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26 Thursd
Hiking,
way to
Olasee Daids an eclogist. is a
DoLly New contribuftig cohannistt
He lves on S. CMO.
Last weekend, I led a hike with the
St Croix Hiking Association to EstMa
Mount Washington, Estate Budler
Bay. Estate Hams Buf. and Maroon
1dita.m.weastadoffrOmilhe
Underwater Tracking Station parking
k.L We hiked along the northwest
maed until we got to the entrance of
Buler Bay 225 acre Nature Preserve.
This westcm side of St. Croix wasu
the Danes last frontier. Reimeir
Haagieson, a Danish planter in the
1730'ssaited,,"The thick trei.s had to
be cleared, large trees felled and
hauled in the seashores for sale. roads
had to be cut and maintained, and the
initial dwellings and estate snctures
- the mills and &ctorics had to be
constructed."
Mount Washington was a cotton
plantation during the 1750's. It was
not a great success until the early
1800's when the planation population
increased to about 100 enslaved
Afticans. At this point, the estate was
more than 160acres. It was during this
time sugarcane became ahe major crop
of thestate.
We hiked along the din path dis-
cussing the natunl history of the area
until we entered the ruins of Estate
Mount Washington. Here we found
the great house, an animal sugar crush-
ing mill, the stable and other smtuc-
turesm
Estate Mount Washington has a
long list ofowners.
During 1758 to 1766, Estate Mount
Washington, Buller Bay. and Prospect
Hill were owned and operated by the
say, June 15, 2000, The Daily News
an exciting
learn history
great houses. threr slaves quaiterts, a
cookhouse, sugar factory, stables, an
overseer's house and sugar mill.
Ola ee At Buller Bay beach, there is a par-
Davi8s ial d I tha was used for building.
Planners usually made their own lime
for mortaring sctura es on the estate.
In those days, almost every building
on each estate including the great
McDonnough Dunbavin family. houses, had a ism unde or adjace
Captain James Hason and his toit.Cis tnsweree reriredinxbyDanish
brother John Jthen acquinsed P e law in the tows. People who lived in
Hill and Estate BDgler Bay. Hanson the country didn't need a to tell
was a friend of President George them th min water wa precious.
Washington. Thus. historians believe Estate BuDler Bay, which had more
NMontt Washingam was named int his than 80 enslaved Aficans. exemplifies
honor, the great days of sugar anid rmn pro-
Again in 1862 until 1879, Prospect dtctieon on the island. Agricultunda
Hill, Estate Butler Bay. and Mount developed on e St. Cmix provedltobe
Washington were combined as one mosnt benelicid to the Danes. By the
plantation under the William Moore 1780's. the sugar plantation on St
faauly. By 1838, 75 percent of the Croix was prospering. By 1812
estale was devoted to car produc aon, through 1814 sugar production on St.
while the was divided into ps a Croix reached its peak. There wer
es and gardens 175 planations in operation with
Many other individuals or families 75 percent of the land i cano.
owned the sta until 1904 to 1915. Next we hiked to Ham's Bluff.
when Lauritz Tran(d)herg owned he Everyone got a chance to go inside the
property. lighthouse. which is 360 feet above sea
Today. Tony Ayer, a local reahor level. and look out at he bmautifl
owns a large potion of Estate Mount o n.
Washangon. Out next stop was Maroon Ridge.
From the hill on Estate Mount the climax four hike. Maroon Ridge
Washington. the path continues down is veay sacred to the people of the
a hill to Estate Butler Bay. Accoarding Virgin Islands, particularly SL Cmix.
to histonans. Estate Butler Bay was It was here during the 1700s where
originally known as "Bottler's Bay" some enslaved Africans avoided slav-
when it was given (fiee) to Edward cry by jumping off the cliff to their
Pay for the pupose of encouraging deaths.
agricutare intheNomMide An invent- Members of the St. Cmroix Iiking
tory of 1764 snae thad 300 acres was Association and others who altended
in cae, I I in pasturage, and a small suely enjoyed dthis educational. hiw-
portion was for slave gaolens. ical cultural, and nanual hike on the
The mins of Ile estate includes two noih and westem side of St. Croix.
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