Days 43 & 44

Wednesday May 5...went to Fort Niagara today. As we walked around I kept thinking how much my Webelos would love to play here. The British and the French fought for possession of this fort, with the British winning in the mid 1700's

The Colonists took possession of it after the revolutionary war, but lost it to the British in 1813. The Colonists won back possession 2 years later and it has been controlled by the U.S. ever since.

It was the coolest fort I've ever see.

It sat right on the corner where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario.

This is called the palace...It housed the officers, and many of the enlisted men. Inside there was a wooden platform all around the room. The men slept there with their heads against the wall and their feet sticking out.

This young man showed us how a musket works.

These are some of the rapids on the Niagara River...some of the strongest rapids in the world.

This wide spot is called the whirlpool. We could see the water swirling around. If you look hard you will see a gondola hanging over the water.

As we drove south into Ohio, we saw Lake Erie.

Thursday we went to Kirtland. This is the Newel Whitney Store. After being in Kirtland for about 2 years Joseph and Emma moved into a room above the store. This is where the school of the Prophets was held, and Joseph received many revelations here.

I wish I could have bought a few things here...

This little parlor was upstairs and many meetings were held here.

The school of the Prophets was held in this room.

When Joseph and Emma first arrived in Kirtland they stayed in the Whitney home for 6 weeks. The Whitney home had a summer kitchen and a winter kitchen....this is the summer kitchen, it has a more shallow fireplace so that more of the heat comes into the home.

The dining area. In the baby cradle there is a baby bottle made out of metal.

This was the bedroom they used...

Across the street was the Johnson Inn. The Johnson's ran the Inn after they sold their farm.

The sawmill was powered by a water wheel. It only took a couple of inches of water to turn the wheel.

The wood used in the Kirtland temple was prepared here.

The saints also ran an Ashery. They soaked the ash and made lye water which sold for $25. a barrel.

Then they cooked it and made pot ash, which sold for $100. a barrel... Or they baked the pot ash in a 1200 degree oven and made pearl ash which sold for $200. a barrel.

Most of the $40,000 it took to build the Temple came from this ashery.