Estate Parasol

Parasol is estate 16 in St. Croix’s Northside B Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. The location of the windmill, because it sits in the saddle between two hilltops rather than on one of the hilltops. The windmill is in good condition, although the inscription stone was removed.

Parasol reflects the delay that remoteness and rugged terrain caused in the settlement and development of sugar cultivation. No settlement is indicated through the 1750s. In the 1760s, all of the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of the Beck map indicate no sugar machinery and attribute ownership to Abraham Markoe or his heirs, whose ownership is also reflected on the 1790s manuscript copies of Beck.

A windmill appears on the 1799 Oxholm map at Parasol along with the 1856 Parsons map. However, Oxholm places the windmill on a hilltop and not in the saddle between two hills as is correctly done on the USGS topographic maps, which indicate windmill ruins at 500 feet elevation at Parasol.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.143) notes the estate was a stock farm attached to estate Fountain in the 1920s.

Historic Maps of Parasol

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958  & 1982 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
The 1958 and its 1982 photorevision USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Parasol. The placement of this windmill, evident on this topographic map, differs from most windmills by being in the saddle between two hills rather than on a hilltop.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows no ruins at Parasol.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Parasol.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at Parasol, a bit downhill from the hilltop with a 748-foot elevation.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799  and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and 1820 revision show a windmill on a hilltop at Parasol. This placement differs in detail from later maps with topographic information, which correctly place the windmill in the saddle between two hills.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to A. Markoe.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but not a sugar mill.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
None of the annotated Beck maps or manuscript copies of Beck include sugar milling equipment in estate 16. All these maps attribute ownership to Abraham Markoe.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
Neither of the Beck map printings indicates sugar machinery in Parasol estate.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
By 1750, no settlement is indicated near Parasol estate.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 16, currently named Parasol.
During the French period, a settlement by Mauge is indicated near Parasol estate.