Volunteers wanted!
Are you interested in archaeology? Always wanted to be Indiana Jones? Come experience the life of an archaeologist at French Azilum! A team of archaeologists under Maureen and Daniel Costura, doctoral students at Cornell University, will be excavating in the vicinity of the LaPorte House. In the process, volunteer archaeologists will learn to identify ceramics, bones and glass of the period, scientifically excavate a site, and properly clean and label artifacts.

BALD EAGLE FESTIVAL: Saturday, May 29, 2010 12:00 - 4:00 pm [tentative event]
Event will be held if the mother eagle has young ones in the nest opposite the Site in 2010. She has raised 12 eaglets since 2004. A variety of conservation, wildlife, and nature activities are being planned. Keep checking our website for details.

REDEDICATION OF THE FRENCH AZILUM MONUMENT: Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 12:00 noon (on Queen's Road 1/4 mi. south of entrance to the Historic Site
The monument is located in the center of the original Market Square in the planned village of Azilum. Now located on Queen's Road about 1/4 mile south of the entrance to the Historic Site. The original dedication ceremony occurred on June 14, 1916, organized by John Mix, Esq., a descendant.

STONEWALL PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP: Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ken Ely of Ken Ely's Good Neighbor Walls will present a unique learning experience at the French Azilum Historic Site. The event begins at 10 am with a free slide program on stonewalls in the Endless Mountains and stonewall building techniques for interested public and workshop participants followed by the hands-on portion of the workshop repairing a 150 year old section of stonewall. No charge to the public for the introductory slide program. $20 fee for workshop particpants, who must make advance reservations at 570 265-3376, and attend the slide presentation or have already participated in one of Ken's workshops. Bring lunch. Good shoes/boots and gloves are required. Regular summer hours on Saturday from 11-5 for visitors.

OLD FASHIONED DAY: Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Join us for family oriented activities and a performance by the Summer Workshop Acting Troupe. Viewing a film explaining the history of the settlement and guided tours of the historic LaPorte House are included. Refreshments will be on sale or you can pack a picnic and enjoy it at the site. Special admission price of $3.00 for Adults and Children will be admitted free.

DESCENDANTS DAY: Saturday, August 14, 2010 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Come to meet and visit with descendants of the original settlers. The French Azilum Board of Directors invites all descendants and the public to share in this day of celebrating local history. The French Asylum United Methodist Church Women will be preparing lunch and advance reservations must be made by calling 570-265-3376.

SPECIAL EVENT: Saturday, September 25, 2010 12:00 - 4:00 pm [to be announced]

CLOSING WEEKEND: Saturday-Sunday, October 16-17, 2010

ANNUAL DINNER: Thursday, October 28, 2010 5:30 - 8:00 pm (evening begins at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6, program at 7)
Towanda Gun Club on Rt 187 South of Wysox. Call for details and reservations at 570 265-3376.

• 1793 French Azilum settled
• 1803 Azilum abandoned by all but a few of the original French settlers.
• 1836 LaPorte residence built
• 1956 John Wittholf and his wife excavated an area behind the LaPorte House and discovered a square, stone-lined feature that he interpreted as a wine cellar. This feature - presently uncovered at French Azilum - is 5' by 5' and is approximately 7' deep. Artifacts found in the cellar included plate and bowl fragments, bone and several wine bottles that dated to the French occupation. This wine cellar would have been associated with a house, which has yet to be found.
• 1976 Steve Warfel and a team of students excavated an area behind the LaPote House to search for La Grande Maison. Although he was unsuccessful in his search for the Queen's house, Warfel did locate a feature, tentatively identified as the residence of a French settler - Cottineau. Located north of the LaPorte House, this residence was a stone foundation approximately 35' by 25'. A stone double chimney (in the shape of an "H") was located in center of the foundation and would have been used to heat and light the residence, Some of the artifacts found in the 1976 excavations included: leather shoes. plate and bowl fragments, forks, knives, and a brass hair ornament that dated from approximately 1790 to 1840.
• 1999 Rob Mann, Diana Loren and Binghamton University's Field School students began excavations in the area just south of the Cottineau foundation. They located the sheet midden, essentially a trash pile, and what is believed to be a collapsed stone feature, probably another stone=lined cellar. because of this feature and other evidence the Field School instructors believe that this residence was that of Madame de Siebert.
• 2000 Excavations were made around the de Siebert foundation with the expectation of finding areas and other outbuildings associated with the large structure that was uncovered in 1976. We know from documents that many of the residences also had other buildings associated with them, such as large summer kitchens and houses for servants and slaves.