Estate Northside

Northside is estate 37 in St. Croix’s Northside A Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 19th century. An inscription stone was removed. Other than that, the windmill is in good condition.

While no settlement indicated during the French period, in the Danish period, cotton cultivation took place by 1750. None of the Beck variants include any sugar manufacturing equipment.

The 1799 Oxholm map depicts an animal mill at Northside. By 1856, Parsons indicates a windmill at North side. All of the 20th-century topographic maps include an icon recognizable as a windmill.

Ownership attributed to Edward Pye in 1750. All of the Beck variants attribute ownership to Richard Richardsen. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Sempel.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.137) notes some sugar cane cultivated in the northeast portion; remainder bush in the 1920s.

Photos of Northside, 2020s

Looking uphill over a grassy field at a windmill tower mostly obscured by vegetation. Dwellings in the foreground and to the right.
Northside windmill at a distance from the northeast. The mill was converted to a pavilion. The small black square at the top of the mill is a vent hole when the mill operated.
Looking uphill over a grassy field at a windmill tower mostly obscured by vegetation. White building to the right.
Northside windmill at a distance from the north. Mill sits atop a hill. Structure to the right is part of the village on the north side of the estate.

Historic Maps of Northside

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1982 USGS topographic map shows ruins, but nothing identifiable as a windmill at North Side.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins, but nothing identifiable as a windmill at North Side.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1920 USCGS topographic map shows the North Side Mill on a hilltop with structures to the north, including a mill with fan, likely to pump water.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Northside.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with other structures to the north at North side.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and its 1820 revision show an animal mill at Northside.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows an animal mill at Northside.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen, respectively, attribute ownership to Sempel.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts no settlement at Northside.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
None of the annotated and manuscript copies of the Beck map show an animal mill in what became estate 37. All attribute ownership to the Richard Richardsen.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
The 1750 map indicates cotton cultivation by the blue hating and attributes ownership to Edward Pye.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 37, currently named Northside.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Northside, although the seaward feature is named Point Sous le vent, or Leeward Point.