Estate Golden Rock

Golden Rock is estate 4 in St. Croix’s Company’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s and decommissioned before 1856. The windmill was incorporated into a pavilion by the swimming pool. The windmill tower is partly collapsed.

Sugar cultivation came early to estate 4, with structures including an animal mill depicted on the 1750 map. Both Beck printings depicted an animal mill in estate 7. The annotated Beck maps added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill.

The 1778 and 1799 Oxholm maps depict a windmill near the shore, with other structures to the southwest. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a tower without sails, an Old Mill, at Golden Rock. The 1919 topographic sheet and 1958 topographic map both depicted ruins identifiable as a windmill. However, the 1982 photorevision omits identification of ruins, likely due to the incorporation of the windmill into the condominium development.

The 1750 map attributed ownership to Evans heirs. The annotated Beck maps from 1766 through the early 1770s attributed ownership to Isaac Evans. By 1778 and through 1791, ownership transitioned to James Towers.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.84) locates an Estatehouse on 66-foot knoll. Identifies early owner as Isaac Ewans and later combined with Little Princess as Phillips’ Estate.

Photos of Golden Rock, 2020s

Windmill tower obscured by tree on the left side and concrete block wall in the center.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The pool security wall bisects the main opening.
Windmill interior wall with a regular block pattern contrasting with red bricks lining the arched opening.
Golden Rock windmill interior facing west featuring the main entrance. Bricks line the arched portion of the opening and cut stone blocks line the remainder of the opening.
Windmill tower obscured by tree in the foreground and concrete block wall going off to the right.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance. The pool security wall bisects the main opening.
Windmill tower silhouetted against blue sky. Stone finish is dark grey with mortar being light cream color. Arched opening in the center of the image.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the north featuring the juice trough opening. The machine slot can be seen through the far side of the mill wall. The partial collapse of the upper reaches of the mill are evident with the sloping top of the wall.
Windmill tower silhouetted against blue sky. Stone finish is dark grey with mortar being light cream color. Arched opening in the center of the image.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the north featuring a closeup of the juice trough opening. The machine slot can be seen through the far side of the mill wall.
Windmill interior wall with a regular block pattern contrasting with red bricks lining the arched opening.
Golden Rock windmill interior facing north featuring the juice trough opening, the top of which is lined with bricks. The holes for the beams would have held the 3 crushing rollers in place.
Arched opening lined with bricks opposed to the fairly neat rows of blocks on the windmill interior wall.
Golden Rock windmill interior facing north featuring the juice trough opening. Bricks line the opening. The floor is very flat.
Windmill tower bordered by a security wall in the foreground and building in the background. A patio table and chairs in the foreground.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the main entrance. Note the difference of material between the tower exterior changing at the work floor and then again at the base of the windmill.
Windmill tower silhouetted against blue sky. Stone finish is dark grey with mortar being light cream color. No openings in this side of the wall.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the east featuring the somewhat regular block facing of the wall and a timber slot. The security wall extends to the left and right.
Machine slot opening on the left and main entrance on the right are connected by the interior of the windmill wall.
Golden Rock windmill interior facing southwest featuring the floor. The floor shows evidence of having been removed, with a remaining ring around the interior tower wall. A much rougher floor lies in the center of the tower.
Crescent of blue sky behind the top of the windmill interior.
Golden Rock windmill interior looking upward. On the right side that is not collapsed, the vertical beam slots can be seen. The left side collapses to the bottom of these beam slots.
Windmill tower behind a swimming pool.
Golden Rock windmill exterior from the south featuring the machine slot. The stairs rising to the work floor are reflected in the remaining masonry. A timber slot is on either side of the machine slot, used to secure the sails when the windmill was not in operation.
Windmill interior wall with machine slot in center and swimming pool beyond. Blue sky visible in a crescent above the top of the mill wall.
Golden Rock windmill interior facing south featuring the machine slot. Bricks line the arched part of the opening and stone blocks partway down the opening.

Historic Maps of Golden Rock

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1982 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
Unlike the 1958 USGS topographic map, the 1982 photorevision does not show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Golden Rock.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at Golden Rock.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows Mills identified in two locations on the north side of Golden Rock.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Goblen Rock.
Snippet of the inset of the 1856 Parsons map featuring Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The inset of Christiansted from the 1856 Parsons map specified the tower is an Old Mill.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a tower with no sails in the east edge of Golden Rock.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on a plain with other structures to the southwest in the east edge of Golden rock.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 4 to Towers.
Snippet of Oxholm's 1778 map of Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1778 Oxholm map shows a windmill on a hill with an animal mill and other structures to the west and northwest, all in the east edge of golden Boe. Ownership attributed to James Tovers.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Ewans in the area of Golden Rock.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill, with the exception of the 1770 annotated map that only added ownership names. Ownership attributed to Isaac Ewans, with various spellings, on all these maps.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 4.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 4.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 4. Ownership attributed to Evans heirs.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 4, currently named Golden Rock.
During the French period, ownership in the Golden Rock area is attributed to Hontum.