Philatelic Photograph: War Memorial - Basseterre, St. Kitts

War Memorial

Basseterre, St. Kitts

N 17° 17.539 W 062° 43.942

Short Description: 

The War Memorial is located in the Irishtown section at the end of Bay Road in the west end of Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Long Description:

The original War Memorial was dedicated in 1926 to honor the men from Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla who died in World War I. In 1955, it was moved and replaced by the present obelisk and surroundings an a plaque honoring the men who died during World War II was added.

The bronze plaque on the front of the obelisk is inscribed:

ST. CHRISTOPHER-NEVIS

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN 

MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS 

PRESIDENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES 

IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914 - 1918

JOSEPH CEPHAS

JAMES DANIEL

ARTHUR DICKENSON

DONALD EDWARDS, M.C.

H.D. EDWARDS, D.S.C.

JOHN FOREMAN

EDMUND GORDON

HYWELL HERBERT JONES

JAMES L.E.R. LAKE

JOSEPH LEWIS

JOSEPH A. McKOY

EDWARD MILLS

HERBERT MITCHELL

DONALD PATRICE

EDWARD HOPE ROSS

HORACE VEIRA

IVOR WAKEFIELD

WILLIAM C. WATTLEY RICHARD T. WHITE

ROBERT L. WOOLWARD

The bronze plaque on the back of the obelisk is inscribed:

ST. CHRISTOPHER-NEVIS

AND ANGUILLA

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN 

MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS 

PRESIDENCY WHO GAVE THEIR 

LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR 

1939 - 1945

J.E. ALVES D.F.M.

PETER BERKLEY 

SYDNEY DELISLE

A.E. FARARA

G.G.H. FARARA D.F.C. D.E.M.

BASILE VEIRA D.F.C.

The stamp was issued by St. Kitts on August 19, 1992 as part of a set of four stamps depicting sights around St. Kitts.

Philatelic Photograph: Treasury Building/National Museum - Basseterre, St. Kitts

Treasury Building/National Museum

Basseterre, St. Kitts

N 17° 17.669 W 062° 43.421

Short Description: 

The old Treasury Building is now the National Museum of St. Kitts. It is located at the corner of Church Street and Central Street in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Long Description:

Construction of the brown and white stone Treasury Building began on March 21, 1894. Besides ist use as the Treasury the structure also housed the offices of the Administrator, Customs, Audit, Supply and Post Office. Starting in 1996 it was converted to house the collection of the national Museum.

A sign in English, French, Spanish and German describes the history of the Treasury Building. The English version is inscribed:

The Old Treasury Building, now the home of the National Museum is a testament to great British Architecture.

Its corner stone was laid in 1894 by Lady Haynes-Smith, wife of Governor Haynes-Smith and its beautiful grand arches were a gateway to the city.

The stamp was issued by St. Kitts on March 21, 1994 to commemorate the centenary of the Treasury Building.

Philatelic Photograph: Berkeley Memorial Fountain and Clock - Basseterre, St. Kitts

Berkeley Memorial Fountain and Clock

Basseterre, St. Kitts

N 17° 17.713 W 062° 43.425

Short Description: 

The Berkeley Memorial Fountain and Clock is located in the center of The Circus where Liverpool Row, Bank Street and Fort Streets meet.

Long Description: 

A sign in English, French, Spanish and German describes the history of the Berkeley Memorial. The English version is inscribed:

This monument was erected in 1883 in honor of Thomas Berkeley, a former president of the General Legislative Council in St. Kitts in the 1880's.

Located in the heart of the circus, the four clock faces are a replica of the Big Ben clock located in London England.

The bronze plaque on the memorial is inscribed:

THE

BERKELEY 

MEMORIAL 

THIS 

DRINKING FOUNTAIN 

has been erected by the 

Countrymen and Private 

Friends of the late the 

Honourable Thomas 

Berkeley Hardtman

Berkeley, Companion 

of the Most Distinguished

Order of Saint Michael 

and Saint George, and 

President of the General 

Legislative Council of

the Leeward Islands, in 

recognition of the many 

valuable services he 

rendered this his native 

land as a Planter, a 

Politician, and a Citizen. 

His sterling qualities, 

his love for this Island, 

and his deep interest in the 

welfare of the Community 

at large, entitle him to 

a Memorial, by which his 

memory will be preserved 

and perpetuated. 

St. Kitts.

January 1883.

The stamp was issued by St. Kitts on August 19, 1992 as part of a set of four stamps depicting sights around St. Kitts.

Philatelic Photograph: Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Basseterre, St. Kitts

Co-Cathedral

 of the 

Immaculate Conception

Basseterre, St. Kitts

N 17° 17.783 W 062° 43.304

Short Description: 

The Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located opposite the north east side of Independence Square on East Independence Street in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Long Description:

In 1713 the English forbade public worship of the Catholic religion in St. Kitts. The prohibition continued until 1829 when at In 1829 an act was passed to remove some of the discrimination against Catholics. In preparation for the centenary of Catholic emancipation in 1929 a new church was planned. Construction began on March 17, 1927 and the new structure was dedicated on 6th December 6, 1928. In 1981, the church became a co-cathedral within the diocese of St. John's, Antigua.

The stamp was issued on October 31, 1997 as part of a four stamp Christmas set depicting churches.

Philatelic Photograph: Independence Square Fountain - Basseterre, St. Kitts

Independence Square Fountain

Basseterre, St. Kitts

N 17° 17.765 W 062° 43.334

Short Description: 

Independence Square Fountain is located in the center of Independence Square which is north of Bank Street with the main entrance arch at the east end of Central Street in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Long Description:

Independence Square is a actually an irregular rectangle about 350' by 410' at its longest edges. The green space in the heart of the city has a series of symmetrical paths lead to a beautiful painted fountain in the center of the square.

Several identical signs on the edges of the square are inscribed with a brief history of Independence Square in English, French, Spanish and German . The English inscription is:

Independence Square formerly Pall Mall Square, was renamed on the 19th of September to commemorate the independence of St. Christopher and Nevis.

The stone fountain in the center was erected to commemorate the introduction of pipe water from Olivees into Basseterre in the 19th century.

The stamp was issued by St. Kitts on August 19, 1992 as part of a set of four stamps depicting sights around St. Kitts.

Immortalized in Lyrics: Marigot Bay - St. Lucia

Marigot Bay

St. Lucia

N 13° 57.964 W 061° 01.951

Short Description: 

Marigot Bay is located on the west coast of Saint Lucia, 3.75 miles southwest from the capital city of Castries.

Long Description:

According to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marigot_Bay

"The American novelist James A. Michener famously described Marigot Bay as "The most beautiful bay in the Caribbean."

"The all-girl trio Arabesque featured a song 'Marigot Bay' appearing on the album of the same name in 1980."

It is a song about dreaming about a lost love and their experience on the beach at Marigot Bay.

Musician: Arabesque

Lyrics:

Each night I dream
The same old dream
I cannot forget it seems
The beach where I found you
Where I lost you too
I see the strand
The silv'ry sand
We are going hand in hand
Like we used to do
Like we used to do

[Chorus:]
Marigot Bay
Paradise of the blue lagoon
Tell me, why you are haunting me
By night and by day
Marigot Bay
Paradise of the blue lagoon
Where my heart was all aflame
I will never forget your name
Oh, Marigot Bay

You said to me:
You must believe
Darling that I've never been
So in love before
So in love before
Our love was strong
That nights were long
But one morning you were gone
Gone for ever more

Gone for ever more

Philatelic Photograph: Petit and Gros Piton - Soufriere, St. Lucia

Petit and Gros Piton 

Soufriere, St. Lucia

N 13° 51.190 W 061° 03.980

Short Description: 

Petit and Gros Pitons, the Pitons, are locate on the southwest coast of the island of St. Lucia, south of the town of Soufriere.

Long Description:

The Pitons are the most famous and photographed landmarks in St Lucia. They have become the signature set image of the island of St. Lucia. The nearer and steeper peak is Petit Piton, which is 1 km in diameter and 743 meters high. The farther peak is Gros Piton, which is 3 km in diameter and 771 meters high. Between them is the Piton Mitan ridge. The Pitons Management Area are a UNESCO world heritage site.

Both peaks are volcanic in origin. They were created when magma hardened within the vent of an active volcano. When the volcano ceased to be active the surrounding rock eroded exposing the harder solidified magma plug, thus producing these distinctive upright landforms.

The Pitons are part of the Soufriere Volcanic Centre complex which are the remains of a huge collapsed stratovolcano. The volcanic complex overlies a tectonic plate subduction zone which forms a 700 km volcanic arc along the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean.

The iconic view of both Pitons shown on the stamp can only be seen from a watercraft sailing west of the town of Soufriere in Soufriere Bay. The top stamp was issued in 1938 as part of a set of 17 stamps. The bottom stamp was issued in 2003 as the higher value of a pair of definitive stamps.