A STJ Story About J Robert Oppenheimer

The Gate to Oppenheimer Beach           In 1950 transplanted NY-ers, the Gibneys, purchased a large tract of land including one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island. They constructed a stone house behind the beach on the eastern side of the bay. Hawksnest Bay, Gibney-Oppenheimer on the left The Gibneys sold a small parcel of their land to J. Robert Oppenheimer, “the father of the atomic bomb,” and his wife, Kitty. The Oppenheimers were on one end, the Gibneys on the other. It did not include the beach, but the Oppenheimers were given right of access to the shoreline directly bordering their property. This was before all Virgin Island beaches became public domain. The Gibneys placed deed restrictions on the sale. To prevent over development only one single family residence was permitted to be built, and to maintain the pristine and natural beauty of the land all construction designs, including the placement of any structures on the land, had to be approved by the Gibneys. To have control over who were to be their neighbors, the deed restrictions prohibited the rental of the property. Most importantly to the Gibneys was a right of first refusal that was included in the deed, giving them the option to buy back the property if the Oppenheimers decided to sell. JRO's House/Community Center Gibney House The deed restrictions did not seem to mean much to the Oppenheimers. Shortly after building their cottage they began to rent it out . When the Gibneys spoke up, the Oppenheimers said the tenants were not renters, they were just friends. After J. Robert Oppenheimer died, Kitty began construction of a second building. The Gibneys argued it was against the deed restrictions.  His widow said it was not a second building, it was a tool shed.  Soon both Oppenheimer buildings were rented out to friends. The neighborly relationship deteriorated. Lawsuits were initiated and the police were called to intervene. When Widow Kitty died, she left the property to her beautiful and artistically talented, though tormented, daughter Toni, who some years later, committed suicide by hanging herself in the beach cottage. By the terms of the will, the property was left to “the people of St. John for a public park and recreation area.” The Gibneys did not want a public park near them and chose to exercise their right to buy back the property. The Oppenheimer's Executor responded that the Right of First Refusal would apply only to a sale and not to a donation. “The people of St. John” proved to be a murky entity and as no provisions were made for the upkeep of the property the house and land quickly fell into disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls, and the house was repeatedly vandalized. The Gibneys continued their long battle to regain control of their property. By 1980 when the remaining Gibney had passed away, the situation was still unresolved. Basically, they lost. Oppenheimer House The Government of the Virgin Islands became the owners of the Oppenheimer property. They renovated the old house and made improvements to the land, which is now used as a popular Community Center for beach parties and picnics. Though the building is a pavilion now, you can still make out the original lines of the house, a modest yellow building backing into the trees, with a covered veranda looking out to sea. There is a large iron gate at the entrance to the property. In an ironic twist of fate, the gate was inscribed with what the new power christened the property  … Oppenheimer Beach. The gate inscription has gone the way of many things in the tropics and is no longer readable. I remember when it read "Op........ Beach" for a long time. Oppenheimer Beach The Gibney family still owns the west end of the beach, the stone house is still there occupied by one of the daughters and her family. There are two charming vacation rentals there, it seems like a lovely, tropical place to stay if you don't mind the island parties and the sound of Oppenheimer's laughter.