Fort William Henry ... Digging Up History

... by Gerald E. Bradfield

A Review ...

There is little that can match the passion of the boyhood dream. Gerald E. Bradfield grew up with the site of Fort William Henry in his backyard. As a youth, he worked at the newly reconstructed fort. As he matured, so did his duties. He became a tour guide. Today, he is the museum curator. This book is the result of that passion.

The book, lavishly illustrated with photos, maps, and drawings, is a history of the "little log fort" that existed on the southern shore of Lake George, New York from 1755-1757. It, too, is a history of the reconstructed model that exists there today. Drawing largely from first person accounts, the narrative begins with the Indian occupations of the site, through the early European presence, the building of the Fort, the ensuing siege & massacre, and on to the present-day archaeological digs. Written in a clear, concise style, this book makes a fine introduction to the topics at hand. It doesn't get bogged down in facts & figures, but rather tells a straightforward story of the history of Fort William Henry ... past & present. Immortalized by James Fenimore Cooper's, The Last of the Mohicans, the book rightly includes a short chapter on that very subject. Perhaps the highlight of the book is the chapters devoted to the digs ... filled with magnificent photos of relics that will surely evoke images of the events in your imagination.

Running 138 pages, the book is a wealth of information on this tantalizing little bit of American History. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to the French & Indian War Society. Support this effort to better the interpretation of the story of Fort William Henry.

As a boy, in the early 60's, I recall with great fondness, our family's trips to the North Country from our Long Island, NY home. Fort William Henry was a part of that experience. The photos, contained within the pages of this book, of those early years of the reconstructed fort, brought back vivid memories. See: FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN THE 1960s (my own images from the 60s!) Nice job, Mr. Bradfield! .... Highly recommended! ...

Rich Federici, Mohican Press ... July, 2001

TO ORDER:

$12.95 plus $5.00 S&H
Total = $17.95
Payable to: French & Indian War Society

French & Indian War Society
50 Canada ST.
PO Box 686, Lake George, NY 12845

FRENCH & INDIAN WAR SOCIETY

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FORT WILLIAM HENRY - DIGGING UP HISTORY

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FORT WILLIAM HENRY ... The Siege & Massacre

FORT WILLIAM HENRY ... Digging for Clues

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