Estate The Sight

The area of The Sight was likely occupied during the French period. By 1750, Johan Heiliger started cultivating sugar.

Both Beck map printings indicate an animal mill on the western side of estate 20. The annotated prints and manuscript copies note that Governor Heiliger’s heirs control the estate, except the c.1770 annotated copy indicating William Hartman as owner. The 1790s maps also indicate Hartman as owner.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates an animal mill on the central ridge at the Sight. The 1820 revision to Oxholm’s map indicates a windmill on a ridge further south, while noting its prominence as a navigational aid with sight lines.

Parsons also notes a windmill at Sight. Different from Oxholm and the topographic maps, the roads drawn by Parsons have curves and intersections approaching the mill inconsistent with other maps.

The US Topographic maps note windmill ruins with a couple of structures around it. These ruin locations are consistent with field reconnaissance.

The McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p. 177) notes the Sight mill as a prominent navigation aid for the Buck Island Channel atop a hill at 180 feet elevation.

Photos of The Sight, 2020s

Closeup of The Sight windmill from the northwest.
The Sight windmill has a basement running its entire length east to west plus some other storage spaces under the mill on either side. The entrance from the east seen here. Notice the curb running along the foundation.
Highlight of The Sight windmill central basement.
The Sight windmill basement as seen facing west was a storage area with an arched ceiling. Notice the brick facing for the interior along with concrete running along the ground level.
Highlight of The Sight windmill ventilation opening in the basement.
The Sight windmill has storage areas to the sides of the main basement area that do not extend the full width of the mill. This image highlights a ventilation opening from the side storage area into the main basement, opposite the other photograph of this opening.
Highlight of The Sight windmill ventilation opening in the basement.
The Sight windmill has storage areas to the sides of the main basement area that do not extend the full width of the mill. This image highlights a ventilation opening from the main basement into a side storage area, opposite the other photograph of this opening.
Highlight of The Sight windmill machine slot on the north side, blocked to store water.
The Sight windmill was blocked to store water after it was decommissioned. Notice how the blocking does not go to the top of the machine slot, with overflow allowed to run down the outside.
Highlight of The Sight windmill central basement.
The Sight windmill basement as seen facing west was a storage area with an arched ceiling. Notice the brick facing for the interior along with concrete running along the ground level.

Historic Maps of The Sight

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1919 USCGS topographic map shows Sight Mill on a hilltop at approximately 195 elevation. Other structures lie to the east and west.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1907 map indicates a circle at Sight.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill on the edge of a ridge at Sight, with three small structures to the east.
Snippet of the 1820 Lang update of Oxholm featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1820 update of Oxholm’s map includes a windmill on a ridge to the south of the animal mill at the Sight. This windmill does not appear on any previous maps. This 1820 map includes soundings and navigational aids by Lang, seen most evidently in East End A quarter. This windmill is specifically pointed to by navigation sight lines.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows an animal mill on a ridge in the center of the Sight. Other structures lie to the southwest and southeast.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen both attribute ownership to Hartman.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1770 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The c.1770 annotated Beck map attributes ownership to William Hartman, different than the other annotated maps and the 1766 manuscript copies. No structures are depicted at The Sight. This suggests that this map was created after the other maps.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill in the area of The Sight. Ownership attributed to chemal. Fr. Martin.
Snippets of the 2 manuscript copies of Beck from 1766 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1766 unsigned manuscript and Zöllner’s copy of Beck’s map depicts an animal mill just west of the center of the estate, attributing ownership to Governor Heiliger’s heirs.
Snippets of 4 annotated Beck maps made from 1766 to 1770 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The 1766, 1767, c.1767, and 1770 annotated copies of Beck’s map depicts an animal mill west of the center of estate 20, attributing ownership to Governor Heiliger’s heirs for estate 20 and the northern half of estate 32. For the 1770 annotation, the name underlined in red indicates these estates were planted in sugar.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
The Beck printings with data from 1752 and c.1755 both show an animal mill on the west side of The Sight.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
During the French period, settlement is indicated near The Sight for either Cortebotte or la Fleur.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring East End A Quarter estate # 20, currently named The Sight.
During the French period, settlement is indicated near The Sight for either Cortebotte or la Fleur.