In November 1956, Polish Captain Wladek Wagner and his wife Mabel Wagner opened their clubhouse on Bellamy Cay in Trellis Bay shortly before their boatyard reopened at the end of the hurricane season. They had not been ready in time for a double celebration on Sept. 30, their daughter’s seventh birthday (as recounted in part 20 of this series, published on Aug. 15).

Ms. Wagner named the skills with which their team members had helped Mr. Wagner achieve this crucial stage in his dream, accelerated by his partnership with United States businessman Herbert Lee.

Let us look at the relationships between the workers and their ages at the club’s opening on Nov. 17, 1956, when Mr. Wagner was 44 years old, Ms. Wagner 31, and their son Michael 5.

Hubert Frett was their first worker. He cleared the first section of land at Trellis Bay and became the best rock breaker. He was closely followed by 25-year-old Henry Varlack and his brother Kenneth Varlack, 22, who was the best underwater worker.

Mr. Wagner described 50-year-old Carris Penn (my future father-in-law), as a “man of all seasons and jobs.” As the government agent for East End, Long Look and Belle Vue, he was the district officer, tax collector and local constable (keeper of the peace), but he was also a skillful fisherman, boat-builder and sea captain.

His wife Clothilda, 45, helped recruit six young women to serve at the club, and Mr. Wagner had built a tiny cottage near their own house for Mr. Penn’s eldest daughter, Myrtle, Ms. Wagner’s 24-year-old companion and housekeeper. Her younger siblings all went to the opening to support her.

The team included several of Mr. Penn’s brothers from his father’s two marriages: Glanville, 28, Desmond, 36, Richard, 22, (also the first member of the crew for the Wagners’ yacht Rubicon), Lawrence (their carpenter), and Clarence.

Obel Penn, 33, who Ms. Wagner singled out for praise, was the last to survive. The team also included two of Carris Penn’s neighbours: Harold Smith and Hugh Varlack, another carpenter.

Partnership

Ms. Wagner didn’t know exactly what Mr. Lee’s partnership with her husband entailed, but they never disagreed on how his financial contribution was spent, buying building supplies and paying the workers. His businesses in the United States made his visits rather infrequent, so they welcomed his speech at the opening.

Ms. Wagner was exhausted and dispirited afterwards and confided in Mr. Lee, as a friend, that she wondered if their efforts had been worthwhile. He reassured her that everyone had celebrated their pioneering achievement in overcoming great obstacles to meet their deadline. He also assured her that she was one of the greatest hostesses he had ever met.

Mr. Lee said he had never been to a finer, happier event, but he was concerned about the effect on her health of the tremendous additional effort involved in preparing for the opening day so soon after her surgery for cancer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Wagner, the children and her many friends needed her to keep strong.

Powerboat

Mr. Lee’s financial backing enabled Mr. Wagner to buy their 39-foot powerboat Trellissa in December 1956. Ms. Wagner had enjoyed some long trips in the 60-year-old Rubicon, but just going alongside the yacht to prepare for another short haul made her anxious and feel sick at thoughts like having to find suitable anchorages to load and unload her.

It was almost Christmas 1956, but Ms. Wagner lacked the energy or enthusiasm for shopping, so Mr. Wagner suggested they go to St. Thomas on Trellissa. That excited the children, and Ms. Wagner didn’t want to deprive them of the holiday festivities in St. Thomas. They were all very happy about their trip.

After that, Ms. Wagner enjoyed making quick jaunts on Trellissa: zipping to St. Thomas, making purchases, clearing customs at Road Town, and returning to Trellis Bay within a few hours. Even being tossed around at sea was more acceptable than on the Rubicon as their journey would be over that much quicker.

Busier than ever

In 1957 Trellis Bay became busier than ever. People came by boat or by car on the do-it-yourself ferry from Tortola to enjoy the safe, quiet anchorage, the boatyard facilities, and the clubhouse. Visiting yachts were catered for but not charged for anchoring nor pressured into spending anything.

However, unexpected arrivals always seemed to come to Trellis Bay when the management were already immersed in a new project or dealing with an emergency. There was always something that needed to be repaired.

Ms. Wagner’s only ways to relieve the pressure on her were to prioritise regular school hours for her children and occasionally find solace at her the piano. However, she knew that Mr. Wagner’s next project — building an airstrip on Beef Island — was about to become a reality.

On Nov. 27, 1956, Mr. Wagner had written to Mr. Lee to tell him that the governor from Antigua had had to postpone his visit to the Virgin Islands but had sent the commissioner of police, a Colonel James, in his stead.

To continue “The Wagners of Trellis Bay,” click here.

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