MMXVII Gazette de Les Amis du

mars, avril, mai Jennifer Duensing, stepped up to host some of the some of the many site President, events in 2016, thus sharing structural repair projects and Les Amis du Fort de Chartres event planning work and partial everyday maintenance issues of “Friends of the Fort” financial responsibilities for the the site, as well as to plan and event. Also, our sincere thanks review ongoing future projects The year of are given to the Chasseurs du vital to the growth of the Fort 2017 is off to a Datchurats for hosting and site. We have two fundraising great start for sponsoring the 2016 April Trade events to benefit these efforts Les Amis du Faire and their willingness to on the calendar for this Fort de host this annual juried event upcoming year. The first 2017 again in 2017. This year Les site support fundraising effort Chartres, “Friends of Fort de Coureurs des Bois de Fort de is Les Amis’ 2nd annual Chartres”. Our membership Chartres will be hosting the 47th “Friends of the Fort” Summer drive is garnering great success Annual Rendezvous as well as Ball. This event will be held July with an ever increasing number the Winter Rendezvous, the 22nd at the Prairie du Rocher of supporters that have joined Fort affiliated British groups American Legion from 7-10 PM. our (membership) family, will be joining forces to host The second event will be a combining efforts with our 2016 this year’s French and Indian Brewfest at Fort de Chartres, members supporting Fort de War Encampment, while the Featuring a Taste of the Chartres. Our Fort de Chartres same WWII affiliated Fort Trail, Special Event Giving Campaign groups will again be hosting the coinciding with the World War for 2017 is underway, coinciding WWII event. Without the II Day event. This event will with the many event planning efforts of these Fort supporting take place on October 21st and meetings taking place, with organizations, the Fort’s special tickets will soon be available on many more being scheduled. events would not be possible. the Fort de Chartres website. As This year Les Amis du Fort de We all owe these organizations, a component of Les Amis’ Chartres will again sponsor the whether dedicated volunteers, efforts to support Fort de Fort’s special events, renting the participants, and/or visitors, our Chartres, Les Amis is in the site, and taking on the previous gratitude for their efforts and final stages of an agreement state sponsored event financial their continued support of Fort with the IHPA to reopen the responsibilities impacted by the de Chartres. site’s Trading Post. This state budget crisis. We exciting opportunity will be a thank our other Fort support With the start of our 2017Special Event Giving Campaign to vital tool in the ongoing organizations, Les Coureurs des financial issues at the site, as all Bois de Fort de Chartres, Fort de support the events at Fort de Chartres, Les Amis du Fort de proceeds from the post will be Chartres French Marines, and used to support the site. the affiliated WWII groups that Chartres has also begun the process to help raise funds for As many of you are aware, Les 2017 special events at Fort de Amis has been working Chartres State Historic Site. diligently with the site staff, the For updates or questions about These events are critical to the IHPA and many dedicated the Fort de Chartres State vitality of the Fort and the Historic Site, please contact 's economy. Les Amis volunteers to achieve progress Chester Wingerter (618) 589- sponsored the Fort’s 2016 special on the Fort’s much needed 3741. events through a successful repairs. Meetings with the IHPA fundraising campaign and we deputy director, IHPA architect, General information for Fort de have already begun sending out site staff, and Les Amis have led Chartres State Historic Site can donation requests to businesses to solid remediation plans and found on the Fort de Chartres and organizations in both the procedures needed to make website, including site history, Randolph and Monroe counties contact info, and/or event to become sponsors for the repairs. Work on the site has schedules: Fort’s special events in 2017. already begun with site staff www.fortdechartres.us We would like to commend and working on basic repair and ______thank these first donors to the painting of the wooden window Les Amis du Fort de Chartres sills and panes. We also have 2017 Les Amis du Fort de 2017 Special Events new giving Chartres Officers campaign: plans in place for the destruction and reconstruction Les Amis du Fort de Chartres of the Fort Ghostings on the President, Jennifer Duensing 2017 Corporate Giving Campaign site. Also, repair procedure New Sponsors plans are under way for the fort First Vice-President, Jeremy walls, gate house, and interiors Volkmar $1000 Gold Level of buildings on the site, as well . Buena Vista National as rehabilitation of some of the Vice President of Events, Jason Bank, with Branches in Fort’s surrounding landscapes. Duensing Red Bud, Evansville, One of the projects on the Fort Chester, & Prairie du Treasurer, Deborah Sallman Rocher repair list was undertaken by our “Friend of the Fort Currently, Les Amis has two $500 Silver Level “volunteer Robbie Hooten. open officer positions. If anyone . First National Bank of is interested in being the Les Steeleville Robbie donated his time, effort, Amis Secretary or Vice and material to a much needed President of Educational Events, $250 Bronze Level repair to the maintenance shop please contact us at . Prairie du Rocher roof. We thank Robbie for his lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail. Chamber of Commerce efforts. com. ($300) . Harrisonville It is one of our major goals as a To keep abreast of current Telephone Company major Fort support organization information, activity, and events (HTC) ($250) to see these much-needed site of Les Amis and Fort de repairs begin, as well as provide Chartres State Historic site, $100 Copper Level a support system for the Fort likes us on Facebook: . Red Bud Industries, site that will help sustain it in www.facebook.com/Les-Amis- Inc. the future. Reaching this goal du-Fort-de-Chartres . General George Rogers will allow us to move forward Clark Chapter of the on the plans for the site that or visit the newly updated Fort Illinois Society of the were developed by our devoted Sons of the American de Chartres website at: Revolution predecessors. For Les Amis du www.fortdechartres.us Fort de Chartres membership . Total Eclipse, Inc. information and/or to volunteer ______with us, we can be contacted via We ask that you let these and email at Les Amis du Fort de Chartres future donors know how much lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail. 2017 Special Event Fundraising their support of the Fort de com. Campaign Chartres Special Events is ______appreciated! Working together Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, we can face the challenges of Chester Wingerter the Friends of Fort de Chartres, the future, while celebrating and Site Superintendent has again agreed to sponsor the preserving our unique past, making history come alive break for lunch midday and computer available for the through special events, and afterwards return to the firing library, please remember to ensuring the legacy of all those of the oven. Lunch is on one’s bring your lap top with you if who have worked, supported, you want to access this system and volunteered at our French own. (Lisa’s is always a good while at the fort. colonial fort in the heart of the option.) -Fort de Two new books being released Chartres. Preregistration is required by this year were recently shared March 18 and class registration on Facebook posts. The first is If you would like to make a size limited to 10. Registration “Bone Tipped and Banded business or personal donation information at: for Fort de Chartres 2017 special http://www.fortdechartres.us/le Horns” by Jay Hopkins. This is events, you can do so online at: volume I of a two volume set http://www.fortdechartres.us/d s-amis-du-fort-de-chartres/ from a 50-year study on regional onate/ characteristics of professionally ______We are still planning our April made powder horns. While the and May Art de vivre events, so focus is on powder horns of the Art de vivre (Art of life) Les please check the Fort website or south, it also includes examples our Facebook page for the latest from Illinois, , and Amis du Fort de Chartres . This volume is Demonstrations updates: approximately 400 pages in www.facebook.com/Les-Amis- length and has over 150 powder The monthly series of du-Fort-de-Chartres. Please horns illustrated and over 700 workshops sponsored by Les contact the Fort at (618) 284-7230 full color images. This limited Amis du Fort de Chartres or Les Amis via email at special edition hardcover book welcomes all to explore the art lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail. with slip case is available for com to request additional Art de pre-order through The of everyday life in the Illinois Honourable Company of country. Whether you are a vivre information. Please join Horners for $160. reenactor, history enthusiast, or us in upcoming adventures exploring life in the Illinois The second book is “Glories to just plain interested, these Useless Heroism: The Seven workshops celebrate the country! Years War in North America region’s history and are ______from the French Journals of generally free and open to the Comte Maures de Malartic, 1755- De la Bibliotheque public at Fort de Chartres State 1760 (Reason to Revolution)” by Historic Site. Kathy Janik, Volunteer William Raffle, editor. “These Librarian are the facts and notes taken by March Art de vivre a soldier on campaign, written demonstration-Fort de Chartres The majority of books in the daily, sometimes in a tent, Bake Oven Class library has been added to the sometimes in a canoe, today in Libib site and are available for the presence of the enemy, As part of the Les Amis Art de viewing. I have recently started tomorrow in conference with a vivre monthly presentation work on the books that were not tribe of savages.” TheAmazon’s series on March 25, a class will catalogued already. I am slowly website states this description be held to demonstrate proper working my way through those is taken from the original firing technique for the Fort’s books and becoming more French edition of the journal of familiar with the Dewey Comte Marues de Malartic. eighteenth century reproduction Decimal system. I have new Malartic arrived in New stone bake oven. To this end, 10 found respect for all the in 1755 and spent the next six AM to 3 PM. on that Saturday, a librarians of the world – it is years involved in all major class and bake oven firing not an easy task! engagements of the French and demonstration will be conducted Indian War. This book will be by John Hancock. At this class, We made a recent change to the released in May for $50 plus written materials will be shipping. password for the library. The provided for attendees and after John Guilfoil Memorial Library I think both of these books completion of the class, is still accessed by going to would be wonderful additions to attendees will receive a www.libib.com. The ID remains [email protected] but the the library. If you would like to certification card allowing them password is now Boisbriand. see these books available at the to sign up in advance of an You can use this system from John Guilfoil Memorial Library, event for the firing and use of home to access the library and please consider sending a the oven. The fee for class donation towards their look for books housed in the purchase. Please note that the materials will be $15. We will library. Until we have a funds should be utilized for the purchase of books/items for the Heirloom Project at happen yet again! This year, as library. Also, the library is www.fdcjardin.com or on FB it was last year, all event always pleased to accept page at features will be supported by donations of books as well to www.facebook.com/fdcjardin. augment our collection of books ______Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort from this period. de Chartres and Les Amis du Jason Fort de Chartres. We are Happy Reading! Duensing, excited to together continue to President, stride forward in the efforts to http://www.fortdechartres.us/th Les Coureurs whole heartedly support Fort de e-john-guilfoil-memorial-library/ des Bois de Chartres. ______Fort de Chartres Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort Carol Kuntz Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort de Chartres does more for the Volunteer de Chartres will again host this fort than just support the larger Heritage Garden year’s 47th Annual Rendezvous events, the organization Curator & Public in June and Winter Rendezvous supports the site and educates Events visitors through various other Coordinator in November. First of all, I Fort de Chartres would like to again thank activities as well. This year we Potager Journal everyone who helped, will again be hosting the participated, and visited the Amazing Race at Fort de Late winter will soon be giving events in 2016. Secondly, I Chartres, a two-person team, way to early spring in the would like to not only thank woods-walk type competition. Illinois country and Fort de everyone for their efforts in the We have 15 teams this year that Chartres State Historic Site 2016 events, but would like to have stepped up to the challenge Heritage Garden will host the take the time to thank of experiencing life in 18th annual Fort de Chartres Jardin century as a woods runner in Potager Weekend on Saturday & everyone’s efforts in making Sunday, March 25 & 26. Visitors Rendezvous what it is today. the Fort de Chartres area. are welcome to join volunteers Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres Participant slots are full but on Saturday at 10:30 AM for a started 47 years ago by some of much help will be needed in discussion about direct sowing the same dedicated people that preparation for the event, as seeds in the garden. After a are making it happen today. It is well as hands to help during the break and until 3 PM, work will because of all of you that event. Any volunteer assistance begin in the garden preparing would be appreciated, so please raised beds and planting seeds Rendezvous is still happening appropriate for the approach of and still growing. I’m not saying let me know if you are spring. On Sunday, volunteers that the event is effortless by interested. will be working in the garden any means. All the hard work from 11 AM-2 PM. Heirloom seed and dedication involved in Plans are also under way to packet samples will be available putting it on does not go improve and redevelop the to visitors travelling to the Fort unnoticed. The fact that wildlife areas behind the fort. to celebrate the upcoming spring These plans are a combined during our annual garden Rendezvous is still one of the weekend. premiere events of its kind in effort between IDNR, Les Amis the Midwest is a testament to du Fort de Chartres, site staff The late winter-early spring those dedicated people who have and many other groups and heirloom seeds of peas, been doing it for the past 47 volunteers dedicated to helping radishes, and spinach have been preserve our natural areas. planted in the jardin, soon to be years. We all owe them a wealth of gratitude. I’m very proud to These natural areas that are a followed with cabbage and part of Fort de Chartres, not assorted lettuces. You are say that I have spent my life invited to stroll the jardin amongst all you fine folks and I only provide us with a setting potager when you next visit am very excited for our shared that allows us to step back in Fort de Chartres and watch the future at Fort de Chartres. time, they are crucial habitat for garden shake off the remnants wildlife and important tools of winter and grow into spring! The planning of the 47th Annual used in the education of historic For more information about the Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres trekking, tracking, hunting, Fort’s garden events, please survival skill, etc. Les Coureurs email Carol at is well underway, entertainers [email protected]. are set, demonstrators are being des Bois de Fort de Chartres You can learn more about the sought-all the details are coming uses this area quite often, so Fort de Chartres Jardin Potager together to make this event this is something that I am personally excited about. A Gary LaClaire, Major Pierre-Joseph Neyon de workday will be scheduled Fort de Chartres Villiers. Louis’ wife Therese sometime this spring and the French Marines died in 1762 and is buried in the groups involved will keep St. Anne church yard. Louis Sr. everyone posted as to when that My Ancestral Lineage to Fort de died in date will be. Chartres and early St. Louis: unknown. Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort Joseph and Louis Chancellier de Chartres operates not only as I have been reenacting with the who were only 14 and 12 when a support organization, we are a Fort de Chartres Marines for they joined the first party of 30 muzzle loading only gun club many years and have always individuals that established the that meets the second Sunday of been interested in the history of village of St. Louis under the each month at 1:00 pm at Fort de the fort and its role in the direction of 14 year old Auguste Chartres. At these meetings we founding of St. Louis. In Chouteau, sent by his step- are happy to teach and discuss researching my family roots, I father Pierre Laclede. The the history and skill involved found an interesting connection. village founded in February of with shooting muzzle loaders. My great-great grandparents 1764 would primarily be We hold a monthly shoot were named Antoine Le Claire populated by former residents following the meeting in which and Angelique Novel, who were of Nouvelle Chartres and St. everyone is welcome to attend, residents of Portage des Sioux, Phillippe. Elizabeth Becquets' but must be in historic dress to Missouri. Portage des Sioux was father Jean Baptist Becquet, the participate in this activity. We founded in 1799 by Francois miller, was also an original would love to have you join us! Saucier Jr., whose father resident of St. Louis. Both Francois Saucier Sr. He was the Joseph and Louis were involved http://www.fortdechartres.us/le engineer who built Fort de in the Revolutionary War Battle s-coureurs-des-bois-de-fort-de- Chartres. Portage des Sioux of St. Louis. In May 1780 British chartres/ attracted many French creoles allied Indians attacked the ______and was the last French village Spanish garrison and French militia, and Louis Jr. was a Margaret Brown established in Spanish Upper . Antoine's grandfather Lieutenant of that French Antoine Francois Le Claire, was militia. The garrison repelled the Fort de Chartres is thought of attack, though some residents mainly as a military post but the born near in 1768, was a trader and a blacksmith and he were killed outside the walls of military were there to keep the village. commerce going: the trade with first settled in Portage in 1813. the Indians and the goods, Angelique Novel was the Joseph and Louis were listed in particularly flour, produced by the Parkin 1776 St. Louis census the . This mixture of granddaughter of Marie Therese Chancellier, Marie was the as farmers. Joseph died in1784 roles can be seen in a few items and Louis in 1785 in St. Louis, from the inventory of the 2nd youngest child of Joseph Chancellier and Elizabeth causes unknown. They rest fort: 2 prs. of regulation today in Calvary Cemetery, stockings, 2 coats ditto; assay Becquet who were married in 1772 in St. Louis, they had five along with other early residents balance, 2 pewter water pots reinterred there. sizes 6, 7; 1 pewter injection children. Joseph and his younger syringes for a woman; 2 brass brother Louis were born in the Sources: caudrons size 81/2; 1 casseiole, village of St. Philippe in 1750 and 120 livres quick silover in 4 1752 respectively. They were the www.ancestry.com flaks; 200 needles for sails; 13 sons of Louis Chancellier Sr. the padlocks; 3 boat hooks; 3 Surgeon Major of the Marines at Fausz, F. (2011). Founding St. farrier’s pincers; 1 new Fort de Chartres and Therese Louis, First City of the New millstone; one mounted pit saw; Lorin. Louis Sr. arrived in the West. Charleston: The History and a barrel full of pieces of Illinois country in 1748 and was Press. armour. there until June 1764 when most of the officers and marines were http://www.fortdechartres.us/fo ______ordered to withdraw to New rt-de-chartres-french-marines/ Orleans under the command of ______

Les Amis du Fort de Chartres “Friends of the Fort” Jeremy Volkmar, First Vice President, Membership Form Les Amis du FORT DE CHARTRES Fort de 2017 SCHEDULE OF Chartres EVENTS Name(s)______Founding Father & U.S. Les Pays des Illinois Ambassador to France, Benjamin Address______Franklin, once said, “Tell me and I Colonial Trade Faire and forget, teach me and I may Musket & Rifle Frolic at Contact Info: remember, involve me and I learn.” FdC- March 31-April 2 Les Amis is engaged in a variety of activities to educate the public Phone______about the rich, colonial history of Kids’ Day at FdC-May 6 Fort de Chartres. A newly launched Email______website, the arranging school field TH trips, & sponsorship of special 47 Annual Fort de events are just a few of the ways Chartres June What is the best way to contact you? we help to educate & involve the public about this area gem. Would Rendezvous at FdC - you like to help us in this June 3 & 4 ______endeavor? Les Amis could not do any of the above-mentioned activities without Cannon Firing What brought you to Les Amis du Fort de dedicated members and those of Chartres? the fort community who want to Demonstration at FdC- pass on what they know about this 1st Saturday of the place that holds such a special ______place in their heart. The spring month July-September brings warmer weather and school Is there a special skill, knowledge or field trips. Les Amis welcomes Friends of the Fort interest that you would like to share or you/your group to help teach the demonstrate? students about the fort’s heritage. Summer Ba;ll at PdR The other upcoming event, in American Legion-July 22 which we could use your help is ______the annual Fort de Chartres Kids’ Day. We are looking for volunteers Artillery Safety School Yearly Membership fee to help with the various stations, run the trading post, take pictures, at FdC-September 9 & 10 and set-up/tear-down. We are also Individual $10______looking for items for the children Annual FdC French & to purchase with their cards, as Received by ______well as items for the auction. If you Indian War are interested in learning more, or to volunteer during field trips or Encampment at FdC- Date__/____/___ Kids’ Day, please contact Les Amis October 14 & 15 at [email protected] Family $15______m World War 11 Day and Brewfest at FdC- Received by ______October 21 Date__/____/___ Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous- How would you like to receive our newsletter? November 4 & 5 Email or mail (circle one)

Prairie du Rocher La Please mail this form with payment to: Guianne at FdC- Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, December 31 P.O. Box 366, Prairie du Rocher Il 62277 Thank you for your part in preserving, protecting and interpreting the physical and cultural structure of Fort de Chartres State Historical Site.