CHAPTER 3D:  BLOCK 7

BLOCK7, LOT 1–HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The earliest recorded sale of Block 7, Lot 1, occurred in 1848 when Frank McWorter sold the property to James Pottle. In total there are over 20 transactions involving this property until 1930. The purchasers also found in the census data include: James Pottle, Christopher Luce, Squire McWorter, and William Hadsell. There is strong likelihood that at least some of these families lived on this lot. The tax records indicate that some improvements existed on the lot until 1867. After this date the value of improvements decrease significantly. However, in 1878 W. S. Cowder was assessed for $114 in improvements, although this assessment also includes Lots 1 and 2. In 1883 and 1888 J. O. Smith was assessed for $125 and $60 respectively, for Lots 1–4 on Block 7. The deed, tax, and census data follow and the italicized names are those that may have resided on the lot, since they appear in both the deed and census records.

DEED TRANSACTIONS

HADLEY TOWNSHIP RECORDS

1850 FEDERAL CENSUS

1855 STATE CENSUS

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS

1865 STATE CENSUS

1880 FEDERAL CENSUS

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Archaeology for Block 7, Lot 1

The structure identified on Block 7, Lot 1, on the 1939 aerial photograph and described by Burdick (1992) (see Background History Chapter) was known as the Betsy house. The area has a heavy concentration of artifacts and the walkover survey indicates the presence of a small amount of early nineteenth–century ceramics and a significant number of artifacts dating to the late nineteenth century. Archaeologists worked on two excavation units in Block 7, Lot 1, in order to locate the structure and find features that may provide clues about nineteenth–century lifeways and the landscape (Figure 3D.1 and 3D.2). Excavation Unit 1, placed on the edge of the artifact concentration revealed by the walkover survey had very few artifacts (Gwaltney 2004). The plow zone extended to a depth of 1.1 ft. below the surface. This soil tended to be a 10YR 3/2 (very dark grayish brown) silty loam and silty clay. Subsoil exists below the plow zone.

Figure 3D.1. Location of Excavation Units 1 and 2 in Block 7, Lot 1

(Drawn by Carrie Chritman, Eva Pajuelo and Alison Azzarello).

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Fig 3D.2. Screening for artifacts at Block 7, Lot 1 (Carrie Christman and Dana Blount, foreground; Cecilia Ayala, background (Courtesy, Gary Andrashko, Illinois State Museum).

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In Excavation Unit 2, artifact density increased significantly and the plow zone exists to a depth of about 1.3 ft. below the surface. The soil tended to be a 10YR3/2 (very dark grayish brown) and archeologists located the remains of a fieldstone foundation, designated as Feature 3 (Figures 3D.3 and 3D.4). The soils next to the fieldstone foundation appear to be in an undisturbed cultural layer and many of the artifacts from this context date to the late nineteenth century. While Burdick (1992) observed that the earliest portion of the Betsy House dated to the mid–nineteenth century, the foundation remains located by archaeologists may be the result of a late nineteenth–century addition. A local resident remembers tearing down a derelict house in the late 1930s or early 1940s and removing the fieldstone foundations (see oral history section). The foundation stones are below the plow zone and may not have been removed because they were below the plow zone. Because this foundation was probably substantial and deeper than a foundation that would have supported a cabin, the foundation is probably related to a late nineteenth–century substantial addition to the earlier structure. A mid–nineteenth century foundation likely would not have been as deep or as substantial as this foundation.

Figure 3D.3. North Wall profile of Excavation Unit 2 in Block 7, Lot 1(Drawn by Carrie Christman).

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 Figure 3D.4. Planview of Feature 3 in Excavation Unit 2, Block 7, Lot 1 (Drawn by Carrie Christman).

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