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Form No. 10-300 , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF fflSTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM datasheet FOR NFS USE ONLY JUN3 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS________ I NAME HISTORIC Estats St. John , St. Jan PlanFagp, AND/OR COMMON [LOCATION STREET & NUMBER ' (J —NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN L 'i CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Chi-T sE.iansted VICINITY OF STATE Virgin Ilsands CODE 78 COUNTY St. Croix CODE 0800 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT ^BUILDING(S) —STRUCTURE —SITE —OBJECT OWNERSHIP —PUBLIC ^PRIVATE —BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION —IN PROCESS —BEING CONSIDERED STATUS Occupied —UNOCCUPIED —WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE ^YES: RESTRICTED — YES: UNRESTRICTED —NO PRESENT USE —AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM —COMMERCIAL —PARK —EDUCATIONAL ?_PRIVATE RESIDENCE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —MILITARY —OTHER: Qowner of property NAME Eric and Jenny Lawaetz STREETS NUMBER P.O. Box 916 CITY, TOWN Christiansted _x-vicinity of STATE St. Croix 0LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION ■■■■ ■ COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC, Recorder of Deeds STREETS NUMBER Government House CITY, TOWN Christiansted STATE St. Croix 0 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS ,: TITLE V.I. Inventory of Historic Places DATE —FEDERAL X_STATE COUNTY LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS V.I. Planning Office CITY, TOWN St. Thomas, STATE V.I. DESCRIPTION CONDITION Xexcellent —GOOD —FAIR —DETERIORATED —RUINS —UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE ^UNALTERED —ALTERED CHECK ONE X—ORIGINAL SITE —MOVED DATE- DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The Great House of the St. John plantation is located 3 miles west of Christlansted. The large rambling factory complex, east of the Great House and separated from it by a modern road and wooded hillsides has been so altered and expanded that it is not included in this nomination. The Great House is a one story structure set on a high foundation 7 by 4 bays, with a hipped roof now sheathed with corrugated tin. The walls are primarily of coral block, with some rubble, and have been painted. The south elevation has a five bay segmental arched arcade, with the central three bays set forward slightly to create a projected entrance, served by a straight flight of stairs with flared sidewalls. A two bay (13* wide) wing has been added to the east end wall of the Great House, and a one story kitchen attached to the northwest corner. All exterior openings have flat arches with splayed jambs, are provided with later sash, and have heavy boaid shutters hung on wrought iron straps and pintles. The interior has a large living room with an exceptional triple arcade separating it from a full width hail at the rear. The arches of the arcade are supported by square reeded wood pilasters with Doric caps, reeded key­ stones and panelled soffits. The two outer arches have panelled walls at chair rail height. The living room has an exceptional tray ceiling, panelled in wood with a continuous three part molded ceiling cornice, and a carved center medallion decorated with five tobacco leaves. The room is flanked by two bedrooms and a small office to the west and two bedrooms w^ith a later center hall to the east. Both of these areas, arid the rear hall, have flat wood ceilings. The rear hall has a double door in the center with single windows on either side. The east bedroom wing has had a later wall Inserted between the two original walls to create the center hall - it was originally three equal rooms as is the west wing. The original partitions are frame, sheathed with horizontal boarding - the exterior walls are plastered. All door openings leading from the central living room are trimed with molded architraves. There is a good raised three panel door in the rear east bedroom. A free standing three room cookhouse is located off the northwest corner of the Great House. Gable roofed, 40' by 17'• the structure is 3 by 2 bays, with a massive chimney and fireplace occupying the west end wall. The walls are coral, and the splayed jambs of the doors and windows are plastered. They are not lined with brick which is the typical treatment. There are three doors in the south facade, and three windows in the north, with wood heads and sills. The wood roof framing is now covered with corrugated tin, and the floor is coral block. There is an exceptional bee-hive oven and a cooking fireplace in the west cooking room. Form No 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FORNPSUSE ONLY RECEIVEI^yQ 1 5 1977 DATE ENTERED JUN 9 *^9"^ CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE A 4' 10" by 8'5" coral block bell tower Is located east of the Great House. Built on a raised platform, the tower consists of two tapered square columns capped by an architrave with a molded and scored frieze and a tile roof. The columns have molded caps and two part plinth blocks, and are tied together with a plastered panelled extrado with keystone. An/ 18 by 46 one story stable and carriage house remains west of the Great Hou^e, ncwused as a studio and gallery. ' l -n 5>' ii,;' ^ ' Tv GPO 692 4S5 SIGNIFICANCE . PERIOD —PREHISTORIC __1400-1499 __1500-1599 —1600-1699 —1700-1799 2Ll800-1899 —1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —AGRICULTURE ^ARCHITECTURE __ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS —COMMUNITY PLANNING —CONSERVATION —ECONOMICS —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —LAW —LITERATURE —RELIGION —SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -EDUCATION -ENGINEERING -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT —INDUSTRY —MILITARY —MUSIC —PHILOSOPHY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT —S0CIA17HUMANITARIAN —THEATER —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER (SPECIFY) —INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES C.UiO Uf-T BUILDER/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE St. John's Great House Is an excellent architectural example of the smaller residences associated with the sugar Industry. It's Interior is largely Intact, with exceptional detailing, especially the triple arcade partition, tray ceiling and medal ion. The cookhouse and Belfry are also of architectural significance. The estate was once owned by Colond Charles Pym Burts and was called Pym Burst Plantage. St. John Plantation was burned during the St. Croix Labor Riots in October, I878. An account describing the insurrection mentions St. John, "At St. John's Estate you could see them running in and around the dwelling house and the sugar factory - all in blaze in no time." ' An assessment of damages during the Labor Riots revealed; Fifty-one sugar plantations had been destroyed. In all the areas affected In St. Croix, 28 had been saved, St. John. ..o ■ vT' 1 Florence Lewisoln, St. Croix Under Seven Flags. Dukane Press. 1970, p.320 Imajor bibliographical references Interview with Mrs. Jenny Lawaetz by Annie Hillary, November 23, 1976. Dookhan, Essex. A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Epping, Essex: Bowker Publishing Co,, 197^. f EQgeographical data ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY, UTM REFERENCES 2.18 acres Cf'1.1*’ 45* 56" North Latitude t‘'/^64*’ 44' 50" West Longitude 1 J L Li J iJ I . 1 t I . ■ 1 ZONE EASTING NORTHING cl _lJ I I ■ I . . I I ■ 1 . I . . I iLJ 1 I ■ I . . I I ■ I . 1 . . 1 ZONE EASTING NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ZONE EASTING NORTHING Pj . I I I . I . . I I . I . I . I I The nominated property is located off the Northslde Road on #3 C* ~'»• Ji ! • C t Estate St. John. <s five- o-| MAwO.Sier ■frovyx r e-CovASj -s U . .... ^ sipr (Mti LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Hform prepared by NAME/TITLE Russell Wright, Annie Hillary June 9, 1977 ORGANIZATION V.I. Planning Office DATE STREETS NUMBER P.O. Box 2606 TELEPHONE 809-774-1730 CITY OR TOWN STATE St. Thomas Virgin Islands E0STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS; STATE X LOCAL NATIONAL. 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 arrsLerocedures set foctKby tj^e..Natiojial Park Service. DATE TITLE Director of Planning FOR NPS USE ONLY THEREBY CERTIFY THATTHIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED NATIONAL REGISTER ifcr'-rrio nc ArTEST,:::>, mmor'innoiiEOLea'i' ihmih iiiiotonifr nna Hi re xt DATE __ EEEtilrt OE TuJiJ t/rrnrn ,r.,r„x.,.,r /i > GPO 892.453 r Form No 10-300a (Hev 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY e&UG 15^77 RECEIVEt DATE ENTERED ju«: 9 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE one Lewinsohn, Florence. St. Croix Under Seven Flags. The Dukane Press, 1970. Hollywood, Florida; McGuire, James William. Geographic Dictionary of the Virgin Islands. Special Publication No. 103 (Serial N. 269), United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Department of Commerce. Washington, D.C., 1925. V' r-- ^-tt^e. - >i>vo Oe-^ rTVn '5-r''^' ‘S'-ruDi c» ^aJ'MZrges :^ec«cr>ica->se 4ir^^tcr-::j2rvoee- e>osfl^:=;:Mvu, r^^tfcrrrtS^ec - AutKec>) 5(l/1« ■ ^.1; 4 <5^ Property< State Working Number 5jc)o9:-fr6 TECHNICAL Photos Maps / 6t CONTTOL 0^0 / S7^r2f//^T ^ HISTORIANS \^'/ /^^c/STpex />e// K / ^-75,-. /a/A^/?? /1> C'''0 ^ ^ !yy\ o'/ka^ /, ' (0 j <Ag ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN /o - J-7- 77 .) Set./- r/e> ^rec^ye. i^Sl> j/> prvft^/ef ^ *o/(eir Cz>/r7^/e.^ Met // Sers. A/l>U 3l^n-n,t,P e^ ch^Pj^mSESu ►J; V /a |//, !>v‘-C C-ry^i'^ Av a .1 r.y’? I' C» HAER Inventory Review ... . /. , fv- review unit chief lAA^rX«ir i^-cwi C pLiju..^o-ftUvA VjW-<aii- S.d»uja. <£a<i^>arO-Jaa^ BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER X National Register Write-up __________ Send-back Federal Register Entry S'. "7%_ Re-submit Entered JUN $ rag IN T :2 1 06- 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 1 |''.i ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE VIRGIN ISLANDS Date Entered JUN 9 1978 Name Estate St. John 4 14 I Also Notified Honorable Ron De Lugo NR Mott/bjr 6/15/78 i Location Qirlstlansted vicinity St. Croix Island State Historic Preservation Officer Mr. Thomas Blake Planning Director, Virgin Islands Planning Board Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET T)NAME as it appears on federal register: Estate St. John jgjOTHER NAMES'. ^^dale of entry i county code St. Jan Plantage yON 9 197fi 0800 (5)L0CATI0N street & number _ city / town vicinity of state 3 mi. NW of Christians ted Christiansted V.I. ( county ©NPS region St. Croix Southeast (g) OWNER SprivaTE GSTATE DMUNICIPAL DCOUNTY OMULTiPLE GFEDESt/agenciMiame) I<1)adminiSTRATOB : .. ....... (§)existing SURVEYS GHABS GHAER Gnhl ^fundeo^ GyES Gno ©congress, district 1st j@souRCEof nomination 35TATE GFEOERAL #»B«N lAhimAl K6ISIEI NttlOIIC Oinnim ^tlWlN MTJOIAE Ittrwttc ULNJalWin < □yes. mark BW OYILNAK Ott _ II siaie wno preparea lormf 2.18 □local Oprivate organization (^CONDITION □ deteriorated Galtered Goriglnal site □ excellent □ ruins Dunaltered □ moved □ good Gunexposed □ reconstructed Giinknown □ fair Gunexoavated □ excavated (^features: ^ GSUBSTANTIALLT INTACT-1 jjGSUBSTANTIALlY INTACT-2 « □SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 3 2GN0T INTACT-O 2g not INTACT-O gO NOT INTACT - O "□UNKNOWN-4 “DUNKNOWN-S SDUNNNOWM-e ?DM0T APPLICABLE-7 2G NOT APPLICABLE-8 5□ NOT APPLICABLE - 9 (^lACCESS n YES-Restricted □ YES-Unrestricted D No Access Q Unknown (§)ADAPIIV£ USE GYES GNoI@ SAVED? □ YES IS property A historic OlSTRICT?GyesGno □ ARCHEOLOGY-prehistoric-2 □ ARCHEOLOGY-historrc-1 □ AGRICUUURE-3 □ ARCHITECTURE-4 □ ART-5 □ COMMERCE-B □ COMMUNICATIONS-? □ CONSERVATION-8 □ ECONOMICS-9 □ EDUCATION-tO □ ENGINEERING-II □ ENTERTAINMENT-26 □ EXPLORATION -12 □ HEALTH-27 □ INOUSTRY-13 □ INVENTION-14 □ LANDSCAPE ARCH - 15 □ LAIIV-16 □ LITERATURE-17 □ MILITARY- 18 □ MUSIC- 19 □ PHILOSOPHY-20 □ POLITICS/ GOVT.- 21 □ RECREATION -28 □ REllGION-22 □ SETTLEMENI-29 □ SCIENCE- 23 DURBAN PLANNING-31 □ SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 □ OTHER (SPECIFY) □ SOCIAL/CULTURAl-30 _ □ TRANSPORTATION-25 “^flrst’D • oldest’□ ‘only’ □ ^functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: ^dates o1 Initial construction: nujor alterations; historic e»ents; ^ETHNIC GROUP 'CJ' ASSOCIATION ^architectural style(s): ^architect: ^master builder: ^engineer: ^landscape architect / garden designer: ^interior decorator: ^ artist: partisan; ^builder/contractor: ^NAMES give role tc date '^PERSONAL: events: INSTITUTIONAL: ^NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials. IIF additional space needed, number & put on reversei