PALESTINE, Ill. — Even with larger, modern tools, building a piece of history can be a slow process.
Members of the Fort LaMotte Rangers and the Central Wabash Archaeological Chapter are working together to build a full-size replica of Fort LaMotte from the War of 1812.
“What better way to teach our local history or to learn our local history than to live our local history?” said Rob Byrley, a local historian and member of the clubs.
Construction began in spring 2007 after the Palestine Development Association came up with the idea of constructing the fort in 2006 and contributed the first $2,500 for the project. Other funding comes from grants and donations.
Materials and equipment were donated by Kirkham Hardwoods of Terre Haute, R&R; Timber of Palestine and several other businesses and individuals. Members of the Fort LaMotte Rangers and the Central Wabash Archaeological Chapter provide labor.
Byrley expects the entire project to cost about $20,000, which he said was cheap compared to the costs of other forts around the country.
It’s expected to be complete by spring 2009. The goal is to have at least one large living history event a year at the site with other smaller events throughout the year by hosting events such as educational tours and trade fairs.
“We want to keep it busy and hold events throughout the year,” said Gordon Howe, a member of the construction committee.
The replica sits at the Palestine Rodeo Arena parking grounds, a few hundred yards away from where the original fort most likely sat from 1811 to 1817, Byrley said.
It is 100 feet by 100 feet enclosed by a tall, log blockade. A small, log cabin and large block house will sit within the logged fence.
Nearly two sides of the fence are finished, while the log cabin is about a quarter complete and the block house is about 75 percent completed.
Though they’re not using the same methods occupants of the fort may have used to complete it, they are trying to make it as historically accurate as possible while making sure it’s durable enough to last for many years.
“People can come in and absorb themselves in a period of time,” Howe said, noting they want people to feel like they stepped into 1812 as much as possible.
He said there’s not another fort within a couple hundred miles of Palestine and none of them were settlers’ forts. It will be the only War of 1812 reconstructed military station in the state, according to Greg Parrott, a local historian and one of the founders of the Fort LaMotte Rangers.
Because it sat on the farthest west side of the Wabash Valley, it was considered the edge of the war zone of the War of 1812, Parrott said. It was also the site of the Battle of Africa Point, which took place sometime in 1812 or the spring of 1813.
Some settlers lived farther away from the fort, but would flock to it when there was danger. Between 50 and 60 people could crowd within the blockade along with horses and cattle.
“The War of 1812 is almost a forgotten war,” Parrott said, noting the Star Spangled Banner and Old Ironside resulted from the war. In addition the White House wasn’t white until after the war because that was when the British tried to burn it down, he said.
Keeping the fort historically accurate is the hardest part about the construction, Byrley, Parrott and Howe agreed. After using chainsaws, they chop at the logs with axes to make it look like they used axes to cut them and any bolts that are used are covered up.
“The pioneers themselves will feel at home,” Byrley said about the fort when it’s done. “When this fort is complete, it should be quite the feather in the hat for the Wabash Valley.”
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
• An 1812 encampment at the Fort LaMotte replica site will be Aug. 30 and 31 at the Palestine Rodeo Arena. Fort tours will be available, French Fur Trade era artifacts also will be displayed and buffalo burgers with trimmings will be served.
• To volunteer, make a donation or receive more information about the Fort LaMott replica from the War of 1812, contact Rob Byrley at (618) 586-2493 or by@mchsi.com, Gordon Howe at wgmehowe@earthlink.net, Greg Parrott at (618) 544-4488 or greg.parrott@dana.com, or Leonard Sisil at (618) 544-2990.
Three forts were built in Palestine during the War of 1812: a blockhouse constructed by for protection the first American settlers before September 1811; a military station known as “LaMotte Station,” which was built in the spring of 1813 and served as a post for 45 U.S. Rangers of the 7th Infantry; and Fort Foot, which served as a small private compound for the Eaton Family either in 1812 or spring of 1813.
The first fort on LaMotte Prairie was burned by Indians during an attack Sept. 21, 1812. Sometime in spring 1813, U.S. Rangers constructed a new fort in the area.
Fort LaMotte’s active service continued through the war to 1815, but remained occupied by Rangers into 1818 to protect Federal surveyors as they headed north.
It was unclear when the fort was abandoned.
Source: Gordon Howe, member of construction committee and Central Wabash Archaeological Chapter of the Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology.
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