American Fur Company in Minnesota

[RichW]

http://www.archive.org/details/michigan ... 37michuoft

William Johnston's fur trade letters, 1833,

AND

Jean Baptiste Perrault's reminiscences... one of the best on the fur trade!

So Riley, nothing stopping you from going to NAVC this year, eh?

[Minnesota Mike]

Mike, didja finish Larry's book? I did and lent my copy out to the afore mentioned Mr. Gurtek... but it shore hits the area you are interested in. What do you think???

Super book - fills in some of the geography questions I had. Have been back and forth with Larry a couple of times and he completely empathizes with me on the lack of info about the AFC post at Sandy Lake.

Very well written and some great photos. Definately worth the read and recommended for anyone wanted a medium brush stroke picture of fur trade up in the northern area of Minnesota.

r/
MM

[Pichou]

Theres a drawing of the Sandy Lake Fort in A Toast to the Fur Trade. Yup back in print.  Dont know if it is the AF or NW fort though.

Personally I think Astor was a %^&* AFC? No cameraderie like the Canadians.  

[Minnesota Mike]

It's a rendering of the earlier NW fort - unfortunately.

Have some anecdotal descriptions of the Sandy Lake post from various visitors, but no detailed lay out.

r/
MM

[Pichou]

Oh sorry.  The AF post was on a different part of the lake right? Is that the one that is underwater now?

[Minnesota Mike]

Yup - the NW post was on the interior section of the lake, on the southern bank I believe, but not too far from where the rivers intersected. The AFC post was over on the Mississippi river itself. But they were within walking distances. Missionary at the AFC post would occasionally walk over to the old NW post to teach there.

I think that the drawing was based on description provided by Zeb Pike during his 1805 visit, but would need to go back and confirm that with one of the references.

r/
MM

[Riley/MN]

So Riley, nothing stopping you from going to NAVC this year, eh?

Wifey said I could go, but I'd havta rely on my good looks ta get me in.

Uhh, I stayed home.

[Minnesota Mike]

Wifey said I could go, but I'd havta rely on my good looks ta get me in.

Uhh, I stayed home.

 :shock:  :shock:  

That's what hoods and beards are for . . .

r/
MM

[RichW]

Wifey said I could go...  Uhh, I stayed home.

Uh huh.  Same here.  Maybe next year...

[Pichou]

Wifey said I could go...  Uhh, I stayed home.

Uh huh.  Same here.  Maybe next year...

Old people!  Man, just hop in the car and go! :oops:

Maybe next year...  

[Minnesota Mike]

At least being trapped in Virginia gives me a distance excuse . . . (sure wish I knew about all the stuff back home in MN when I lived there . . . @#$#@%#%@!!!!)

r/
MM

[Minnesota Mike]

Finally tracked down an AFC flag!!!

Got it from Fort Union - it's a burgee in three collor sections: Blue, white and red with AMFCo in black at an angle in the white section.

Me is happy guy.

r/
MM

[Sir Michael]

MM,

Can you be a bit more explicit?  It is triangular, swallow tail, or truncated?  Are the colors in horizontal or vertical stripes or is there some other division?  

Pictures??

[Trois Castors]

Pictures??

Ya,What he said!

Regards,

[RichW]

http://www.nps.gov/archive/fous/ThemeItems.html

Check out their trade goods too.

The AMFCo logo is a takeoff of the AMKCo logo of the XY/Alexander MacKenzie and Co. logo.