Estate Canaan

Canaan is estate 13 in St. Croix’s Northside B Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. The windmill was incorporated into a dwelling and is in good condition. The east side of the mill is exceptionally tall, contributed to by its position on the side of a hill.

Canaan first indicates an animal mill on the second printing of the Beck map, a feature also found on all the annotated and manuscript copies of the Beck map. The 1799 Oxholm map adds a windmill while the 1856 map only includes the windmill at Canaan.

The 1921 topographic map shows an old mill tower at an elevation of approximately 360 feet while the 1958 and 1982 USGS topographic maps do not indicate ruins, likely an indication of the windmill being incorporated into a dwelling before 1958.

Throughout the 1760s, ownership attributed to Cornelius Stallard on all the annotated and manuscript copies of Beck, with ownership transitioning to Kipnass on the 1790s manuscript copies of the Beck map.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.46) notes the estate planted in sugar cane in the 1920s and had combined with the neighboring Betsy’s Jewel.

Photos of Canaan, 2020s

Canaan windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Canaan windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The window above the main entrance was likely not original and added when the mill was converted to a dwelling.
Canaan windmill exterior from the northeast.
Canaan windmill exterior from the northeast. Not the different material of the foundation compared to the cone rising above it.
Canaan windmill exterior from the east.
Canaan windmill exterior from the east. Note the height of the mill, considerably taller than some other mills.

Historic Maps of Canaan

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
The 1958 and its 1982 photorevision USGS topographic map show no ruins at Canaan. This omission likely indicates the incorporation of the windmill into a dwelling before 1958.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows an old mill tower at Canaan with an elevation of approximately 360 feet.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Cannan.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at the edge of a ridge with structures downhill to the southeast at Canaan.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on a knoll and an animal down the hill to the north at Canaan.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Kipnass.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts no settlement.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
All 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies all consistently include an animal mill. All these maps attribute ownership to Cornelius Stallard.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
The first Beck map printing indicates no sugar machinery, while the second printing includes an animal mill at Canaan estate.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
By 1750, no settlement is indicated near Canaan estate.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 13, currently named Canaan.
During the French period, a settlement by Jacobins is indicated near Canaan estate.