Strong Ingall

History

In 1839, the area which one called at the time Large Madawaska was the cradle of a conflict between the Canada and the the United States. At the time of the treated of Versailles which was to officialize the independence of the United States, the borders had badly been defined in the area of the Low-Canada. Canadian and American loggers of disputed then to obtain the right of the cut of wood in the area. Moreover, the presence of a paramount road at the time, the path of the large bearing, gave to the territory an major importance for the British. In the years 1830, an agent of the customs American called Rufus McIntyre decided to levy taxes near the inhabitants of the area. The inhabitants paying already taxes with the England and not wanting to pay their taxes in doubles decided to imprison the agent of the customs in a prison of Fredericton. The state of Maine then took this gesture like a declaration of war and mobilized 10.000 militiamans against the British. The war of Arostook was declared. The British army then decided to build temporary fortifications throughout the bearing and to send to it troops, of which Strong Ingall located at Cabano. Three years later, that is to say in 1842, the treaty of fine Webster-Ahburton put at the not-bloody war without there not being the least combat between the two parts. It was decided to separate the territory into two, by leaving north in Canada and the south in the United States, which made it possible to the English to preserve the road of the bearing. The fort was left with the hands of the Purcell Sergeant who lived there with his family before completely leaving it with the abandonment. According to the oral tradition, the fort would have been dismantled by the first inhabitants of Cabano, not leaving any trace.

In the years 1960, archaeological excavations made it possible to find the site of strong Ingall as well as the vestiges of all the buildings. Strong Ingall was rebuilt thereafter in 1972.

The Fort

Strong Ingall was a " Fieldwork" or fortification of countryside. It included/understood 13 buildings is three dormitories, a kitchen, a body of guard (blockhouse), an intendance (or police station), an explosives magazine, a district of officer (or dormitory of the officers of the police station), a bakery, a hut with boats and three latrines. The buildings were built in parts on parts of cedar and pine, isolated with the packing and the lime mortar. The roofs were covered with shingles of cedar painted in red, except the explosives magazine which was covered with metal sheets. The walls of the dormitory of the officers and the district of the officers were covered with boards of pines bleached with lime. The Fort was girdled of a roundwood palisade assembled according to the method of the main posts and the door frames, a height of 12 feet and opening of many loopholes. The defense system was supplemented by two caronnades of 24 books.

Today, the district of the officers, bakery, the hut with boats and a latrine were not rebuilt.

the southern dormitory

The southern dormitory, of a dimension of??? comprise two principal parts with rez-of-fitted and a large part with the attic. The building was useful at the time placing 100 soldiers. Each part of rez-of-fitted is heated by a hearth connecting both on a central chimney. Two external doors give access to the two various parts whereas the access to the attic is limited by a staircase being in the room Is.

the northern dormitory

The northern dormitory has same dimensions and function that the southern dormitory. It made it possible to place 100 soldiers.

the dormitory of the officers

Of a dimension of? , the dormitory of the officers was used to adapt to eight officers. Consituté of quatres rooms and quatres offices with rez-of-fitted and a large attic or the officers could store their personal goods, the building forever really adapted eight officers. The access to the attic is done by only one staircase located in the north-western office of the building.

the kitchen

the latrine of the officers

the latrine of the soldiers

the latrine of the officers of the police station

the intendance

the district of the officers

bakery

the hut with boats

the body of guard

the palisade

the wells

the lime kiln

the inn Labelle

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