The site I am writing about is almost in Southern Vermont. But for the Connecticut River, it might have been. During the last Foliage I took my grandsons to see The Fort at No. 4 in Charleston, NH, just across the river from Springfield, VT. Ruth, our neighbor next to Toad Hall, volunteers as a historical interpreter at the fort, and suggested that Lliam, David, and Toby might enjoy a visit.

The website for The Fort at No. 4 states the following:

• Travel back in time to Charlestown, New Hampshire in the 1740’s and have an unforgettable experience in an authentically reconstructed settlement.
• Tour with guides dressed as original settlers of No. 4 as they take you through the gates of our heritage. Meet the likes of Dr. Hastings, Lt. Parker, and Capt. Phineas Stevens.
• Demonstrations of hearth cooking, musket firings, military drills and much more are conducted daily.

I think that even during the Winter, this would be a great place to visit for both adults and youngsters.

When we arrived at the gate we greeted by a young man dressed in authentic colonial garb. He explained a bit about the history of The Fort at No. 4. (be sure to ask them why it’s called that.)

Our historical interpreter explains the history of The Fort at No. 4 to David, Toby, Lliam (and Grandpa).Notice the gaps between the pales of the palisade. They included them to prevent snow from piling up against the wall, to prevent the pales from burning together, and to provide a gap to shoot through.The massacre at the village of Deerfield was made easier because the pales were close together and when the snow piled up against the wall, the Indians and French were able to snow shoe over the wall into the village.

The interpreters at The Fort at No. 4 are very well versed in the history, culture, and behaviors of the early pioneers who settled this area of New England during some very difficult times. The history of the fort and its inhabitants is tightly connected to the history of the French and Indian War. The reconstructed buildings, rooms, and the displays are an outstanding presentation of our country’s pre-revolutionary period. Following are some pictures of the fort and some of its rooms and directions on how to get there. Check the website for details about when they are open and the special events they hold.

Ruth Holleran, my neighbor in Chester, with her son in colonial costume, and my three grandsons. Ruth showed the boys how to card wool so it could be spun into yarn on the spinning wheel. She then explained how the spun yarn was used in the loom to make cloth and other fabric items.Ruth also acts as an interpreter in the kitchen display and can cook up a colonial dinner with the best of them.

Here are a few other pictures and comments on our experience at the fort. I look forward to reading your comments.

Of course, the colonial settlers were not the first inhabitants of the area. The Abenaki village display and presentation was delivered by a member of the Mohawk tribe.Get your preconceptions of Indian life and culture corrected here. The tribes in this area had cultural practices that were far more forward thinking and practical than did the colonists. This was one of the best parts of our visit.

Finally, just a couple of photos illustrating more of the life inside the fort. Of course, the boys loved the cannon. Just beyond the cannon is a door leading to the guard tower. There is a fantastic view of the Connecticut River from a window in the tower.

Following are a couple of maps to the fort, one showing a satellite view of the road to it. Just follow the sign promionently displayed on the Springfield Road.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm and is filed under Featured, Sites to See, Southern Vermont. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.