“The First Lean-to Log”

A large wood chip flew on that warm May afternoon. The hand-forged ax cut deep with each swing as the trading post hunter felled the first log for his fall, lean-to hunting shelter. Three steps distant, his sleeveless waist coat and linen hunting shirt hung next to his Northwest gun. Old Northwest Territory, one ridge east of the River Raisin, in the Year of our Lord, 1794…