Return to Landmarks Topical Index
In 1992, as part of a general facelifting project at the Fort McIntosh site, the original panels which marked the location of various archaeological features were replaced with permanent granite and bronze monuments, on which are recorded in summary fashion the pertinent facts concerning each of four general quadrants of the site. The detailed information which had been displayed on the temporary panels, similar to those seen in the photograph on page 56, has been recorded on the following pages, along with the photographs of the permanent markers which replaced them.
The new markers were the gift of two long-time Beaver residents, and are dedicated to the memory of their respective late husbands. Additionally, a large rendering of the Fort as it may have appeared in 1778 has been executed in granite and placed on the central stone pedestal between the flag poles.
The plan shown below locates the position of each of the ten original temporary markers.
LINKS TO PICTURES OF THE HISTORICAL MARKERS
PICTURE 1 - PICTURE 2 - PICTURE 3 - PICTURE 4
FEATURE NO. I
This fireplace of carefully worked and fitted sandstone was restored exactly as found in 1976. The obvious care taken with its construction suggests it may have been one of the first built when the horses were strong enough to haul the heavy stones from the hillside. Because of the large number of fired nails found in the center, it is believed that the soldiers used wood from other buildings for firewood at the end of the occupation. The small number of buttons, buckles and personal gear found suggest it was in a store room.
4,969 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 2
Descriptions of the fort's shape as being an irregular square were confirmed when two sections of the foundation of this backwall were uncovered in 1976, as projections of lines of the foundations on both ends of the fort intersect the river wall at the same angle. Separate patches of fired clay in the badly destroyed fireplace indicate a double hearth. Remains of a double course of stones set at a right angle to the backwall located the only end wall found. Stones taken from a crude walk of rock, fragments and small cobbles which traversed a muddy section of the parade have been reset to trace the 1786 line.
6,795 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 3
This badly disturbed fireplace, uncovered in 1975, has been restored using the same large boulders, some taking two men to lift, which apparently formed the supports for the back and end walls.
14,409 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 4
The discovery in 1975 of the footer (foundation) of the backwall on the river side was one of the most important finds of the project. It was at the very top of the slope, the terrace visible on the downhill side being built to provide a platform for the archaeologists. The many shards of rum and wine bottles and glasses found near the reconstructed fireplace indicate the officers mess or the headquarters and residence of the commanding officer and his wife in 1785.
14,409 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 5
These two reconstucted fireplaces were located by the large amounts of broken and fired sandstone, layers of loose and then caked ash, fired earth, and concentrations of artifacts. The large number of cannister balls, a mortar ball, and buttons with the USA insignia found suggest it may have been the barracks of the artillery company of the Ist American Regiment in 1785.
8,063 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 6
The remains of two fireplaces destroyed when the cut for the railroad was made in 1852 are marked by the stone slabs to the right and left of this marker. The type of buckles and buttons found indicate the fireplaces belonged to the enlisted men's barracks. When there is no foliage, traces of the Brodhead Road, ordered cut along the south side of the Ohio by McIntosh in 1778, can be seen along the left shoulder of the ravine across the river, which was fordable at this point most of the year.
3,114 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 7
The large amount of forged iron found here identifies it as the blacksmith's or armorer's shop. Only the footer of one wall was intact, but the fireplace was restored using the largest sandstones found on the site and taken from a large hearth in the property across River Road in 1977. The drainage ditch, uncovered in 1974, contained a concentration of artifacts.
6,783 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 8
Scattered stones, uncovered in 1975, were sufficiently in line and showed evidences of being worked, that they could have intersected the line of the backwall on this side. The assumption is that they supported the inner of two walls which formed the flank of the southwest bastion, which would have had two separate walls of logs connected with cribbing, and the space between filled with earth. Logs, sharpened at one end, called "fraises," were set at an angle and projected from the walls for defense against scalers.
FEATURE NO. 9
Except for the northwest corner, which was destroyed by a sewer line, this fireplace has been restored exactly as found, even to the tilt. The large worked sandstones, some weighing more than 100 pounds, were laid in the form of an H, indicating it had a double hearth and that occupation had been by white men.
3,059 artifacts found in this section.
FEATURE NO. 10
The footer (foundation) for this backwall was the first archaeological discovery made in 1974, the first hint that the fort had been constructed of logs laid up horizontally. The almost-completely destroyed fireplace was composed mostly of large boulders but its back and side walls would have been built of easily worked sandstone as shown in this partial reconstruction.
1,253 artifacts found in this section.