Missisquoi Bay Barges Underwater Archaeological Survey
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Missisquoi Bay Barges Underwater Archaeological Survey by Scott A. McLaughlin taken between September 25 and 29,1995. During the pro- Project Description ject six wooden scow barges, a large wooden tub, an iron boiler and a large wooden rudder were located. It is assumed that all of these features are related to the con- The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) proposes struction of the Missisquoi Bay Bridge. to rehabilitate the Missisquoi Bay Bridge between East Alburg and West Swanton (Hog Island) (Figure 1). The present bridge and causeway were constructed between Survey Results 1936 and 1938 to carry Vermont Route 78. The proposed bridge work will consist of the replacement or the repair of A side-scan sonar unit, free swimming divers, and towed the existing abutments and the rehabilitation of the existing divers were used to collect data on the lake bottom. No sig- drawbridge, with little, if any, effect to the causeway. The nificant targets were located during the sonar survey waters to the north and south sides of the causeway need- (Figure 3). Most of the targets were geologic features or ed to be studied for potential underwater archaeological what was probably debris such as logs, parts of docks, and sites as work barges and other watercraft will be moored in fishing shanties. the construction area. A previous study (Thomas and Cohn 1991) covered a portion of the potential impact area, but Over five days, divers surveyed the waters on the north side supplemental work was needed due to changes in the con- of the causeway and between the piers supporting the struction design and the Vermont Division for Historic Missisquoi Bay Bridge (Figure 4). Divers scanned the lake Preservation's (DHP) standards of archaeological studies bottom for significant historic cultural features and isolat- (Wilkie 1995:1). ed finds. They used both their hands and eyes to inspect the lake bottom. The current project was conducted by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum with the support of the Archaeology A wooden rudder attached to a rudder post was found on Research Center, University of Maine at Farmington. The the west side of the causeway (Figures 5 and 6). The rud- project area covered the entire length of the causeway- der post is 3.20 m long (10 ft 6 in), and the rudder blade is bridge complex, which is about 1235 m (4050 ft) long 1.59 m tall (5 ft 2.5 in), 1.83 m long (6 ft), and 15.2 em across the narrow outlet of Missisquoi Bay. A wide area thick (6 in). The rudder post is elliptical in shape. The needed to be considered on either side of the causeway blade is made of two sets of horizontal boards. Each set of given that construction barges will be moved along and boards is drift bolted together. The head of the rudder post ultimately anchored next to the causeway-bridge complex. is reinforced with iron strapping and mortised for a wood- The impact area, determined by AOT, was established as a en tiller. There was no evidence of pintles or gudgeons on 91.5 m (300 ft) wide area on each side of the causeway the rudder post. (Wilkie 1995:1). The project area was expanded to approx- imately 300 m (1000 ft) north and 600 m (2000 ft) south of The construction of the rudder is very similar to that of the the Missisquoi Bay Bridge. barges inspected during the earlier survey at the west end of the causeway. The barges exhibited no evidence of sail- During the earlier survey of the project area, the only sig- ing features or the attachment of a rudder; but the size of nificant submerged cultural resources that were identified the rudder is appropriate for the barges. It is uncertain if were four historic wooden barges near the north side of the the rudder is from one of the barges. Barges do not usual- causeway on the Alburg end (Thomas and Cohn 1991:26) ly have rudders, as their directional control is usually fur- (Figure 2). The current archaeological study was under- nished by the vessel providing the tow. 72 Missisquoi Bay Barges ALBURG: 44~57'30· 1 0 '8" _ •• MILE o 1 I ••• In :=:J KILOMETER Figure 1. General location of the project area. ---- Vermont Route 78 ... Central Vermont Railroad Lamoille • •• Valley Extension Railroad VT ROUTE 78 CAUSEWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1987-1988 - BARGE CONCRETE PADANDCABLE . - DIVER SURVEY AREA ...TOWED DIVER SURVEY AREA 1_. z Io- Z o 50 100 200 300 o 200 400 600 800 1000 < ~ 1111I I I I I II I I III" I III I III en METER FEET Sources: VAOT.Alburg-Swenton 8RS036-1(U. November 1995 SUNOy and LeMM. 1987-88 and 1995 s......., SAM 1-95 Figure 2. Underwater archaeological survey area covered in 1987-1988 (drawn by Scott A. McLaughlin, 1996). 73 The Journal of Vermont Archaeology SIDE-SCAN SONAR SURVEY RUNS 73°12' of--------:y----i!.---------+ 44°59' SWANTON 44°57'30' +-------..£--y---------+ 44°57'30R 73°14' 73°13' 73°12' 1000 0 2 3000 Itlllllllil II FEET 500 0 500 1000 tl~I=rI~I~lcjl~'CI~'=rlji======:jt METER Sources: Coast and Geodetic Survev, Rivere Richelieu to South Hero, 1994 and LeMM, September 1995 Survey SAM 3-96 Figure 3. The 1995 side-scan sonar survey area with a select number a/runs depicted (drawn by Scott A. Mcl.aughlin, 1996). Northwest of the rudder, divers located a 4.27 m (14 ft) clues could be found as to the use or date of when this long wooden tub. The tub is constructed of vertical stays object sank into the bay. An investigation of the construc- held together by a metal band around the bottom of the tub. tion. of the tub and other features may help to answer some The tub's bottom is constructed of thick planks running questions. across the width of the tub. The tub's height and width could not be accurately determined because the tub is Six late-nineteenth or early-twentieth century scow barges, upside down, and much of it is buried. The minimum each designated VT-GI-22, were located north of the western dimension could be is 1.2 m (4 ft). Leading to the south- end of the causeway, two of which are outside the proposed east corner of the tub is a small iron pipe. The pipe enters impact area (Figure 7). Three of the barges within the pro- the lake bottom approximately 4.5 m (15 ft) from the south- ject area are visible from the shoreline, while one is below east side of the tub. It is assumed the two features are relat- water. The three visible barges were identified and pho- ed. tographed during the 1987-1988 underwater archaeological reconnaissance survey of the area. The barges are heavily Another feature that may be related is a 40 em (16 in) diam- constructed with flat bottoms, transverse bottom planking, eter timber that leads out from the riprap slope into the lake a large chine log, three stringers, and steeply raked ends. bottom approximately 6 m (20 ft) northwest of the tub, No The hull's sides are supported by posts mortised into a 74 Missisquoi Bay Barges VT ROUTE 78 CAUSEWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY SEPTEMBER 1995 - BARGE - DIVER SURVEY AREA TOWED DIVER SURVEY o 50 100 200 300 o 200 400 800 800 1000 11111111111 II I•• U IIII II I METER FEET SourCH: VAOT, Alburg-Swanton BRS038-1 (1). November 1995 Sutvey and LeMM, Set>t- 1995 S.".,.., Figure 4. The 1995 scuba diver survey area along the northern side of the causeway (drawn by Scott A. McLaughlin, 1995). chine log that runs the length of the vessel at the junction of the vessel's side and bottom. The side planks are edge- Table 1. Bottom Dimensions of Barges fastened by long iron drift bolts. The only measurements that were taken of the vessels were their bottom dimensions (Table 1). These were the only dimensions that were easi- Barge Beam length ly accessible and useful at this point of the survey. A 9.14 m 25,60 m The above water portions of the barges are badly deterio- 30 ft 84 ft rated. Only barge E still had identifiable upper works dur- ing the 1987-1988 survey; but it has subsequently col- B 10.05 m 26.21 m lapsed into the interior of the vessel (Thomas and Cohn 33 ft 86 ft 1991:22). The deck of this vessel was attached to the hull using hanging knees. The deck was also supported by a C 9.75 m 21.79 m series of stanchions placed on top of the keelson that are 32 ft 71,5 ft capped by a longitudinal timber running fore and aft under the deck beams.The only artifacts that were visible inside D 9,91 m 24,38 m of these barges were wire cable and a hand truck in barge 32,5 ft 80 ft C. E 8.99 m 27.74 m Between barges E and F, a cast iron boiler was located. 29.5 ft 91 ft The boiler measures 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) in height and 1.2 m (4 ft) in diameter. Located 30 em (12 in) from the top of the F 8,84 m 19.81 m 29 ft 65 ft 75 The Journal of Vermont Archaeology ;.i.····· (:.:. VT ROUTE 78 CAUSEWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY SEPTEMBER 1995 ALBURG MISSlsaUDI 8A Y .:-WOoDEN TUB· -' '.~: :.:::_~.:.:,:J,;.;.;:.~';i.;-;;;< ·:.oi ~;.:.:..):.;', ",::; ~.::.-.~:,~,,;:,~,,:;<.;',.': .