Estate Salt River

Salt River is estate 2 in St. Croix’s Northside B Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. Salt River Estate was likely named for its proximity to Salt River Bay. The windmill has a unique cone shape & remains in good condition.

Given its proximity to Salt River Bay, Salt River estate has a long settlement history dating back to at least the French period. By 1750, provisions were being grown on the estate. None of the Beck maps indicated any sugar production.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates a windmill south of the newly christened Oxholm Way, a location similar on the 1856 Parsons map and the USGS topographic maps. McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.172) notes the top of the old milltower at 160 feet elevation.

The annotated Beck maps all attribute ownership to the Catholic Church which may help explain the genesis of the place name Kirkegaard hill, translated as Churchyard Hill or Cemetery Hill. By 1790, ownership transitioned to McEvoy.

Photos of Salt River, 2020s

Close up of the Salt River windmill highlighting the grout between the masonry.
Salt River windmill exterior closeup from the north.
Salt River windmill with hills behind it.
Salt River windmill exterior at a distance from the northeast featuring the juice trough opening.
Salt River windmill on a hill above the viewer, with a fence between.
Salt River windmill exterior at a distance from the north. Notice how the mill cone angle changes at the lower of the two horizontal bands.

Historic Maps of Salt River

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
The 1958 and its 1982 photorevision USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Greig Hill, south of the road.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows an old mill tower indicating its top at 150 feet elevation.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows the icon for a windmill and other ruins identified on the sheet including Christiansted.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Salt River.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at Salt River Estate. Other structures lie to the west and one very close to the road.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and 1820 revision show a windmill just south of the road at Salt River. Note the name of the new road “Oxholm Way” named in honor of the maker of this map.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill just south of the road at Salt River. Note the name of the new road “Oxholm Way” named in honor of the maker of this map.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to McEvoy.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
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 # 2, currently named Salt River.
All 5 annotated Beck maps and the 2 manuscript copy maps omit sugar manufacturing icons in estate 10, where the Salt River estate eventually had a windmill in the northern extremes. All these maps attributed ownership to the Catholic Church.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
Neither of the Beck map printings indicates sugar machinery in Salt River estate.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
By 1750, provisions were indicated being cultivated and a house in the area of the current Salt River estate. Ownership attributed to Græon.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 2, currently named Salt River.
During the French period, settlement by Pantaleon is indicated in the vicinity of current Salt River estate. Note the indication of the fort at the western point of the Salt River Bay.