Considering Grenada’s history, have you ever wondered about the story of that small islet just off the southern peninsula? That is Glover Island. It is a place that whispers tales of a bygone era. Glover Island is visible from Hardy Bay, True Blue Bay, and even St. George’s University. Though small and uninhabited now, Glover Island holds a surprising chapter in Grenada’s past.
Let’s journey back to the early 20th century. Schooner logbooks had reported humpback whales off the southwest coast of Glover Island as early as 1869. Picture this: it’s the winter of 1923. A Norwegian Arctic explorer, Captain Otto Sverdrup, arrives with Halfdan Bugge to explore commercial whaling. After observing 26 whales and studying sea currents, Sverdrup suggests Glover Island would make an ideal whaling station.
Soon after, Winge & Co. acquired Glover Island through their subsidiary, the Grenada Whaling Co. A whaling factory was constructed. It was managed from Oslo. The Glover Island whaling station was born. In the mid-19th century, whaleships already plied Caribbean waters. The 1920s saw Norwegian whalers set up shop on Glover Island. They processed whale oil for export. They also sold whale meat for local consumption. During their first year, they took 106 whales.
Imagine Glover Island bustling with activity. The air thick with the smell of the sea and industry. But, this activity was not to last. By the late 1920s, Glover Island’s whaling station faced its end. Whale numbers declined. New factory ships could process whales at sea. Glover Island was no longer needed. In 1929, the station was dismantled.
Even after the station closed, whaling remained a local profession in the Grenadines. Local boatmen used whaleboats, harpoons, and lances. These methods were unchanged from Herman Melville’s time. Today, whales have virtually disappeared. Visitors might spot one boat off Bequia. It is kept in readiness.
Now, as you look at Glover Island, imagine the echoes of the past. Picture the Norwegian whalers, the factory, and the hunt for whales. Consider the rise and fall of an industry. It all happened on this small islet. In 2015, the Petite Calivigny Yacht Club held a boat raft-up and barbecue at Glover Island on Father’s Day. Glover Island remains a part of Grenada’s story. It’s a reminder of the island’s layered history.