Estate Rattan and Belvedere

Rattan and Belvedere includes estates 14 & 15 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter, each of which had a windmill. Based on appearances on historic maps, both windmills were likely built in the 1760s. The windmill in estate 15 was blocked to store water after decommissioning & is in good condition. The windmill in estate 14 has not been located.

Windmills were located on some maps at two different locations in estates 14 & 15, which have become Rattan and Belvedere. The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill in both estates 14 & 15. Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in estate 14, while the first Beck printing had an animal mill and the second changed it to a windmill in estate 15. The maps from the 1760s and 1770s added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill in both estates 14 and 15.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill in both estates 14 and 15. The 1856 Parsons map depicts no structures in the area of estate 14 and a windmill at elevation 475 feet for estate 15. The 1919 topographic sheet identifies a potential windmill location as No. 2 in estate 14, although field reconnaissance found a water tower at this location. The later topographic maps show no ruins identifiable as a windmill in that area. All the 20th-century topographic maps show a structure identifiable as a windmill at Rattan and Belvedere estate 15.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estate 14 to Alexander and estate 15 to Janny Deyer.

The maps from the 1760s and 1770s attribute ownership of estate 14 to Charles Atkins. For estate 15, the maps from the 1760s attribute ownership to Justice Raad Schuster and in 1770 to George Akins. By 1790 ownership of both estates 14 & 15 transitioned to George Aitken.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.155) notes for Estate Rattan the location of an estatehouse and mill on southwest end of ridge rising to 550 feet. McGuire provides no entry for Belvedere in Queen’s Quarter.

Photos of Rattan and Belvedere Estate 15, 2020s

Windmill tower with vegetation growing up the side of it on the right.
Rattan and Belvedere windmill exterior from the west featuring the bagasse opening on the left and main entrance centered. The blocked openings indicate the tower was converted to store water.
Windmill tower surrounded by vegetation.
Rattan and Belvedere windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the bagasse opening. The blocked openings indicate the tower was converted to store water.
Windmill tower with vegetation growing up the side of it on the right.
Rattan and Belvedere windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the main entrance. The blocked openings indicate the tower was converted to store water.
Windmill tower with two arched openings and part of the tower broken away at the top.
Rattan and Belvedere windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the bagasse opening center and main entrance on the right. The blocked openings indicate the tower was converted to store water. Notice the collapsed portion at the top of the tower.
Windmill tower with two arched openings and part of the tower broken away at the top.
Rattan and Belvedere windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the bagasse opening center and main entrance on the right. The blocked openings indicate the tower was converted to store water. Notice the collapsed portion at the top of the tower.

Historic Maps for Rattan and Belvedere Estate 15

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at estate 15 for Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows icon of Stone fanmill with no fan identified as No. 1 on the north side of Rattan.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Rattan.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 475 feet at the end of the road with other structures to the north in the north side of Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the west end of a ridge at the end of the road in the north edge of Rattan.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estates 14 & 15 and to George Aitken.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Aitkens in the area of Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies depict a windmill in estate 15. The 1766 annotated map attributes ownership to Bertram Jamith Schuster. The other maps attribute ownership to Justice Raad Schuster, except the 1770 annotated map that attributes ownership to George Akins.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The first Beck printing had an animal mill and the second changed it to a windmill in the center of estate 15.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 15. Ownership attributed to Janny Deyer.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 15, currently named Rattan and Belvedere15.
During the French period, ownership in the Rattan and Belvedere area is attributed to Baron.

Historic Maps for Rattan and Belvedere Estate 14

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins identifiable as a windmill in the area of estate 14 for Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows icon of Stone fanmill with no fan identified as No. 2 on the east edge of Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1907 map identifies no estate at Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts no structures in the area of Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the east end of a ridge to the north of the road in the northeast quadrant of estate 14.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estates 14 & 15 and to George Aitken.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Aitkens in the area of Rattan and Belvedere.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The c.1767 and 1770 annotated copies retain the animal mill from the printed Beck maps. The other annotated maps and manuscript copies depict a windmill in estate 14. All the maps attribute ownership to Charles Atkins, with various spellings.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 14.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 14. Ownership attributed to Alexander.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 14, currently named Rattan and Belvedere14.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Rattan and Belvedere.