Attendees climbed into the horse-drawn wagon, plopped onto the bales of hay, and rode down the hill to the recreated homesite of Angus P. McDonald and the original trading post, which still stands as the oldest building in Montana.  

David Sturman, the wagon driver, said the goal of the ride is to mentally convey people back 150 years.  

This wagon ride was just one piece of living history that attendees experienced during the Fort Connah Rendezvous on Saturday, June 20. Fort Connah was a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post just north of St. Ignatius from 1847 until it was ordered to close by the U.S. Government in 1871.  

The post was started in 1846 by Neil McArthur and completed the following year by McDonald. It served as an important link between the two sides of the Rocky Mountains and carried goods such as dried buffalo meat, pemmican, buffalo fat and rawhide cords.  

McDonald, who was from Scotland, was assigned to this area as an apprentice clerk in 1839 and later married Catherine Baptiste, a Nez Perce woman. Duncan McDonald, their son, also played a significant role in the trading post and was employed by Hudson’s Bay at age 15.  

Now, more than 150 years later, the Fort Connah Restoration Society has been working to restore the property for over 50 years and educate the public about Fort Connah's history.  

Last year, the society was reconstructing one of McDonald’s homes, crafted out of logs donated by Maggie Goode, his great-great-granddaughter. Now they only have windows and doors left to add. 

At the trading post guests learned about the historic weapons used during the post's peak operation and much before. 

Garry Steele guided visitors through the development of arrowheads and spearheads. He discussed how weapons evolved from a pointed stick to an atlatl, the oldest mechanical invention that uses leverage to propel a lightweight spear.  

Attendees also had the opportunity to try atlatl throwing, to see if they could survive as they did back then and kill game, which they would need for dinner. Guests also had the opportunity to try knife-throwing or head up the hill to experience black powder shooting, a key to survival in the 1800s.  

Groups also had the chance to learn about the fur trade and what made this trading post such a success.  

Linda Kittle also walked guests through the process of combing, spinning and dyeing wool. She allowed kids to spin the wool with her and showed off her homemade wool socks. While spinning, Kittle also walked children through the experience of heading west, asking them what they would pack in a minivan-sized wagon.  

“What are you going to take? You could take some clothing, or you could take stuff to make clothing, you could take plants, or you could take what makes a plant … seeds,” Kittle said to the children around her.  

She walked them through other good choices for survival, such as animals, especially cows and horses, for meat and transportation.  

“You're already thinking like a pioneer,” she said.  

Inside the old trading post building, there were also books about the history of Fort Connah, a black powder gun raffle and baked goods to help support the restoration efforts.  

    Garry Steele displayed a variety of historic weapons for guests to see during the Fort Connah Rendezvous. (Emily Messer/Leader)  Garry Steele teaches Connie Long how to properly hold an atlatl, which is the oldest mechanical invention that uses leverage to propel a lightweight spear. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Rachel Lopez makes fry bread in honor of Joe McDonald, who was a mentor of hers during the rendezvous event. (Emily Messer/Leader)