Estate Hope and Carlton Land

Hope and Carlton Land is estate 11 in St. Croix’s West End Quarter. This windmill has the distinction of not appearing on any historic maps, first appearing on the 1920s topographic maps. This windmill is in good condition.

The estate now known as Hope and Carlton Land does not appear to have been settled during the French period. The 1750 map indicates cotton cultivation on the northern part of the estate. The printed Beck maps of the 1750s depict no sugar machinery in estate 11.

All of the annotated Beck maps along with both manuscript copies from the 1760s that updated sugar machinery include a hand-drawn animal mill in the southern portion of estate 11. Oxholm’s 1799 map depicts an animal mill in the western extreme of the unnamed estsate 11. Parsons map of 1856 depicts no structures or name for this estate.

Ownership attribution on the 1750 map to Schmidt’s widow and heirs shifts to Jerm. Smith using a variety of spellings on the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of the 1760s. Two exceptions to this attribute ownership to Richard Buntin, with the same attribution on Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted. The 1790s manuscript copies of Beck attribute ownership to Hendricksen.

The 1920s topographic map locates a tower at Hope at a 14 foot elevation with old works immediately to the west. The 1958 and 1982 topographic maps indicate a tower but no historic structures or ruins at Hope and Carlton Land.

As the McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p. 95-96) describes, sugar cane was still cultivated here in the 1920s. The old sugar fanmill 1/8 mile from shore is mentioned.

Photos of Hope and Carlton Land, 2020s

Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. Square limestone blocks were used on the exterior of the mill, including around the openings. The square indentation above the keystone of the main entrance likely held an inscription stone. The masonry entrance ramp is now overgrown by vegetation.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot. Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the east featuring the window.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the east featuring the window. The decorative raised stone around the window differs from the material around the entrances to the basement below. Two timber slots appear between the entrances to the basement. These slots would have held timbers used to secure ropes to move the mill cap or anchor the sails when not in operation.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the southeast featuring the plaster on the exterior of the windmill.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the southeast featuring the plaster on the exterior of the windmill. Portions of the plaster remain, although the original coating was likely thicker and a different color.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the juice trough opening.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the juice trough opening. The pipe extending out from the opening would have been used to drain water from the mill when it held water after decommissioning. One of the entrances to the basement was blocked with masonry.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing southwest featuring basement entrances.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing southwest featuring basement entrances. To the right is an opening blocked with masonry, while the opening to the left remains passable.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing west featuring the basement going under the partially collapsed entrance ramp.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing west featuring the basement going under the partially collapsed entrance ramp. The masonry completing the ramp on the top of the image would have allowed sugar cane to be brought into the windmill for crushing. On the left side of the image, a window opening would have allowed light and ventilation into the basement storage area.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing south featuring the main support pillar in the basement.
Hope and Carlton Land windmill interior facing south featuring the main support pillar in the basement. Basements arose in mills built in the 18th century and required enhanced masonry skills. Many of the basements have a central pillar as a support.

Historic Maps of Hope and Carlton Land

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map 1982 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1982 USGS topographic map does not indicate any ruins at Estate Hope and Carlton Land, with several more structures built in the area.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1958 USGS topographic map does not indicate any ruins at Estate Hope and Carlton Land, with a couple of structures near the beach at the end of the road.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1920 USGS topographic map depicts an old works at Estate Hope along with several other structures.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill ruin at Estate Good Hope.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts no structures or a name at what is today Hope and Carlton Land.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows an animal mill in the western side of the unnamed estate. A fortification perched nearby is in the neighboring estate.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Hendricksen.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of Frederiksted from 1778 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted shows an animal mill in the far western edge of the estate (north is to the left on this map). Several structures and a slave village lie to the west of the mill. Ownership attributed to Richard Buntin.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
Küffner’s 1767 Beck replica includes an indication of settlement in the area of Estate Hope and Carlton Land.
Snippet of the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck from 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
Zöllner’s 1766 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts an animal mill in the southern extremity of the estate. Ownership attributed to Jerem. Smith
Snippet of the 1766 unsigned Beck manuscript copy featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1766 unsigned manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts an animal mill close to the center of the estate. Ownership attributed to Jerm. Smith.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps of 1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1770 and c.1770 annotated Beck maps both attribute ownership to Rich Buntin. The 1770 map did not add any sugar manufacturing icons while the c1770 map depicts a hand-drawn animal mill in the southern portion of the estate. The name not underlined in red on the 1770 map indicates something other than sugar cultivated.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps of 1766 & 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
The 1766, 1767, and c.1767 annotated Beck maps illustrate a hand-drawn animal mill in the southern half of the estate. Ownership attributed to Jerem. Smith.
Snippet of the Beck map printed in 1754 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
In the 1750s, the first and second Beck printings do not depict and sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
By 1749, the estate is shown planted in cotton, evidenced by the blue markings. A plantation house with a red roof is shown west of a slave village in the northwest quadrant of the estate. Ownership attributed to Schmidt’s widow and heirs.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring West End Quarter estate # 11, currently named Hope and Carlton Land.
During the French period, the vicinity of Hope and Carlton Land has no name. Note the shoreline is at the top of the map, since north on the map is the lower direction.