ROI049, Archaeology and Preservation at the Ben Schroeder Saddletree Factory and Residence: Deciphering Nearly A Century of Domestic and Industrial Activity

Summary

Archaeological investigation of the Ben Schroeder Saddletree Factory and Residence (site12-Je-507) in Madison, Indiana began during the summer of 1997 (Rotman 1997). A second field season was recently concluded at the site. Both projects received partial funding under a Department of Interior, Historic Preservation Survey and Planning Grant administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

The first phase of research was implemented during a five-week field school and public archaeology project Archaeology was undertaken to address several specific questions concerning the site, including occupation prior to Schroeder ownership in 1878 and its domestic and industrial utilization. Additionally, units were placed where cultural deposits were potentially threatened by impending restoration activities, including areas in need of modification to facilitate better drainage or to reinforce extant foundations. Archaeological excavation assisted the architect in determining the condition of subsurface structural systems and recovered information regarding poorly understood activities at the site, notably domestic loci in the north yard and around the house (Rotman 1997).

The second field season of archaeology at the Schroeder site was conducted as a public archaeology project However, several students interested in historical archaeology participated in the excavation as part of an independent study. Archaeological investigation focused upon former buildings and additional areas of potential domestic activity. The in-ground remains of structures shown on late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Sanborn maps, but which were no longer extant, were examined more closely by excavation adjacent to buildings and previous units. Furthermore, oral histories, prior archaeological testing and other sources had documented landscape features such as gardens and privies. These portions of the site became the focus of additional archaeological investigation. Under the scope of service, 12m2 were hand-excavated. The excavation of an additional 1 x 1 m unit was also begun.

This project is a continuation of the research begun last summer. Consequently, this document should be viewed as an addendum to last year's report rather than an independent account of the past at the Schroeder Saddletree Factory and Residence. As such, the physiographic setting, historic background, and physical evolution of the site have not been repeated. See Rotman (1997) for this information.

The purpose of this report is to discuss the second field season of archaeological investigation. All aspects of the field, archival, and laboratory research and analyses are presented. The results of each line of inquiry are explicated and the conclusions are incorporated with those from last year. The document concludes with recommendations for future historical and archaeological research.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• BSUAAL Reports of Investigations

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Kevin Nolan; Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Ball State University

Contributor(s): Mark Boatwright; Rachel Mancini

Principal Investigator(s): Donald R. Cochran

Sponsor(s): Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Repository(s): Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Ball State University

Prepared By(s): Archaeological Resources Management Service, Ball State University

Submitted To(s): Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Record Identifiers

Reports of Investigation(s): 049

File Information