FROM THEARCHIVES:
Life at Fontenelle's Trading Post
Catherine Kuper, Volunteer ArchivistWhenyouheartheterm"tradingpost"youmightthinkof somethingliketheSouthDakotatouristdestination,Wall Drug.TheTradingPostthatLucienFontenellemanagedin theearly1820'swasnotastoreinthissamesense.
Peoplefromthesurroundingnativetribesincludingthe Omaha,OtoeandPawneedidtradevegetables,berriesand gamewiththepost'sinhabitantsinexchangeforguns,fabrics andmetalproductssuchaskettlesandknives.However,the primaryfunctionofthepostwasmorelikeawarehousewith itemsandpersonnelthatwouldbeshippedwest.
BecauseofitslocationeightmilesabovethePlatteRiver, theTradingPostservedasasignificantstopontheMissouri River.Fontenelle'sTradingPostreceivedshipmentsbyway ofkeelboatsfromSt.Louissuppliersinthespringwhenthe riverwasnavigable.Thematerialswouldbestoreduntilearly summerwhentheywouldbetransportedwestbyhorseand mulepacktrainsintotheRockyMountains.Inthefall,those samepacktrainswouldreturntothepostwithloadsoffurs thatwouldbesentdownrivertoSt.Louis.
Ahorseshoeand pliersfoundduring the 1972excavationofthe FontenelleTrading Post.
TheTradingPostalsohadtoprovidefortheemployeesof theMissouriFurCompanywhowerechargedwithsorting, packingandtransportinggoodswestandthenmoving fursbackeast.Attimes,therecouldhavebeenasmanyas 100peoplelivingatthepostalongwithanequalnumber ofhorsesandmules.Additionalbuildingswereneededto house,feedandsupportthesemen,aswellasablacksmith shopandspacetocareforpackanimals.
FontenelleTrading Post Exhibit Opensin April
Fontenelle Forestiscommemorating the 200-year anniversary of the FontenelleTrading Post with a new exhibit in the Baright Gallery atthe Nature Center. Learnabout the region'sindigenous history, theeffects ofcolonizationand more.
