AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE STRUCTURE KNOWN AS THE PETER DOUGHERTY PIER Submitted by: Kristina Jaroh, Nancy Jaroh and Dr. Mark Holley March, 2015 Northwestern Michigan Archaeology Society TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Nos. Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………….….. 1 Figure List……………………………………………………………………………...2-3 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………... 4 Location………………………………………………………………………………...4-6 A Brief History Regarding the Establishment of Old Mission Peninsula and the Historical Research Evidence of the Peter Dougherty Pier……………………..7-15 Crib Pier Construction Method……………………………………………………....16-18 Survey Methodology…………………………………………………………………19-30 Conclusions & Recommendations……………………………………………………31-34 Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………..35-36 Index to Appendix……………………………………………………………………….37 Appendices A-G………………………………………………………………………38-54 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Appreciation is extended to the following people for their assistance and expertise, making this publication possible: William Cole – President, Peter Dougherty Society Jon Moses - Boat Operator and Safety Officer Ann Swaney – Research Librarian Dan Harrison – Research Librarian A very special thank you to Dan Harrison for his contribution of exceptional field notes, theories and guidance. 1 FIGURE LIST Page Nos. Cover Photos: Photo #1 Shallow Timber Remains of Pier Cribs (Nancy Jaroh) Photo #2 Sector Scan Image Drop #2 Crib Stones-60 Feet (Nautilus Marine Group Intl.) Fig. 1: North America Great Lakes Region………………………………………………...4 Fig. 2: Lake Michigan……………………………………………………………………....5 Fig. 3: Grand Traverse Bay………………………………………………………………...5 Fig. 4: Old Mission Harbor ………………………………………………………………..5 Fig. 5: Satellite Image of Timber and Stone Remnants……………………………………6 Fig. 6: Photo of Reverend Peter Dougherty……………………………………………….7 Fig. 7: Artist’s rendering of Reverend Peter Dougherty Arriving at Old Mission………..8 Fig. 8: Peter Dougherty Pier in Relation to Elk Rapids, MI………………………………9 Fig. 9: Lewis Miller………………………………………………………………………10 Fig. 10: Approximate Location of Peter Dougherty Pier………………………………...11 Fig. 11: Shallow Timber Remains of Pier Cribs…………………………………………12 Fig. 12: Example of a Mackinaw Boat …………………………………………………..13 Fig. 13: Example of Ottawas/Chippawas Canoe…………………………………………13 Fig. 14: Dougherty Historic Home Site…………………………………………………..14 Fig. 15: Hemlock Ceiling Board #1 from Dougherty Historic Home Site………………15 Fig. 16: Hemlock Ceiling Board #2 from Dougherty Historic Home Site………………15 Fig. 17: Example #1 – Log Crib Construction……………………………………………17 Fig. 18: Example #2 – Plank Crib Pier Construction with Pilings………………………..17 Fig. 19: Log Crib Pier Construction with Pilings…………………....................................18 Fig. 20: Surveying of Rock Piles Forming Cribs with Sector Scan Sonar………………..20 Fig. 21: Dr. Mark Holley Surveying the Cribs with Sector Scan Sonar…………………..20 2 FIGURE LIST (cont.) Page Nos. Fig. 22: Sector Scan Image Drop #2 Crib Stones – 60 Feet………………………………21 Fig. 23: Sector Scan Image Drop #2 Crib Stones – 90 Feet………………………………21 Fig. 24: Sector Scan Image Drop #3 Crib Stones – 60 Feet……………………………….22 Fig. 25: Sector Scan Image Drop #3 Crib Stones – 90 Feet……………………………….22 Fig. 26: Sector Scan Image Drop #4 Crib Stones – 90 Feet……………………………….23 Fig. 27: Dan Harrison with Prism and Assessment Survey Sketch………………………..24 Fig. 28: Divers Kristina and Nancy Jaroh Preparing for Reconnaissance Survey………..25 Fig. 29: Increase in Lake Michigan Water Levels between 2007 and 2014 Survey………26 Fig. 30: Reconnaissance Survey using Towed Diver Search Method…………………….26 Fig. 31: Wood Piling Embedded in Lakebed……………………………………………...27 Fig. 32: Lincoln Log Style Notch on Debris Timber………………………………………28 Fig. 33: Timber in Debris Field Notched on the End……………………………………...29 Fig. 34: Timber in Debris Field with Round Hole………………………………………....30 Fig. 35: Timber in Debris Field with Square Hole near End of Timber……………………30 Fig. 36: Lithograph in Francis de Castelnau, Vues et souveniers de l’Amerique, du Nord 1842 Fort Mackinac……………………………………………………...31 3 Introduction: The aim of this project is to further expand upon findings of the 2007 and 2011 archaeological surveys of the Peter Dougherty Pier and to report the results of the 2007, 2011 and 2014 surveys, documenting the remains of the Peter Dougherty Pier in East Grand Traverse Bay. These submerged timbers and crib stones are archaeological features, located within the Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve and are an important part of the settlement history of Old Mission Peninsula. Although the pier is historically important, its existence could be in jeopardy of being destroyed, due to ignorance of its importance as a part of Old Mission’s maritime cultural heritage. The public have not been made aware of the fact that the remnants are part of the historic pier and yet education and awareness is the key to its preservation. Historical research was conducted to gather information about Reverend Peter Dougherty and other early settlers regarding their involvement in settling Old Mission. The findings of this research will be disseminated through this paper, as well as current photo documentation of the site, to be given to the Peter Dougherty Society. Through this research we hope to gain an understanding of the historical background and provide an insight into the original purpose of the Peter Dougherty Pier, the construction methods used and those responsible for its construction. Location: The submerged pier is located ½ mile south of Haserot Beach, at Old Mission Harbor, which is located on the east side of Old Mission Peninsula on Happy Hour Lane where it meets East Bay, approximately 15 miles North of Traverse City, MI, USA, on M37. GPS coordinates N44 57.259 W85 28.965 (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) Fig. 1: North America Great Lakes Region (Google 2014) 4 Fig. 2: Lake Michigan (Google 2014) Fig. 3: Grand Traverse Bay (Google 2014) Fig. 4: Old Mission Harbor (Google 2014) 5 Fig. 5: Satellite Image of Timber and Stone Remnants (Google 2014) 6 A Brief History Regarding the Establishment of Old Mission Peninsula and the Historical Research Evidence of the Structure Known as the Peter Dougherty Pier Fig. 6: Photo of Reverend Peter Dougherty (Google 2014) Peter Dougherty (See Fig. 6) was born November 15, 1805 in Plattekill, New York and spent 33 years serving among the Chippewa Indians as a missionary under the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions (Anderson pg. 95). His travels led him to Niagara Falls, Cleveland, Detroit, and Mackinac, and he eventually settled on Grand Traverse as the location for his mission on a recommendation from Mr. Johnston, a government interpreter, and Henry R. Schoolcraft, an Indian agent (Anderson pgs. 97-112). This was an ideal location because there were two to three Ottawa and Chippewa villages on the north side of the bay, and traders and Catholics had yet to gain a foothold on the area, implying that the mission could be a long-term establishment (Anderson pg. 108). Reverend Dougherty’s goal was to imitate a Catholic mission involving the Indians at L Arbour Croche, which made great strides in ‘civilization’ with Indians (Anderson pg. 108). After spending the winter of 1839 in Mackinac, Reverend Dougherty, accompanied by Reverend John Fleming, arrived at Mission Point in May of 1839 (“An Overview of Early History”). Rounding the point of the peninsula in their Mackinaw boat, (See Fig. 7) they came ashore at the spot where the wharf would eventually be built (Leach pg. 23). A wharf is a raised level structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers; a landing place or pier (Merriam-Webster.com). 7 Fig. 7: Artist’s rendering of Reverend Dougherty Arriving at Old Mission (Barnes pg. 21) Reverends Dougherty and Fleming met with the Indian Chief Aish-qua-gwon-a-ba, and held a council to determine if they could build a school in order to teach Indian children about the Christian savior (“An Overview of Early History”). They accompanied the Indians across to the east side of the bay (Elk Rapids) on the 20th of May to decide upon a good location for the school and a dwelling for the reverends (“An Overview of Early History”). Reverends Dougherty and Fleming cut the logs for the construction of a dwelling and schoolhouse (Leach pg. 24). 8 After beginning to build their establishments, Fleming’s wife died, and he and his men left the mission, leaving Dougherty alone with a few surveyors (“An Overview of Early History”). Henry Schoolcraft came from Mackinac to visit Reverend Dougherty on June 20th, and decided that Bower’s Harbor would be the ideal location to locate the blacksmith, carpenter, and farmer, and the mission (“An Overview of Early History”). However, due to the wishes of the Indians, Mission Harbor, under Chief Ah-go-sa, was chosen instead, and with the help of the Indians and their canoes, Reverend Dougherty moved his belongings from Elk Rapids to Mission Harbor (See Fig. 8). Fig. 8: Peter Dougherty Pier in Relation to Elk Rapids, MI (Barnes pg. 43) Accompanying Henry Schoolcraft was Isaac George, the appointed Indian blacksmith (Leach pg. 24). The log house that had been built in Elk Rapids was dismantled and taken across East Bay where it was used to build a school house and wood shed (“An Overview of Early History”). This school house served as the church until Mission Church was built one to two years later (“An Overview of Early History”). The Mission Church was built with cedar timbers (Leach pg. 24). Isaac George and Reverend Dougherty began construction of a house for themselves, cutting logs close to the edge of Old Mission Harbor. The timbers were floated 9 close to the construction site and dragged ashore with the assistance of the Indians. In the fall of 1841, George Johnson joins the settlement, appointed the Indian carpenter. As an employee of the U.S. Government, his duty was to instruct the Indians “in simpler and more necessary arts of civilization” (Leach pg. 24). In 1852, Reverend Dougherty eventually moved to Omena on the Leelanau Peninsula, joining the Ottawas and Chippewas from the Old Mission settlement, where they purchased their own land (Meyer pg. 6).