Fort Vancouver Historic Structures Report

History and location

Columbia District inventories and requisitions reveal that large quantities of scrap iron, flat bar iron, "square" iron, round bolt iron, sheet iron, and hoop iron, as well as smaller amounts of steel, were imported annually in standard sizes to meet the needs of the trade and the establishments west of the Rockies. A good deal of this material was turned into axes, traps, hardware, ship fittings, and a host of other articles at Fort Vancouver's two blacksmith shops--one within the pickets and the other up the Columbia at the sawmill.

No separate building for the storage of this iron stock was men tioned in the list of fort structures prepared by Lt. George Foster Emmons in his journal entry for July 25, 1841. [1] Indeed, the location of the Blacksmith Shop, hemmed in as it was at the very southeastern corner of the stockade, did not permit the existence of an iron store nearby (see Plate III, vol. I). Yet, as has been fully discussed in the previous chapter, sketches of Fort Vancouver by two of Emmons's companions seem to show that there were two gable-roofed structures east of the Missionary Store in the southeast angle of the palisade. No explanation of this conflicting testimony can be offered, but the "Line of Fire" map of 1844 seems to support Emmons by showing that prior to 1845 the Blacksmith's Shop was the only building standing in the extreme southeastern stockade corner.

Nevertheless, there undoubtedly was a special area set aside for the metal stockpile. The French traveler, Eugene Duflot de Mofras, who arrived at Fort Vancouver in October 1841 for a six-week visit, noted the existence of an "iron mongery" within the palisade. [2]

Probably somewhere in the process of translation from English to French and then back to English the Company's usual word "store" for warehouse emerged as "mongery." But the location of this store house is not known. Perhaps it formed a special section in one of the four "Store Houses" shown within the pickets on the Emmons ground plan.

At any rate, the authorities at Fort Vancouver must have come to the conclusion that a more convenient storage area was necessary. In fact, Mr. Louis R. Caywood has suggested that the need to have the Iron Store close to the Blacksmith's Shop may have been one of the reasons for extending the fort to the eastward during the early 1840s. [3] Certainly one result of moving the stockade outward was to make room within the pickets for an iron store directly east of the Blacksmith's Shop in the extreme southeastern corner of the fort.

The new Iron Store evidently had not been built when the "Line of Fire" map was drawn about the end of September 1844 (see Plate V, vol. I), but it appears and is named on the Vavasour map made late in the next year (see Plates VI, VII, VIII, vol. I). The building is listed in the Company's inventory of 1846-47; Dr. H. A. Tuzo recalled that it was standing in 1853; and a board of army officers found it still in existence on June 15, 1860, and described it as a "small store-house" long since abandoned by the Company and in a " ruinous condition." [4] That the building continued to stand from 1845 until the United States Army took over the old fur trading post is also demonstrated by a series of maps beginning with the Covington plan of 1846 (Plate XIII, vol. I) and ending with the sketch drawn by the army officers on June 15, 1860 (Plate XXX, vol. I). Though these maps do not name the structure, identification is almost certain through its size, shape, and location (for examples of such maps see Plates XIX and XXIV, vol. I).

The location of this 1845-60 Iron Store has now been designated as Building No. 23 on the site plan of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Construction details

a. Dimensions and footings. On the three versions of the Vavasour ground plan of 1845 the Iron Store scales out to be thirty feet wide and between about thirty-eight and forty-two feet long, with forty feet probably being the intended length; the long dimension runs north and south (see Plates VI, VII, VIII, vol. I). These measurements correspond with the forty by thirty feet given in the Company's inventory of 1846-47. [5] The later maps mentioned in the preceding paragraph cannot be relied upon for dimensions, but they all seem to show the structure as longer from north to south than from east to west.

In the words of Mr. Caywood, archeological excavations in 1952 were "not too successful" in determining the size of the Iron Store. A hard-packed floor area of native soil was found of "approximately" the dimensions given by Vavasour. Only the position of the southeast corner was definitely fixed. The most significant structural feature discovered was the "sole" of the south wall. It was formed of planks nine inches wide and two inches thick. [6]

The site of the Iron Store has not yet been excavated during the series of explorations begun by the National Park Service during the early 1970s. It is anticipated by the writer that when this location is opened to a greater depth it will be found, as in the case of the Blacksmith's Shop, that Mr. Caywood's "soles" are actually the remains of massive sills resting on sub-surface footings.

b. General construction. The view of Fort Vancouver drawn by Lt. Henry J. Warre in 1845-46 clearly shows the structure in the extreme southeast corner of the fort as having a hipped roof with the ridge running east and west (see Plates IX and X, vol. I, and Plate XLII, this vol.). As has been mentioned several times in this report, however, Warre's representation of the structures in that locality appears to have no correlation whatever with the very accurate positioning of those buildings on the Vavasour map of about the same date. One can only conclude that Warre was exercising artistic license when he made his sketch and must discard the thought that his drawing might have any validity as an accurate depiction of the Iron Store.

Beginning with the Paul Kane pencil sketch of 1846-47 (Plate XIV, vol. I) the representations of the structures in the extreme southeastern angle of the fort, when they can be made out, correspond very well with what might be expected from the ground plans of approximately the same dates. Both the Kane drawing and the 1847-48 painting by an unknown artist (Plates XV and XVI, vol. I) show the Iron Store as a gable-roofed structure with the ridge line running north and south with the long axis of the building. These pictures, particularly the former, also show that the Iron Store was higher than its neighbor, the Blacksmith's Shop. Unfortunately, these views portray no more than the roof and the gable portion of the north wall.

Drawings of the 1850s by Gustavus Sohon and R. Covington do not distinctly delineate the Iron Store, but as nearly as can be determined they appear to support the information about the structure in the south- east corner of the fort provided by the Kane and 1847-48 views (see Plates XXI and XXII, vol. I).

From the scanty archeological and pictorial evidence thus far available a few conclusions, some firm and some tentative, can be drawn:

(1) The Iron Store measured about forty by thirty feet, with the long axis running north and south.

(2) Construction was probably in the usual post-on-sill style, with the sills about at ground level.

(3) In an 1845 building the timbers probably would have been sawed.

(4) The walls could have been as high as twelve feet, a height that would have permitted the inclusion of a garret.

(5) The ground floor was of packed earth.

(6) The roof was gabled; the ridge ran north and south. Having been erected about early 1845, the building probably was covered with shingles over horizontal boards.

(7) The main door was probably double and in the north wall. There probably was a door in the west wall providing easy access to the Blacksmith Shop. There probably was a ramp before each door.

(8) Windows undoubtedly were few and small.

(9) There were no chimneys.

(10) The Iron Store was unpainted inside and out, except that doors and windows, with their exterior trim, were probably painted to match the Blacksmith's Shop.

(11) Almost surely the building was unlined on the inside, and the ceiling beams were exposed.

(12) If it is decided to construct the Iron Store with a garret, the floor on this second level probably was formed of two-inch rough planks laid on top of the ground floor ceiling beams. In such case there would have been steep, open-tread stairs and one or more trapdoors.

(13) Racks for holding the iron and steel stock undoubtedly Lined the walls of the Iron Store and may have extended down the center of the ground floor. Perhaps archeologists will uncover postholes that will indicate the locations and widths of these features.

(14) The possibility that there were living quarters in the Iron Store has been mentioned in the previous chapter. If such was the case, the quarters probably would have been in the garret. In view of the uncertainty concerning this matter, however, it would be best not to fit out the garret as living space.

Furnishings

Nothing is known about the interior arrangement or the equipment of the Iron Store, but a good deal of information is available from both documentary and archeological sources concerning the types of materials that were housed there.

The annual indents, or requisitions, from the Columbia District to the Hudson's Bay Company headquarters in London contain long lists of the various types and sizes of iron and steel stock needed to meet the needs of operations on the West Coast. The inventories of "Sundry Goods, property of the Honble. Hudson's Bay Company, remaining on hand at Fort Vancouver Depot," prepared each spring, throw supplementary light upon the materials housed in the Iron Store. These lists, it should be noted, do not specifically state that the enumerated items of iron and steel were to be found in the Iron Store. It will be remembered that there were two blacksmith shops attached to the fort, and it is probable that some of the inventoried stock was kept at the smithy near the sawmill. But the lists are highly useful in indicating the types and general quantities of iron and steel stock maintained in the Iron Store.

The "Requisition Columbia District, Outfit 1838" was typical of those for other years In noting the quantities of iron and steel called for, it should be remembered that the requisition reflected the requirements not only of the Fort Vancouver blacksmith shops but also of the smithies throughout the entire district, including New Caledonia and the Northwest Coast. After being prepared at Fort Vancouver in March 1835, this requisition was sent by "express" across the continent to York Factory on Hudson Bay, from whence it was forwarded by sailing vessel to England. The requested items were to be shipped from London during 1836 for use starting about the middle of 1838. The amounts and kinds of iron requested were as follows:

56 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 3 x 7/8
40 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 3 x 5/8
40 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 2-1/2 x 7/8
30 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 2-1/2 x 1/2
 4 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 2-1/4 x 1/2
30 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 1-1/4 x 3/8
24 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 1 x 3/8
28 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 1 x 1/4
12 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 7/8 x 1/4
12 Cwt. best scrap Iron flat 3/4 x 3/8

14 Cwt. No. 3 Charcoal Scrap Iron 1 x 1/8
10 Cwt. No. 2 Charcoal Scrap Iron 5/8 x 1/8

 4 Cwt. Square Iron 4 ins.
 3 Cwt. Square Iron 3 ins.
16 Cwt. Square Iron 2-1/2 ins.
20 Cwt. Square Iron 2 ins.
20 Cwt. Square Iron 1-1/2 ins.
 6 Cwt. Square Iron 1-1/4 ins.
 6 Cwt. Square Iron 1 ins.
 4 Cwt. Square Iron 7/8 ins.
20 Cwt. Square Iron 3/4 ins.
20 Cwt. Square Iron 5/8 ins.
40 Cwt. Square Iron 1/2 ins.
14 Cwt. Square Iron 3/8 ins.
 4 Cwt. Square Iron 1/4 ins.

16 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1-1/2 ins.
 4 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1-1/4 ins.
16 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1-1/8 ins.
26 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1 ins.
22 Cwt. bolt round Iron 7/8 ins.
24 Cwt. bolt round Iron 3/4 ins.
20 Cwt. bolt round Iron 5/8 ins.
20 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1/2 ins.
20 Cwt. bolt round Iron 3/8 ins.
20 Cwt. bolt round Iron 1/4 ins.
18 Cwt. Hoop Iron No. 10 1-1/2 ins.
10 Cwt. Hoop Iron No. 11 1-1/2 ins.
 2 Cwt. Hoop Iron No. 11 3/4 ins.

The indent called for the following items of steel:

4 Cwt. Crowley steel 1-5/8 x 1/2
4 Cwt. Crowley stell 1-1/2 x 3/8 [7]

A somewhat different picture is given by the annual inventories of goods remaining on hand at the Fort Vancouver depot toward the end of the active trading season of each Outfit. The inventory made in the spring of 1844 may be considered typical. The items that might have been found in the iron store were as follows:

47-16/ 112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 3 x 7/8
 1-8/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 3 x 5/8
45-17/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 2-1/2 x 7/8
16 Cwt. flat bar Iron 2-1/2 x 1/2
 9-72/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 2-1/2 x 3/8
25-80/ 112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 1-3/4 x 3/8
21-56/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 1-3/8 x 3/8
13 Cwt. flat bar Iron 1 x 1/4
77-6/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 7/8 x 1/4
29 Cwt. flat bar Iron 1/2 x 1/4
 3-102/112 Cwt. flat bar Iron 1 x 3/8

 8-24/112 Cwt. Charcoal scrape [sic] Iron 1 x 1/8
 3 Cwt. Charcoal scrape [sic] Iron 3/4 x 1/8

101/112 Cwt. best hoop Iron 1-3/10 x 1/2
58-14/112 Cwt. best hoop Iron 1-1/4 x 1/8
 5 Cwt. best hoop Iron 3/5 x 1/20
 3-24/112 Cwt. best hoop Iron 1-1/8 x 1/4
58-4/112 Cwt. best hoop Iron 1 x 1/16
29 Cwt. best hoop Iron 3/4 x 1/10
 5-40/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1-1/2 in.
 3-84/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1-1/4 in.
12 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1-1/8 in.
21-7/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1 in.
33 Cwt. round bolt Iron 7/8 in.
45-16/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 3/4 in.
29 Cwt. round bolt Iron 5/8 in.
34-32/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1/2 in.
24-72/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 3/8 in.
24-67/112 Cwt. round bolt Iron 1/4 in.

4-72/112 Cwt. single & double sheet Iron

16 Cwt. square Iron 4-1/2 in.
32 Cwt. square Iron 2-1/2 in.
30 Cwt. square Iron 2 in.
16 Cwt. square Iron 1-3/8 in.
18-84/112 Cwt. square Iron 1-1/4 in.
 8-64/112 Cwt. square Iron 1 in.
13-44/112 Cwt. square Iron 7/8 in.
39-72/112 Cwt. square Iron 3/4 in.
22-96/112 Cwt. square Iron 5/8 in.
58-110/112 Cwt. square Iron 1/2 in.
19-32/112 Cwt. square Iron 3/8 in.
 2-16/112 Cwt. square Iron 1/4 in.

The stock of steel was as follows:

 2-42/112 Cwt. Cast Steel

 8-64/112 Cwt. best German Steel 3-1/2 x 1/4
 5-40/112 Cwt. best German Steel 2-1/4 x 1/2
27/112 Cwt. best German Steel 2 x 1/2
 4-32/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-5/8 x 1/2
10-80/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-1/2 x 3/8
30/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-1/2 x 1/2
21-48/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-1/8 x 3/16
19-32/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-3/8 x 1/4
21-48/112 Cwt. best German Steel 1-1/8 x 3/8 [8]

The archival evidence is supplemented by the results of archeological excavations. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the items recovered on the site are supplemented by the inventories and requisitions, because the pieces of scrap actually found seem to represent a greater range of sizes and shapes than is found on any one Company list, at least any one examined during this study.

In the words of Mr. Caywood, "the amount of iron which was un earthed during the excavations from 1947 to 1952 is almost inconceivable ," and additional large amounts remain undiscovered or have been hauled away as scrap or with the earth during various ground-leveling operations. Much of the recovered iron was found in Well No. 1 and in the Root House cellar where it must have been dumped about the time the post was abandoned by the Company. "But," wrote Mr. Caywood, "several thousand pieces were found in the southeast section of the fort," scattered near and on the sites of the Blacksmith's Shop and the Iron Store. [9]

Among the recovered items of scrap were many end pieces of standard-sized strap, bar, and rod iron that obviously had been cut off as waste. An analysis of these revealed that there were at least forty-nine different sizes of strap iron and seven sizes of bar iron. "There were also," said Mr Caywood, "7 thicknesses of sheet iron or plate iron ranging from 1/32 inch to 1/2 inch in thickness. Rods were found to have come in ten different diameters ranging from 1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inches." [10]

The sizes of strap iron recovered were as follows:

3 x 1 inches
3 x 5/8 inches
3 x 1/2 inches
2-1/2 x 7/8 inches
2-1/2 x 3/4 inches
2-1/2 x 1/2 inches
2-1/2 x 3/8 inches
2-1/2 x 1/8 inches
2-1/2 x 3/32 inches
2 x 3/8 inches
1-3/4 x 1/2 inches
1-3/4 x 3/8 inches
1-3/4 x 1/4 inches
1-5/8 x 1/2 inches
1-5/8 x 1/16 inches
1-1/2 x 1/2 inches
1-1/2 x 3/8 inches
1-1/2 x 1/4 inches
1-1/2 x 3/32 inches
1-1/2 x 1/16 inches
1-3/8 x 3/8 inches
1-3/8 x 1/14 inches
1-3/8 x 3/16 inches
1-3/8 x 1/16 inches
1-1/4 x 3/8 inches
1-1/4 x 1/4 inches
1-1/4 x 1/18 inches
1-1/4 x 1/16 inches
1-1/8 x 3/8 inches
1-1/8 x 1/4 inches
1-1/8 x 1/8 inches
1-1/8 x 1/16 inches
1 x 3/8 inches
1 x 1/4 inches
1 x 1/8 inches
1 x 3/32 inches
1 x 1/16 inches
7/8 x 3/8 inches
7/8 x 1/4 inches
7/8 x 1/8 inches
3/4 x 3/8 inches
5/8 x 1/16 inches
1/2 x 3/8 inches
1/2 x 1/4 inches
1/2 x 1/16 inches
3/8 x 1/16 inches
1/4 x 1/8 inches
1/4 x 1/16 inches

The seven sizes of bar iron were:

1 x 1 inch
7/8 x 7/8 inch
3/4 x 3/4 inch
5/8 x 5/8 inch
1/2 x 1/2 inch
3/8 x 3/8 inch
1/4 x 1/4 inch [11]

Recommendations

a. Only part of the Iron Store site was excavated in 1952. The entire area occupied by this building should be carefully excavated to uncover additional evidence concerning structural details.

b. When completed, the reports of the excavations at this site should be analyzed by architects and designers before reconstruction of the Iron Store is planned.

c. Except as they might be modified by the results of the archeological excavations, the structural data provided in the body of this chapter should be used as guidelines in designing the reconstructed Iron Store.

d. It is suggested that the ground floor of the Iron Store be fitted out with racks and "furnished" with iron and steel stock as an exhibit. If a garret is provided, it should not be open to the public.

1. George Foster Emmons, "Journal Kept While Attached to the South Sea Surveying & Exploring Expedition on Board of the U.S. Sloop of War Peacock, W. L. Hudson Esqr. Commander," 3 vols., MS, in Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, 3: entry for July 25, 1841.

2. Pipes, "Extract from Exploration," p. 153; De Mofras also listed blacksmith shops, so his "iron mongery" was not a reference to the smithy.

3. Caywood, Final Report, p. 18.

4. Br. & Am. Joint Comm., Papers, [2:]118-19, 176-77; [9:]75-77.

5. Ibid., [2:]118-19.

6. Caywood, Final Report, p. 18, and Map of Archeological Excavations, sheet 6. Mr. Caywood did not excavate the entire Iron Store site.

7. H.B.C., York Factory Indent Books, 1823-1838, H.B.C.A., B.239/n/71, MS, fols. 158d—159, 161.

8. H.B.C., Account Book, Fort Vancouver, 1844 [Inventories], H.B.C.A., B.223/d/155, MS, pp. 104-5, 114. In all of the lists given above, weight totals and monetary values have been omitted as not pertinent to the problem at hand.

9. Caywood, Final Report, pp. 32-33.

10. Ibid., p. 33. See also Caywood, Exploratory Excavations, p. 15.

11. Caywood, Final Report, fig. 7.