USVI Public Records

Document text

JUL 2 3 1981 APPENDIX B L'ESPERANCE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESCRIPTION L'Esperance plantation is located on the high ridge land of St. John 1/4 mile south of Centerline Road on the east border of Cruz Bay Quarter. It was a choice site for agricultural purposes for its soil conditions, permanent spring and relatively high precipitation. As a plantation site, it is a small compact unit with fairly large buildings, that include two horsemills, a factory, a free standing cistern, a storage building, a great house, a cook house, a ser- vice building, a cemetery, a stone bridge as well as retaining walls, stair- cases and stone fencing. It was developed early in the 18th century and has retained features of design and construction in its standing remains of interest for their age and for their variance from the generally accepted layout of plantation sites. The tight grouping of the different units that comprise 1'Esperance centered a- round the Great House is exceptional and predates the pattern that characterizes the normal layout. Architecturally it is notable for, the high quality of work- manship observable in the Great House and Service buildings masonry as well as the use of volcanic sandstone as a building material. This exotic material to the Virgin Islands was probably imported from the Leeward Islands. The masonry remains of the Great House, the south Horsemill and the Service Buil- ding are in a fair state of preservation. All other structures are badly de- teriorated. L'Esperance produced sugar in the early 1830 f s but in the 1840ties discontinued cultivation of cane. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: L'Esperance Historic District is significant for its unusual layout as a sugar plantation and for its association with Governor Eric Bredal, who in the 1720ties owned the plantation and who in 1719 affected the Danish colonization of St. John in the face of British ©position. Latitude Longitude Acreage 6% acres 18° 20'32" 64° 45'32" There is no UTM references on any published maps of the U.S. Virgin Islands. VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION L'Esperance Historic District is bounded to the West by the trail that from Centerline Road leads to Sieben plantation starting at a point on the trail 250 feet northwest of the storm bridge across Fish Bay Gut and ending 450 feet due 2 3 1981 south of the same bridge, then in an easterly direction for 300 feet across the gut to the bed of the intermittent stream on the east side of the site then following the stream bed in an north and easterly direction for about 700 feet to a point about 225 feet northeast of the expound and then westerly to the starting point on the Centerline-Sieben trail. The boundaries include all parts of the historic resource and enclose a natural topographical area between the two streambeds to the west and east of the district. 2 3 1981 Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NFS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME^Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAMg New Horsemill, L'Esperance Plantation ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National jj State II STRUCTURE NO. H-5 r. 1 Local 1 x| LOCATION OF STRUCTURE?11 L'Esperance trail to Mollendal, ^ mile south of • ___________________________ C", f^' UTM REFERENCE: A LiJ LI_J- Zone . Easting! JL N J_ o r t h i n g J I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not part of a complex or district: acres. STRUCTURE:. Type of, and composition: Circular raised earth fill platform by rubble masonry walls. . _ Physical Description; The circular horsemill has a diameter of 65'. It is located on the south and downhill side of the site. Aroached Crorri uie north n level, the horsemill platform is supported and defined by retainins walls th?t. on the south side reached heights of 20'. These walls have partially failed to\vn,rns the south and west, but are still in evidence. Fragements of the foundations of the grinding mechanism are still apparent._____________•__________________ L/'Esperance Plantation was brought under cultivation carlv ar.d \vas a \vell doveloped sn^ar plantation by the 1780s. As a lantation site i r, a p^ct \\T\it with faily large building remains. -The ne\v horsemill probnbly from the early 19th century Latitude 18°20 1 33" JLonitude (continue on reverse PRESENT CONDITION: Ruins Excellent j Unaltered X Good! Altered Fair 1 [ DotcrioratedJ_ Original Site [x~1 Mov«2d JUL 2 3 1981 Appendix B: 'Historic District * • ' ' CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NTS ORGANIZATION; PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 . STRUCTURE NAM ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: Id Horse Mill, L'Esperance Plantation STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 2 . State | j National Local LOCATION OF STRUCTURE: Qn L « Esperance trail to Mollendal z mile south CenterlineR. UTM REFERENCE: III I 1 ! CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not A !__j__J | )_I_| I I j I_1_I_1_I I ! I part 'of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Roughly circular level area derived by digging into hillside and filling in- downhill area._________________ Physical Description: The earlier horse mill of the plantation is located to the north of the site and is a platform with a diameter of 50', dug into the uphill north side and towards the southwest, defined by a retaining \vall.. Now part of •f-V)f» a<-rf><;c; marl tn the newer horserrnll and the Great House. The old hor.semill CCITI V>O >TY ^"'-'ir"'-' •n inH nf cultivation of L'Esperance Plantation, Latitude 18 U 20'23" Longitude 64°45 I 3Z I (continue on reverse. If n PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent Ruins | | Unaltered X Good Altered "Fair"EIJ Original Site f~X"| Jjoved JUL 2 3 1981 Appendix B, Historic District ^ . • CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE KO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME" Factory, L'Esperance Plantation________ ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National | | State [ STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 3 Local X LOCATION OF STRUCTURE;pn L'Esperance trail to Mollendal 4:mile south of Centerline 1 UTM REFERENCE: i I I I 1 I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not A j_j_I |_j_j_j 111 I_!_j_j_I I I I part of a complex or district: Zone Easting Northing acres. STRUCTURE: Type of, and composition: Rubble Msonry rectangular in plan_______ Physical Description: The remains of a rectangular masonry structure 6Q'xZ5' oriented east-\vest. Except for the west end of the structure, the walls have toppl t• c entirely and provide only meager illustration of the former function of the building . It does not have the characteristic "T" shaped plan ot the conventional sug^i- factory of thcpato 18th century and earlv 19th century and can be-presumed to be the re- mains of 18th century construction.___________________________.______________ ] Latitude 18°20'23" Longitude b4 l'44' 32 i: (continue on reverse ii' noccr r,,->r\0 PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent Ruins I X 1 Unaltered X 1 Good Altered Fair j__[ Deteriorated I J Original Site 1 X ] ]loved | | 2 3 1981 Appendix B, Historic District • • CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME Free-standing Cistern, L'Esperance Planta- STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 4 . -1,1 on fc ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National [ State [ j Local {X LOCATION OF STRUCTURE: Qn L'Esperance trail to Mollendal ~mile south of Centerline UTM REFERENCE: | {111 I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not A Li_f I_I_I_I 1 I I I_1_I_1_lit J part of a complex or district: Zone -Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE: Type of, and composition: Plastered rubble masonry rectangular in plan and one story high._______;_____________________________ Physical Description: The free-standing cistern is a small masonry structure immediately west of the factory measuring I6'x8'. Jt is divided into hvo oqual sections - a small storage area and a cistern. The walls stand tojlheir full hcif'ht. L'Esperance Plantation was brought under cultivation early in the 18th confyiry and was -well developed sugar plantation by 1780. Inadequate research prevents accurate dating of existing remains of its buildings. They probably range throxigh the late 18th century and the early 19th century.____________________________________ Latitude 18°20'23" Longitude 64 U44'3Z" (continue or\ reverse, if necessary) PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent j Good Ruins Hcl Unaltered HcjAltered Fair [ 1 Deteriorated] Original Site | X | Moved 2 3 1881 Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED r/ilUJCTURE FIELD INVF.KTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NFS ORGANIZATION __ PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 U >1 ' • STRUCTURE NAT& Storage Building, L'Esperance Plantation STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 5 ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National | | State f~| Local | X\ LOCATION OF STRUCTURE:Qn L'Esperance trail to Mollondal ^mile south of Ccnterline I UTM. REFERENCE A Zone -Easting Northing _______ acres. 1 REFERENCE: j I I I 1 I CLASS VI LAN1D ACREAGE ( if not j_ f_f I J_ J_Jill |_1_j _1_I I II part of a complex or district: STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Plastered rubble masonry one story_____ rectangular in plan.__________________;_____________________________ Physical Description; A one-story masonry structure 12'x25' immediately \vest of the cistern \vith doors in both gable ends and two window openings in each long •wall._________ Assumed to be a storage building because of its proximity to the free-standing cistern and the factory building. It.lacks identifying features and may have served s e ver al pur po s e s.______________________________________;_______:____ Latitude 18°20'23" Longitude 64°45'32" (continue on reverse ._if n{jce.ssnvv) PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent j | Good Ruins | X | Unaltered [X [ Altered Fair ! Di*tcrioratedl \—.- . —. 4 ,——- ...—. ,———.—~~. -A Original Site • >^ j ?!oved |__j JUL 2 3 Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME_Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 . ')' STRUCTURE NAME _C_real House, L'Esperance Plantation ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National [ | State STRUCTURE NO. H-5,6 Local LOCATION 0? STRUCTUREiQn L'Esoerance trail to Moilenaai ^ suucu UTM REFERENCE: | ! I ! 1 I CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not A j |_f | )_j_) ) [ J }_|_|_"!_) I I I part of a complex or district: Zone -Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Rubble and cut stone one-story masonry former wood building rectangular- in plan.___________________________________ Physical Description; The Great House ruin is the best preserved of all structures of the L'Esperance Plantation site. It is located 30' west of the ne\v horse-mine n nd 45' north and uphill of the factory. The considerable grade difference between the site of the latter and the Great House is regulated by a narrow terrace-fronting the Great House, supported on a fraemcnted retaining \vall and a steep bank. "Vhe hous<c had a masonry ground floor measuring 46'x34' that supported a wood superstructure' The ground floor \valls stand to their full height. The north and part of the west_ v/all act as retaining -wall for the level area that fronted the yard side of the Gre-it • House. The walls, are rubble masonry \vith cut and dressed stone around openings and at cornersLand -with articulated _ quoins on the _fre_e_-standing exterior l'ac_c?. In plan it is divided into an enclosed room 20' wide that runs the full length of the building and a 12' \vide, partially open gallery on the south and factory side oi th"e" building. The east wall of the structure continues as a retaining wall for the ter­ race to the north and masonry steps along the west wall of the building lo^d up to this terrace level. The stonework is handsomely finished and the execution ver\f for traces of bpp.ms and plates nothing remains of thr \vnod superstructure. Probable dates of construction is late 18th century. Latitude 18°20'23" Longitude 64 045'32" (continue on reverse if PRESENT COiNTDITION: Excellent Ruins | xl Unaltered [_x Good Altered Fair [ | DcticrioraLcdl Original Site |_xJ Moved [__| 2 3 1982 Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NFS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360, ' ~~J STRUCTURE NAME CnnlTHouse. L'Esperancc Plantation ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National | | State •— • STRUCTURE NO. H-5 P 7_ Local [ [ LOCATION OF STRUCTURE: Qn tr?.il to Mollendal Jrmile south of Ccmterline UTM REFERENCE: A L,_TU_i Zone . E a s t i n R i I I I l_L_iJ Li J_ Northing CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not: part 'of a complex or.district: acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Rubble and brick masonry one story building rectangular in plan. ________ ; _____________________________ ' Physical Description; The cookhouse is located north and slightly -west of the Wrmse pt ^distance of approximately 25 feet on the ..level north terrace. The rubble masonry and brick \valls stand from 4' to 6' out of the ground. The building measures 22'xl6' and has the unusual feature of two masonry cooking ranges apainst the interior short walls of the structure, with a brick Dutch oven ir4 the scmt?-»\vpst interior corner, contemporary with the Great House and probably of a late 18th century date. __________________________________ . _______ Latitude lb°ZO'Z3" Longitude 64 U44'32" PRESENT CONDITION:Excellent j jGood Ruins [~x] Unaltered [~X] Altered (continue on revors elf noc e s_sarv^_ Fair | __ { Dc Oriinal Site crioratecii j :!oved [ __ [ 2 3 #8f - Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast KPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE KO. 5360 '*•/£/ • STRUCTURE NAME _a^ vice Building, L'Esperance Plantation STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 8 ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National | | State Local [X LOCATION OF STRUCTURE; Qn L < Esperance trail to Mollendal jhmile south of Ccnterline UTM REFERENCE: i III ] I CLASS VI ^^^ ACREAGE (if not A L!_I II_I_I \ | j I_1_j_]_I I I J part of a complex or district:- Zone .Easting Northing _______ acres. STRUCTURE: Type of, and composition: Rubble and brick masonry one story building "L" shaped in plan. _____ ; ___ ; ______________________________ Physical Description: The service building is an "L." shaped rubble masonry ____ structure, measuring 3Q'xZ2' west of the cook house, and on the same level. It contained two rooms and another Dutch oven constructed in hrirlc. Thp function of the structure seems to duplicate the smaller but more elaborate cook house and is not ntrp' understood. i _____ Latitude 18°20'23" Longitude 64°44'32" PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent i——i r— Ruins 1 x I Unaltered X | Good Altered (continue on reverse .ii necessary)_ Fair | | Deteriorated! J —— i——i r —i Original Site j X 1 Moved j__j Appendix B, Historic District REGION Southeast INVENTORY REPORT NPS ORGANIZATION* PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAM£ Rridg e . L'Esperance Plantation : -______ STRUCTURE NO. H-5, 9 * * " * • State I I Local [X I ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National [ LOCATION OF bJTKUU'iu:^: Qn Lr'Esperance trail to ivioiieiiuaj. ^j UTM REFERENCE: I || I 1 [ CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not A [_j_J |[_!_} 1 I ] I_I_I_1_I | | . j part of a complex or district: Zone E a B tin Northing acres. STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: Arched stone bridge over gut that separates plantation site from old cart road.-_________________________.—-______ Physical Description: The entrance road to TJEsperancc from the old q^r^roa^ that from Ccnterline Road leads to Sieben and McUlcndal crosses a small gut.' It • is bridged by a small sone arch with a span of eight feet and a width of 6'6". Al-^ though still standing the bridge abutments towards the north show signs of /.allure and in their present condition are subjected to serious erosion.__________j_____ Latitude 18°20'Z3" Longitude 64044- 1 32"~' PRESENT CONDITION: Ruins ( | (^cont Excellent Unaltered ( X I Good Altered invie on i^cvers Fair | __ | Original Site e. -. i f recess a r v } Datcr loratcdl A [ f3T] 1 loved 1 j JUL 2 3 J98J Appendix B, Historic District CLASSIFIED .STRUCTURE FIELD INVENTORY REPORT REGION Southeast NTS ORGANIZATION _ PARK/AREA NAME, Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park' CODE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME CeMstery, L'Esperance Plantation STRUCTURE NO. H-5,10" „ . ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE? National I I State I I . • Local | v f LOCATION OF STRUCTURE:On JL'Esperance trail to Mollendal ^mile south of Centerline UTM REFERENCE: A LU Ll_i. J_L LiJ. i. ! CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not part of a complex or.district Zone . Easting N. orthinfe STRUCTURE; Type of, and composition: A rectangular enclosure defined by rubble masonry walls containing 7 graves marked by raised masonry covers. Physical Description; A cemetery is located approximately 60' north of the Great House it is defined by remains of \valls and contains seven graves marked by raised masonry covers one of which is monumentcd and carries the inscription T"Hondrik Tonis Geboren op S. thomas den 15 January 1753 Overleben op S. Jandeii 23 September 1765. "__________________________________________________ Latitude IB^ZO'ZS" Longitude 64°44'32' (continue on reverse'-if nccessprv) PRESENT .CONDITION: Excellent:_j__| Good Ruins | | Unaltered [jXJ Altered Fair [[Detcrioratcdlx Original Site |x i Moved [__J Appendix B,, Wistoric District ( CLASSIFIED STRUCTURE FIELD IIs 7TORY REPORT REGIONSou\Mast • NPS ORGANIZATION PARK/AREA NAME Virgin Islands Nat'1 Park CQDE NO. 5360 STRUCTURE NAME . Oxpound. L'Esperance Plantation ___________ STRUCTURE NO. 'H-5. 1 1 » ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE: National I } . . State | 1 . • Local | xl k«h____^ »_•_«-«_» f M 4 LOCATION OF STRUCTURE:On L'Esperance trail to Mollendal ±n\ile south of Centerline UTM REFERENCE: •A L.TLu. iiii LJ_1_U 4Zone . Easting Noxth ing CLASS VI LAND ACREAGE (if not . part of a complex or district: acres. STRUCTURE: Type of, and composition;A rectangular area enclosed by rubble masonry walls and their collapsed remains. ._____________________ Physical Description; A retangular expound is located north of the Groat House and east of the cemetery. It is defined by breast high rubble masonry walls but • has no visible traces of a roofed shelter for the cattle as is found in most oxpounds Latitude: 18° 20' 2S" Long.: 6U US' (continue on reverse if neccnr.qrv) PRESENT CONDITION: Excellent Unaltered X Ruins X Good Altered Fair 1 1 flatcriorat-eJI I —— (——1 i —I Original Site j X| iloved j__j Plantation House Historic Name L'Esperance Cruz Bay St. John-. Virgin Island Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo April, 1973 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park West wall of Plantation House viewed from the north (H-5, 6). Plantation House L'Esperance ,. Cruz Bay Ouarter. St. John, Virgin Islands -. (i/r HAUL fW fK*jJ. ILL* , dm*-} Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo April, 1973 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Window in south wall of PlantationHouse (H-5, 6). ~i» „ " Cook House L'Esperance Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands f \JI Ntd-l pwi mud- $s- /T^ Photo credit F. C. Gjessing Date of photo April, 1973 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Cook House (H-5,7) viewed from the south. Bridge • - ••' f' ' •' **"' L'Esperance Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands (\/£ Mtf. P^i MuH-fa. fife* Y Photo credit F.C. Gje ssing Date of photd April, 1973 Negative filed at Virgin Islands National Park Bridge to Plantation site (H-5, 9) from Mollendal Road viewed from the south.