Special exhibition to commemorate 100th anniversary of Fancy Me sinking
The exhibition will honour the vessel, its passengers, crew, and the enduring legacy of the event, as part of the College's ongoing efforts to preserve and share the stories that have shaped the Virgin Islands (VI). It will also serve as a key feature of the reimagined Virgin Islands Maritime Museum, the HLSCC said in a press release.
The Fancy Me, aboard which many Virgin Islanders travelled throughout the Caribbean, sank 100 years ago in July 1926 during a hurricane off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Of the approximately 80 persons aboard, 59 lost their lives.
Fancy Me story part of larger VI story- Rochelle Smith
Director of the Jennie Wheatley Virgin Islands Studies Institute, Ms Rochelle Smith, said the Fancy Me remains one of the most significant events in VI’s maritime history and collective memory.
“Its story continues to resonate because it touched so many families and communities throughout the Virgin Islands. As we commemorate the centennial anniversary, we have an opportunity to honour those who were lost, remember those who survived, and preserve an important chapter of our history for future generations."
She said the exhibition will provide an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to reflect on the historical significance of the tragedy and its place within the wider story of the Virgin Islands' maritime heritage.
"The story of the Fancy Me is part of the larger story of who we are as a people," Smith added. "It speaks to our relationship with the sea, the movement of people throughout the Caribbean, and the resilience of Virgin Islands families and communities. It is a story worth remembering and sharing."
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12 Responses to “Special exhibition to commemorate 100th anniversary of Fancy Me sinking”
Unfortunately, we don’t have a true figure of how many actually perished, or the actual names of some who perished.
There are names of persons on the manifest that didn’t get on the boat, and there are some that died whose names were not on the manifest.
There are also some names of survivors whose names were not on the manifest.
Those were different times, but still tragic. I lost a few family members; I had some who survived, and I know of one who was supposed to be on the boat but didn’t board. He gave up his space.