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Form No. 10-300 , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM DATA SHEET 3 fSU FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED ^ JUL 12 TO SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS [NAME HISTORIC La Grande Pilncesse School AND/OR COMMON [LOCATION STREET & NUMBER —NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN Christiansted X- VICINITY OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 STATE U.S. Virgin Islands CODE COUNTY St. Croix CODE 0800 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY —DISTRICT X-BUILDING(S) —STRUCTURE —SITE —OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC —PRIVATE —BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION —IN PROCESS —BEING CONSIDERED STATUS ?Loccupied —UNOCCUPIED —WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE 2LYES: restricted —YES: UNRESTRICTED —NO PRESENT USE —AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM —COMMERCIAL —PARK XEDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —MILITARY —OTHER: [OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands STREETS NUMBER Government House CITY, TOWNCharlotte Amalie STATE VICINITY OF U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Recorder of Deeds COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. STREETS NUMBER Government House CITY, TOWN Christiansted STATE U.S. virgin Islands a REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic American Buildings Survey DATE ^FEDERAL —STATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS National Park Service CITY, TOWN STATE Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION CONDITION —EXCELLENT ^GOOD —FAIR —DETERIORATED —RUINS —UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE ?£unaltered —ALTERED CHECK ONE ^ORIGINAL SITE —MOVED DATE- DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE La Grande Princesse School lies north of North Road, two miles north-west of Christiansted, St. Croix. It is significant as one example of the eight schools of identical design built on St. Croix as a result of Governor-General Peter von Scholten's efforts to improve the conditions of the slaves. Construction of the school began in or soon after 1837, and was completed and the school dedi­ cated in 1841. A festive ceremony was held on May 16 of that year at La Grande Princess building to dedicate all the schools. The architect-builder of La Grande Princess and the other so-0 called "von Scholten schools" was Albert Ljz5vmand (Ig27rl847) , from Denmark. I^vmand received a classical education in architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen before coming to the West Indies in 1832, and the design of the schools is a clear projection of his classical training. The building is on a low hill, above the main road, and is approached by a semi-circular paved drive. It faces to the south­ west, with the long axis running northwest-southeast. Constructed of rubble masonry, covered with stucco, the building is a one story rectangle, measuring 62' 2" by 37' 9" with seven bays on the long facades and three bays on the ends. As found in all the school designs, the main facade is divided into three parts: a slightly projecting central section of three bays, flanked by two sections of two bays each. Capital bands applied to the piers dividing the bays on the central section, level with the transom bars of the doors, create the illusion of engaged pilasters. The projecting foundation of the building, serves as a watertable, and varies in height from approximately one to three feet. A one foot deep band, immediately below the cornice, projecting about one inch from the wall, together with the foundation line, create a recessed panelled area of wall surface. Masonry quoins articulate the corners. There are three entrances to the building, on the southwest, northwest and southeast facades. Means of access to the main en­ trance is by a stepped platform of four stairs, and on the side entrances, by two steps. On the end facades, the doors have a large masonry surround tolled to imitate quoins and radiating blocks above the semi-circular arch. All windows and doors have flat heads and are set into round arched niches. The fanlight areas above the windows are filled in with masonry, with two vertical bands of molding dividing them into three sections. Form No. 1f)-300a (Aev 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF fflSTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPSUSE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 2 1976 -1 DATE ENTERED :: 1976 CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE two U.S. virgin Islands Inventory of Historic Places May 1976 x State Virgin Islands Planning Office Charlotte Amalie U.S.V.I. Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF fflSTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED ^ DATE ENTERED 1376 JUl 12 1976 CONTI NU ATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE one All windows have wood casings with drip caps and lug sills, and are fitted with double wooden shutters. Hardware on the shut­ ters includes strap hinges with heart-shaped cusps on drive pintles, and L- and bar brackets. There is a continuous rounded cornice at the eaves and the roof is hipped, and covered with corrugated metal. The interior plan of the school is a single main room, with two side rooms off the central section. There is a 19th Century cookhouse, built of the same mate­ rial as the school, about 50' to the northwest. It is in the form of a barrel-vaulted rectangle, with a rear chimney. There is a centrally-placed window on the southeast end, and a door on the northeast, rear facade. The interior is a single room. GPO 892 455 El SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD —PREHISTORIC —1400-1499 —1500-1599 —1600-1699 —1700-1799 24-1800-1899 —1900- areas OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —AGRICULTURE X-ARCHITECTURE __ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS —COMMUNITY PLANNING —CONSERVATION —ECONOMICS ^-EDUCATION —ENGINEERING —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT —INDUSTRY —INVENTION —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —LAW __LITERATURE —MILITARY —MUSIC —PHILOSOPHY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT —RELIGION —SCIENCE —SCULPTURE —SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN —THEATER —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1841 BUILDER/ARCHITECT Albert I^vmand STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE La Grande Princesse was the first of eight schools built on St. Croix specifically for slave children, as part of Governor- General Peter von Scholten's program to improve the condition of slaves. On June 4, 1839, von Scholten introduced an Edict of Free Compulsory Education for Slave Children. The schools were to be operated by Moravian Missionaries for slave children between the ages of six and 13. The construction was financed in part by the planters (who were taxed in proportion to their number of slaves) and in part by Burgher Council appropriations. La Grande Princess School was opened on May 16, 1841. Friedrich Martin, a noted Moravian Missionary-teacher, supervised the schools for slave children on St. Croix and lived and was buried next to La Grande Princess School. La Grande Princesse is the only "von Scholten school" still in educational use, serving as a school for the retarded. La Grande Princesse School, designed by Albert l^vmand, is a good West Indian example of traditional Danish classicism with three part front facades articulated by flat engaged pila­ sters, corner quoining and a molded cornice below a low parapet which encloses a typical hip roof. l^]^9R.ewW9S5^¥wPc^ard^*^S^pervPsor of Special Education. By Annie Hillary, and Margaret Proskauer. May 10, 1976 Define Licht, Kjeld. Albert Lg^vmand and his work in the Former Danish West Indies. Journal of the Society of Architectural His­ torical, vol. xxl. No.3, October, 1962. Dookhan, Issac. A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Eppinq, Essex: Bowker Publishing Comp;^ny. 1974. IDgeographical data0.5 acres ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY, UTM REFERENCES a| , I I I , I , , I \ .[ * ]_i_ ZONE EASTING NORTHING J_ J I I ■ I I . I Ll 17° 45' 28" North Latitude 64° 43' 53" West Longitude LJ 1 I ■ I . ■ I I . 1 . I . . I ZONE EASTING NORTHING dI ■ I I I . I . . 1 I ■ 1 . I . . I B VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION □ STALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Hillary, Margaret Proa- kover, V.I. Historic Survey ORGANIZATION Virgin Islands Planning Office DATE May 14, 1976 STREETS. NUMBER P.O. Box 2606 TELEPHONE 809-774-1730 CITY OR TOWN STATE Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas. V.T. 00801___________ Estate historic preservation officer certification THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS; NATIONAL _X STATE____ LOCAL 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 and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE TITLE Director of Planning DATE May 25, 1976 FDR NPS USE ONLY / I H EREBY CERTIFyViAT THIS PRO PE DIRECTOR ATTEST: .'erEEicfrot^RCHeoLi .J^^EPER of THE NATIONAL REGtSTER UDEDIN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE ^PRESERVATION DATE ' GPO 892.453 state t. S working Number/^ Vi,.3SJi, X0Di?)Mi ^•/■. Cr-i^ TECHNICAL^ c^t£eJ^-A^ Tr**^ Phntnc / Photos Maps con;^ <;- </, 76 «—«L«e-: ^ ^ 60 >— y HISTORIAN 6/? /7fc U^iVs ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN S-^r^ ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF dCGu^ C©\i- /' BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up __________ Send-back Federal Register Entry 3 "74 Re-submit Entered «IUL l9/o IN T :a 1 06- 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 'C ';■:; ■• ■:J"- -i ■• .5 ' f ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER .-r- STATE VIRGIN ISLANDS Date Entered JUL :U 1976 Name Location Prospsrity Axchaological Site Frederlksted vicinity St. Croix county Great I'ond Archeolosical Site Christlansted vicinity St. Croix county Tutu Dilatation House Charlotte Amalia vicinity St. Thomas county Grande Princease School Christlansted viclalty St. Croix comty .V ■i . Also Notified :« m '■'m State Historic Preservation Officer Mr. Thomas Blake Planning Director, Virgin Islands Planning Board Regional Director, Southeast Region charlotte Amalio Mott 7/14/76 St. Tlionas, Virgin Islands 00801 INT: 2950-75 ■ ,7 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT TIME OF CALL ’ AM —PBT K CALL Q TO: \PCF«OM (W«Mj 2. ADDRESS (Tel./Vo. i/nFecfecf) ^rr (A'f / 3' a. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO.. ETC. ' ■. ’’ • r- ■ ^ LaV"?^^ (^v^VWCi2x^ 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION ^ 3o(' ^ = Oj0o5» W^'^- - kA./V'w u>a- LocrwXtC d^'JuXi^ cjUpL^ h^tuJc NAME OF FCMSON FLACINO/nCCCI VINO CALL FHR-8-227 June 1978 Data Sliep DATE: Reviewer INITIALS: U^SdUt-OA' KR v/. NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: (S'QjKADfcC *F^^i.^\OCe.SSe SC-UOCM OTHER KAMS: location: ' mfis STRECTft NUMBER cCL^-l CITY, TOWN, CONGBESbiONAL DISTRICT T XsuKiMO 7 ar CqX)V^ 0@00 OWNE^^ OF property: (Circle) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL(AGENCY NAME): ADMINlSTRATOR(underline) NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTTO'ffiST ROCKY MOUNTAIN VEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST features: INTERIOR TIXTEPIOR ENVIRONS - _ sdbstantially intact-1 V. Substantially intact-2 — Substantially intact-3 ji^nknown - 4 __unknown .-5 _uilknown -6 _ not applicable - 7 — not applicable - 8 'r^t applicable-9 — Interior, exterior, environs>*ot intact-0 CONDITION - -EKeuENT tdGOOO _EAIR —DETERIORATED —RUINS —UNEXPOSED —UnexcavateA i^NALTERED —ALTERED -Reconstructed —Excavated iiORI^N, ORIGINAL SITE —MOVED —Unknown ACCESS- Yes-restricted Yes-unrestricted No access historic liistrict*? yes no Unknown WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: YES WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK?’ IF YES, NAME: YES ADAPTIVE use; YES 0 Saved ? yes r\ N01 FUNCTION (S); (use ''Ocabulary words) then- scWcsoV now Significance: —ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —AKHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -Vgriculture Varchitecture —ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS Claims —CONSERVATION —rcONOMlCS I/education —ENGINEERING —EXPLORATION —INDUSTRY —INVENTION —LANDSCAPE architecture —RELIGION —LAw/Gov’t/politicS —SCIENCE —LITERATURE —MILITARY —MUSIC —PHILOSOPHY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT —SOQAL/HUMANITARIAN —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER (SPECIEY) ^entertainment _health _recreation —settlement —socio/cultural —urban & commun planning ■first’- NO ** oldest’- YES NO 'only’-’ YES architectural style: CLrNSSxC^s^ architec^m.builder: (\\w+ engineer: landscap</garden designer: artist/artisan: .nter.or decorator: builder/contractor: etonic group: names: t^^' (label role & appropriate date) R«1 cw B*v l/tK j:' ■ LiCel^- da ^ Irt^ir nj-^ events institutional A^v4vL- ^ ■ •ATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTIOM (Specific date or 1/4 of century): DATE(S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE(S): source; acreage; (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE other federal AGENCY: (to nearest tenth of an acre) .S' LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) ^ SWcociS ^(^JAil€. \ IwIyTtorA-^ Com«.- (TernAi,^ j 3la^ p<?Dj2ciifru. , urCUiUw^ (^IViaC ^ toJby^ i significance.(maximum two sentences) ^hi.(maximum two sentences) ^ f\ Sj (T\ I • * W GLilIa. 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