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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 FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED M 2 WB DATE ENTERED ■ " SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS Qname HISTORIC New Herrnhut Moravian Church AND/OR COMMON Hlocation STREETS. NUMBER ^ , —NOT for PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN Charlotte Amalie x_ vicinity of congressional district 1 STATE CODE U.S. Virgin Islands 78 COUNTY code St. Thomas 0900 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY -DISTRICT ^BUILDING(S) —STRUCTURE —SITE —OBJECT OWNERSHIP —PUBLIC 2LPRIVATE —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 JLRELIGIOUS —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —MILITARY —OTHER: [OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME The Moravian Church c/o Pastor Hampton Morgan STREETS. NUMBER P.O. Box 117 CITY, TOWN St. Thomas STATE VICINITY OF U.S. Virgin Island (LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC, Recorder of Deeds STREETS. NUMBER No, 18 Kongens Gade CITY, TOWN STATE Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas I REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS U.S. virgin Islands Inventory of Historic Places DATE May 1976 FEDERAL ^STATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORD^ jgiands Planning Office CITY, TOWNCharlotte Amalie, U.S.V.I. STATE DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK ONE -EXCELLENT -DETERIORATED X-GOOD —FAIR —RUINS —UNEXPOSED —UNALTERED —ALTERED CHECK ONE X.0RI6INALSITE —MOVED DATE- DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE New Herrnhut Moravian Church is located 1.9 miles east of Fort Christian, Charlotte Amalie,St. Thomas and .01 miles south of Center Line Road. New Herrnhut is significant as the site of the first missionary station of the Moravians on the island of St. Thomas. Architecturally, the simple, almost austere form of the church is an esthetic reflection of the sober tenets of the Moravian religion. The site was purchased in 1737, and the church probably constructed soon after this date. Originally, the site possessed all the buildings usual to a plant­ ation, but due to severe damage caused by the 1867 hurricane, the only major buildings remaining are the original one-story church, and a 20th century building, housing the Sunday School and church offices, built over the foundations of an earlier structure. There is also a bell tower, which still possesses its original bell. The bell tower is said to be contemporaneous with the church, but ap­ pears to be of a later date. The church is a simple rectangular block without projections, constructed of ballast brick and stucco, measuring 64' x 34' with the long side on the north-south axis. The foundations project slightly from the main wall of the building, similar to a molded watertable. The roof is hipped and covered with corrugated metal. The church is 4 bays on the long sides by 2 bays on the ends. The windows are in the form of semi-elliptical arches. All the windows have double shutters which are constructed of diagonally placed planks. There are two entrances on the ends of the church, app­ roached by brick and stucco staircases. On the north end, the staircase is the typical West Indian "welcoming arms" type, with the walls splaying outwards at the base. The hardware on the exterior includes wrought iron drive pintles, shutter hooks, and wrought strap hinges with lima-bean cusps, affixed with clinched wrought iron nails and leather washes. The south door has a metal rim lock, a replacement for an earlier, smaller lock of the same type. The interior plan of the church is a single, open room, stuccoed and painted. The ceiling is notable, as it is the typical West Indian "tray" form: a planked surface with sharp angles in the corners similar to an inverted tray. The central rectangle of the ceilingj corresponding to the top ridge of the hipped roof, has two square openings at either end for ventilation. The windows in the interior have been set into deep niches. The depth 26 inches. of the wall, measured at the door openings, is The grade of the site runs sharply from west to east, and there is «W!!i Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 2 1975 yy> DATE ENTERED OCT 8 1976 CONTI NU ATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE One a retaining wall running along the east side of the church between the two end staircases, The modern concrete structure (used for Sunday school and the church offices (42 feet by 56 feet), built over the foundations of an earlier structure, lies immediately to the north on the lower grade. Due to the lack of structural evidence remaining from the earlier building and its lack of architectural distinction, it is of little significance. About 15 feet above the northwest corner of the church lies a brick bell tower. It is about 10 feet high, in the form of a tiered free-standing arch, with a molded, gable cap. A small bell is contained \mder the head of the arch. An original cistern is located alongside the Sunday school build­ ing, on the same north-south axis of the church. There is also an historic graveyard located about 400 feet to the south of the church, alongside the point in the road where the entrance road turns north to lead directly to the church. r, l - •. f ~ . . ■ ■•• SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —PREHISTORIC —1400-1499 —1500-1599 —1600-1699 Xl 700-1799 Hi 800-1899 —1900- —ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —AGRICOLTURE ^^ARCHITECTURE __ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS —COMMUNITY PLANNING —CONSERVATION —ECONOMICS X_EDUCATI0N —ENGINEERING —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT —INDUSTRY —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —LAW —LITERATURE —MILITARY —MUSIC —PHILOSOPHY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT H-RELIGION -SCIENCE —SCULPTURE —SOCIAUHUMANITARIAN —THEATER —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER (SPECIFY) —INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE New Herrnh-ut Moravian Church, was the first of the Moravian Missions established in the Virgin Islands. The Moravians, whose missionary work began in 1732, were the first of the religious groups in the Danish West Indies to establish ac­ tive missionary work with the slaves. The role assumed by the Moravians was to provide for the well-being of the slave through religion and education. The Moravian missionaries are credited with providing the foundation upon which emerging black social patterns in the Danish colonies were established, specifically, the active participation of white religious groups in providing and establishing religious guidance and education for the slave. In August of 1737, Frederick Martin, a Moravian Missionary, pur­ chased from a Mrs. Solomons a plantation on the east end of St. Thomas. Prior to being named New Herrnhut after the mother church in Germany, the mission had been called The Brethren's Plantation, The Brethren's Tutu and Posavinenberg. The slave population provided both labor for the plantation and the congregation for the mission. The Moravians faced opposition by the other planters who were against slaves receiving formal education or religious instruction. However, attempts by the planters to destroy the Moravian mission were unsuccessful. By 1770, New Herrnhut was a thriving plantation supporting mission activities with all the typical buildings of an active plantation including a church, housing for the pastor^ the lay brothers and the slaves. By educating the slaves and training them to be artisans. New Herrnhut experienced the same type of economic security prevalent among many plantations. The hurricane of 1867 severe]^ damaged New Herrnhut and much of the plan­ tation was allowed to fall into ruin, although some church and school activities were continued. Presently, there is a one story church building, several ruins including the original bell which was used to SLunmon slaves to meetings and church. The bell is still used to sound the beginning of each church service at New Herrnhut. Qmajor bibuographical references Maynard, G. Oliver. A History of the Moravian Church, Eastern West Indies Provinoe. Trinidad: Yulle's Limited, 1968. Murptiy, Patricia Shaubab. The Jybravian Mission to the African Slaves of the Dar-ish. Vfest Indies 1732-1828. Caribbean Research Institute, College of the Virgin Islands, Prestige Press: St. Croix, 1969. Interview: Pastor Morgan, May 4. 1976. IDgeographical data 18° 20 ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY. UTM REFERENCES 12" North Latitude 64° 54' 07" West Longitude A| , I I I . I , , I I . i > 1 . , t ZONE EASTING NORTHING bI ■ I I I . I . . I i . I . I . . I cL J_ I . I I . I I . I . 1 . . ZONE EASTING NORTHING 1 . I II . I . . I I ■ I ■ I . . I VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE |FORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE Samuel N. Stokes Russel Wright, Annie Hillary, Margaret Proskauarr Virgin T.qIanHc! Hi g-t-o-rir-ai gn-rwpy ORGANIZATION Virgin Islands Planning Office DATE May 22, 1976 I STREET & NUMBER P,0. Box 2606 TELEPHONE (809) 774-1730 CITY OR TOWN Charlotte Amalie STATE St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 I0STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: STATE XX 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 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': y yX “TE t. Cfn ) c KEEPER OF THE NAflONAl REGISTER ' GPO 892 453 Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY .■■'V-'-' ' ■ ' .C; receive^N 2 1976 DATE ENTERED Oil a -; 1976 CONTI NU ATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE two New Herrnhut is architecturally significant as probably the earliest example of Moravian mission architecture on any of the islands. With its ballast brick and stucco construction, simple rectangular shape, plain shuttered windows and hipped roof. New Herrnhut Moravian church set the type for 18th century Moravian architecture that was to remain unchanged throughout the century, and which reappears significantly at Emmaus Moravian church in St. John, with a construction date of 1918. GPO 892 455 Property %U-/-^-4ud: CM^t ' '^hop^a^ / ^40C7IS(o^ ^ i. Working Number^^ ^ TECHNICAL Photos Z— Maps / i/f-m OiJjb 4jl. CONTROL G, 9. 7U , ^ />>~'»-75Z^-i—^ CC'y^^y^'^yyt^ ■^tyv*^-c^Zt-t4L^ i7^— CK^ ^ ~'-fI^ j^‘—^ v"'—£-''^^' /Xa-’C-^ ■9^. HISTORIAN Ac-C^i^ 7-/S--74 ^Xiru ^r -t—tn 'ZXi. v /2-iJ-,-CJ2^ /4^ /^2-^»-tL,£i' 4C2 / ^ 5" ^leej:/^. ^ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN CLa-fut^pJ- 7/fe> ARCHEOLOGIST I 1!^'. OTHER HAER Inventory Review L <W«p K4U«dlU U.4fc<^ t»4—^ T^* REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF Entered Send-back National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry /2--7-?C» Re-submit --------------- United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 INT:2106-74 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE VIRGIN ISLANDS Date Entered SQT 0 1976 Name Location New Herrnhut Moravian Church Charlotte Analle vicinity St* Thomas Island Also Notified Hon. Ron de Lugo Regional Director* Southeast Region 880 Mmott/row 10/20/76 State Historic Preservation Officer Mr. Thomas Blake Planning Director Virgin Islands Planning Board Charlotte ihnalle St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 INT: 2950-75 Data Sheet f-- NAME * DATE, n - Reviewer INITIALS, ^ g NR DOE 1976 AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: OTHER RAFTS: LOCATION^ CTREETIc NUMBER OTY.TOWN STATE^ .n/i OWNER OF property: (Circle) / y-V' CONGRESbiONA^STRICT / PRIVATE^'STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDEPAL(AGENCY NAME): ADMINISTRATOR(underline) NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOOrm-TEST rocky mountain V7EST pacific NORTmTST features: , interior ^xtepiop, environs SLSubstantially intact-1 VLSubstantially intact-2 Substantially intact-3 _ unknown - 4 __unknown .-5 _ unknown -6 _ not applicable - 7 _ not applicable - 8 cable-9 — Interior, exterior, environ not lntact-0 CONDITION — —^ELlENT octeriohateo J^OOO .FAIR —OETERIORATEO _RU(NS _UNEXPOSED •.Unexca\'at«'^ ^UNALTERED —ALTERED -Reconstructed -Excavated •RtGINALSITE —MOVED —Unknown ACCESS- ^Yes-restrictec historic district? Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown YES (5> WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: YES WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES & ADAPTIVE use; YES 0 Saved ? YES FUNCTION (S); (use 'vocabulary words) now significance: —ARCHEULOUYPREHtSTORlC ->RCHEOLOGYHiSTORIC ^ —AGRICULTURE y Architecture —ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS Claims —CONSERVATION —ECONOMICS —EDUCATION —ENGINEERING —EXPLORATION —INDUSTRY —JNVCNTION ’first-/^s - 'J —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE JnSUGlON —entertainment ■ -Vi ."I —LAW/Cov't/pollticS —SCIENCE —health —UTERATURE -recreation ' ■-m —MILITARY —SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN —settlement ' - --H —MUSIC —aoclo/cultural —PHILOSOPHY —TRANSPORTATION —urban & coramun —POUTICS/GOVCRNMENT —OTHER (SPECIFY) planning '•oldest’- YES NO '«onlyL* YES NO • J j ; \ AKCHITECTURAL STYLE.- 'j^cin^a.iAcL^ architec0n .bu i Ide r; ^ ' engineer: artist/artisan; builder/contractor; y landscapc/garden designer: interior decorator: \ ETHNIC group; names; (label role & appropriate date) personal events institutional dates; date of construction (Specific date or 1/4 of century); f ^ 3^7 ATIONS: DATE(S) : / ^ 3 7--- SOURCE. (QP nomination) DATE(S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE ^TATX^ LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE .(to nearest tenth of an acre) ^ COUNTY COMMENTS; (include architectural information here) SlGNIFICANCE»(maximum two sentences) ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.* architec0n .builder; \ landscapt/garden designer; interior decorator; \ ethnic group: ■ (label role & appropriate date) events engineer; artist/artisan; builder/contractor: institutional DATE SI DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century): / 0 DATE(S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE(S); f ^ 3 ---- SOURCE. (Qp noiminaticn) private OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE, (to nearest tenth of an acre) ^ LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY COMMENTS, (include architectural information here) ✓frudC, OtUtAAtcl ; I cU, .,11' j QUI^, /uchjjofJoA, JuffucLAML, ihmjMcL uimdirujL ar\± irchancL^^ ^CL^Lf MMTfjpb. mouoiiui /UMiinu OAc>\itit>uAj.-^ Virgin Islands;a«4 *¥>e ,credited with enlisting active white participation in the sreligious ojJ 1 education of the slaves.