This field season’s Open House
theme was “Seeking Shelter from the Storm.”
This is in keeping with the season’s archaeological focus of
architecture at Fort St. Joseph, and on Saturday was a very fitting title for
the festivities. Attendees crowded under
white tents to hear opening remarks from Robert Myers and hoped the rain would
soon subside. The community of Niles again showed its resilience to the
elements, however, as people came out to enjoy many sights, activities, and
presentations from the Open House participants. The rain from the previous
night was enough to raise the river and prevent entrance onto the
archaeological site yet again but attendees enjoyed many other events and had a
great time.
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| Our new interpretive panels were a highlight of the Open House (photo by John Cardinal) |
The weather on Sunday was much more
appealing to most as the sun shone and birds chirped. The sun brought out
around 550 visitors to the site. These
visitors enjoyed learning about a native style structure built on-site by the
Pokagon band of Potawatomi from Amelia Harp, tours of Father Allouez’s cross
and the commemorative Fort Saint Joseph Boulder as well as the Lyne site (a
nearby archaeological site associated with the fort), and demonstrations from a
number of historical interpreters including timber frame construction,
blacksmithing, textile spinning, cooking, and quill writing. Sarett Nature Center also provided
rides in a Voyageur canoe, offering participants a look at what being a
voyageur during the Fur Trade would be like, about a dozen passengers at a time!
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| A french timber framing demonstration (photo by John Cardinal) |
Other activities were provided for
children such as a mock dig that taught kids how archaeologists excavate and
sift for artifacts. Appetites were satisfied
throughout the weekend thanks to Boy Scout Troop 579 from here in Niles,
MI. Noel Bash and her company of talented
dancers demonstrated a wide array of 18th century style dancing and
on many occasions got the public on their feet to join in and dance along. We
could not be happier with the turn out of the Open House and can’t wait to see
everyone out in the summer of 2016!
Speaking on behalf of the
archaeological team, we are extremely grateful to everyone who participated in
and attended this year’s Open House. I
was a field school student in 2013 and am still amazed to witness the excitement
and openness of the Niles community at the Open House and throughout the
season. Although we are sad that this
exceptionally challenging field season is almost at a close, we are truly grateful
for the words of encouragement and offers of assistance from supporters of the
project.
Tomorrow the archaeology crew will
be packing up and leaving Niles. For the
project veterans, this always comes with a pang of sadness as we think of Niles
as a second home. I’m certain the
students will be saddened as well. Niles
has been a key instrument in their growing not only as experienced
archaeologists, but as members of a community. We’d like to thank everyone who
made this field season one for the books and a wonderful learning experience
for all of us.
Cheers!
-Aaron
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| We'll see you at the 2016 Open House! (photo by John Cardinal) |
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