From here we wandered along the front of the palisade to the entrance. The outside perimeter of the Fort was the home of the Voyagers. These mostly French-Canadians worked as paddlers on the hundreds of canoes that plied the waters both east and west carrying supplies and fur to their respective destinations. They were broken into two separate groups. The "Winterers" who traded with the Indians in the west during the winter and then brought the furs they received out of the west by canoe until they reached Fort William. They would then take trade goods back west to exchange for more furs. The other group known as the "pork eaters" were usually much bigger in size and quite physically strong. They would pack the 90 lb. fur packs into canoes and paddle them east to Montreal, and bring back trade goods. There were many points at which the fur packs had to be portaged around bad water and falls. Each man was expected to carry a minimum of 2 packs, and many carried three. During the great rendezvous in mid-summer, when the voyageurs from the west and the voyagers from the east both arrived at the at the same time, there might be several thousand people at the Fort. During the cold winter months when there was little or no activity, there might not be more the 40 people at the fort. To feed the large gathering during the summer months, extensive farming was conducted in and around the Fort. Horses, cattle, sheep, chickens, a large vegetable garden and an assortment of animal fodder were needed. This all required buildings. Barns, houses, a great dining hall, store rooms, and a power magazine. Carpenters, brick layers, and coopers were hired. Then there were the clerks, accountants and stockmen responsible for keeping track of the trade goods and getting the furs ready for shipment east. On top of this was a small group of mostly Scottish men who managed the entire operation for the Montreal owners. Although located deep in the wilderness, Fort William was not lacking for amenities. Many types of craftsmen made their living. plying their trade within the palisade walls. In addition aristocratic visitors often arrived to review the business for an extended period of time. As we rounded the corner into the fort we came upon several buildings, each with its own actors. The schooner Captain, the Doctor, each with a story to tell. With accents practiced, they would enter into lively conversations with both other actors or any of the visitors who happed to ask a question. Always quick to act confused when anything prior to their period was mentioned, such as computers, airplanes, telephones, or cars, these docents presented a perfect image of the time they so richly presented. As we entered the trading floor, we were greeted with an assortment of dry goods, hardware, knives and muskets, all arranged neatly on shelves. Each had a price, so many plus (pronounced plew). A plus equals a credit which is paid for by one beaver pelt, with some ability to slide the value one way or another. Gold, silver or currency were not used in the Fort. The basic unit of payment was one beaver skin. From the trading floor, we moved to the fur packing storehouse. Here, hanging form the rafters and on poles throughout the entire warehouse were pelts of every description, from beaver to arctic fox. These were the real thing, actually captured from poachers over the years and lent to the museum by the authorities. In the middle of the room was a fur press. Beaver skins were compressed until a pile of them weighed 90 lbs. They were then wrapped and tied and became a basic fur pack which the voyagers had to carry. A young man demonstrated the required strength as he showed how two packs were carried using a head strap. With a mighty heave he stood straight up under 180 lbs of beaver fur and staggered around the room for a complete circle. The strain on his body was enormous and evident by the protruding veins in his neck. An offer for others in the room to try the back pack fully loaded was not accepted by anyone.

     <<<<< Back             Next >>>>>