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APPENDIX B Jijj 0 MORE HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT *- DESCRIPTION More Hill Plantation development is located on the ridge of the East End penin- sula of St. John 500 yards east of the peak of More Hill. The site has the ruins of three buildings of modest proportions at an elevation of 360 feet above sea level. There is no trail to the site. More Hill Plantation was cleared and brought under cultivation at an unknown date between 1780 and 1800. It is shown on the Oxholm Map of 1800 as number 2 of the East End Quarter Plantations and with two symbols for buildings but is not named. The plantation cultivated cotton and never had any other use and was abandoned early in the 19th century. The districts interest lies in the "time capsuled" nature of its remains which illustrate primitive late 18th century construction techniques and the modest facilities required by a small cotton plantation. The site also has a large midden downhill and south of the warehouse. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE More Hill Historic District is significant for its remains of a modest cotton plantation of the late 18th century unaltered and disturbed by later development and different uses. Latitude Longitude Acreage: 6 acres 18° 21' 39" 64° 41' 39" There are no UTM references on any published maps of the U.S. Virgin Islands. VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION More Hill Historic District is located in an area of dense bush without any distinct natural or man made features and is surrounded by protected park lands. For this reason the District has arbitrarily been defined as the area bounded by latitudes 18° 21'41" and 18° 21'37" and by longitudes 64° 41'42" and 64° 41'35". Appendix B, Historic District CLAS S IFIED STRUCTURE FIE.,.: ./' '• • ••'':' i iLjili'l' lil ' ^(Attach 4iTx5"lT~l>6U; i'l^M.o; •' • N?S ORGANIZATION REGION Southeast_____ PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 ' STRUCTURE NAME .; Residence, More Hill_________________ s STRUCTUR1S NO. H-38. 1 OHOKU OF SWJNtraiANCIS: National ( I State | ] Local [j LOCATION OF STRUCTURE; 5 Q 0 yards east of More Hill On cast end of St> John_______ UTM REFERENCE: i (ill I CLASS VI'LAND ACREAGE' (ii: not A I_ ^_j |_j_|_j j j 1 { . 1_j_1_I I I \ part of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing , • _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: The lower rubble masonry wall of a ________rectangular. .1)111] ding. Physical Description;_The footings and low rubble masonry ^v a Us of a building 18'x26' is located on a slight rise of the cast end peninsula ridrrc long walls are oriented northeast-southwest. The rubble romairy.q nf \v to. have been a cistern is built against the southeast corner of the builclii-i^. top svirfaces of the masonry walls that stand from one toj:ourn fe_et above -ffr sloped down towards the outside and imprints of squared timber on the inner, sur- far.p.s of thfi walls carried clown below the existing grade indicates^ a po.?t \voocl con - structlon of the now missing upper section of the outer walls. The main ontrancc appears to have been centered in the northwest wall of the building. Approximately 50% of the masonry walls have been preserved._______ More I-JiTl plantation was cleared and brought under cuitiviatioii at an uiiluT(7\viT(Ta1:c hejlwcRn.. 1.7.80 and 1800. It is shown 011 the Qxhoim map of 1 8'OQ as num"bcr Z oi' lhe K?vs1:...F/n4 Quarter, plantations and with two symbols for buildings but is not named. The, site is not indicated or named on any subsequent map of St. John although a 1907 'map published by the Society "De Danske Atlanterhavsy&er", Copenhagen, Denmark refers to the general area as Mt. Pleasant. Presumedly the________ _________________ (continue on reverse if nccor;r.ary) . PRESENT CONpITION: ExcolIeniEl 1 Good! j \ Fair 1 j. Dctcri'oraTe'di"! Ruins j"xl Unaltered ( X Altered __! V Original, Site [yj Moved | j j ~-.-ui_u-j—* v < •'' *' y ^•••••^j »«*fc^i«B* plantation cultivated cotton and never had any other use. The primitive construction technique of its buildings make it likely that the existing ruins date back to the late ISth century. Latitude 18°21'39" 'Longitude 64°41'38" Appendix B, Histqric District CLAS SIFIED S TRUCTURT5 i- REGION Southeast NTS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME Servants Quarters, More Hill OKMK OK SICJNIKICANCK: National 1 } " STRUCTUKI2 NO. H-38. 2 Seato j | fx"1 LOCATION OF STRUCTURE: 50 Q yards east o£ More mu Qn east end Q£ Su UTM REFERENCE: j Nil ! CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (ii: not; A L_< J LI_I_I i 1 I 1_i_J_1_i I i I pare of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing . • _______ acretj. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: ___rectangular building The lower rubble masonry wall of. a Physical Description^ rectangular b -nil cling Q'yl dcnce. The 3' high 1 rubble masonry walls have finished down is located 6' north of the ro:u- top and on the inner side, imprints of the sqn..-\'d posts that served as tha i'ranio. for i-.h e upper wood section of the outer walls. A door centered in the souMi, wall provided the only access to the interior. All walls stand to their full height. __________ More Hill plantation was cleared and br ought. i.mder cultivatimi . . ^n unlr-nciw- between 1780 and 1800. It is shown on the Qxho.lm map1 of 1800 as No. 2 of the ICa s t End Quarter plantations and with 2 symbols for buildings but. , is not named. _ Th c _ site is not indicated or named on any subsequent map of St. John although a 1 9D7_. rn ap pulolishcd by the Society "DeDanske Atlantcrhauvs^er", Copenhagon^ Do nm_ar.k refers to the general area as Mt. Pleasant. Presumedly the plantation cuiliv n Jiod. cptljon and never bad any other use. The primitive construction teclin;i,CLU.e.._oL UN _ buildings ma.ko it likely that the cxistingruiis date back to the late l.B.lh Latitude 18°21'39" Longitude 64 U 8 (continue on reverse PRESENT CONDITION: Ruinc 1x1 Excellent Unaltered X Goodj__| . Fair [_J. Deteriorated! Altered | j V Original Site fxl Moved |~| 2 3 !S8I Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FY.KVn ;; i> Vj_,r.V<JRY REPORT C At tacn ^r "ix5^' 1 ^<ScW ^.'i\<~* iio j NPS ORGANIZATION __ PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CODE NO. 5360 k REGION Southeast STRUCTURE NAME ' Warehouse, More Hill •OKO/iK OK SKiNII-'ICANCI';: National 3 1 _________" STRUCTURE NO. T-T-.^R^ 3. State I1 Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURE; 5QQ yards east of More Hill on east end of St. John UTM REFERENCE: i 111 A l_J I i. 1 I J I I I_l_U_i Zone Easting Northing CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (ii: not part of a complex or district: acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: The lower rubble masonry wall of a r.ect angular Physical Description; The lower rubble masonry walls of a rectangular Z4'x48' is located on slightly lower ground 75' southeast. of the residence. The building is oriented due north and south and has 4 doorways 2. in ench of 1 1 ) j^..L< a i } U sides placed approximately 4' from the corners. The walls stand from 2 |-.o..4.!.ou(; of surrounding ffrado and like the other Z buildings of the site supported wood wal J.» pn •posts set in the lower rnasonry walls. Fragements of a red clay tile indicate.! hat. the floor of the building was paved. Approximately 80% of the masonry walls re - main standing. _______________________________ ' ______ ; ___________ _ More Hill plantation was cleared and brought under' cultivation at an \mkncnvn. .da Le, between 1780 and 1800. It is shown on the Oxholm map of 1800 as No. Z of Hi i villas t End Quarter plantations and with Z symbols for buildings but is not named. The.., s_itc_.is..__not indicated or named on any subsequent map of St._ John altho.ueh _L9.Q_7_n\a p by the Society "DeDanskc Atlantorhavs^er", Copenhagen, Dcnni.-irk vp.ro r s as..Mt, Pleasant. Prosnjnodly the plantation cultivated, cotton and never had any other use. The primitive construction technique of its buildings make 'it likely that the existing ruins date back to the late 18th century. ________ . _____________ ; _______________ Latitude 1 8°21 ' 39" Longitude 64°41 '38" __ (continue on reverse if ncco.nnnry) 1-1 Deteriorated]_J Original Site 1y 1 Moved | | PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent! ,Ruin8 ) ->J , Unaltered Good Altered m Servants Quarters JUL23I98I More Hill More Hill, East End - St. John, Virgin Islands ( (// Photo Credit: F. C. Gjessing Date of Photo 7/6/76 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Interior of servants quarters H-38,2 viewed from entrance (south) note impressions of posts in wall. - • ~ ^ / ' .' # *. I tfm s 'I Warehouse More Hill More Hill, East End, St. John, Virgin Islands Photo credit: F. C. Gjessing date of photo 7/6/76 Negative viled at Virgin Islands National Park Northwest entrance to warehouse H-38,3 viewed from the north.