If everybody who appreciates our reporting efforts were to help fund it for as little as $1, our future would be much more secure. You can learn more about Alexander Hamilton by visiting The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society’s website. Government records, however, establish that the house changed hands in 1738, thus refuting the later date. We turned in and were richly rewarded with our first sighting of the historic 18th century Greathouse known as The Grange. As for Estate Grange and The Grange greathouse, the Trust for Public Land plans to acquire the property for the National Park Service for designation as a National Historic Site. Since 1972, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than 3.3 million acres and completed more than 5,400 park and conservation projects. East of the dining room is the high-ceilinged living room, or drawing room as it was known. After five years of marriage and the bearing of one son to Lavien, Rachel left him when she was 21 and moved back to Nevis with her mother to her old home. There is also a large French armoire amongst the many other period pieces here. Their family acquired the estate in 1928, carefully maintaining the property with an eye to its historical significance as the birthplace and childhood home of one of the nation’s founding fathers. It was purchased at auction soon after Denmark sold the Virgin Islands to the United States in 1917. In the east wall, a shuttered doorway opens precipitously on a vista of flat green fields that once were planted with sugar cane, St. Croix’s cash crop during the colonial period. Senators Orrin Hatch and Jay Rockefeller, Virgin Islands Governor John deJongh, and Congressional Delegate Donna M. Christensen all support plans to preserve the property and its designation as a National Historic Site. The Trust for Public Land plans to acquire the property for the National Park Service for designation as a National Historic Site. As 2010 drew to a close, a formal research effort was under way to establish preservation grounds. At the top of the stairs is the dining room. U.S. “Sip N Chill,” an all-female mixtape geared toward giving talented artists more of a chance of getting noticed, has been released with a big assist from a pair of musical professionals from the Virgin Islands. Since 1999 the Virgin Islands Source – the only online newspaper of general circulation in the U.S. Virgin Islands – has been providing the community with reliable, accurate and balanced local journalism. After some months, Hamilton returned to the British islands and Rachel and her sons stayed on St. Croix with relatives. Washington, Postponed – Kid’s Art Class with Barbara Gelardi. Their family acquired the estate in 1928, carefully maintaining the property while keeping in mind its historical significance as the birthplace and childhood home of one of the nation’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. We are working closely with Virgin Islands and federal government representatives on an acquisition partnership to protect this important property through a combination of local, federal, and private support. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. It was converted to a dining room in 1929 by its then new owners who bought The Grange after their house in Beeston Hill was destroyed by the devastating hurricane of 1928. As a magical exclamation point to our adventure, a white-tailed deer trotted out of the bush and watched us nonchalantly as we made our way back to the 21st century. Now Playing: “Freaky” and “My Brother’s Crossing”, “Sip N Chill,” an all-female mixtape geared toward giving talented artists more of a chance of getting noticed, has been released with a big assist from a pair of musical professionals from the Virgin Islands. ©2018 The Trust for Public LandAccreditation application announcement. #visource #usvi ... See MoreSee Less, All-Female Mixtape Features Up and Comers, with a Big Assist from the V.I. The Grange greathouse has five bedrooms and four baths. The Legislature passed Bill No. This room is highlighted by a hand carved mahogany loveseat that at one time graced the Government House in Christiansted. The Trust for Public Land is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. At one time, this room was a gallery, as its abundance of windows attests. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has signed two pieces of legislation, one extending the current state of emergency and the other authorizing the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI) to purchase property on St. Croix. Real Estate. The main level of the greathouse is served by a grand staircase ascending from the front door on the southwest corner of the building, which was added in the early 20th century. According to their website, they are “working closely with Virgin Islands and federal government representatives on an acquisition partnership to protect this important property through a combination of local, federal, and private support”. Estate Grange reflects the history of St. Croix, Merwin said. High ceilings provide storage capability built into the walls above eye level in each bedroom. Our Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 23-7222333. Built in 1753, the home was fully restored by its current owners. On the north side of the structure, in an area that was once a formal botanical garden, stands the original plantation bell which was cast in 1761 in Amsterdam. Hamilton grew up on the island of St. Croix, at Estate Grange, the home of his aunt and uncle, James and Ann Lytton. The property also houses a monument in memory of Danish gendarmes who died here during an outbreak of yellow fever in 1886 when the Estate Grange was used as a convalescent house for those stricken at the Christiansted barracks. 33-0419 on Sept. 30 approving the GVI’s purchase of two parcels totaling about six acres in Estate La Grange on St. Croix from Dr. Rafael Garcia for $282,187. Rachel came with him, bringing their two sons. A rustic gravel lane, shaded by duel rows of lignum vitae and mahogany trees, intrigued us one day as we were exploring St. Croix. The flow of rainwater and stormwater entering the sewer system may exceed the pumping capacity at various pump stations that pump sewage from residential and business systems to the wastewater treatment plants. Since times were financially bad in parts of the Caribbean, James Hamilton found it hard to make a living for his family and was sent on a legal mission to St. Croix. The land will be used to complete Phase II of the Frederiksted Economic Revitalization Project, which is an initiative to beautify and upgrade Frederiksted’s Tourism infrastructure while maintaining the historic town’s charm and cultural appearance. Tell us what you're interested in... This meeting will be held via the video conferencing platform Zoom. Amazingly, Jane, the custodian of Estate Grange (now a private residence), bade us park the car and she would give us an impromptu tour. The most interesting facet of Estate Grange to us was that for several years it was the home of Rachel Fawcett Levine, mother of the great American statesman, Alexander Hamilton. © 2020 | GoToStCroix.com. While his face is best known from the USD ten spot, Alexander Hamilton was actually born and raised in the Caribbean. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Our sites are more popular than ever, but advertising revenues are falling - so you can see why we could use your help. The house, Jane pointed out, features a cornerstone that suggests it was built in 1761. Bryan Signs Bills Extending State of Emergency, Authorizing Purchase of St. Croix... {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}. Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall - we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. All St. Croix Real Estate; Homes; Land; Condos; Commercial; Fractional Timeshares; For Sale by Owner; For Rent by Owner; Rentals – Homes; Rentals – Condos; Rentals – Commercial and Industrial; Real Estate Ad Rates Many believe that Estate Grange promises to become a major heritage tourism attraction like Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. 33-0424 on Oct. 6 authorizing an extension until Dec. 8 to the state of emergency that the governor declared in March as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread throughout the territory. We turned in and were richly rewarded with our first sighting of the historic 18th century Greathouse known as The Grange. The basement level is comprised of two handsome, stone and coral-walled bedrooms as well as myriad storage areas. The 33rd Legislature passed Bill No. One of the bathrooms even features an old six-foot bathtub. 33-0419 on Sept. 30 approving the GVI’s purchase of two parcels totaling about six acres in Estate La Grange on St. Croix from Dr. Rafael … Estate Grange, St. Croix … It was a microcosm of the prosperity during the sugar production days, economic ruin when cane was replaced by beet sugar and the struggle to grow other agriculture. TPL is working to ensure that Estate Grange is protected by the National Park Service as a National Historic Site. The Grange: A Historic Greathouse A rustic gravel lane, shaded by duel rows of lignum vitae and mahogany trees, intrigued us one day as we were exploring St. Croix. All Rights Reserved. | St. Thomas Source, Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email. Jane explained that the dining table, which seats 14 persons without its leaves in place, once resided at the Government House in St. Thomas. Finally, and sadly, we said “goodbye” to our new friend, Jane, promised to return soon and drove off slowly down the lane. She is buried on the premises and a gravestone was erected in the 1930’s to commemorate her death. The 33rd Legislature passed Bill No. The mission to repair damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria to public buildings has led to $3 million awarded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for numerous recovery projects in the territory.