Zacahry Taylor, The Sisters of Mercy & The Archeology of 19th Century Fort Smith, Arkansas.......

The Historical Landscape of the Site

The historical record can provide us with important information when it comes to understanding the historical landscape around our chimney. In particular, the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for the city of Fort Smith helps us understand the evolution of the Sisters of Mercy's compound. Below (in red) is the first available Sanborn map for our project area--1897. Thus we do not have a depiction of the original configuration of the "Zachary Taylor" cabin, but we can easily see the T-shaped second convent built in 1876. Although we at first believed that our chimney may have been attached to the northern ell of the second convent, we have since reevaluated that theory based on mapping information, historical records and even some artifact information (more on this argument will be posted soon).

Given the second convent's configuration, we now believe that the chimney was attached to the southern face of a detached kitchen and servant's quarters behind what would have been the main building of Zachary Taylor's residence. By 1897 (when the map below was made) the Sisters of Mercy were using this double-pen, dog-trot-style building as a laundry.

In the 1897 map you can also see the building housing St. Anne's Academy and the Church of the Immaculate Conception (in the bottom left). This building would have been the "white frame church" that served the community from 1867 until it was damaged during the cyclone of 1898 (Church of the Immaculate Conception 1999:34)..

Below is the 1901 map (in black) over the 1897 map (in red). By 1901 we can see some growth in the Catholic Reserve--various ancillary structures and outbuildings have been added. Also notice that the Church of the Immaculate conception is now housed in the larger brick structure that still stands overlooking the Avenue. The "white frame" church is still present, however. It was repaired and moved north and continued to serve the community as a Catholic Hall. It was later moved again north of Midland Boulevard where it served as the African American mission of St. John the Baptist (Church of the Immaculate Conception 1999:35).

Below you see our map with the addition of the 1908 Sanborn map (in blue). We can see that the second convent has been raised and the Third convent built partially over the footprint of the 1870s building. Our chimney now stands alone and had been transformed into "the grotto." Note also the addition of St. Edwards Infirmary, the addition of new St. Anne's Academy building, and the disappearance of the "white frame" church/Catholic Hall. Additionally, the "busy" late nineteenth century landscape has been cleaned up and many of the ancillary buildings are gone (all buildings that do not appear in blue have been razed).

Finally we have added the 1940 Sanborn map (in green). By 1940 the old St. Edwards Infirmary building and Boys School are gone. A large complex on the right-hand site of the map is St. Edwards Mercy Hospital. Also, a chapel has been added to the Third convent structure.

Compiling maps such as these helps us make sense out of the current landscape as well as understanding how historical photographs are related to the current landscape. For instance, below is a photograph of the chimney as it looked in 2004 . The grotto has been removed and is piled up to the right of the chimney.

We can then take a look at a historical photograph such as this early kindergarten class gathered in front of the grotto. Note that you can see St. Edwards Infirmary (the two story building with a colonnade) in the background alerting us to the fact that the photograph was taken after 1905. This means that the frame build directly behind the grotto will probably appear on the 1908 Sanborn.

Using our understanding of the evolution of the cultural landscape we can actually place historical photographs in relation to the current landscape. The overlay below not only helps us understand what we might encounter during excavations, but helps history "come alive" in our interpretations.

On to Excavations

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