Estate Concordia

Concordia includes estates 20 & 21 in St. Croix’s West End Quarter. The windmill here was one of the first 3 built on St. Croix, appearing on the 1750 map and having the date 1749 inscribed on the main entrance keystone. This windmill was inaccurately place on the first maps of St. Croix in the Danish period. The windmill was blocked to store water and remains in good condition.

The estate now known as Concordia appears to have been settled in the French period by Pontoise. This previous settlement may have facilitated the establishment of sugar cultivation and a windmill in the southeastern quadrant of estate 21 and much of estate 21 and some of estate 20 planted in provisions by 1750. Appearance on this map is consistent with the date 1749 inscribed on the windmill’s keystone.

Like the Cronenberg and Jægersberg map of 1750, both of the Beck printed maps of the 1750s also include a windmill in the southeastern quadrant of estate 21, south and west of the road to Frederiksted. All the annotated Beck maps and one of the manuscript copies of the 1760s all depict a windmill in the same place in estate 21. The 1766 manuscript copy of Beck by Zöllner is the first map to correctly place the windmill in the southwestern quadrant of estate 20, north and east of the road.

Ownership on nearly all these maps is attributed Peter Heÿliger Senior, with a variety of spellings. Ownership attributed on Küffner’s 1767 map is also to Heiliger. The annotated Beck map of 1770, along with the 1778 Oxholm map and 1790s manuscript copies of Beck, attribute ownership to Peter Heiliger Senior’s heirs.

The 1778 and 1799 Oxholm maps include a windmill in the southwest quadrant of estate 20, with the 1799 map naming it Concordia. The 1778 map locates other structures to the north and west and a slave village to the north of the windmill. The 1856 Parsons map indicates a plantation structures but no windmill tower at Concordia.

The 1920s topographic map locates the Concordia Mill south of other structures. The 1958 and 1982 topographic maps indicate a windmill ruin at Concordia consistent with the windmill located through field reconnaissance.

As the McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p. 57-58) describes, the road to Frederiksted goes through the estate. The mill is located on a 120-foot rise, about 2,000 yards from the coast.

Photos of Concordia, 2020s

Concordia West End windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance. The windmill was blocked to store water. The top rim indicates that this mill was built to this height and did not have a collapse after decommissioning.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The date on the keystone suggests this mill was built in 1749, consistent with its appearance on the 1750 map.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening. The bricks lining this opening differ from the cut stone block lining the other openings, suggesting a modification after the mill was initially built.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the northeast featuring the juice trough opening.
Concordia West End windmill exterior from the northeast featuring the juice trough opening. The rim around the top of the mill suggests the mill was built to this height and did not partially collapse after decommissioning.

Historic Maps of Concordia

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map 1982 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1982 USGS photorevision shows the windmill ruins along with changed location of the roads in the estate.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1958 USGS topographic map indicates a windmill ruin in the southwest quadrant of estate Concordia. The windmill is east of the road, south of a drive into the estate, and south of other structures on the estate.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1920 USGS topographic map indicates the Concordia mill south of other structures on the plantation. The windmill is east of the road in the southwest quadrant of the estate. A dirt road is indicated as dotted double line just south of the mill.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill ruin at Estate Concordia.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts some plantation structures east of the road at Concordia but no windmill.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1799 Oxholm map shows the Concordia windmill in the southwest quadrant of estate 20, east of the road.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estates 20 & 21 to Heyligers arvinger, or heirs.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of Frederiksted from 1778 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted identifies this estate as Concordia including both estates 20 & 21. Judging by the boundaries for other plantations, the windmill is located in the southwest quadrant of estate 20, to the east of the road (note that north is to the left on this map). An animal mill is located just to the northwest of the windmill and other plantation structures are located to the north and east. A slave village is depicted to the north of all the other structures. Ownership attributed to Peter Heyliger Senior’s Arvinger, or heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
Küffner’s 1767 Beck replica includes a sugar mill in the area of Estate Concordia.
Snippet of the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck from 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
Zöllner’s 1766 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a windmill in the southwest corner of estate 20, with the road to the south and west of the windmill. Ownership of estates 20 and 21 are attributed to Peter Heyliger Senior. This map, compared to the other Beck map versions, appears to correct the location of the windmill into the southwest quadrant of estate 20.
Snippet of the 1766 unsigned Beck manuscript copy featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1766 unsigned manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a windmill close to the center of estate 21, with the road to the east of the windmill. Ownership of estates 20 and 21 are attributed to Peter Heiliger. Given the appearance on later maps in relation to the road, estate boundary, and structures indicated on other estates, the placement of this mill is likely made in error. The correct placement should be on the east side of the road in the southwest quadrant of estate 20.
Snippets of the 5 annotated Beck maps made from 1766 to 1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
The 1766, 1767, c.1767, 1770 and c.1770 annotated Beck maps illustrate the printed windmill carefully colored red. Ownership of estates 20 and 21 are attributed to Peter Heyliger Senior in 1766 and 1767, with his heirs owning it in 1770. Given the appearance on later maps in relation to the road, estate boundary, and structures indicated on other estates, the placement of this mill is likely made in error. The correct placement should be on the east side of the road in the southwest quadrant of estate 20. The name underlined in red on the 1770 map indicates a sugar plantation.
Snippet of the Beck map printed in 1754 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
In the 1750s, the first and second printings of the Beck map show a windmill in the southeast quadrant of estate 21, with a road running to the east of the windmill, consistent with the 1749 map. Given the appearance on later maps in relation to the road, estate boundary, and structures indicated on other estates, the mill’s placement of this map is likely made in error. The correct placement should be on the east side of the road in the southwest quadrant of estate 20.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
By 1749, Concordia is planted in sugar cane, evidenced by the yellow coloration. A windmill appears in the southeast of estate 21, with ownership of estate 20 to its east both attributed to Peter Heiliger. Appearance of a windmill on this map is consistent with the 1749 date inscribed on the windmill. A road is north and east of the windmill, between the windmill and a structure to its west with a plantation house and a slave village in the north center of the estate. Given the appearance on later maps in relation to the road, estate boundary, and structures indicated on other estates, the placement of this mill was likely made in error. The correct placement should be on the east side of the road in the southwest quadrant of estate 20.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring West End Quarter estate # 20, currently named Concordia.
During the French period, in the area where Concordia is currently located, the name Pontoise appears.