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By Kent Larsen
Fort That Sheltered Martin Handcart Company Found
CASPER, WYOMING -- An archaeological project initiated by The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has discovered Seminoe Fort, a
trading post on the Mormon and Oregon Trails where members of the
ill-fated Martin Handcart Company sought shelter during a blizzard in
1856. The Church started the project, which is also sponsored by the
Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the
University of Wyoming and the National Park Service, to include the
fort as part of its Martin's Cove Visitor's Center.
Researchers knew the general location of the fort, established about
1852 by fur trader Charles "Seminoe" Lajuenesse, but the exact
location wasn't known. "We knew generally out on that hay field where
the structure was, but we had no real idea," Assistant State
Archaeologist Danny Walker said. "There's an 1857 plat map that
exists and gives the location out on that terrace we were on, but the
exact location was unknown. For 140 years no one's known where it
was." So far researchers have located three of at least six cabins
that are thought to be part of the fort. The Church has expressed
interest in reconstructing the buildings as accurately as possible.
For Mormons, the fort's role was as a shelter to the members of the
Edward Martin Handcart company. After starting late in the season,
the company got stuck when an early blizzard hit Wyoming. After
rescuers from Salt Lake City reached them, the combined group stayed
in the fort for two days on November 4, 1856. They then moved over to
Martin's Cove, where they stayed another four or five days before
traveling on to Utah.
The fort burned down the following year, and its exact location was
lost. Researchers started working at the site earlier this year, and
discovered the first remnants of the fort in May. But digging at the
site has now stopped, since Funding ran out on Saturday. Walker hopes
that additional funds can be raised quickly so that the excavation
can continue.
Source:
Historic Oregon Trail fort unearthed
San Diego CA Union-Tribune (AP) 1Jul01 N6
Associated Press
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