Along the Mohawk and Susquehanna Valleys and the Erie Canal of Upstate New York lies a region contained within an area historically known as the Northern Frontier. This territory was hotly contested  during the French and Indian War, American Revolution, and War of 1812 due to its military, agricultural, transportation, and commercial importance.

Due to the significance of the region in American history, a Special Resource Study (SRS) has been commissioned through legislation with Congressman Boehlert's (Twenty-third District, New York) support to provide resource information and analysis that could lead to formal national recognition of the study area. Such recognition could provide opportunities for technical and financial assistance for the management of the regions historic resources. To this end, the National Park Service has contracted with the Faculty of Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science of Forestry in Syracuse to conduct the study.

Our goal is to develop alternative management scenarios for the Northern Frontier Special Resource Area. To accomplish this task, we are preparing a database of the historical, cultural, and natural resources that share a relationship to the Northern Frontier study area and heritage theme. To date, 192 contributing thematic resources across New York have been identified and mapped using ArcView geographic information system software.

As we move into the second phase of the schedule, the thematic resource data will be analyzed based on criteria developed by the National Park Service for Special Resource Studies to determine alternative management strategies for the Northern Frontier heritage landscape.

Our mission will conclude with the publication of a summary report highlighting the proposed management scenarios with related cultural and economic benefits for the communities within the study area.

The Northern Frontier: A Narrative of Passion and Conflict

in the Birth of a New Nation (Military Actions: 1730-1815)

Our study theme is the Northern Frontier in American history,
defined by the military actions that forged this frontier during the period 1730 to 1815. At present, there is consensus from our subject matter experts (SME) for the terminal date of 1815, the conclusion of the War of 1812. A variety of opinions for the initial date ranged from 1615 to 1750.

For the purposes of our study efforts, we are using 1730 as a working initial date, the date when Fort Oswego was established and with it, the onset of economic competition between the French and English in the Central New York region.

[back to top]

Fall '98 Campaign Participants Meeting

The Northen Frontier SRS was initiated on October 15 of 1998 with the Participants Meeting held in Little Falls, New York.  Moderated by Larry Lowenthal, the meeting included nineteen invited experts representing a diverse range of interest in the area of colonial and american revolutionary war  history including NYS Museum historians.  SUNY research faculty, representatives of the Oneida Indian Nation, an organization of revolutionary war re-enactors and lay historians.  The meeting was organized by Joanne Arany (NPS) to discuss the various themes of the study and to provide guidance to the study theme in establishing the time period and boundaries for the Northern Frontier. 

The Spring '99 Campaign SRS strategy concentrates our efforts on the organization of the identified thematic resources, the expansion of our research to locate any resource gaps, the development of management alternatives, and an increased effort to obtain public comment. To meet these objectives, we  engaged in the following:

• On March 24, Dudley Breed and Joanne Arany presented the preliminary findings of our study to Northern Frontier, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on providing educational support to schools regarding Northern Frontier history.

• Dialogue continues regarding the inclusion of Native American thematic resources in the study. In addition to the mapped Iroquois thematic resources, numerous Iroquois archeological sites have been identified. Although these resources provide the opportunity to portray a more balanced interpretation of the Northern Frontier, we recognize that their inclusion is both culturally and archeologically sensitive. Therefore, the representation of these resources in the final publication of the SRS will be based on the recommendations of several subject matter authorities.

• On April 26^th representatives of the National Park Service were presented with our initial findings regarding the national significance of the Northern Frontier and began discussions concerning alternative management scenarios. Based on this dialogue, potential management options will be developed throughout the summer.

[back to top]

Study Area

The map below illustrates the identified thematic resources for the Northern Frontier Special Resource Study. These resources include extant thematic properties and archeological remains from the period of significance, as well as museums, cultural centers, and memorials that provide interpretative links to the Northern Frontier. To date, 192 public and privately held resources that share a relationship to the study theme have been identified.

        Click on the map to view a larger version (44K).

For purposes of our study efforts this spring, we are working with the concept of core and peripheral study areas, supported by the concentration of thematic resources along the Mohawk and Oswego Rivers. Ten counties lie within the core area, including: Fulton, Herkimer, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Madison, Montgomery, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties. Although significant thematic resources are recognized outside of these counties, it is believed that interpretive links can be made to these peripheral properties from the core area.

Currently, 192 thematic resources having the following themes related to the Northern Frontier have been identified:

1. transportation routes and structures
2. fortifications
3. battlefield sites
4. native peoples settlements
5. associated structures (i.e.: Herkimer Home)
6. notable natural landscape features
7. cultural centers, museums, and memorials

Data collected on the above resources has been mapped as a geographical database using ArcView software. Currently, these resources are being organized within the following three classifications:

• Extant Resources (i.e. structures and landscapes with high levels of integrity from the 1730-1815 period of significance from which the study theme of the Northern Frontier can be readily interpreted)

• Archeological Resources (i.e. structures and landscapes from the period of significance on which limited or no excavation has occurred, but which may afford interpretative opportunities)

• Resource Collections (i.e. cultural centers, museums, and memorials that provide the opportunity for interpretative links to the Northern Frontier)

Your Input is Requested

We welcome your questions and comments. If you would like to receive more detailed information regarding the Northern Frontier Special Resource Study, or have knowledge that you feel would contribute toward this effort, please feel free to contact Robert Zundel, Research Project Assistant by email at razundel@syr.edu, or by mail:

Dudley Breed, Project Coordinator
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
331 Marshall Hall
One Forestry Drive
Syracuse, New York 13210

[back to top]

Return to Fort Stanwix Welcome Page

Last updated: June 8, 1999
http://www.nps.gov/fost/nfsrs.htm
Authors:
Susan Jones, Fort Stanwix Web Coordinator
Robert Zundel, Research Project Assistant