Estate Barren Spot

Barren Spot is estate 21 in St. Croix’s King’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s and decommissioned before 1856. The estate name was likely a corruption of Barnspol that translates to Children’s Pool from Danish. The inscription stone is illegible. The windmill is in good condition.

Sugar cultivation took place by 1750 in estate 21, which evolved to become Barren Spot. The 1750 map along with both Beck map printings included an animal mill. This transformed to a windmill on the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies starting in 1766.

The 1799 Oxholm map locates a windmill at the eastern edge of a wide hill at Barnspol. This windmill was likely decommissioned by 1851, appearing as a tower identified as Old Mill appearing at the bottom of the hill rather than the top of it on the Parsons map. The 1921 topographic map identifies the windmill ruin as Old Mill No.2 while the 1958 and 1982 topographic maps include ruins identifiable as a windmill in an unnamed area.

In 1750, Peter Markoe’s widow is attributed ownership of estate 21. Ownership transferred to Matthew Ferrall by 1766 and then to C. McEvoy by 1790.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.31) indicates the name Barren Spot is a corruption of Barnspol, a name found on the 1799 Oxholm map. This estate later merged with the neighboring estate in Queen’s Quarter to share the name Barren Spot between the two. The word barnspol translates from Danish to children’s pool.

Photos of Barren Spot, King’s Quarter, 2020s

Looking up at windmill tower on a hillside. A green structure behind to the left along with cloudy sky. Vegetation surrounds the mill. Power lines cut across the image.
Barren Spot windmill exterior from the east from a distance. The slanted pink material at the top of the tower indicates this is the original top of the mill.
Edge of windmill tower that has a glance at the machine slot. Parking lot in the background.
Barren Spot windmill exterior from the west with a close up of the machine slot.
Windmill tower with parking lot in the background. Bottom half obscured by vegetation. Rectangular beige inscription stone stands out against the more grey stone of the tower.
Barren Spot windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance below the inscription stone. The machine slot is on the right side. Not all of the material along the top of the mill is original.

Historic Maps of Barren Spot, King’s Quarter

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill in the area of Barren Spot.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows ruins including Old Mill No. 2 in the area of Barren Spot.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
The 1907 map indicates no settlement in the area of Barren Spot.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill identified as Old Mill in the area of Barren Spot. Note this icon appears at the bottom of the broad hill.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill on the easter edge of a broad hill at Barnspol.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the easter edge of a broad hill at Barnspot.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to C. McEvoy.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement with a sugar mill near Barren Spot with an ownership attribution to Ferrall.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck converted the animal mill in estate 21 from the printed map into a windmill, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. All the maps attribute ownership to Matthew Ferrall, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
Both Beck printings depict an animal mill in estate 21.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Barren Spot.
The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation with an animal mill and other structures at estate 21. Ownership attributed to Pieter Markue’s widow.