Estate Diamond

Diamond is estate 28 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill was incorporated into a dwelling. The windmill tower is in good condition.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 28. Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 28. The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill in the 1760s and 1770s.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at Diamond. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill at elevation 160 feet. The 1921 topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill, although the two later topographic maps do show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Diamond.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Jannis Jems. Maps from the 1760s and 1770s attribute ownership to Peter Heyliger Abrahamsen, who also owned the adjoining Queen’s Quarter estate 21, Ruby. By 1790 ownership transitioned to Heyliger heirs.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.65) notes the historic connection between estates Diamond and Ruby, immediately to the north.

Photos of Diamond, Queen’s Quarter, 2020s

Windmill tower with the main entrance mostly centered in the image. The tower lies behind stone walls going across the image and then toward the tower.
Diamond windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance. The stone wall nearest the viewer is not original.
Windmill tower with the main entrance centered in the image. The tower lies behind a stone wall with light beige stones going across the image.
Diamond windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The stone wall in the foreground is not original. The ladder seen on the far interior wall reaches the top of the mill.
Windmill tower with the main entrance centered in the image. Furniture seen inside the tower.
Diamond windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. Notice that the fairly regular size of the cut stone blocks varies right around the opening. The soft limestone shows considerable weathering.
Windmill tower on a hill that goes downward on the left and far sides. Stone walls meet the mill from the left under the arched opening for the juice trough and on the right between that opening and the main entrance. Trees to the right.
Diamond windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the juice trough opening on the left and the main entrance on the right, behind the Norfolk Pine tree.
Arched opening through which the parking lot and two buildings can be seen. A wood gate protects the lower half of the opening.
Diamond windmill interior facing northeast featuring the juice trough opening. The buildings across the parking lot would have house the sugar works.
Windmill tower obscured by palm trees in the foreground. Mill sits on a small hill, with the left side higher than the right, allowing entrance to the mill while the sails turned on the windward side. The tower has cut stone blocks with right angles while the foundation has stones with more rounded edges in less neat horizontal rows. A retaining wall is seen from the mill curving toward the viewer on the left side of the mill. The top third of a steam chimney visible to the left behind vegetation.
Diamond windmill exterior from the southeast featuring the machine slot, which remains partially filled. The pipes protruding from the tower wall beneath the rectangular window indicate this tower was blocked to store water before being converted to a dwelling. Notice the difference in building material for the foundation versus the windmill tower and also the retaining wall to the left. The steam chimney to the left is also on Estate Diamond.
Rectangular opening with a tree visible outside.
Diamond windmill interior facing south featuring the machine slot.
Panoramic view of trees and buildings in the distance. In the foreground, a plaster-covered wall is about 2-3 feet wide.
Diamond windmill exterior facing east featuring the width of the top of the tower wall and the view further east.

Historic Maps of Diamond, Queen’s Quarter

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Diamond.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill at Diamond.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Diamond.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 160 feet to the west of the road with other structures to the west in the center of Diamond.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at the end of the road in the north side of Diamond.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 28 to Heyliger heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Abrahamsen in the area of Diamond.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies add sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill except the 1770 annotated map that only added ownership attributions. All these maps attribute ownership to Peter Heyliger Abrahamsen (together with Queen’s Quarter estate 21).
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 28.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 28. Ownership attributed to Jannis Jems.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 28, currently named Diamond.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Diamond.