Estate La Reine

La Reine is estate 20 in St. Croix’s King’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. Translated, the estate name means the queen. Former owner Bill Cissel indicated the mill was built in 1769 and partly collapsed during hurricanes David & Frederick.

The 1750 map indicates no sugar cultivation in estates 19 & 20. Focusing on estate 20, the first printing of the Beck map remains empty while the second printing includes an animal mill in the center of the estate. All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies included a hand drawn windmill in estate 20, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. The 1766 annotated map based on the first printing of Beck locates the windmill in the western portion of adjacent estate 19 in Queen’s Quarter.

The 1799 Oxholm map located a windmill on a ridge line northeast of a road cutting across the estate with some structures at a bit of a distance to the southwest. The 1856 Parsons map provides the road ending at the ridgeline with no indication of structures. All the 20th century topographic maps include ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estates 19 & 20 jointly to Robert Handsen and James French. All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies attribute ownership to Baron von Prock, except the 1770 annotated map that attributes ownership to Wilhelm Schaeffer. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Ryan.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.112) notes the name La Reine translate from French to the Queen. In the 1920s, the hills in the northeast and south were tree and grass covered with the balance planted in sugar cane. The hill at the south end is noted as causing a detour of Centerline Road around it. This detour was noted on the 1982 photorevised topographic map, although by the late 1980s, Centerline Road was straightened to go directly over the lowered hill.

Photos of La Reine, 2020s

Truncated windmill tower atop a hill with smaller water tower lower and in front of it. House on the right and vegetation on the left in the foreground.
La Reine windmill exterior from the east from a distance with a water tower in the foreground.

Historic Maps of La Reine

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at La Reine.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows an old mill tower at La Reine.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The 1907 map indicates no settlement in the area of La Reine.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts no structures in the area of La Reine.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at la Reine.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at la Reine.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Ryan.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement near La Reine with an ownership attribution to Baron v Prok.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck added a windmill in estate 20 from the printed map into a windmill, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. All the maps attribute ownership to Baron von Prock, with some spelling variation, except the 1770 annotated map that attributes ownership to Wilhelm Schaeffer.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The first Beck printing does not indicate an animal mill in estate 20 while the second printing does.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 20, currently named La Reine.
The 1750 map indicates no cultivation at estate 20. Ownership attributed to Hendsen French.