Estate Judith's Fancy, subdistrict of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Christiansted is a former sugarcane plantation whose great house was built in 1733.[2] Its surviving 3.6 acres (1.5 ha) property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The listing included six contributing sites.[1]

Estate Judith's Fancy
Estate Judith's Fancy is located in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands
Estate Judith's Fancy
Estate Judith's Fancy is located in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Estate Judith's Fancy
Location4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Christiansted
Coordinates17°46′41″N 64°44′44″W / 17.778194°N 64.745694°W / 17.778194; -64.745694
Area3.6 acres (1.5 ha)
Built1733
NRHP reference No.78002717[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 17, 1978

History

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The site is significant for being the location of government headquarters during the French occupation of St. Croix during 1651–65, under the Knights of Malta's ownership, as well as for preserving remnants of typical buildings of a sugar plantation.

In 1766, the estate was known as Hemmers Plantation or Hemmersfryd. A later owner, Pieter Heyliger, who was a major landowner in the late 1800s, renamed the estate Judith’s Fancy after his daughter.[3]

Today

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The property includes stonework ruins from a sugar factory, from a windmill which drew water, from a chimney of a later steam mill, and a small house. The factory building is T-shaped, with a two-story section being 22 by 96 feet (6.7 m × 29.3 m) in plan. An 18.5 by 36 feet (5.6 m × 11.0 m) wing was the boiling room. A one-story 10.67 by 15 feet (3.25 m × 4.57 m) cookhouse with a charcoal stove is also attached.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Annie Hillary and Russell Wright (June 9, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Estate Judith's Fancy". National Park Service. Retrieved May 31, 2017. With three photos from 1977.
  3. ^ "Open Forum: How Estates Got Their Names, Part 1". stthomassource.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.