Estate Sion Farm

Sion Farm includes estates 26 & 27 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1750s in estate 27. The windmill was incorporated into the playground at the school. The windmill has been reduced to a foundation.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 27 but no cultivation in estate 26. Both Beck printings show a windmill icon in the west edge of estate 26 in the 1750s, with neither showing a sugar mill icon in estate 27, a representation consistent through the 1760s and 1770s.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill in estate 27 at Sion Farm. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill at elevation 180 feet at Sion Farm, also on the estate 27 side.

The 1919 topographic sheet and the 1958 topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill right on the border line between estates 26 & 27. The 1982 photorevision does not show any ruins.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estate 27 to Nicholas Touet, with no ownership attributed in estate 26. All the beck variants change the spelling to Nicolay Tuite. By 1790, ownership of transitioned to R. Tuite.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (pp.177-178) notes the location and early ownership, locating a house on 180-foot hill, ½ mile south of Sion Hill.

Historic Maps of Sion Farm

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1982 photorevision does not show any ruins identifiable as a windmill at Sion Farm.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill close to the border between estates 26 and 27.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows Mill on the west edge of Sion Farm.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Sion Farm.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 180 feet at the end of the road with other structures to the west in the center of Sion Farm. The windmill appears on the estate 27 side of the combined plantation.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on a plain at the end of the road with other structures to the southwest in the northeast quadrant of Sion Farm. This windmill appears in estate 27, not estate 26.
Snippet of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estates 26 and 27 to R. Tuite.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Tuite in the area of Sion Farm.
Snippet of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies depict a windmill in estate 26 and attribute ownership to Nicolay Tuite.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
Both Beck printings show a windmill icon in the west edge of estate 26. Neither Beck printing shows a sugar mill icon in estate 27.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
Both Beck printings show a windmill icon in the west edge of estate 26. Neither Beck printing shows a sugar mill icon in estate 27.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates no cultivation in estate 26. No ownership attributed. However, this map indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 27. Ownership attributed to Nicholas Touet.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estates # 26-27, currently named Sion Farm.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Sion Farm.