Estate Hope

Hope is estate 42 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill was likely demolished to make room for new construction. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 42. Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon. 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 Hope. The 1856 Parsons map also depicts a windmill at Hope. Of the 20th-century topographic maps, only the 1958 map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill. These ruins were likely demolished during construction of the industrial area.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Pieter Heiliger, as do the maps from the 1760s and 1770s. By 1790 ownership transitioned to Heyliger’s heirs.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.96) notes the location and early ownership, locating buildings at south end of wooded ridge. Notes in the 1920s, chiefly in sugar cane; grassland and mangrove next to shore.

Historic Maps of Hope, Queen’s Quarter

The U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill but the 1982 photorevision does not at Hope.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill at Hope.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Hope.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with other structures to the west in the northeast corner of Hope.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on top of a hill in the northeast quadrant of Hope.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 42 to Heyliger’s heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Heiliger in the area of Hope.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
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 Senior.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the northeast quadrant of estate 42.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the northeast quadrant of estate 42.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the northeast quadrant of estate 42.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 42. Ownership attributed to Pieter Heiliger.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 42, currently named Hope.
During the French period, ownership in the Hope area is attributed to Bilbas.