Estate Herman Hill

Herman Hill is estate 10, 11, & 33 in St. Croix’s Company’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The windmill tower is in good condition.

The 1750 map depicts sugar cultivation with structures including an animal mill in the northwest corner of estate 10. Both Beck map prints depict an animal mill in the western edge of estate 10. The annotated Beck maps add sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill starting in 1766.

The 1778 and 1799 Oxholm maps depicted a windmill at the southern edge of estate 33 at elevation 257 feet on Hermon hill. The 1856 Parson map also depicted a windmill at Herman Hill. All the 20th century topographic maps depict ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estate 10 to Samuel Downings heirs and estate 32 to Samuel Graves. Staring with the 1766 annotated Beck map, ownership transitioned to Thomas Lillie. The 1778 Oxholm map attributed ownership to Peter Nugent’s heirs. By 1790, ownership shifted to Christopher Nugent.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.94) notes the same as Lillie Plantage in an L-shape with an estatehouse on hill.

Photos of Herman Hill, 2020s

The top half of a windmill tower with blue sky beyond. Main entrance in the lower right.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the northwest with a close up of the main entrance.
Windmill tower looking into main entrance, revealing smoothly plastered interior walls.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. Notice how the stones on the mill wall are all rectangular but different sizes. The large rectangular stone above the keystone may have held an inscription stones.
Arched opening from the interior of the windmill looking out to the hills beyond.
Herman Hill windmill interior facing west featuring the main entrance. Notice the cut stone block lining the opening and the plaster coating the interior wall to store water.
Windmill tower in front of a blue sky and bushes on either side.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot. The patched area at the top of the mill may be blocking a flue.
Closeup of the top 6 feet of the mill with a blue sky behind and some tan tans in front. The row of stones at the very top extending past the rest of the tower would deflect water from the top of the mill.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the northeast with a close up of the top rim. This detail indicates the top of the mill did not collapse.
Windmill with narrow and tall opening covered mostly in grout.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the south featuring the machine slot. Notice the prominent keystone at the top of the opening.
Windmill with an arched opening blocked with stone in the center.
Herman Hill windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening. This opening remains blocked up from when the decommissioned mill was converted to water storage.

Historic Maps of Herman Hill

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Herman Hill.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows icon of Stone fanmill with no fan in the center of Herman Hill.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Herman Hill.
Snippet of the inset of the 1856 Parsons map featuring Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The inset of Christiansted from the 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill at elevation 257 feet.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at Herman Hill.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the north end of a ridge with other structures to the northeast in the south edge of Hermon hill.
Snippet of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 10 to Christopher Nugent.
Snippet of Oxholm's 1778 map of Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1778 Oxholm map shows a windmill on top of a hill with other structures including an animal mill to the west and others further afield, including a village, to the northeast, all in the center of the estate 33 section of Herrmon hitte. Ownership attributed to Peter Nugent’s heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Lille in the area of Herman Hill.
Snippet of the unsigned manuscript copy of Beck from 1766 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 21, currently named Marienhoj (Sally’s Fancy).
The 1766 unsigned manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts no structures and attributes ownership to Herman Helm.
Snippet of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
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. The annotated maps from 1767 and c.1770 along with the unsigned manuscript copy also add an animal mill in the southern portion of estate 25. Ownership attributed to Thomas Lillie on all these maps.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the west side of estate 10.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the west side of estate 10.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 10. Ownership attributed to Samuel Downings heirs.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Company's Quarter estates # 33-11, currently named Herman Hill.
During the French period, ownership in the Herman Hill area is attributed to Harang du Hamel.