![At first , animals’ mills including horses, oxen, and mules were used to crush juice from sugarcane. Between 1768 and 1779, a windmill was built at Estate Whim to crush cane. However, the first steam engine was installed at Estate Whim in 1865. Nevertheless, one of the first steam engine on St. Croix was at Estate Hogensborg in the 1840s ,which was not too far from Estate Whim.](https://stthomassource.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Whim-Museum-steam-engine-300x291.jpg)
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett issued the following statement in full support of restoring Estate Whim, the oldest sugar plantation museum in the Virgin Islands, to its former glory:
“My office and I fully support the restoration of Estate Whim,” Congresswoman Plaskett said. “The Virgin Islands is home to several historic sites— Estate Whim being one of them. This site’s historical and cultural contributions span from the 18th century to the present day, documenting records that detail our ancestors’ diverse history, including artifacts, historic structures, traditional practices from across St. Croix, the Caribbean, Africa, Denmark and greater Europe.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized Estate Whim as an endangered site on their annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, highlighting the urgent need for preservation efforts at the Estate Whim Museum.
“We must come together to prevent the erasure of cultural landmarks. Estate Whim has been treasured by generations of families and researchers, and is critical to the identity as Virgin Islanders. I am committed to working with the St. Croix Landmarks Society to preserve our ancestors’ legacy and ensure a steady path towards full restoration.”