Nov. 4, 2002 – Downtown Christiansted got some new touches of tradition on Saturday as the St. Croix Friends of Denmark put up 20 street signs in both Danish and English throughout the Historic District.
"What the Friends of Denmark does is try to perpetuate our Danish heritage," Pam Nielsen, the group's vice president, said. "The old original signs were given up over the years, thanks to hurricanes."
Nielsen said a group member who visited Denmark more than a year ago solicited the new markers in the old style from a sign company there. "And they sent us some signs," Nielsen said of the traditional royal blue and white street markers.
She said local construction companies and individuals volunteered their time on Saturday to help get the signs up. But, she added, 20 more signs are waiting to be put up around Frederiksted, and the group is looking for more volunteers to help there, as well as for donations to purchase more signs.
"I think it makes a good impression on tourists," Nielsen said of the traditional look of the signage. "Plus, it helps them find where they are going. Those ancient ones are unreadable in most cases."
The St. Croix Friends of Denmark has 135 members, she said. "It's a bizarre mix. Many are Crucians of Danish heritage or Danes who have moved here and acclimated to the island."
The new signs can be seen on the sides of buildings throughout Christiansted. For more information about the project and how to help, call Nielsen at 692-5303.
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