Account of Indian mound, armory on Tonawanda Island, excerpt (Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, Orsamus Turner, 1849).jpg
Dublin Core
Title
Account of Indian mound, armory on Tonawanda Island, excerpt (Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, Orsamus Turner, 1849).jpg
Description
Upon the upper end of Tonawanda Island, in the Niagara River, near the dwelling house of the late Stephen White, in full view of the village of Tonawanda, and the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Rail Road, is an ancient mound, the elevation of which within the recollection of the early settlers, was at least ten feet. It is now from six to eight feet,—circular—twenty-five feet diameter at the base. In the centre, a deep excavation has been made, at different periods, in search of relics. A large number of human bones have been taken from it,—arrows, beads, hatchets, &c. The mound occupies a prominent position in the pleasure grounds laid out by Mr. White.
How distinctly are different ages marked upon this spot! Here are the mouldering remains of a primitive race—a race whose highest achievements in the arts, was the fashioning from flint the rude weapons of war and the chase, the pipe and hatchet of stone; and here upon the other hand, is a mansion presenting good specimens of modern architecture. Commerce has brought the materials for its chimney pieces from the quarries of Italy, and skill and genius have chiseled and given to them a mirror-like polish. Here in the midst of relics of another age, and of occupants of whom we know nothing beyond these evidences of their existence, are choice fruits, ornamental shrubbery, and graveled walks.
Directly opposite this mound upon the point formed by the junction of Tonawanda creek with the Niagara River there would seem to have been an ancient armory, and upon no small scale. There is intermingled with at least an acre of earth, chips of flint, refuse pieces, and imperfect arrows that were broken in process of manufacture. In the early cultivation of the ground, the plough would occasionally strike spots where these chips and pieces of arrows predominated over the natural soil.
How distinctly are different ages marked upon this spot! Here are the mouldering remains of a primitive race—a race whose highest achievements in the arts, was the fashioning from flint the rude weapons of war and the chase, the pipe and hatchet of stone; and here upon the other hand, is a mansion presenting good specimens of modern architecture. Commerce has brought the materials for its chimney pieces from the quarries of Italy, and skill and genius have chiseled and given to them a mirror-like polish. Here in the midst of relics of another age, and of occupants of whom we know nothing beyond these evidences of their existence, are choice fruits, ornamental shrubbery, and graveled walks.
Directly opposite this mound upon the point formed by the junction of Tonawanda creek with the Niagara River there would seem to have been an ancient armory, and upon no small scale. There is intermingled with at least an acre of earth, chips of flint, refuse pieces, and imperfect arrows that were broken in process of manufacture. In the early cultivation of the ground, the plough would occasionally strike spots where these chips and pieces of arrows predominated over the natural soil.
Date
1849
Collection
Citation
“Account of Indian mound, armory on Tonawanda Island, excerpt (Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, Orsamus Turner, 1849).jpg,” North Tonawanda History, accessed August 17, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/1565.