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Fort Christanna Historical Site dedicated
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:13 PM EDT
By Sylvia Allen
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| Cabell West, right, president of the Garden Club of Virginia, presented Diane Wagner, president of the Brunswick Garden Club, with the Common Wealth Award.
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Editor
LAWRENCEVILLE - Saturday, April 25 was a very special day for Brunswick County. The Fort Christanna Historical Site was dedicated and there seemed to be a special spirit of unity in the air. Approximately 300 people who are interested in the fort's history and future came together to remember and commemorate the fort's place in history.
Governor Spotswood established the fort in 1714 with the intention of establishing trade with the Native Americans and protecting settlers moving into the region.
Nathaniel Neblett, chairman of the Fort Christanna Site Planning Committee, said Fort Christanna was a place rich in history and significance. Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued a proclamation declaring April 25, 2009 as Fort Christanna Day.
The Rev. Dr. Harry Nevels with the Saint Paul's Memorial Chapel offered an invocation.
Dalton Lynch with the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe said when the fort was established there were no boundaries between North Carolina and Virginia. He encouraged everyone to be tolerant of others. Some of the prayer he offered was in his native tongue.
Congressman Tom Perriello said it was a historic day for Brunswick County and the region. He commended those working on the project for their vision and said tourism can be an important part of economic development.
"Small towns can be a great place to live, work and do business. You enjoy a quality of life people are searching for. You have great leadership. I commend you for your vision. When you are seeking grants, it is important to see local involvement. You can be part of the growing tourism industry. I look forward to being your ally as we move forward," Perriello said.
Neblett recognized Delegate Roslyn Tyler and Delegate Tommy Wright.
Neblett recognized Chief Otis Martin with the Sappony of North Carolina and Virginia, Danny Richardson, Tribal Council Chairman, Karenne Wood, director of the Virginia Indian Heritage Program at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. She is also a member of the Monacan Indian Nation.
"We appreciate the turnout from the American Indian communities today. In 1714 the Indian presence at Fort Christanna was strong. At least 15 tribes came to the fort to trade or to make treaties. There are many Indian people in our audience today who descend from those tribes. We are glad you are here. The Fort Christanna story is part of your story as Indian people," Neblett said.
Neblett introduced Gay Neale, an authority on the history of Brunswick County.
"Our next speaker needs no introduction. If you have a question about Brunswick County, you just ask Gay," Neblett said.
Neale said Virginia's Governor Alexander Spotswood was concerned about the safety of settlers and wanted to provide a safe place for more people to come. He was also concerned about the tribes who were trading partners with the Colonists since they were often attacked by enemy Indian tribes. Neale said Governor Spotswood found the ideal spot on a cliff above a bend in the Meherrin River. She said Fort Christanna was the British Empire's first western fort in Virginia. The fort was five sided with each side made of a palisade of split logs, 300 feet to a side. At each corner small bastion houses held a 1400 pound cannon. Neale said there were 12 rangers at the fort under the command of Captain Robert Hicks.
Neale said there was an Indian school. With the Governor's encouragement, several of the Siouan Indian tribes moved to Fort Christanna and banded together under the name Saponie. They built a village not far from the fort and over 200 Native Americans lived in the village. Governor Spotswood paid from his own pocket to hire a teacher, Charles Griffin, to educate the Indian children who number as many as 100 at one time.
Neale said in 1718 the legislature withdrew funding from the fort. Private owners attempted to run it but were not successful and by 1722 the fort was almost abandoned by the English. Indians continued to live there for many years but the buildings disintegrated and the wilderness took over again.
In 1928 the Colonial Dames of Virginia bought 3.25 acres of land and a monument was placed on the grounds. That marker was a concrete block studded with arrowheads, which people vandalized. It was replaced by the present monument with cannon in the 1950s. In 1979-1981 an archeological dig on the site under the direction of Dr. Mary C. Beaudry affirmed the outlines of the palisade wall and provided some information about life there. In 2002-2004 archaeology led by Dr. Chris Stevenson showed much more about the trade and life of the people of the fort.
Neale said the dream of many people for many years has come true.
"We have a park that can be used and enjoyed by both county residents and tourists, by native American for special ceremonies, by school children, and by those who come to enjoy the wildlife here as much as the rich history. It is your park. Please use it, enjoy it, and take pride in it. Through the years, we hope it will expand and grow, that further archaeology will unfold treasures. This is just the beginning," Neale said.
Neale ended her speech by giving credit to the leadership of Nat Neblett.
"Nat has energetically and enthusiastically led us through planning to fruition with the park. He has inspired the local Board and others to support the fort's recreation, he has held countless planning meetings and used his extensive architectural skills to maximize funding, and he has been out here just about every day, rain, sun, snow or scorching heat to supervise and encourage construction. We actually do have real Super Heroes today. I know he wouldn't be caught dead in tights and a cape, but I give you the Christanna Crusader, Nat Neblett," Neale said.
Cabell West, president of the Garden Club of Virginia, and Linda Consolvo, chairman of the Common Wealth Award, given by the Garden Club of Virginia, were recognized. Neblett said the Common Wealth Award is being used to establish a teaching space based on the layout of the 18th century Saponi Indian town. School groups and others can gather there to learn about the fort and the people who lived and traded there. The Brunswick Garden Club applied for this prestigious award and was voted to win this award by the 47 members of the Garden Club of Virginia.
West congratulated the Brunswick Garden Club for winning the Common Wealth Award. She said the award honors conservation, beautification, historic preservation or education and Fort Christanna met all of the requirements.
Neblett thanked Carlton Abbott, FAIA, the architect and site designer for the Fort Christanna Historical Site for his contributions.
"His vision and imagination have brought this place to life; his skills as an architect have made it functional, safe, and attractive. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for what he has generously given to this project," Neblett said.
Dwayne Altice is the Virginia State Cartographer. He said Fort Christanna will be included in the 2010 Virginia state map. He said the map has been printed since 1922 adding approximately one attraction each year.
Jeff Trollinger with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said Fort Christanna is on the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail. He said bird watching brings 640,000 people to Virginia yielding $8.6 million.
Neblett thanked the members of the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors for their support.
Supervisor Barbara Jarrett Drummond, chairman, said it was a historic day for Brunswick County.
"It is a beautiful day. We come together to mark this historic day. I see young people and what I call our wisdom individuals here today. The words of Martin Luther King come to mind. It is not the color of one's skin, but the content of their character. I think that applies here today. This is a day for us to come together. I want to thank Mr. Neblett for his hard work. He came to our board meetings month after month even when he was dealing with personal problems to keep us up to date on this project. This is a day of unity and on behalf of the board of supervisors, I say thank you," Drummond said.
Neblett recognized the contributions of civic minded businesses, organizations and individuals. He also recognized the other members of the Fort Christanna Site Planning Committee: Barry Carter, Dorothy Thomas, Robert Conner, Bobby Conner, Nancy Avery, Gay Neale, Southard Burr, Pearl Adamson, John Kincheloe, Chris Stevenson, Danny Richardson, Jeff Anstead, Susan McClintock, Thurston Clary, Jerry Burke, and Charles Pelosi. |
