Estate Libanon Hill

Libanon Hill is estate 2 in St. Croix’s King’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. Subsequently, a steam chimney was built immediately west of the windmill. The windmill has been reduced to a foundation.

By 1750, cotton cultivation proceeding in estate 1 mirrored sugar cultivation in estate 2, although with no animal mill depicted. Both Beck printings included animal mills in both estate 1 and 2. By the 1766 annotated Beck map, sails added to the animal mill converted it to a windmill, as it appeared on all the other annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at Libanon at the end of a road perched between two ridges. The 1856 Parsons map also shows a windmill at Libanon with the road now making a sharp turn at the windmill and several structures to the west.

The 20th century topographic maps provide no ruins specifically identifiable as a windmill. While the 1921 topographic sheet indicates a chimney, the 1958 and 1982 topographic maps provide no ruins that could be mistaken for a windmill.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Jacob Lyngberg for estate 1 and Jamie Bourins for estate 2. By 1766, ownership of the two estates combined under Baron de Bretton and remained consistent for all the annotated and manuscript Beck maps. A slight change in ownership by 1790 added a second owner, with attribution to L & P de Brittons.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.113) notes estate Libanon Hill includes estates 1 and 2 along with the east part of estate 3 in King’s Quarter.

Historic Maps of Libanon Hill

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins at Libanon Hill.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows ruins, specifically identifying Lebanon Chimney but no windmill at Lebanon.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Libanon Hill.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Libanon.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Libanon.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Libanon.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to L & P de Brittons.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement near Libanon Hill with an ownership attribution to Baron v Breton.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck converted the animal mill from the printed map into a windmill, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. All the maps attribute ownership to Baron de Bretton, with some spelling variation.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The c1757 Beck printing depicts an animal mill in estates 1 & 2.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1754 Beck printing depicts an animal mill in estates 1 & 2.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estates # 1-2, currently named Libanon Hill.
The 1750 map indicates cotton cultivation in estate 1 and sugar cultivation in estate 2. Ownership attributed to Jacob Lyngberg for estate 1 and Jamie Bourins for estate 2.