USVI Public Records

Document text

A '"' ^ « JUL 231981 Appendix B REEF BAY SUGAR FACTORY HISTORIC DISTRICT " ; DESCRIPTION: Reef Bay Factory Historic District lies at the head of Reef Bay immediately be- hind the beach. In addition to the factory, the district has a horsemill, the remains of 3 small dwellings, a free standing bake oven, an oxpound, a cemetery with one marked grave and a well and drinking trough. Reef Bay Estate, of which the factory is part, came under cultivation early in the l8th century as a cattle and cotton plantation. About 1800 it was joined with Par Force Estate to the north and the combined esta" es of more than ilOO acres were devoted to the cul- tivation of sugar cane. Reef Bay Factory is the best preserved of its kind in the Virgin Islands and has retained its coppers, flues, crystalization platform, tool racks and other features of the sugar manufacturing process as well as a complete mid-19th century steam powered cane crushing system housed in a i860 addition to the factory. This addition as well as the secondary buildings of the complex are constructed strictly for their utilitarian purposes and little effort has been given towards creating an architectural impression. The older section of the factory, on the other hand, exhibits considerable evidence of preoccupation with architectural decoration. It stands on an articulated base with stucco band work at corners and around windows and door openings. A double band takes the place of a cornice and tlie space between them is divided in panels corresponding to the fenestration of the wall below. Acroterions define the corners of the main elements of the structure. The ornamental plaster work is carried through on the interior, and there are indications of a color treatment of band work as well as grooved and painted joints of the plaster and stucco emphasizing the architectural effect. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Reef Bay Factory Historic District is significant for its well preserved "works" which clearly illustrate late l8th and early 19th century sugar production prac- tices and for the architectural quality of its factory building. Acreage: 5 acres Latitude: 18° 19' 30" Longitude: 6h° hh 1 1*2" There are no UTM references on any published maps of the U.S. Virgin Islands. VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: The historic limits of the factory compound are bordered to the north and west by the trail from centerline road and the Reef Bay shoreline and to the south and east by the mangrove swamp that seperates the factory site from the higher land towards the northeast. The boundaries include the presence of all parts of the historical resource as defined by the natural barriers of the swamp and the sea and the historical access trail. JUL 231981 Appendix B, Historic District \ \ • CLASSIFIED STRUCTURI': FIELD INVi-..r>URY ,.'•' \ * (Atttacli A*'x5 H ii<SW Phofco) • *• oJ J.ON Sbulheast NFS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 ' STRUCTURE -NAMfl Horsemill, Reef Bay Estate • * . •• i _ ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National II State STRUCTURE NO. H-13. 1 Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURErShoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles soutti 01 yenterjujuu UTM REFERENCES i Mil I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE- (if not; A L|_I |_|_j_I J I I I_1_I_1_[I ! I part of a complex OTC district: Zone .Easting Northing -L; acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Earth fill platform retained by rubble stone walls, mill is circular in shape. •___ ___________________ _ Physical Description: j__ The Horsemill is a raised circular earth platform jfrmrto six feet above t__ -.grade with a diameter of 80' and defined by-rubble masonry retaining walls ,__ on all sides. A ramp leads up to the horsemill from the east. Both the ' —— footings of the'original grinding mechanism and the brick gutter through —^~- which the cane juice was led to the boiling house have been preserved. In -7— addition, the mill has the steam-driven cane crushers installed in 1862. They a%re located to the northwest on masonry footings straddling the edge . ^ _ of the mill retaining wall. .... ,. Latitude 18°19'30" Lonrritude 64°44'4Z" (continue on reverse, if necessary) PRESENT CON Ruins DITION: Excellent Unaltered X Good Altered Fair \ \ Detc Original Site 1 x rioratiedl xl Moved I 1 Report prepared by; JUL 231981 Appendix B, Historic District ' -^mta(u,,*uy& CLASSIFIED -JCTURE FIELD INVENTORY. REPORT (Actacli 4nx311 li&W Pi» REGION Southeast NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAMEVirgin Islands Nat'1 Park. , CODE NO. STRUCTURE NAME? Factory, Reef Bay Estate • ' i ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National f~| State X STRUCTURE NO. Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURE :Shoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles south of Centerline Roacl UTM REFERENCE: i Mil A i . n i i 1 j i I LiJ_iJ. Zone Easting Northing CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE. (if not part of a complex or district:: acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: mastered brick and rubble masonry laid out in a T shape and with extensions towards the north and southwest Physical Description; The factory is of brick and rubble masonry construction with stuccoed and plaster walls. The older section of the factory had a flat mnf,..^. ... „ addition ot the mbUs, a hipped roof. The oldersection of the factory is "T" ____ shaped in plan, almost identical to the illustration of the ideal factory in P. "L. JPxholm's book. •Over de Vestindiske dcxs_ Til stand, pnblisl-^H in nnp^nhacy 1797. The stem of the T is 40'6" wide by 37' long, and contains thf> hnilincr with a boing bench of five "coppers" along the west wall over a flue and a in West of the boiling house,but within the stem of the "T". is the firing trench. where the furnace was stoked. The firing trench had a roof supported on arches and square pillars. Three rectangular windows below the level of the firing trench roof and two circular vents in the space between the roof of the firing trench and, the higher roof of the boiling house allowed the steam from the boiling bench to escape. The boiling house is divided into two sections by a wall running north- . south with the large arched openings. The eastern section, like the firing trench, had a slightly lower roof and houses the crystallization pans. Two windows and a door in the east wall and south wall, respectively , provided additional ventilation '.. . . ' Latitude 18 19'30" Longitude 64°44'42" (continue on reverse if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Excelle Ruins ( X J Unaltered nt X Good Altered Fair 1 | Deteriorated] Original Site | xl Moved 1 I Report prepared by: JUL ? 3 198! Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT (Attacir4"x5ir~B&W Photo) REGION Southeast NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park. CODE NO. 1 STRUCTURE NAME" Dwelling No. l r Far.tory R. flfif Ra.y Estate ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National ) ] State STRUCTURE NO. T-T.I Local |x LOCATION OF STRUCTURE; shoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles south of Centerlino Road U1M REFERENCE: | 111 I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE-(if not A Lj_J ||_|_I | I I_|_I_1_I I I I part of a complex or district: Zone -Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Wood structure on a masonry footing rectangular in shape,_________;____________________________________ Physical Description:____________________________________________ rDwelling...No.. 1 of Reef Bay Factory Site is 20' east of the factory and was a____ shangled two-room, one-story wood frame structure with a gable roof measuring 20'xlS'. Its date of construction is late but not determined definitely. It______ collapsed in I960 and only the masonry footings of its exterior -walls remain._____ • Latitudel 81013 0" Longitude 64°44'42 1 (continue on reverse, if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent Ruins 1 X Unaltered X Good Altered Fair { \ Deteriorated! Original Site 1 X 1 Moved 1 I Report prepared by: AppendixB, REGION Southeast JUL?3I98I strict *""**•• •'"*"* CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY. REPORT (Attach~4"x5*rl5&W Photo) ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME" Dwelling No. 2. Factory. Reef Bay Estate STRUCTURE ftO. H-13 r 4 ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National I I State FH Local fx] LOCATION OF STRUCTURE; Shoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles south of Centerline Road UTM REFERENCE: j Mil I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE.(if not A I_< J |_|_|_j J I I j_1_|_]_Iff! part of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing _______ acres. iype or, and composition: Plastered rubble masonry one-story_____ rectangular._______________;_____________________________ Physical Description; Dwelling No. 2 of Reef Bay Factory Site is located 50' east .of the factory and slightly south of dwelling No. 1. It is a one-story rubble .masonry structure with a gable roof 36' by 15' of early construction, possibly _p re dating the factory. The'east and south wall have collapsed. The two remain­ ing walls' stand .to their full height. • Latitude 18 Q 1Q'3Q" Longitude 64 44'42 (continue on reverse if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Ruins | X | Excellent Unaltered | X | Good Altered Fair [ __ | Deteriorated] _ 1 Original Site 1 XJ Moved 1 j Report prepared by: o Appendix B,, Hi storic District CLASSIFIES- -.YRUCTURfi F, REGION Southeast • 'JRY REPORT >; NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands _Nat'l Park CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME" Dwelling No. 3. Factory.Reef Bay Estate STRUCTURE NO. H-13., 5. * i ' • ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National || State |1 Local f"x" LUUA.iiUiN ur biKuuiutv.£,: bnoreline ol Keel .ttay i :>/** UTM REFERENCE: i 111 A I . TI I i I J i I i I i l.i ! Zone Easting Northing CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE-(if not part of a complex or district acres, STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Rubble masonry, one-story rectangular in shape . r__________________ Physical Description:____________________________________________ Dwelling No. 3 of Reef Bay Factory site is located about 50 yards south oast..of. live factory and 20 yards east of the horsemill.' It is a single room rubblo mnsnnry. structure with a gable roof. ' It measures IQ'xlS' and the walls arc; only. Latitude 18 U 19'30" Longitude 64"44'42" (continue on reve rse. i fnecc ssary) PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent Ruins |X"1 Unaltered T Good Altered Fair [ ] Detcrioratedl_ I Original Site j Xj Moved 1 i Renort Dreoared bv: JUL 23 i98! Appendix B, Hi CLASS IL- OLD r/r.RllCTURK V'J'.ELD ItWto'^ORY REPORT S1 ' 1J&W Attac NFS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 _., REGION Southeast ' STRUCTURE NAME" Bake .Oven. Factory. Reef Bav Estate _____ STRUCTURE NO. • ' i • • , ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National fl State f~l Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURE: Shoreline of Reef Bay 1 e/r miles south of .Centerline Road, UTM REFERENCE: j 111! i CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE,(if not A |_|_I |_|_{_| ] || I_1_I_]_[ j I I part of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: _ square in s Plastered rubble and brick masonry. Physical Description; A free standing bake oven is located approximately 30 font. south of dwelling No. 2. It is 5 by 5 feet square and is constructed, in jrubfr],ejrrxasonry wj.th brick lining Q£ openings^Jb.akinff r-bambor anr) a«b .bny,...,. T-n. design it conforms to the standard design of the smaller bake ovens found in the Virgin Islands. • It has no flue. Combustion was fed by the draft through thn ash pit at ground level and smoke and gases produced in the burning of the fuel____ ^escaped through the feed door to the baking^chamber. Onr.p t.hn pntir^ .ma rmass had acquired the desired heat the baking chamber was raked out and products to be baked placed in the chamber. To prevent rapid dissipitation of heat, doors were placed over both the openings to the baking chamber and the rake out opening of the ash nit. _____________________ Latitude 18°19'30" Longitude 64°44'42 j (continue on reverse if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: i —— i R\iins | __ 1 Excelle Unaltered nt X | Good Altered Fair] | Detcrioratedl X Original Site fx 1 Moved | | Report prepared by: , Appendix B, HistofltrWstrict ' ' ' CIASSII'T/ STRUC'jLJRg )•'. . ' _ __ ,^TORY U12PORT 11 ^W Pir<it53 'NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands. Nat'1 Park CODE NO. REG ION Southeast____ STRUCTURE NAME Oxpound, Factory, Reef Bay Estate______ STRUCTURE NO. H-13 f 7 ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National I| _State | 1 Local fx" . I LOCATION OF STRUCTURE:Shoreline of Reef Bay, 1 3/4 miles south of Centcrline Road UTM REFERENCE: A LiJ LL-i- Zone . East J | ing | ] I I I _ 1 _ I _ 1 [ j II Northing CLASS Vl LAND ACREAGE' (if not part of a .complex or district: acres. STRUCTURE;, Type of, and composition: An area roughly triangular in shape defined by dry stone walls and the retaining wall of thp. hor.gprmTl T_________ Physical Description:^____________________________________________t » An irregular shaped expound defined by dry stone walls and the retaining walla , of the horsemill extends outward in a southeasterly direction from the ho^se- mill. It appears to be an enclosure for confining such dray animals used in thej 'working of the draw of the horsemill during peiods of rest more than an ox- pound proper. No traces have been observed of a corral shelter or feeding troughs as is generally observed in expounds proper Latitude 18U 19'3Q" Longitude 64°44'42" (continue on reverse if noccssary) PRESENT CONDITION: Ruins | 1 Excellent Unaltered | X | Good Altered . Fair \ __ | Deteriorated! Xj Original Site lx 1 Moved 1 j Report prepared by: 23 1981 Appendix B, Histo^^strict ^ j 1 • ' CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REGION Southeast ORGAN1ZATI01 PARK/AREA NAMEVirgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. STRUCTURE NAME? .Cemetery. Factory. i. ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National I I State STRUCTURE NO. H-13. Local [""xl LOCATION OF STRUCTURE;Shoreline of R e ef Bay 1 3/4 miles south of Centcrline Road- UTM REFERENCE:jT~j|]I CLASS Vl LAND ACREAGE, (if not A |_|_I j_|_|_I J | j |_1_j_1 (_I 1 I I part of a complex or district:^ Zone Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE;, Type of, and composition: One raised masonry ancj monumented grave a cemetery with undefined limits;___________________________ Physical Description:___________________________________________. An ill-defined cemetery is located southeast of the horsemill and south of the expound. It is known to contain the graves of three members of the Marsh family. Only one, the grave of William Marsh is monumented, by a buili up masonry structure surmounted by a standing cross. Latitude 18U 19'30" Longitude 64°44'42" (continue on reverse if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Ruins | | Excellent Unaltered | X | Good Altered Fairl_ ] Detorioratedlx Original Site Ixl Moved 1 I Report prepared by: , UUL Appendix, Histori REGION Southeast ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park COPE NO. . 5360 STRUCTURE NAMg Well and Drinking Trough. « i * , i ' ___ ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: ' National | | /STRUCTURE NO. H-13,9 ' . . . • State ! 1 Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURE;shoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles south of Centcrlme Koact UTM REFERENCE:jTjj]| CLASS Vt LAND ACREAGE (if not A LJ_j LJ_{_III 1 I_1_I_J_[ J I I part of a .complex or district: Zone Easting Northi.ng _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Shoreline of Reef Bay 1 3/4 miles Physical Description:.____________________________________ ,A well connected to a 40 foot long plastered masonry drinking trough for cattle is located |2$0 feet northeast of the factory. The trough is 3 feet wide and ; raised 2 f<jet above grade and is built in a straight line east west. The well :'.s located at it« east end. The circular walls of the well stand 2'-6' above grade and have a diameter of 5 feet. ! Latitude 18°19'30" Longitude 64Q44'4Z' (continue on reverse if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Excelle Ruins (7H Unaltered nt x Good Altered Fair I | Detie Original Site 1 X rio rated] XJ Moved \~] Report: prepared by: Engine House Histori<:Name: Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands, Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park West and north elevation of engine house of factory (H-13, 1) mill round and cane crushers to the right (H-13,1). . Factory Historic Name: Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter. St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Storage wing (Left) and firing trench (right) of factory (H&13,2) viewed from the west. JUL231981 JUN 8 1981 *" IV.. --.V:- Factory Historic Name: Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit F.C. Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at ¥irgin Islands National Park Curing and storage wing of factory viewed from the northeast, still in foreground (Hdl 3, 2). ••*;• Factory Historic Name: Reef Bay Plantation Common N«me: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands eeCvf Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Factory building viewed from the southeast, curing house to the jfight and foiling house to the left (H-i2, 2}. & «r M Horsemill and Factory Historic Name: Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter., St. John, Virgin Islands (VX 'KJ&M- rW /r)^/fy^ Photo credit F. C.Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park HorsemilljnH-13, 1 (Left) and factory building (H-13, 2) yi«rw»4 from the southeast. 1860's engine house in center of view with boiling house to the right. 1981 JUL 23 I98! 'A .*I » If. 'rs^, *>. * ^ 8Vl I f ^) --^ I u -i / Horsemill Historic name: .Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo 6/26/78 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Horsemill (H-13, 1) with remains of expound wall (H-13, 7) in the foreground viewed from the south- southeast. Factory building in background (H-13, 2). JUL23I98I Factory Historic Name:. Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reff Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands (uf ivd-l' P**l tn^i-^^ 't?s Phofco credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo July, 1970 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Interior of boiling house of factory (H-13, 2) viewed from the south, prior to reroofing. 'O.!, Steam Engine Room Historic Name:. Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarters. St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo July, 1970 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park View of steam engine room of factory (H-13, 2) from top of stack prior to reroofing and cleaning of debris. r . • v-c; Dwelling No. 2 Historic Name:. Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter. St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit F. C. Gjessing date of photo April, 1976 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Dwelling No. 2 h-13,4 viewed from the southwest. Bake Oven Historic Name:. Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands hoto credit F. C. Gjessing date of photo April, 1976 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Bake Oven H-13, 6 viewed from the south. Grave Historic Name:. Reef Bay Plantation Common Name: Reef Bay Factory Reef Bay Quarter^ St. John, Virgdn Islands ( l u$, Photo credij? F. C. Gjessing date of photo April, 1976 negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Grave of William Marsh viewed from the north (H-13, 8).