Sir Rothchild Francis Square and Miss Sandy's Bungalow

Market Square, formally known as Rothchild Francis Square, was the center for agro-business in Charlotte Amalie. Market women, the most famous of which was Miss Sandy, came to town from ‘for day’ morning to present and sell their wares until they ran out or the sun went down – whichever came first. On April 15, 2003 a tractor trailer turned a sharp corner, hitting “the bungalow” causing the structure to collapse. The historical structure, designed / erected by Carl Berg circa 1905, had a very distinct roof that would be preserved to be reused on the renovated structure. The bungalow gave market women and fishermen a functional space to exchange goods. There were display trays for plants, food and animals and a cistern for water. Miss Sandy symbolizes the West African tradition of market women who were usually matriarchs of their families and society. The fishermen, on the other hand were usually men of French descent from St. Barths that settled in St. Thomas. They were primarily fishermen and farmers on the island and bartered with local free people of color. Last Saturday all the reconstruction of the bungalow was completed and the structure was rededicated to the people of the Virgin Islands.
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