O is for Oppenheimer Beach

For this, my fourth year doing the challenge, I've decided to share place names from the Virgin Islands. For such a small spot in the ocean, it seems like every rock, cove, hill and house has been christened. The names are a unique mix of Spanish, Danish, French, Dutch, English, and African to name a few.

Oppenheimer Beach, St. John

On the far left of this picture is Oppenheimer Beach.  A building is just visible. It is not the one the Oppenheimer's build, which was destroyed in a hurricane. This is where Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and his family spent their summers from 1957 through to Dr. O.'s death in 1966. It's odd that my family doesn't have any picture of them, considering how close they were to my parents and how much time we spent with them. After his death, it was my parents who took his wife, Kitty, and daughter, Tony, out to Carvel Rock to scatter his ashes. No one else was with them. That alone speaks volumes to the nature of their relationship.

Other O Names:
Otter Creek, St. John, a bay located within Hurricane Hole on the east end of the island.

Outer Brass, St. Thomas. 

This is the perpetual view from the family home on St. Thomas overlooking Megan's Bay with Outer Brass standing guard.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, St. Thomas

This lovely little church has strong ties to French community on the island. Building was first begun in 1924 and completed in 1926. In 1995, Hurricane Marilyn just about destroyed it, but it has risen from the wreckage, much like a phoenix. Every Sunday my sister, Erva, (a non-Catholic) sings in the choir.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The interior.

 I love the use of conch shells as holy water fonts.

Old Stone Farm House, St. Thomas

 There once was a dairy farm on St. Thomas that was in continual operation up through my teens. This 250 year old building was the barn. Now, nicely restored, it is an up-scale restaurant. You too, can dine where the cows once ate. It's fabulous.