On Saturday we drove down to Elkton, Oregon to view the progress of the historical reconstruction of Fort Umpqua, one of the earliest British Hudson’s Bay Company forts in Oregon (1836). Nothing remains of the original fort, and though the reconstructed fort will not be on the original site it will surely be just as popular as the Fort Vancouver or Fort Clatsop reconstructions. As you can see in the photos, considerable progress was made over the summer and the Southwest Stockade and Bastion are near completion. Eventually over 600′ of stockade and two bastions will enclose a granary and two other structures.
Fort Umpqua Stockade and Southwest Bastion
The reconstruction must meet current building codes, which poses one of the biggest challenges. For example, the foundation is concrete but is concealed with a gravel cover. Original construction techniques are honored when possible, including wooden pegs in the bastion and hand peeling of all the logs. A modern portable saw mill is used to cut the logs in half.
Chris Peeling Logs for the Stockade
Southwest Bastion of Fort Umpqua
Entirely a volunteer effort, the funding for this project comes from individual contributions, a $10,000 grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission and several other fund-raising events.
Volunteers are needed for every aspect of building; you can also participate in this outstanding restoration project by donating $25 for a log or $15 for timber. All donations are tax-deductible and earn a certificate and a small plaque at the completed fort. They can be mailed to Fort Umpqua Volunteers, 23155 Highway 38, Elkton, OR 97436. Contact Joanne Smith, (541) 584-2160, or e-mail manygreatquilts@aol.com.
The fort is located on the west side of Elkton, Oregon, alongside the Umpqua River. The drive from Portland lasts about three hours. Take Hwy 38 from I-5 or from Reedsport, Oregon. It’s a great drive no matter what direction you take.
Posted under Forts
This post was written by JohnStanton on September 7, 2008
