Fort William and the Fur Trade | NORTHWEST COMPANY | VOYAGEURS | CANADIAN HISTORY |
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- Опубликовано: 15 июн 2023
- Peter visits the recreated historic site of Fort William and relates a wee bit of its history. It was a fur trading hub between furs from the west and the trade goods coming from Montreal.
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Featuring - Peter Kelly
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Catherine Wolfe
Contact Us: thewoodlandescape1@gmail.com
The Woodland Escape
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MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends, Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald.
#history #reenactment #reenactors #forts #historicsite #historicalplaces #archeology #voyageurs #canadianheritage #canadianhistory
Thanks Peter for another wonderful part of our North American history. God bless you
Our pleasure.
My daughter and I had gone there about 25 years ago with 7 other people from our club, here in Edmonton, Alberta. At that time they had an “open house weekend” for reenactors. All the shops were open for projects: tinsmithing, blacksmithing, and the gun shop. Also the resource library and costume department were open to us. Suppers and dances were commonplace. Had a wonderful time! They’re holding something similar this Summer over there! Period camps and lectures too!
This is the 50th anniversary of the site and they are going all out for the rendezvous this July.
Wonderful place of history Peter thanks for showing us
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your live history videos and adventures
Our pleasure, Earl.
I really appreciate this live history video everyone
Holy cow what a site! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so well kept and stocked to the hilt with actual artifacts and replicas.
Two weeks ago I was just at a site, that is mostly just the remains of a British fort about an hour outside of Montreal, made to stop any Americans coming up river during the war of independence. Except for a big old block house( ? a super thick 6 sided building used to house cannons and other stuff) it was all just foundations, but it was still awe inspiring to be standing in a spot where people lived and worked back when there would have been nothing around for maybe hundreds of kms, and even if there were people closer, travel back and forth would have been so difficult. I could stand on the berns they made for protection and look down the river for anyone coming up it, just as they would have.
I never stop being amazed at the courage, and fortitude of the early settlers. I could spend hours at this one you showed us easily.
It is indeed one of the best historical sites in Canada.
Thank you for sharing and taking us along on the journey and the history lesson blessings
Our pleasure, Kim,glad you enjoyed.
You two are doing such a great service by archiving this info onto RUclips for generations to come.
Flattering words and we thank you.
That was another fine video, Peter. Thank you for taking us on the tour of these forts!
My pleasure!
Hi Peter, what a spectacular place! Enjoyed the tour and the wonderful history behind it. Great job and look forward to the next, take care 👍
More to come and we appreciate your interest.
Thank you Peter and Kathy for the wee bit of history!!! As usual another great video!!! Be careful in your travels and I look forward to seeing the next video.
Our pleasure!
That's was the most interesting video yet thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice to see you in your element Peter, can't wait to see the wall gun you make for your fort ;)
Cheers & safe travels folks
Not a bad idea or at least a swivel gun, lol .
W O W !!! WHAT A FORT !!! Absolutely plum full 2 bursting with activity...like a beehive. How well done and laid out it all is....I can well imagine that U barely blinked while visiting...so as not 2 miss a thing. You haven't even gotten wet yet = canoe voyage and here U R being inundated with ideas 4 your own. It really is lovely 2 think of a community of peoples who work together 4 the common good eh? I enjoyed St. Joseph's views of the grand Superior. Every time I C it, I think more of it being an ocean. I canNOT imagine having 2 canoe the beast! I thank you 4 sharing this travelogue of your trip Emperor Peter and Empress Catherine. According to; Daniel Boone..."All you need 4 happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife." U have 2 our of 3 Peter...perhaps U will find the horse in your travels...LOL! Take care dear ones! Health and God Bless! :)
It is one of Canada’s best historical sites right up there with Fort Louisburg in Cape Breton.
Yup missing the horse. We actually used to farm with them … kinda miss those days.
Our forefathers were amazing. I really enjoy the history you show and teach. Thank you for bringing us along on your journeys. And a shout out to Frontier Patriot for recommending your channel, you do a great job Peter!!
Glad you enjoyed it. We also love Ronnie and Justins content.
Fascinating video, how different History can be portrayed nowadays, much more exciting than black and white drawings in old books. The main reason I took up muzzleloading was to experience the difficulties and drawbacks that at the time they didn't know they had. A successful hunt with a flintlock is far more rewarding than when using a modern firearm. Really looking forward to seeing Fort Kelly being built.
I’m with you. It is very rare for me to fire a modern gun even though I own a lot… flintlocks make it both fun and challenging again!
Thank you for helping to preserving this history
What a great looking site Peter! I had no idea it was as large as it is - and as well reconstructed! Thanks for the brief tour! Safe journey my friends. Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it Al. In my opinion the best historical site in Canada.
Good Day from Nova Scotia, and I am glad to be following along.
Morning, Hayward. We are in Whitehorse ferrying car to Dawson City and bringing a bus back to Whitehorse to start the River in 2 days.
That place looks really interesting, i wouldn't mind visiting there myself! Thanks for taking us along with you.
You should, great site.
Wonderful education! Such an enlightening breath of knowledge! Thank you Peter and Cathy!
We appreciate your kind words.
Fort William NorthWest Company, it is Fantastic History in and outside the buildings wonderful near the river. from EU support.
Thanks you.
Enjoy your adventure!
Thank you!
What an amazing experience. I can picture how busy with all the people there as it was then. Something stood out that anyone else would think nothing of but towards the end a little bedroom with a desk. My grandpa made one just like that in 1917 and I still have it today. Something that just caught my eye. Be safe in your travels as you continue on.
I love it when pieces that were made by family members are kept by family members!
👍👍👍 thank you great historic video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Greetings from the land of the Nipissing...Alexander
McKenzie went west looking for a route to the Pacific long before Lewis and Clarke went on thier quest...and the NWC and Hudson Bay Co. had forts and posts set up before the Rocky Mountian boys made it west... Canadian Fur Trade history is pretty exciting especially the clash between NWC & HBC...thanks for showing us this amazing country of ours and its not MADE IN AMERICA...
Yup, this one is made in Canada and does indeed predate many significant American events.
As usual, outstanding video quality, sound and content footage. 👌
Much appreciated feedback, thank you.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication. What a wonderful place. Would love to see it in person. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
You would not be disappointed. Watch yer top knot.
Hi great history lesson thank you for sharing love and blessings Larry June and Laurie
A whole family watching, now that is the best compliment ever.
What a wonderful place. I imagine that you can really feel the history there. Let your eyes go soft and see the various people going about their business. Hear the mix of languages and the smiths hammer ringing. The sound of paddles cutting the water. Perhaps even smell the woodsmoke and hides. The earthy odor of woods people. Maybe a bit of pipe smoke.
So eloquently worded and yes, one can get all those senses happening inside the walls!
Thank you, Peter and Cathy for the wonderful video full of history.
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for another great video enjoyed the tour of the museum and aerial view hope to visit the fort myself.
You should, it is one of the better ones in Canada.
What a grand journey you are on. Thank you so much for taking us a long with you. I could just imagine the hustle and bustle and greetings there at the river when the goods would come in. Safe travels to you and yours, Mr. Peter.
First person accounts of the brigades arrive describe an intense sense of revelry which went on for weeks!
Thanks Peter was awesome to see it love it
What an incredible site!!! Safe journey. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻
It really is! Thanks for the well wished.
Awesome Fort, Peter. Thank you for sharing. Looks like it's well supplied. Hope you got some good ideas for your fort. Safe travels to you and Cathy.
You bet I did but, need to scale everything down!
Thank you, Kathy and Peter, a excellent historical video
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow, Peter! THAT was fun!
Another AMAZING video! Thank you 🙏
You are so welcome!
There is a fortune on display there, quite impressive!
It is indeed an amazing historical site!
More good fun, Thank you P&C for another great and entertaining episode. So many questions not room here. Wonderful you can stand right there where so much History took place.
Standing in a wee bit of history right now. We are in Dawson City Yukon.
Very nice Fort with a great blacksmith shop thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it … really like the smith shop as well!
A late Happy Father Day. Love your show.💌👵🇺🇸
Thanks so much
What an amazing historical display. Great video Peter…..
Glad you enjoyed it
Brings back many fond memories, visited there in the 70"s, had a blast, most friendly people I have met, totally awesome experience.
Couldn't agree more!
Hi from thunder bay
Great video hope you enjoyed your time here
We always enjoy the Thunder Bay Area and hello from the Yukon , just arrived at Dawson City.
I've been to Grand Portage and look forward to visiting Fort William soon. Fort William is much larger and more complete than Grand Portage.
You’ll not be disappointed.
Wonderful fort reconstruction and outfitting! Really spellbinding video, thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it
I am so happy you are taking us along on your adventure. Thank you for this video of the amazing Fort. I had never heard of it before but now know how it would be so worth it to take a trip to visit it. I can sense that you are both really enjoying your travels so far. It is a great video to share.:)
Aside from a very Smokey drive the trip has been wonderful … arrived Dawson City, Yukon about an hour ago.
Thanks, once more!
Thank you too for your continued interest.
Excellent as always!
Glad you think so!
Hi Peter and Kathy
Your vid brought back fond memories for me
I visited old fort William around 1979. So much looks the same but I don't recall such a large stock of rifles stored there. I do recall the blacksmith rifle building and bark canoes being built when I visited.
They also offered period meals for visitors wishing to eat there.
When I visited, there were quite a few tourists roaming the premises but it looked pretty quiet when you and Cathy visited.
Best Regards
The activity increases once school is out for the summer. Big rendezvous planed for this July.
WOW Peter / Cathy what a great video glad to see your safe. See you on the next one!
Thanks 👍
Great touch on history Peter, never knew this one. Just close my eyes and can fade back in history and hear the different things as well as smell all the things that came from the fort. Keep your powder dry. Loved the different canoes and styles
You and me both and all traditionally built! Watch yer top knot.
I would pass days in those sites looking at every detail, equipment, recreated living spaces. Fascinating. Thanks for sharing. You help me do my itinerary for our planned trip Canada west... few years ahead. have a safe trip.
Like you Denis I need a full day or two. A definite must for and avid historian.
This is an amazing place. It appears to be quite comfortable, even for winter. (Well...THEY had a warehouse full of trade blankets!😊
In that part of the world with open fireplaces I don’t suspect they are ever too hot, lol!
Very nice well done
Thank you very much
It's just amazing.
Nice site indeed.
You make it so much fun to learn about history! Excellent video!
Glad you enjoy it as much as we enjoy sharing.
That is quite incredible. So much work & effort to recreate the history.
They wouldn't have to worry about wild animals - they're all in 90lb bales!! Lol
Well done. Keep up the history during your trip. Love it.
Absolutely, that is the plan.
Huuuuyyyyyyyyyyyy huuuufffffffffffff esta mu encato porque hablo de escopeta de bancarga
Another great video. I have been to Grand Portage but never made it to Fort William. It looks like I should. I can't even begin to imagine the Grand Portage with a full load of trade goods.
I agree, we kinda pale to our ancestors… they just seemed to take everything in stride.
Thank you for a great tour.
Our pleasure!
That video went by to quickly! What a wonderful place! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, Ian. We just arrived in Dawson City Yukon this evening… surrounded by history!
Fantastic, thank you!
You're very welcome!
Safe travels! I have a pretty good diet, but I still push the limits of getting that garden in. Who doesn't love the fresh veggies! BTW, that buffler hide has been handled hundreds of times it HAS to be soft! No need to change your methods!
Never thought of the hides usage, good point. Thanks for the well wishes.
Excellent video, as always. I may just have to add Fort William to the list of places to visit. I have visited some of the forts in the northwest, but this one takes it to another level. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. Travel safely and post videos when you can.
Please do, this is a must see for avid historians!
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful journey. Truly enjoyed this visit. What a fantastic reconstruction. Many of us would never get a chance to see anything like this if not for you and your wonderful cinematography. I love those old forts, would even love to build a fort-type log wall around part of my property someday. I got a chance to visit Fort Osage near Kansas City, Missouri back in 2014. I enjoyed being there, and though it's on the banks of the Missouri River, it's not nearly as grand nor comprehensive as Fort Saint William. Thank you so much!
Our pleasure.
Always enjoy your videos. Thanks
Glad you like them!
Visited there long ago, totally awesome, thanks
It really is!
So good to see. I grew up in Winnipeg and didn't know Fort William was there! In 2007 I brought my family from New Zealand and on our cross country travels we stopped at Fort William and loved it. All questions, and I had many, to the occupants working there were always answered in character from the period. Thanks.
I agree, the interpretation staff at the fort are absolutely amazing.
Again thank you for the wee bit of history
Our pleasure, Mike.
Thanks you for a great tour of Fort William, I’ve been a few times to visit the site but it’s been about 10 years now so it’s time for a return trip. If my memory is correct the reconstructed Fort William was built in the early 1970’s about 15 km up stream from the original site down on the lake shore. If anyone is even close to the vicinity of Fort William it is a must see historical site.
Thanks again for the tour. Safe travels.
Glad you enjoyed it. The original site of the fort is under the railroad at the lakefront.
Wow Peter, What a great historical site! If ever I get up that way I will not miss it! All the trade shops complete and the beautiful country is Lovely! Kind Thanks and I’m glade you slipped out of the stockade unnoticed! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Yup made a clean getaway!
Yes you are correct,sir. I would be wearing about three pair of woolen socks.
My wife and I visited the fort for the second time a few weeks ago. The first time we visited our 43 year old son was in high school. It was different being just the two of us. The last time we had 4 kids and two dogs. The fort was much the same but, different things stood out.
It is certainly one of best Canadian historical sites.
Hey Peter! Fort William looks like it might provide a lot of inspiration for Fort Kelly! I hope you took a lot of pictures and measurements! Did you see anything in particular that you would like to add to your interpretation?!
I did study it and as to your question I’m
Thinking a great hall, lol. Mine will be tiny like the early home fort of the 1700’s
@@TheWoodlandEscape Ft. Kelly being a pallisaded farmhouse, with a couple of blockhouses to cover the walls, a secure water source, a barn for livestock & their feed, some outbuildings, and cabins where the local families could "Fort Up" in times of trouble, would be very appropriate! Wall Muskets & 2 pounder "Grass Hopper" Cannon are totally optional, but any brush being cut down to provide a "Clear Field Of Fire", and a chevau-de-frise and/or ditch to slow down any attackers and give more time to get another shot or two into 'em, would be good! Kind of like the Scottish Barmekins of the Border back in the days of the Reivers... or the "Motte & Bailey" Castles that go back even further! The construction of this is going to make some epic videos. If you haven't already seen it, the movie, "Drums Along The Mohawk", would be worth watching. Ft. Herkimer is a prime example of an improvised fortification... and the Indian Raid depicted is one of the most accurate ever caught on film.
Awesome video! I would love to get to visit that fort sometime. I live in northern Minnesota and make my way up the NorthShore quite often. Judging by the condition of that fort Canadians seem to place a lot of emphasis on historical preservation.. although I have not been down to fort Snelling for 30yrs : )
You should plan a visit it is an awesome site.
I may plan as part of my next vacation to head to Thunder Bay and visit this historic site.
If you love history you certainly won’t be disappointed.
I have been there quite a few times, The last time the river was flooding. They use to serve a pretty good bread pudding there. Fort Charlotte is nice as well, but not as many displays.
They do occasionally get pretty bad flooding at the site. They still serve period food which is just fine!
Fantastic video yet again 👌 Ian Todd ayrshire scotland
Thanks 👍, Ian, from across the big pond, I thank you for your interest.
Gotta warn you, Peter. I built a fort when i was 8 years old. Inside the stockade i made a single pole tent roofed with tow (burlap) feed sacks stitched together with bailing wire and held in place with stakes attached to ropes at each corner. It was a fine structure until it rained and the roof leaked and got my paper sack coonskin cap wet, then the cows knocked down the whole thing. Two years later, after many reconstructions the termites ate it up. Lets hope your endeavors fare better.😂
Yup, built a few like that as a child. The one I made from goldenrod plants bound into bundles didn’t do well in the waterproofing thing either.
Peter, another great video and a fascinating look at a historic fort.
I do have a question for you. Throughout your videos you've displayed skills and more than competency in many of the historic trades. Which one trade do you feel you would have pursued had you lived back then?
All of them lol! Actually I do believe I would have been a gun builder/ repairer. He would need most of all the trades in his skills basket.
Our group The Edmonton House Brigade we’re there many years ago at one of their “Grand Encampments.” We had our camps set up between the fort walls and the river. I remember taking our trade guns to that very shop and getting them stamped with proof marks and either the sitting fox or the tombstone fox.
I could use that stamp as I’m currently doing a scratch built NW. The site is amazing!
@@TheWoodlandEscape I’m sure if you went there with your “piece:” they’d happily stamp it for you. EB (Edward Bond - Proofer), LONDON, and either the sitting fox or tombstone fox.
I noticed that I believe the Gunsmithing building had sleeping quarters was there a central commissary that they could get meals from?
During the actual operation of the fort, all tradesmen were both housed and fed. These were the forts full time staff.
Hi Peter, another great video. I noticed quite a few furs and trade blankets. Are they for sale or display only?
Simply display but, I had a wee bit of envy happening, lol!
So do you have plans to build a "a great hall" for Cathy in your fort? Love the history and the channel!
Great idea but, no, lol
👍👍👍👍👍
Howdy Peter
Wow that tee pee in the beginning is LARGE ! Bigger than the quick shelters you showed how to make in the winter ...
I bet you like those birch bark canoes .... How long was that long one on the backs of the chairs ?
I think I will that place on my bucket list .
That gun smith shop is fantastic .
The Montreal canoes are 32 feet long and the Nord canoes are 24 to 26!
@@TheWoodlandEscape WOW .... 32 feet..... My Old town Tripper is 13 and that is long enough .....
❤😊😊
The tiny cannon on the shelf in the gun smiths shop I would love me a small cannon.
I recently acquired a 1” bore swivel gun.it will be strategically placed in the new fort.
Strangely enough, the interior of that teepee looks very much like the interior of portable fur-covered long poles in the coldest regions of the world even today.
The fir covered ones are indeed swarm shelter in extreme cold.
Beautiful.
I wonder what the powder charge was for that 1" wall gun.
I’m not sure but now you’ve peeked my interest… I’ll check it out .
@@TheWoodlandEscape I would guess at least 200 grains...
Hewing the logs for all of those buildings must have been quite a task.
Hewing is hard work but, they did so much their proficient level would be remarkable.
@@TheWoodlandEscape A good 6 pound broad ax helps.
Thank you for the explanation. I never thought about the deep snow. Did they put any type of insulation under the flooring of the buildings?
To the best of my knowledge they did not. Don’t think you’d be going barefoot on that floor in February!
Ah, you should be able to knockout a fort like that in a week. 5 to 8 days max.
Don’t I wish. I’m thinking mine will take most of the winter
all those traid goods and supply surrounding you ...
like a kid in a candy shope
Right, darn hard not to do a wee bit of shop lifting, lol .
Why was one building at the fort on stilts and there were large rocks underneath the building?
Numerous buildings are on stilts for two reasons … deep snow conditions and great storage particularly fire wood.
I wanna know who allowed CN RAIL to bulldoze the original site & make a CN WORKSHOP in it's place?
Right! I believe it is those politician folks we hire to have our best interests in mind.
Free enterprise, capitalism is NOT greed, it provides the people, the market the best value at the lowest cost. The railroad must have purchased the land for the same reason the original fort builders built there: location. You might as well blame the person who sold the property to the railroad or blame the deer hunter for feeding her family. The railroad enterprise gave GOOD jobs to hundreds of people. Your nostalgia clouds your brain. Why didn’t your ancestors buy the property and keep the old fort kept up for posterity? Why didn’t the local people buy the property instead of letting the railroad buy and own it? …it only would’ve taken one dollar more than the railroad paid ! Capitalism is the best, most fair, most best for the people system there IS. In capitalism people, not ‘government’ nor companies control the the market. Of course “they” let the railroad bulldoze it to make a shop. The railroad owned the property and your ancestors wanted them to do it. Who do you mean by “who let them…”? Government? Some town bully? Very few impositions should be used against the people, their market place. It’s why North America became leaps ahead of other nations. It’s why those people living under the thumb of government control have sought to come here and still do! Individual Freedom & liberty & capitalism helps best the poorest most destitute people. Monarchy, dictatorship, royalty, communism, socialism, tribalism all own and control the means of production; the people ALWAYS suffer at tge hands of these controlling ogalopithies.
Imagine having to carry that huge gun everywhere lol good thing it was not for hunting
Often called a wall gun, not sure I could carry it that far, lol.
@@TheWoodlandEscape yeah 30 pounds would be rather heavy for a little hunt lol
This is soooo cool 😎 Im only 36 years old but I love seeing Canadian history and I cant believe how they have everything still exaclty how it was.. when you're a kid you kind of don't give a shit about this kind of stuff but as you get older it fascinates me. Canada is so beautiful and it's a shame our country is in the state its in 😢
Don’t remember 36, but always love seeing a new history buff.