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Quarters B HABS No. VI-82 Kongensgade 32-33 Charlotte Amalie U(^fi> St. Thomas \p- Virgin Islands j PHOTOGRAPHS WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA m Historic American Buildings Survey National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Hfl£6> 5-CWvL HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY Quarters "B" Kongensgade 32-33 HABS No. VI-82 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I. Size: approximately 90' x 50 ' Architectural Interest and Merit: Built by Germans for a consulate during Danish occupations of island, later used as residence for government secretary, now municipal office. Neo-classical with (front) facade. Unusual staircase. Condition: Offices well maintained. Exterior needs painting, boards replaced. Orientation: Front faces north. Foundations: Brick and stone rubble masonry plastered with lime mortar and patched with cement mortar. Walls: Same masonry as above on lower story wood frame upper story with 6" vertical beaded tongue and grove sidings front elevations 8 bays divided by fluted pilasters with ionic caps all in carved board simulatory stone. Pilasters set on inside. Interior wood jalmsie shutters two panel adjustable lanvers. windows and main doorway in north side upper level have molded drip cap in wood. Roof-shape-covering: Wood frame hipped (except for pediment gable) with corrugated metal covering. Cornice-eaves: Heavy wood splaged molded cornice board on north, west, and east sides partly removed or replaced with flat board. Gutters immediately above. No dormers. No Chimneys. Porch: Two story open roofed porch around south side and south wing. Pipe columns from concrete terrace support wood framed upper level floor. Slender shorter columns support roof. Cost assembled iron openwork railing around upper level. Small porch of similar construction (except for upper level columns of wood) half an octagon in plan attached to east side. Upper level partly enclosed to make a bathroom, Floor plan: Uppper level: entrance lobby center with offices grouped around it in the three wings of the nT." Lower level: large office middle with rest rooms on either side wing plus unoccupied room and cistern to west. Quarters "B" Kongensgade 32-33 HABS No. VI-82 Stairways: Unusual central stair on north-south center axis of building. Forms almost circular well opening in center of lobby. Leads to main office room lower level. Mahogany balustrade and hand rail around top with two leaf "gate." Curving bannisters either side. Concrete treads (is) negatively carved at top. Smooth transition to positive curve at landing across north side curve level room. There run revcroses direction to 4 risers on either side of landing to floor level. Shallow board hemicycles - like niche in center of landing wall. Brass lanterns atop two newel posts at both levels. Small enclosed stair from east wing to women's rest room lower level. Floors: Wood board upper level, asphalt tile on concrete below. Wall and ceiling finish: Plaster over masonry walls lower level. Vertical wood siding and wall board over wood frame upper level. 6" beaded T & G board on ceilings. All painted. Doorways and doors: Wood frame with French wood jalmsie doors, 8 panel both sides, adjustable lanvers upper four panels. Trim: Moulded baseboards, cornice boards, molding around periphery of ceiling. Some rub rails and panelled dados. Hardware: Wrought iron shutter brackets and vertical bolt latches instead of hooks or holdbacks, orginal brass inside. Lighting: Mostly recent flourescent fixture. Heating: None. General setting: Tree standing building on government hill. Main entance to north on upper level where Kongensgade runs next to side of building. Lower level opens south to walkways and yard to east. Enclosers: Brick and stone rubble masonry walls platered, on periphery of lot. They also act as retaining walls. Outbuildings: Southeast corner, one story brick and stone rubble masonry (plastered) building with corrugated metal shed roof used for storage. To east of main building a low two story building used for offices. Brick and stone rubble masonry (plastered) 1st floor. Shingled wood frame second floor. Hipped saddle roof with corrugated metal covering. All openings shuttered. Quarters "B" Kongensgade 32-33 HABS No. VI-82 Walks: Concrete terrace around lower level under porch. Landscaping: Various trees - palm, mahogany, etc. in rather unkept yard east.. Large couch shells set in concrete make curbing around planting beds and trees. Prepared by: Phillip Gardner, NPS *