USVI Public Records

Document text

FHR-8-300 (11-70) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries—compiete applicabie sections 1. Name For HCRS use only recehfl8T 8 IW ^tejMMiwreil p 24®0 historic Estate La Reine and/or common The Queen 2. Location street & number Kings Quarter and 19 Queens Quarter . not for publication city, town Christiansted /c/xc . ^ vicinity of congressionai district State Virgin Islands code 00820 county St. Croix i s u. r.cl code 3. Classification Category Ownership S^tus Present Use district pubiic X occupied agriculture museum K building(s) X private unoccupied commercial park X structure both work in progress educational X private residence X site Public Acquisition Accessible entertainment religious object in process X yes: restricted government scientific being considered yes: unrestricted industriai transportation no military other: 4. Owner of Property name William F. Cissel street & number P.O. Box B city, town Kings Hill Post Office__ vicinity of state U.S. Virgin Islands 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Recorder of Deeds street & number Government House city, town Christiansted, St. Croix state U.S. Virgin Islands 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Virgin Islands Inventory of title p PI _______________ has this property been determined elegible? date June, 1979 . federal X state . county local depository for survey records Virgin Islands Planning Office city, town state 7. Description Condition ___ excellent X good __ -fair deteriorated . ruins .unexposed Check one ___ unaitered X aitered Check one X originai site ___ moved date May, 1980 Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance Estate La Reine is located approximately one-third mile north of Center Line Road, almost in the middle of the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. One of about ten Cruzan plantations occipied continuously since its foundation , the estate, conprised of a great hotjise, servants quarters, animal pens, the remains of a slave village and the scattered ruins of vihat was once thriving sugar industry, is situated along the outer periphe^ of a shallow bowl extending from the valley below. Now overgrown with brush. La Reine nonetheless preserves much of its earlier appearance, particfilarly in the form of its great house and subsidiary buildings to the west, all of which have been carefiiLly maintained by the estate's successive owners. The original wind mill, factory, animal pens and slave quarters are less well preserved, but still provide an indication of their former extent and function. The great house is unvisual in having received the attentions of a professional architect, a William Wilkins, and date, 1859, both of which are recorded over the entrance. This was clearly not the date of the original building, however, and it is obvious that the structure was begun at a much earlier date, possibly as early as 1750. The best indication of the property's origin and growth can be seen in the basanent. Comprised of five separate rooms and at least two, possibly three crawl-spaces, its ejqxDsed stonework suggests that the buildi^ was gradually extended first to the east and subsequently to the west as new rooms were reqiilred — or coiald be paid for — by the owner and his family. Most of the stone, a soft easily- worked limestone, has been carefully cut and laid suggesting a building effort of imusual ejqiense and ambition; soxiple random rubble walls, the building material for the rest of the building, are more usual. Whether this means in fact that the present great hovise incorporated the ranains of an earlier plantation, the French estate and "castle" of "Baron" , as the present owner suspects, cannot be said for certain. Hie present great house is one story high, measures 72 by 50 feet and consists of some seven bays on the longer or east side and four, plus minor additions, on the north and south. Its interest lies primarily in its representative qualities. As with many other Cruzan plantation houses, its plan is slnple, consisting of three principal rooms flanked by a gallery on the east ^d four anall bedrooms (one of which is now a dining area) on the west; an original kitchen projects from the northwest corner. While each of the rooms have been expanded in recent years, they nonetheless convey a sense of what was probably the original layout. All three principal rooms were expanded into an earlier gallery space in 1928 when a new gallery was added, but otherwise preserve much of their original appearance, particularly in their decorative details. Window openings, fitted with both interior casonents (three panes each leaf) and more recently Introduced mechanical louvers, are splayed inward, providing more clues to the structure's growth. Several include wroToght iron pintles and were no doubt originally fitted witn double plank shutters as are most of the windows still opening onto the outside. Present rooms are divided either by masonry bearing walls or by plank partitions. Ihe latter are most evident in the central drawing rocxn and in the dinii^ room to the north; the south roan is still divided longitudinally by the earlier north-south bearing w^l, forming, therefore, two separate bedrocms. All threerocms of the central core of the house were once imited beneath a single and ejq^ansive tray ceiling, also sheathed in pine planking. To insiire the efficient flow of air, the frame partitions FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM iiiilWiiill DATE ENTERED. CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE originally rose only to the level of outer wall, the remainder of the space being filled with lattice work. This arrangement was altered in 1959 vdien the present owners extended the walls to meet the ceiling. At the same time arched openings were introduced between the central and northern rooms. This work was carried out in a synpathetic manner, however, and the original configuration is easily recognized. Moldings throughout are sinple and asyirmetrical with the exception of that of the later arched doorways \diich follow a more elaborate — although traditional — synmetrical pattern. The traditional color scheme of grey walls and vhite woodwork has been carefully retained in both formal rooms and in the southeast bedroom. Other bedrooms have been treated in a more modem fashion, particularly through the introduction of plywood wall-panelling, but still retain much of their period flavor. The bedrooms flankir^ the west side of the hoiose were also extended in 1959 when other chains were introduced; new bathrooms were also added. None of these changes have significantly altered the overall appearance of the building either inside or out. The original kitchen, appended at the northwest comer, is probably the least altered room in the building. As with the rest of the house it follows a standard pattern. The roof is gable-ended and the rafters, with distinctive colar beams, are ejqxjsed. A staircase, now covered by the 1959 extension of the westend, descended to the cistern below and was reached by a door, still visible, on the south. The present gallery is probably the most deceptive feature of the house. Added in 1928, it includes a decorative bardgeboard more typical of buildings of a slightly earlier period. Presently screened above its panelled railing, it also partially obscures the earlier portico. The latter, apparently built in 1859 at the time of Wilkins' inprovanents, is in turn one of the bmlding's more elaborate elements. Comprised of a sinple molded pediment, suspended,in a sense, between two capped posts, the portico actually reduces in scale as in approaches the building; the quarter columns articiilating the entrance are a fvill two feet closer to each other than are the outer columns or posts. The portico is further distinguished by two eliptical arches uniting the sipporting colimns with the facade and engaged quarter columns. Again, these i^lay inward to conpensate for the discipancy in pacing. Despite the addition of the gallery, the portico still serves as the principal entrance, a fact indicated by the still prominent stone staircase approaching fran the garden side. The exterior of the house has been carefully maintained. Plaster covered walls are painted ochre; double-plank shutters, dark green in accordance with traditional practice. The hipped roof of the central core and shed and gable roofs or the gallery, bedrooms and kitchen are all painted mt:h a metallic paint, also a traditional treatment. FHR-8-300A Cll/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVED OCT 8 B80 DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE Imnediately to the north and west of the great house are the present servant's quarters. Again, the building follows a traditional pattern, consisting of a single-story "row", one bay deep and six bays long. Measuring 12 by 50 feet, it was probably once a home for several servant families, each being assigned a separate s^ment. The row is constructed of rubble masonry covered with lime plaster and is painted yellow in a manner reminiscent of the original ochre wash, much as is the great house. Again as with the great house, storm shutters are of double plank construction, but with single leaves; hardware is original, consisting of vmDught iron strap hinges, pintles, hooks and eyes. Ihe hipped roof is sheathed in corrugated sheet metal, again painted a metallic color. Tangent to the servant's q\aarters and about 50 feet north of the great house is the still used open resevoir. Rising approximately ten feet above grade and measuring 25 by 50 feet, it too is constructed of rubble masonry covered with lime plaster and patched with cement. A shed, originally a stable and se^nd servant's quarters,is attached to the north, and a more recent garage, ostensibly on the site of an earlier carriage house, is located along the east wall. A bell and castiron storage tank are arranged along the upper edge of the south wall. Other stinctures associated with che estate are located across the bowl, approximately 500 feet to the northeast of the residential ccnplex. The lull extent of these ranains have not been determined, but the site is known to include the remains of the original sugar factory, windmill, chimney for the no longer present stean>-powered crushing mill, animal pens, and slave village. The site is presently overgrown and can only be visited with difficulty. Further investigation, including an archaeological reconnaissance, will be necessary before a ccnplete Inventory can be established. From the existing suirvey, the most prominent feature of the remaining factory conplex is the square-tapered brick and rubble masonry chimney located toward the east of the other remains. Measuring approximately 20 feet sqiiare at the base, it risies over 50 feet to make it one of the more strikirg features of the landscape. As with other similar chimneys located elsevdiere on the island, it possesses as well a certain architectirral distinction; corners are accented with brick and a brick cornice band and cap define and complete it. The ruins of the factory begin about 20 feet to the northwest of the chimney. All that remains above-ground are a vaulted room, measin-ing approximately 10 by 20 feet and the walls of a second and parallel room of about equal size to the west. The original use for either is not known, although corrparative evidence would suggest that they were once used for storage. A ground-level cistern and bearing wall, also part of the facto^, are located just to the northeast. None of the original steam equipment is still on the site, having been removed early in the twentieth century as sugar production ceased. FHR-8-300A Cll/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED COIMTI NU ATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE The remains of the wtod mill are located 100 feet southeast of the factory. In shape and construction it followed a standard design: a conical rubble- masonry tower with an arched opening for access to the crushing machinery long since removed. The mill was slightly unusual, however, in having a key stone inscribed with a date — 1769; existing m^s from the period would tend to bear this out. Ihe key stone has since been removed for safekeeping to the basanent of the great house. Various structural problems led to the collapse of the tower during the svraner of 1979. One of La Heine’s two wells is located 275 feet to the southwest of the wind mill; the second was lost vhen the shopping center to the west of the designated site was built during the 1960s. Constructed of rubble masonry, the well is now overgrown and in disuse. To the north of the factory are the remins of the animal pens. Comprised of a rubble masonry wall, c^ped and covered with lime plaster and rising six to seven feet above grade, the pens foim a lar^e rectangular area measuring approximately 115 by 90 feet. This space is further subdivided into two major sections, of about eqvial size, and two smaller containment areas, both of \diich are located in the western half. The rubble-walled remains of a second masonry row, originally associated with the slave village to the west, are located 85 feet to the north of the animal pens. Now oveigrewn, this 50 by 12 foot structure obviously at one time approached closely to the other servant’s quarters by the main house, at least in general form and appearance. Other cottages and rows are less well defined and in most cases consist of foundations only. At least ten have been Identified, however, and one still includes a portion of a wall and window frame, suggesting that much of the village was in fact of masonry construction. Again, as with the well and longer row, access is difficult and the site is too overgrown to allow for photc^aphs. The boundaries as described are intended to adequately contain all of the romins, both above and below ground, associated with the estate. Examples of iron work, weapons and numerous pottery fragments have discovered throughout the area and there is little doxibt of the site’s archaeological potential. 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify below JL JL prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900- ___archeology-prehistoric JL archeology-historic X agriculture X_ architecture ___ art ___ commerce ___ communications community planning . conservation . economics education . engineering . exploration/settlement . industry . invention landscape architecture- law literature . military . music philosophy . politics/government . religion . science . sculpture . social/ humanitarian . theater . transportation . other (specify) Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) As with several other previously naninated plantation sites on St. Croix, La Reine's main interest lies in its typicality or representative qualities. First clearly established in 1747 tjiien Jens Hansen, a lawyer and then governor of the Danish colony,purchased the one and a half lots vdiich eventually coiprised the estate, there is some evidence to surest that its history as a plantation site extends back to the period of French colonization vitoen the estate known as "Baron" was established in the area. In 1754 the property, ishich had been inproved by the addition of an animal mill and possibly the core of the present great house, was transferred to Christian Lebrecht, the Baron yon Prock, who was soon to become governor of the new Royal Colony (Hansen had represented the Danish West Indies (jccopany i^ich had previously had jurisdiction). Von Prock subsequently Improved his holdir^ together with the help of his friend and business associate Michael Lawien viho appears to have managed the estate during von Prock's often less than popular administration. As a point of incidental interest, Lawien was the husband of Alexander Hamilton's mother and von Prock had been instrumental in preventing her diverse from his friend at the time of her liason with Hamilton's lather. By 1766 von Prock's tenure in office came to an end, largely due to the pressure of other dissatified planters, and shortly afterward the property was transferred to two brothers, Alexander and Colin Grant, vho apparently added the 1769 windmill. Known variously as The Queen or La Reine, the latter name stuck and by the end of the centmy the estate was generally listed as such in the census records. Ihe name probably was a measiore of the success of their holdings, and within a few years they were able to sell out at a substantial profit to the Irish planter John Ryan, vtoo operated it for several years. The pattern to note was not one of long-term investment and conmitment, however; as elsewiiere in the West Indies the ei^teenth-century strategy was to make as much money as qulcdcly as possible and then sell out. This pattern changed slightly toward the end of the century as profits b^an to stabilize. By 1797, the property had been transferred to James Jorden who lived there with his wife,three dau^ters and 94 slaves. Thereafter transfers occurred less regularly. Frem 1802 to 1816 it was held by a second John Ryan; from 1816 to 1828, by Jane Rogers; frem 1828 to 1845, by C.H. and William Kbrtwright; from 1845 to 1849, by James Yard Stevens; and beginning in 1849, by James Moorhead. In the latter part of the century the property became associated with the well known Cruzan families of the Balfours and the Flemings; Mrs Juanita Fleming, the grandmother of the present owner, still resides there. Throughout this period the estate followed the standard pattern of success and decline. ^ sugar prices declined during the early part of the nineteenth century due to the introduction of beet sugar, the estate became increasingly less profitable. Between 1825 and 1845, in fact, its appraised value fell from 150,CXX) rlgsdalers to less than 40,000. With emancipation of the slaves in 1848, productivity, even against declining sugar prices, fell as well. In 1857 only 115 acres were under cultivation as opposed to nearly 200, or most of the plantation, forty years before. This amount remained fairly constant during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Actual sugar production varied sonevihat more. The introduction of steam machinery just as prices were beginning to decline helped forestall the trend for a time, but total production 9. Major Bibliographical References Dookhan, Isaac. A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Epplng: Bcwker Publishing Cotipany, 1974. Lewisohn, Florence. St. Croix Under Seven Flags. Hollywood, Florida: The Dukane Press, 1970. ACREAGE MOT VERIFIED 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name___________ UMT References 27.548 IITM MOT VERIFIED Quadrangle scale. J L I I I Zone Easting j__L Northing Zone Easting Northing UJ I I I I I I _L ll I I 1 J I J__L 1 J__L J J Mil j-i J I ■ I . I I . I 1 J__L J L 1 J__L J L 1 J__L 1 FLU U Hi , I I I ■ I , , I I ■ I , I , , I J 1 . I . L Verbal boundary description and justification noninated property coiprises a portion of each of lots 2, 7, 8, and 9, Estate La Heine, previously plot nximber 20 Kings Quarter St. Croix. The boundaries- as designated encoipass a rectangular area meastn-ing 1200 by List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title William Chapnan, Architectural Historian organization Virgin Islands Planning Office date May, 1980 street & number ^606 telephone (809) 774-1730 city or town St. Thonas g^3^g U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is; ___ national X.. state ___ local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by tjje Heritage Conservatio^a^ Recreation Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature < title Director of Planning/SHPO date Septenber 17,1980 For HCRS use only that this propertv^iilhcluded in the National Register Keeper of the National Register Attest: FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM ■ RECEIVED DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE never exceeded 125,000 pounds in any given year. After 1878 as production began to shift away from individual plantations to the three central factories established on the island, La Heine began to send its cane to the nearby Central plant for processing. After the turn of the century an increasing amount of the land was used for grazing and by the 1920s sugar production had halted entirely. During the 1950s and'60s the property was leased as a dairy farai; since 1972, it has laid dormant. The building and other remains on the La Heine estate well document this pattern. While there is no evidence of the original animal mill (or mills) both the windnill and chimney for the later steam powered crushing machineiy remain visible. Ihe presence of the later factory ruins attests to the ejqjansion of sugar production during the early part of the nineteenth century, just as its decay attests to the dianging orientation and eventual decline of the industry toward the end of the century. The great house r^resents these changes in microcosm. Starting as a slnple masonry dwelling, apparently with three rooms and a separate kitchen, it progressedthrough various building programs to become a bulldii^ of considerable architectural pretention, as hlghli^ted by the substantial portico and other improvements carried out during the Balfour family's tenancy. Fortunately too, Tinlike many other estates of similar calibre. La Heine's owners continued to maintain the building, thereby ensuring its present character. Other buildings on the estate have faired less well — only the foundations remain, for example, of the original slave village — but La Heine nonetheless preserves much of its original appearance and general character, marking it as one of the best examples of its type still remaining in the Virgin Islands. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM RECrVEO 0Ct8 «80 DATE entered iiiiSiiiiiilliii CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE Ifcguire, James W. Gec^aphlc Dictionary of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1925. Morton, Henry. Danish West Indian Sketchbook and Diary, 1843-1844. St. Croix Landnarks Society, 1975. National Park Service Office, Red Hook, St. Thomas. Collection. 1. P.L. Ojdiolm's 1778 m^ of St. Croix 2. Janssen's 1791 m^ of St. Croix St. Thomas Public Library, Caribbean Room. Map Collection. 1. J.M. Beck's 1754 map of St. Croix 2. J.M. Beck's 1767 map of St. Croix 3. Kuffner/Oldendoip 1767 map of St. Croix 4. P.O. Oxholm's 1794 map of St. Croix 5. John Parson's 1856 map of St. Croix 6. U.S.G.S. 1923 map of St. Croix Statistics Concerning Properties on the Island of St. Croix, 1816-1857. Christianst^, St. Croix: P.B. Hatchett, 1859. Statistics of Si^ar Production on St. Croix, 1862-1889. Christiansted, St. Croix: John Quinn, 1892. Statistics of Sugar Production on St. Croix, 1890-1902. Christiansted, St. Croix: John Quinn, 1903. Westergaard, Waldanar Christian. New York, 1917. Ihe Danish West Indies Under Conpany Rule, 1671-1754. A great deal of infoimation has been provided by the owner, William F. Cissel, who has also had access to further impublished sources in the possession of Mrs. Rachel Aimstrong Colby of St. Croix. Mr. Cissel has done considerable research on the property and has also carried out a preliminary archaeological survey. His manuscript, A Brief History of Estate La Reine, has been especially useful. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY a Kwn receivecOCT 8 Wi# CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE 1000 feet. Ihis is considered ad.equate to protect both the visual and archaeolc^ical integrity of the site. Description: Beginning at point A (17 44*14" N.Lat./64 46*16" W. Long.) 1200 feet due south to point B (17 44*02** N.Lat./64 46*16** W. Long.) 1000 feet due west to point C (17 44*14** N. Lat./ 64 46*27** W. Long.) 1200 feet due north to point D (17 44*02'* N. Lat./ 64 46*27" W. Long.) 1000 feet due east to point A a/great house B/SERVANTS QTRS. C/RESEVOIR D/CHir\NEY E/FACTORY PMNIS F/windmill G-/WELL H/ANIMAL PENS 1/ SLAVE village s ,•'4. ' LA REINE SCALE hZ400 0 100 •50'^ 400 600FEET ST CROIX Property TECHNfCAL^ 7^ t/is ‘looow 'A CONTROL Photos, Maps ,4^/ HO'^ '/I ^''1 ^ ‘wuMdffu^ historian j^cJ- xW /j -!i-(mK l/l MirtXfAUj vK «L W-(k(|( Wi* iw gxA/i^Wi . -t^V^V i/iiA^A-rt ;/vi4 i/K. fu//>‘* ’ ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIS^ OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER Send-back National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Re-submit Entered —fiJ0V-^~|980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service 'V ■■-lit -0 'I’-t S'. .'■ i - ,-j! 'It J>- V 'si : . i. - ; # 'S vV-:j ; -,v.'.; >. S. '-^- ■ 4. ;^.- 4. ■,><•: - lys OF V2 GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES ---------0---------- OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR VIRGIN ISLANDS PLANNING OFFICE P. O. Box 2606 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.l. 00801 Septariber 1 9, 1980 Ms. Carol Shull Acting Keeper, The National Register of Historic Places Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service 440 G Street Washington, D.C. 20243 ,..s. >: 4'^- Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed is the nomination for Estate La Reine, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The owner has waved the thlrtv-<^ay rnmpPin±-pfiT;ir^fj and is most eager to have his property listed. I would appreciate your protipt attention, therefore, and would be happy to supply any additional information you might require. I look forward to hearing fron you. Sincerely yours. 0 ^ 0 0- Thomas R. Blake Director of Planning, SHPO '4«., v-,v-'4 ;> ‘■4-% c. Ms. Carol Duby, National Register Mr. William F. Cissel Mr. Norman Cissel ■i-' r~- Enel. WRC/TRB/wrc :4- ■'i' ' Cy'-' ~ -•-> -:u. 'WM0- ■ 4 "4' 4;, a ‘'I- received OCT 8 1 national register , ''''I ■M ■Ai f> -w, ■'4 . a ’ ■I# -W.. ■ .f T ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE Date Entered VIRGIN ISLAIJDS NuV 2 4 1930 Ncone Location Estate La Relne Christiansted vicinity St. Croix Island Also Notified Honorable Melvin H. Evans State Historic Preservation Officer Mr. Thomas Blake Planning Director Virgin Islands Plamiing Board Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 NR Byers/bjr/12/8/80 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.