Annaberg Sugar Plantation near Leinster Bay in St. John, Virgin Islands — The Caribbean (The West Indies)
Crushing Cane with Wind
Photographed by Michael Fischer, January 9, 2026
1. Crushing Cane with Wind Marker
Peter Oxholm designed the plans for the Annaberg sugar factory and windmill in 1797. Enslaved African craftsmen constructed the buildings while the plantation was under the ownership of "slave trader, merchant, and shipbuilder" James Murphy. The structures were completed in 1805.
On days with a steady wind, enslaved workers brought harvested cane to the windmill to be crushed. Revolving "sails" turned a central shaft that rotated massive rollers. The sugar cane stalks were fed into the whirling rollers. The crushed cane released a river of juice that flowed into a flume, or gutter, down the slope to the sugar factory.
Windmills were not common on plantations in the 1800s. Only portions of five remain on St. John. Windmills could significantly increase production, but they were expensive to build and dangerous to use. Feeding stalks of cane to the rollers was considered one of the most dangerous jobs on the plantation as there was no way to stop the crushing momentum. It is said an axe was kept nearby in case a person was pulled into sacrifice a limb before they were crushed.
[Cutaway windmill illustration highlighting its components]
Erected by National
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • Environment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Windmills series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1797.
Location. 18° 21.778′ N, 64° 43.773′ W. Marker is near Leinster Bay in St. John, Virgin Islands. It is in Annaberg Sugar Plantation. It can be reached from Leinster Bay Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: St John VI 00830, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is one of the Lesser Antilles on the Caribbean Sea, on in the Atlantic Ocean, in North America, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Windmill (here, next to this marker); Bake Oven (a few steps from this marker); History of Annaberg (a few steps from this marker); Producing Sugar (a few steps from this marker); Freedom Across the Narrows (a few steps from this marker); Life After Emancipation (a few steps from this marker);
Photographed by Michael Fischer, January 9, 2026
2. Windmill Ruins and Marker
More about this marker. Annaberg Sugar Plantation is a unit of Virgin Islands National Park.
Also see . . . Annenberg Sugar Plantation. (Submitted on January 17, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 17, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
