About

Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School

During the twenty year period that he represented the people of St. John in the Virgin Islands Legislature, Julius Ebenezer Sprauve compiled a record of achievements were the beneficiaries.

The son of Rupert and Moriah Frederick Sprauve, he was born on March 26 1892, and attended the Bethany School. As a youth he was extremely quiet and hardworking. These characteristics prevailed throughout his lifetime as he accomplished what had to be done in a quiet but effective manner.

Due to the death of his father he was forced to forfeit his education. Later on he operated his own cargo vessel which he named the "Loyal." He became the prime supplier of wood for fuel to the Lockhart Bakery on St. Thomas. Obtaining his supply of wood on St. John, he made regular trips to St. Thomas and enjoyed a thriving business.

Prior to 1936, voting privileges were granted to those with specified financial assets and property holding. Through the provisions of the Organic Act, universal franchise was extended to all registered voters. Immediately after this political development Julius Sprauve made his first bid for a seat in the Municipal Council. Successful in this attempt, he became the first popularly elected senator from St. John.

During his twenty years as the senator from St. John, his goal was always to improve conditions on that island. He served on several powerful committees and commissions. 

In 1940, the councilman introduced a resolution to authorize the Governor to negotiate with owners of two large estates on St. John, Enighed and Contant, and to establish a school for "wayward juveniles." The estates were bought and developed into homestead plots and the idea of the school was tabled as there was a similar school at Leinster Bay Estate. The homestead plan provided many St. Johnians with their first opportunity to own land as house plots were sold at extremely low prices.

In addition to his Homestead Act, Senator Sprauve sponsored other legislation which further contributed to the development of St. John, such as legislation for road development and expansion, improved and increased water storage facilities, a new school, increased health services, banking facilities, and extended welfare services.

He also helped establish the National Park on St. John by soliciting the support of Congressman J. T. Rutherford, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks of the House of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. In 1956, Rutherford introduced Bill 165 to approve establishment of the Park on St. John, which was approved on February 9, 1956. The park has expanded and serves as a major attraction.

In 1956, during the second special session of the Legislature, Resolution 47 was passed on October 5 to honor Senator Sprauve for his twenty years of dedicated public service as a member of the Municipal Council and the sincerity and the respect, high esteem and confidence, not only from the people of St. John, but also from the Virgin Islands as a whole.

On June 4, 1957, the Second Legislature of the Virgin Islands approved Resolution 64, which designated the public school at Cruz Bay, St. John as the Julius E. Sprauve School in recognition of the twenty years of service in the Legislature, his record of achievements, and his interest in educational development in the island. He died on May 27, 1965.

Julius E. Sprauve School, located at 15-18 Enighed, in the heart of Cruz Bay, St. John serves pre-kindergarten to eight grade students. The school services students from modular classrooms that are nestled among damaged buildings that were destroyed during the two devastating hurricanes, Irma and Maria, in September of 2017.

A modernized pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade school is expected to be built at a new site in the near future.