Estate Hope

Hope is estate 23 in St. Croix’s Prince’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century and decommissioned before 1856. The windmill has been reduced to a foundation.

Sugar cultivation appears on the 1750 map, with an animal following in the first printing of Beck in 1754. The 1799 Oxholm map depicts a windmill in a slightly different location than the animal mill on the Beck maps. The 1856 Parsons map depicts no windmill.

The 1920 topographic sheet indicates a mill in ruins. The later USGS topographic maps indicate no ruins at Hope.

The 1750 map attributed ownership to Andreas Waber. The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies attributed ownership to William Schaeffer, except the 1770 annotated Beck map that attributed ownership to Purcel. By 1790 ownership transitioned to Coppinger.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.96) notes the ruins of a mill in the southwest corner of estate Hope. In the 1920s, the estate is covered with grass, bushes, and trees.

Historic Maps of Hope, Prince’s Quarter

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no indication of ruins at Hope.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The 1920 USCGS topographic sheet shows a Mill in Ruins at elevation 286 feet in the southwest quadrant of Hope.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The 1907 map identifies no estate in the area of Hope.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts structures at elevation 344 feet to the west of the road and stream but no windmill at Hope.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill in the southern portion of the estate to the west of the road and stream at Hope.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill in the southern portion of the estate to the west of the road and stream at Hope.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Coppinger.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Schafer in the area of Hope.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies retain the animal mill from the printed maps in estate 10 east of the stream. All these maps attribute ownership to William Schaeffer, with some spelling variation. An exception is the 1770 annotated Beck map that attributes ownership to Purcel.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill to the east of the stream in estate 23.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 23, currently named Hope.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 23. Ownership attributed to Andreas Waber.