Down Street, Saint Thomas and Beyond

Book excerpt: Virtually nothing has ever been written about life in Down Street while much has been written about Up Street St. Thomas because government and business offi ces were and still are dominant in that area of the town. Much took place in the Down Street area, especially in the distillation of rum which brought millions of federal tax revenue into the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands. The first ever luxury hotel in the territory was built in Estate John Dunko, below Down Street and employed over 200 persons during its construction period and generated a $7000 weekly payroll. Th ere are many professional persons who hail from the area.