The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-10-29
WHERE WAS
FORT BUILT
---------
Prepondsrancs Of Opinion Puts
Location Of Post Near the
Foot Of 18th st.
MAPS CONFIRM THIS BELIEF
A----
Unmistalxable Evidence OfStock.
ade Has Been Found on
What II Now Block
11S, shively's.
MAPS CONFIRM THIS BELIEF

Ian of p. W. Giilette's letter dealing
with the location OF old Fort Astoria
local pioneers have given the matter
considerable attention. The Astorian
yesterday was In error In describing
the location generally believed In this
city 10 have been occupied BY the fort.
oid-timers here qre Of the opinion that
the post was built on block 11S, just
west OF st. Mary's hospital. The block
Ia bounded by Fourteenth. Fifteenth
Duane and Exchange streets.
The article written by Mr.. Gillespie
Ia accompanied by map from the his
tory OF Gabriel Franchier. a French
Canadian who entered the Columbia
river In the historic ship Tonquin. The
map reproduced by the oregonian In
very much blurred and II is difficult to
follow locations on II. However. II will
he observed from the picture that the
fort IL shown occupying location al
most at the waters edge. The loca-
tIon which Mr.. Gillette says was occu-
pied by the stockade. at Fourteenth and
Franklin avenue. In "a feet above the
level OF the river, no there Is one start
ling discrepancy between the maps
showing and Mr.. Giiiette's deduction.
Secondly. the fort is shown to occupy
position on point of land In front
OF which is group OF large rocks.
Rocks are also 10 be seen In the right
Of the picture. where the Dolly ~ shown
at anchor. with Indian wigwams still
farther to the west and In a cove. In
front OF the Fifteenth street location
believed TO have been that OF the fort
are several large rocks. one OF them
partly supporting the small building oc-
cupied by Mr.. johnson, fruit dealer,
The only other large rock In the neigh
borhood ls al the corner Of Fourteenth
and Exchange streets, the site Of the old
Farnell mill Another picture OF the
fort. which may be seen at the Astorian
Office, shows plainly the location Of
these rocks and the corresponding To-
cation of the fort, and would tend to
confirm the belief that Fort Astoria
was situated on what is now block 1is,
Instead Of block II,
James W. welch said yesterday he
was satisfied the fort was located on
block lis. for when Fifteenth street
was put through logs were unearthed
which must have constituted part OF a
stocknde. and stockade pickets were al
20 found, There Is a point OF land pro-
jectlng into the river at the foot Of
Fifteenth street, and II Is believed that
the landing place at the post was a short
distance west. nj point near the rear
of the Foard & Stokes building. From
the Fifteenth street point there extends
n cove to about Tenth street, and from
Tenth to the foot OF Ninth the point
runs out sharply. The wigwams shown
In Franchier's picture were undoubt-
edly located near the old Balm mill, at
Exchange and Eleventh streets.
Mr.. Gillette points out the finding at
Fourteenth street and Franklin avenue
Of many evidences that building oc-
cupled the location. but the structure
was a dwelling house. erected by James
Welch In 1916. UP TO 1916 the Hudson's
FAY Company held the place, but a
treaty was concluded in that year un-
der the terms of which British dorhina-
ton ceased.