Estate Boetzberg

Boetzberg is estate 4 in St. Croix’s East End A Quarter. Boetzberg’s name does not appear to derive from owners identified on historic maps. Sugar was produced by the 1760s, with a windmill only appearing on the 1856 map. Reinforcing late construction are two windows above the main entrance along with a hearth. The windmill tower is in very good condition, adjacent to a swimming pool.

Estate Boetzberg was involved in sugar production starting in the 1760s, with a windmill only appearing on the 1856 Parsons map. The 1750 map’s indication that the estate was planted in provisions is consistent with no sugar machinery on either of the initial Beck map printings. None of the owner names from the historic maps suggest the genesis of the name Boetzberg.

Starting with the 1766 annotated map, an animal mill appears on three of the annotated Beck maps and 2 of the 3 manuscript copies. The lack of a sugar mill depicted on the Kuffner map in 1767 raises questions about the source material for that map’s creation.

Oxholm’s 1778 map of Christiansted includes Estate Boetzberg with an animal mill and other structures. However, Oxholm’s 1799 map indicated cotton. The USGS maps locates a windmill ruin corresponding with the current location in the field.

Ownership of Estate Boetzberg varies often on the maps from 1750 to 1791. In 1750, Schoppen and the widow Beverhoudt, whose relationship appears to have started on a business footing due to multiple locations where they co-owned property. The co-ownership in Estate Boetzberg with Schoppen and the widow needs to be explored compared to the co-ownership of Queen’s Quarter 4-5-6-7-8, with Schoppen and Adrian von Beverhoudt.

Quickly changing ownership attributions may help pinpoint the dates of the annotated Beck maps. Four of these five maps attribute a different owner between 1766 & 1770. These differences raise the question of why a single property would change hands so quickly in a relatively short period of time. Still another owner, Rengger, owns the estate on the 1790 & 1791 maps.

The McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p. 44) provides a mill elevation of 180 feet, while the USGS topo maps suggest something closer to 160 feet at the base. Adding to the ownership issues, McGuire indicates the estate was patented to William Rogers and then John Martin in 1754.

Photos of Boetzberg, 2020s

Boetzberg windmill looking west through the main opening.
Boetzberg windmill looking west through the main opening. The brick lining the opening is covered with plaster at the upper reaches of the opening.
Boetzberg windmill interior looking northwest.
Boetzberg windmill interior looking northwest. The window shows the interior opening is larger than the exterior, helping the breeze enter the mill. In the center is a hearth in which a fire could illuminate the work area. The machine slot lies to the left.
Boetzberg windmill interior indicates the upper portion has not collapsed.
Boetzberg windmill interior indicates the upper portion has not collapsed. The vertical slots held timbers that supported a ring around the top on which the cap of the mill could rotate.
Boetzberg windmill interior looking west.
Boetzberg windmill interior looking west. The two round windows provided light and ventilation for the top 2 floors of the mill, which would be helpful during maintenance work.
Boetzberg windmill from the west showing the main entrance and two windows above it.
Boetzberg windmill from the west showing the main entrance and two windows above it. The bagasse opening is to the left of the mill. Note the height of the working floor above the mill’s foundation.
Boetzberg windmill from the southwest centered on the bagasse opening with the main entrance to the left and juice trough opening to the right.
Boetzberg windmill from the southwest centered on the bagasse opening with the main entrance to the left and juice trough opening to the right. The stairs underline how the floor of the bagasse opening slopes downward to facilitate removal of the crushed cane from the mill.
Boetzberg windmill from the south centered on the juice trough opening.
Boetzberg windmill from the south centered on the juice trough opening. Notice the difference in the exterior finish between the mill foundation and the cone, differentiated at the work floor. The raised masonry decorating the opening is a common feature for mills.
Boetzberg windmill from the east, centered on the east-facing window
Boetzberg windmill from the east, centered on the east-facing window. The raised masonry decorating the opening matches the other openings.
Boetzberg windmill from the northwest.
Boetzberg windmill from the northwest. The small square opening near the top of the mill is the exit of the flue for the hearth. The flue often exited over the machine slot opening for mills with hearths.
Boetzberg windmill from the west highlighting the two west-facing windows.
Boetzberg windmill from the west highlighting the two west-facing windows. This mill is unique for having two east-facing windows, which are brick lined.

Historic Maps of Boetzberg

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The USGS 1982 photorevision shows a dotted round circle indicating a windmill ruin at Butzberg.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1958 USGS map shows a dotted round circle indicating a windmill ruin at Butzberg.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1919 USGS topographic map shows the Boutzberg Mill just above the 160-foot contour line with other structures to the east and south.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1907 map indicates a circle at Boetzberg.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill and a structure to the west on a ridge top with an elevation of 123 feet.
Snippet of the 1820 Lang update of Oxholm featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1820 updates to Oxholm included soundings and navigational aids by Lang. These are seen most evidently in East End A quarter. Navigation sight lines for Lang’s observatory goes right over one of the structures at Butzberg.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows several structures along with the icon for a cotton plantation at Butzberg.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen both attribute ownership to Rengger.
Snippet of the Oxholm 1778 map of Christiansted featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
Oxholm’s 1778 map of Christiansted shows an animal mill along with several other structures in estate No. 4. Ownership attributed to John Renger.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1770 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The annotated Beck map from c.1770 indicates no structures in Boetzberg and attributes ownership to Jonatan Aitkeson.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of 1770 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1770 annotated Beck map indicates no structures in Boetzberg and attributes ownership to Seybeck. The estates outlined in red indicate Danish national ownership and the name underlined in red indicates the estate was planted in sugar.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement in the area of Boetzberg without clear attribution of ownership.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1767 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The c.1767 annotated Beck map indicates an animal mill in the southwest corner of Boetzberg and attributes ownership to John Martin.
Snippet of the annotated Beck maps of 1767 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1767 annotated Beck map indicates an animal mill in the southwest corner of Boetzberg and attributes ownership to John Martin.
Snippets of the 2 manuscript copies of Beck from 1766 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The two 1766 manuscript copies of Beck’s map depict an animal mill in the southern portion of Boetzberg and attribute ownership to Emanuel Aboabs’ widow. These depictions match the 1766 annotated Beck map.
Snippet of all 5 annotated Beck maps made from 1766 to 1770 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The 1766 annotated Beck map indicates an animal mill in the south of estate Boetzberg and attributes ownership to Emanuel Aboabs’ widow.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The Beck printings with data from 1752 and c.1755 show no structures in Boetzberg.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
The Cronenberg and von Jægersberg map of 1750 indicates several structures but no clear depiction of cultivation. Shoppen and Linken Beverherid attributed for property ownership.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Boetzberg.
During the French period, Guillarmet is located in the general vicinity of what today is Boetzberg, although la Taille also appears in the general area.