Building Architectural Hardware at Fort St. Joseph

Greetings everyone,

My name is Stephen and I major in Anthropology and Spanish at Western Michigan University. I began the “Anthropology in the Community" course here at WMU back in January this year. Since learning about ways to engage the community with anthropology, I've done considerable amounts of studying for this purpose. The topic I chose to focus on in this course is artifacts from architectural hardware found on the site of Fort. St. Joseph. What artifacts have we found? Where did they come from? Historic research and archaeology is bearing that out for us.

The French settlers in the region built their homes using familiar techniques. Their houses consisted largely of wooden posts stuck in the ground or stone foundations as a perimeter. The spaces between the posts were filled with stone and mortar, called pierrotage, to finish the walls. A mixture of clay and straw, bousillage, filled the gaps in framing to insulate and protect the wood from decay. Traces of this mixture have been found at Fort St. Joseph. 

Bousiallage was made on site and there is plenty uncovered at the fort.

Window glass has also been uncovered at the site. Archaeologists know the glass found is window glass because they can distinguish flat window glass from curved container glass. The windows used at fort St. Joseph were not made at the fort, but in Britain or France and transported across the Atlantic and then through a long trade network of canoes. The glass was shipped in small panels to avoid breakage en route.

The widespread use of metals in architecture at Fort St. Joseph is shown by the noticeably high frequency of hand-wrought nails that have been recovered.

Hand-wrought nails are four sided and taper toward the tip.

Besides the high frequency of hand-wrought nails, other types of metal artifacts have been found in smaller numbers. Door hinges found on the site were used to secure doors onto frames so they could open and close.  Pintles were a device on which the hinge of a door pivots and escutcheons were plates used to cover keyholes. Hook and eye latches were simple hooks that were fastened onto doors or window shutters and latched onto metal rings in the frame to keep the door or shutter closed. Finally, door latch catches were fastened to frames so that the latch bar of the door stayed shut.

All of the architectural hardware found on the site tells us how the inhabitants built their homes, what they used in them, and where those things came from. After a semester of Anthropology in the Community, I obtained a greater understanding of what’s going on at Fort St. Joseph and much will be learned soon by the community at large!

Stephen Staten

Military Structures

Hello everyone, my name is Devon and I am another student in the Anthropology in the Community course held by Dr. Michael Nassaney at Western Michigan University. This semester has been a new experience for me. My minor in anthropology has never taken me to the lengths that this course has. It has been an informative semester and awesome experience for me to be a part of this research into the forts of the Great Lakes region. I never knew much about the French influence in North America, nonetheless how prominent and influential the forts they built were to the region.

My topic and contribution to this project was the architecture of military structures. The forts of New France and the Great Lakes region were multi-purpose structures that were essential to the purpose of the French Fur Trade also having military functions. Fort design, which is highlighted by my partner Joe Puntasecca’s post on fortifications, was essential to the military function of these forts. The fortified wall and bastion system was pivotal in the defense of these French posts.

Another defining military feature of the forts were the barracks that housed a garrison of soldiers. Based on my research, the amount of soldiers found at forts varied from site to site and numbers estimate anywhere from 20 soldiers, which we know was the approximate number housed at Fort St. Joseph, to upwards of hundreds. My research on military structures brought me to information on Fort de Chartres located in Illinois. Fort de Chartres has been described as one of the more prominent military forts in New France and was a great reference point for me to be able to divulge this topic. The barracks here are described as being built in rows and side by side, with each row measuring approximately 128 ft. long. Officers and soldiers had separate rooms measuring 22’X22’ with small passages between them. The barracks also contained lofts used for storage of weapons and supplies.

Barracks reconstruction at Ft. Massac in Illinois

Storage of gun powder used for artillery was stored in a powder magazine. The powder magazine at Fort de Chartres measured 38’ long and 13’ high. Its walls are estimated to be 4’ thick and was rounded at the top to support an arched vault. The floor was made of stone that sat below the surface of the ground and cement was used to cover the walls. It was important that this structure be heavily built in order to secure the essential goods of defense from any sort of attack. The powder magazine was typically placed on the opposite side of the fort away from the barracks and commanders house, for reasons of safety.

Powder Magazine at Ft. Massac (reconstruction)

Archaeological excavations at Fort St. Joseph have yet to find evidence of these military structures. We know that Fort St. Joseph was probably not as large as Fort de Chartres, but by using information found at other French forts across the area, we are given a great reference point as to what may have existed at the fort in Niles. As I said it has been an exciting and unique opportunity to be a part of this project and add to the workings of this amazing project that has brought so much pride and excitement to the city of Niles, Michigan.

Sincerely

Devon Yurko

Special Purpose Structures: Places of Rituals and Daily Practices

The history of Fort St. Joseph has changed my view of what archaeology means. Archaeology is not just telling the history of events that happened hundreds of miles away in various continents. Discovery can happen anywhere! Fort St. Joseph allows us to explore archaeology right here in Michigan! My name is Lakenia Payne and I am an undergraduate at Western Michigan University minoring in Anthropology. I have taken other courses in this field but none as insightful as Anthropology in the Community. This course offers a hands-on approach rather than just learning about history and culture. Initially, the focus was on enhancing our knowledge of New France in the 18th century. Now were able to apply this information to our research. 

My research partner, Adrienne, and I are exploring the architecture of special purpose buildings at Fort St. Joseph. I find myself more and more captivated by 18th century history and culture. We plan to examine the ritual practices and special purpose structures of the Native Americans and French.  Our research includes information on wigwams, tents, sweat lodges, and churches. Evidence from Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinac Island) and Pontchartrain (Detroit) has helped guide our research. For an example, at Fort Michilimackinac there is a reconstructed church built on the site. In addition, at Fort St. Joseph we have found evidence of a few religious artifacts such as pendants and metal crosses. These two sites are in close proximity, so it may suggest that there was a place of worship at Fort St. Joseph.

Through research, I have discovered that Fort St. Joseph was a major 18th century fur trading post in New France. Voyageurs journeyed from Montreal to partake in the trade. Lakes and rivers acted as a fur trade highway in the Great Lakes region.  They traveled in heavily laden birch bark canoes carrying goods including metals and clothing. These good were exchanged with the Native people for furs. Voyageurs would travel for miles and days in an attempt to reach Fort St. Joseph. While on their journey, they stayed in wedge style tents. These temporary structures played a small but significant role during in the trading era. Tents acted as a defense against the rainy and snowy seasons. A standard wedge tent was fitting for the task because of its durability. Voyageurs would often sleep inside of the canoes and use tents to cover the top of the boat. On land, to position the tent, three larges poles are placed inside to form the frame. Thirteen pegs are then nailed into ground. The wedge style tents stood 7 feet in height.

In American history, I rarely hear about the Native American people. We decided to examine some of the rituals and practices of the Native people in the surrounding areas. I discovered, solely through research, that the indigenous people have used sweat lodges for centuries! The Native Americans used these as a ceremonial ritual for purification. The evidence found at the Schilling site in Kalamazoo, Michigan supports this notion. The structure of sweat lodges was made using saplings and skin coverings. Water was poured onto hot stones to create vapors. The native people believe this ritual gave them both a spiritual and emotional awakening.

Possible remains of a Native American sweat lodge at the Schilling site. Image from the Midcontinental Journal of ArchaeologyVol. 13, No. 1, published by The Kent State University Press (1988).

It’s incredible how the people in the community of Niles are so open to learning about the history. The research we are conducting will further progress the community’s knowledge. This site is important because it lets people get a first look at anthropology in the community. As we dig into more information, we gain a better understanding of the rituals and daily practices of those who inhabited Fort St. Joseph. By examining the structures and the correlating artifacts found on the sites, we can directly impact the legacy at Fort St. Joseph!

Sincerely,

Lakenia Payne

Fortifications in New France

For me, the most visually striking feature of any fort is its fortifications. When looking at the architecture of Fort St. Joseph I found myself drawn to this topic because of that. Fort St. Joseph didn't have cannons, there was a garrison that was stationed there but it’s not primarily a military fort. What then might these fortifications have looked like? I find myself more and more intrigued by this question over the semester because I have been finding links between fortifications and the functions of forts.

The design of French fortifications in the colony of New France we influenced heavily and modified from Sebastien Le Preste de Vauban, a French military engineer who designed fortifications in France and Europe. The designs was taken to the New World by French settlers and adapted by using local resources and landscapes such as the abundant lumber supply and proximity to rivers. One aspect his design was the bastion which are on the corners of fortifications and used for either artillery or for troops to fire upon the outside of the palisade or stockade wall. This defensive focus allows the fort to be easily defended by a smaller number of soldiers.

Part of the Plan for a Vauban Bastioned fortification. Notice the hexagonal shape.

In New France fortifications are constructed for a variety of reasons. Forts had the ability to be places of trade, religion, communication and government. These functions are not mutually exclusive, as we know Fort St. Joseph was a place of trade, military, as well as also being a mission. The French built their fortifications all around North America as a way to prevent land claims by the English. Once built these forts would have supported themselves through trade networks.

Perhaps the largest symbol of a fortification is the palisade wall. These are typically constructed around the perimeter of the fort. Evidence from sites like Fort Massac in Illinois and Fort Michilimackinac in Michigan help us get an idea of how palisades were constructed. Evidence supports palisades being made of wooden materials like cedar, and having two doors on opposite ends (North and South) of the palisade. The walls at Massac are said to be 20 feet high while Michilimackinac’s are 12 feet. These forts are also built more resembling a square showing another modification to Vauban’s design. This could have made it easier to build with fewer resources and time.

Detail map by a military engineer of Fort Massac in Illinois.

Since we have not found any evidence archaeologically about the fortifications of Fort St. Joseph we only have historical sources to use. While the account from Charlevoix detailing the ‘poor’ quality of the palisade at Fort St. Joseph has been challenged, there are other stories that support this idea. One of these is an Iroquois raid where their guns were able to be placed between gaps in the palisade wall. The lack of defense in this situation can support the idea that perhaps there were no bastions at Fort St. Joseph, and that individual logs in the palisade wall are actually spread apart.

I would love to leave the post with a detail map of the Fort or a picture, but it would be wrong. It is not that we can’t know what the Fort looked like, but archaeological evidence will really help us understand the fortifications of Fort St. Joseph. It most likely wasn’t pristine and picturesque like an artists’ rendition, but it would have had character just like the people who lived and traded there.

Sincerely,

Joe Puntasecca

Hands on history

For an anthropology minor such as myself, every anthropology class I have taken has been really insightful and very interesting. But this class, Anthropology in the Community, has really kicked my interest in anthropology into high gear. This class has presented a real hands on learning opportunity for me to learn more about a site that I had never heard of before: Fort St. Joseph. Even though I've taken Michigan history courses and anthropology classes that focused on this region, I can honestly say I had never come across this fort in my studies. Hearing that this site is trying to take its place in the history of the French traders as well as the state of Michigan itself and being able to be apart of that is an amazing opportunity.   

As my partner, Kyle has previously stated, our focus in the storehouses and the powder magazine and we have found evidence of documented goods that would have seemed  traveled through . Due to the fact that the site has little remains of any of the physical buildings that we believe once stood there, we have based much of our research on what we have seen at other forts around the state and its neighbors. These storehouses would have been very important considering the large volume of French traders and missionaries transporting trading goods such as food or even weaponry throughout the state(s). This sort of revenue not only could have benefited the fort but the travelers and small towns that were either nearby or were part of the fort.

By focusing on the other forts, we can hope to find patterns that hopefully paint a better picture of what this mysterious fort would have looked like and how it functioned. Also by hopefully finding these clues, we want to better educate others on how significant Fort St. Joseph could/would have been. Taking what we discover and displaying that information for people from all to see, will and has been a really fun experience. I hope to see a large turnout for when we contribute our project to the exhibit, and to hopefully give Fort St. Joseph a better shoutout.

Sincerely,

            Jenna Combs

Native Architecture Near Fort St. Joseph

        Across the river from Ft St. Joseph in the 18th Century, there lived many members of the Potawatomi tribe in a large village. Unlike the French who occupied Fort St. Joseph, the Potawatomi did not construct their homes with intentions of permanence. To best exploit the abundant natural resources around them, the Potawatomi and their homes moved with the changing of seasons.

        My name is Kaitlin Burton and I am an undergraduate at Western Michigan University and I am studying Anthropology. I chose to research the architecture of the Potawatomi’s homes, as I am very interested how the raw materials of the region were ingeniously used by indigenous peoples to thrive in the Great Lakes region.

        When I initiated my research on the architecture of Potawatomi wigwams, I was overjoyed to discover a wealth of resources. I was excited, as in the archeological record, evidence of Great Lakes Native American structures is quite scarce. This scarcity exists as the structures were constructed to last temporarily for a season, in accordance with a seasonal lifestyle. Further, the moist climate of the Great Lakes region, with its frequent freezing and thawing, quickly rotted building materials. In addition to examining the archeological data, I have been studying historical accounts, literature, and consulting a member of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Tribe.

        I have learned that the Potawatomi constructed three general living structures: summer homes, winter homes, and harvesting camp homes. In my research, I am exploring the architecture of the summer and winter homes, and my classmate Lakenia is researching architecture of the harvesting camp homes.

        The homes constructed by the Potawatomi were easily portable and quite durable against the weather. To construct the framework of the homes, bent saplings were fastened together in accordance with the architecture of a summer or winter home. Variant on the season, different materials shielded the home from the weather. In the centers of the homes were large fireplaces, and the outskirts of the home consisted of areas designated for storage, sleeping, and many other uses.  When resources were abundant in the summer, multiple families would occupy a single house. In the winter, the homes were smaller as families separated into their immediate organizations, conserving resources. Assembling these structures took very little time, yet they provided exceptional protection from the wide gamut of weather patterns of West Michigan.

A wigwam in Minnesota. Photo courtesy of Michael Nassaney

        With my classmate Erika, I will continue exploring the materials used in homes at Ft St. Joseph and the surrounding Potawatomi villages, construction techniques, designated areas of the homes, as well as many more fascinating aspects of life in the home during the 18th century in Niles, MI.

Sincerely,

Kaitlin

Places of Rituals and Every Day Practices

            Before this semester, I didn’t even know that Fort St. Joseph existed, let alone that it had such a rich history filled with many cultures. This history has come to include the Niles community, WMU’s archaeological field school and now, Dr. Nassaney’s  Anthropology in the Community class, even if our impact is a small (but mighty) one.

            This semester, my partner, Lakenia Payne, and I have been focusing our research efforts towards uncovering the unknown world of the special purpose architecture of Fort St. Joseph. While this includes buildings like barns and churches, to name a few, we’ve also expanded it to include temporary structures like tents and smoking huts, even the sweat lodges of the local Native Americans.

            While Lakenia is tackling temporary structures, my particular area of study is focused on the special purpose building that were permanent. One of my main interests within this is to uncover more about the church that may or may not have been at Fort St. Joseph, which was founded originally as a Jesuit mission. Because there has been little evidence of a church, besides a few religious artifacts and vague references in texts, examples of architecture from neighboring forts, such as Fort Pontchartrain and Fort Michilimackinac, have been very helpful.

            Our goal is to obtain a better understanding about the rituals and every day practices of those who inhabited Fort St. Joseph. What places did these people inhabit when not in their homes?  What distinguished these special buildings from the other architecture in the fort? Did anything distinguish them?

              If you would like to know answers to these questions and those posed by classmates, well, I guess that you’re just going to have to come to this year’s open house to find out.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Andrus