 

The "Oranje School"

Front Street as it looked in the 1920s.

Parade down Front Street in 1951 celebrating 100 years of Methodism in St. Maarten.

An old Philipsburg 

What the Great House of the estate "Industry" looked like.

Former Agricultural lands in Rendez-Vous.