Estate Little Fountain

Little Fountain is estate 3 in St. Croix’s King’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. The western half of the windmill tower collapsed.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill. Both Beck printings depict and animal mill to the east of the stream running through the property, features remaining consistent on all the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates a windmill on a ridge in the southern portion of Fountain at the end of a road coming up from the south and a structure to the east of the road. The 1856 Parsons map indicates a windmill at Lit Fountain with an elevation of 263 feet. Both these maps depict the windmill west of the stream.

The 1921 topographic sheet depicts an old mill tower with an elevation of 266 feet. The later topographic maps depict no ruins at Little Fountain.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Warnerus Abrahamsen. The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies uniformly attribute ownership to Warner Abrah. Roger’s heirs. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Flanagan.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.117) mentions a milltower at Little Fountain.

Photos of Little Fountain, 2020s

Interior of windmill tower wall with an arched opening. To the left, wall ends abruptly as that portion of the windmill collapsed.
Little Fountain windmill interior facing north featuring the juice trough opening.
Windmill tower with an arched opening. Vegetation in foreground under blue skies.
Little Fountain windmill exterior from the north featuring the juice trough opening.
Windmill tower in the shade of a tree. Much of the plaster on the wall remains.
Little Fountain windmill exterior from the east featuring the plaster on the wall. Notice how much of the plaster remains intact facing east, with only a few spots where the underlying stone block is visible.
Windmill tower with the left side collapsed. Tree on right with branches obscuring some of the tower. Significant downhill grade from left to right.
Little Fountain windmill exterior from the south featuring the construction material.

Historic Maps of Little Fountain

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins at Little Fountain.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows an old mill tower at elevation 266 feet at Little Fountain.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Lt Fountain.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 263 feet at Lit Fountain.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill with a structure to the east at Fountain.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill with a structure to the east at Fountain.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Flanagan.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement near Little Fountain with no ownership attribution.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck, following the printed maps, include an animal mill at Little Fountain. All the maps attribute ownership to Warner Abraham Rogers’ heirs, with some spelling variation.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The c1757 Beck printing depicts an animal mill in estate 3.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1754 Beck printing depicts an animal mill in estate 3.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 3, currently named Little Fountain.
The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill at estate 3. Ownership attributed to Warnerus Abrahamsen.