The Powder Magazine

Fort St. Joseph & St. Joseph Island, ON (9-10-07)

I decided to go out for a "Dan" day and headed north of the border. I wandered my way over to St. Joseph Island to do some lighthouse hunting and visit the ruins of Fort St. Joseph. The colors were just starting to show which was a nice bonus. I also enjoyed the priviledge of having the fort all to myself, it was a nice day out. Oh, and if you want to check out the lighthouses I found go check out my ONTARIO LIGHTHOUSES page, enjoy!

St. Joseph Island Bridge
The St. Joseph Island Bridge...
St. Joseph Island
A pretty bit of road on the east side of the island...
St. Joseph Island
Hilltop View - Every so often I'd top a hill and get a nice view of the island...
Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
I had to make an appearance at least once!
Visitor Center
The visitors center at Fort St. Joseph...
Original Fort Layout
Fort St. Joseph as it once looked circa 1812. It was from this fort that the British carried out their sucessful attack on Ft. Mackinac on Mackinaw Island. The British stayed at Mackinaw for the rest of the war. In 1814 the Americans landed at the abandoned fort and burned it to the ground. It was never rebuilt.
Fort St. Joseph
Walking up the hill to the fort ruins...
Fort St. Joseph Site Map
Map of the ruins...A good map to give you an idea of where I am in the following photos...
Fort St. Joseph
The grass was mowed to show the former outline of the fort...
The Powder Magazine
Built in 1804, this building outlasted the American destruction of the fort. It was abandoned in 1828.
Old Bakehouse & Kitchen
This is the original bakehouse for the troops at the fort. It burned down in 1802 and the soldiers were without baked goods for two years until a new bakehouse was built!
Past Meets Present
A great lakes freighter passed by as I looked over the remains of the blockhouse...that's Michigan across the channel.
The Blockhouse
Originally a two-story structure, it sits in the middle of the fort grounds. The lower level stored supplies while the upstairs was used to house the troops.
The Blockhouse
Originally a two-story structure, it sits in the middle of the fort grounds. The lower level stored supplies while the upstairs was used to house the troops.
The Guardhouse
This building served as the fort jail as well as a shelter for troops on guard duty.
Kitchen Chimney
Built after the burning of the original kitchen in 1804. This chimney is all that remains...the foundations have not yet been located.
Stores Building
Built sometime before 1802, this building stored goods and weapons.
Kitchen Chimney
Plaque on the Kitchen Chimney...
Military Wharf
There was a wharf here at one time...don't believe me, believe the sign!
Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
The beach at Ft. St. Joseph...
New Bakehouse
Fearing another fire that could damage the fort, the new bakehouse was built outside the walls of the fort.
Merchant Buildings
Merchants lived outside the fort in houses built half underground. The buildings havn't been excavated but you can see evidence of them if you look closely...
Fort St. Joseph
I followed the road around the outskirts of the fort...
Civilian Structure
This building was lucky enough to be spared by the Americans in 1814...likely because it was owned by a wealthy American businessman...
Another Civilian Structure
Most likely owned by a local merchanmen, the officers who were tired of "slumming" in the fort blockhouse would move out to more spacious accomodations in the winter after the merchantmen left.
Blacksmith Shop
The remains of one of at least two blacksmith shops that were located near the fort.
Fort St. Joseph
An unmarked mound next to the blacksmith shop...
St. Joseph Island
Bits of Color...heading back amongst early fall color on the south side of the island...
St. Joseph Island
A nice country lane I used as a shortcut...
Hilton Beach, St. Joseph Island
Hilton Beach...on the east side of St. Joseph Island.
St. Joseph Island
Leaving St. Joseph Island for the mainland...