Architecture and Identity: Resolving the Construction History of the LeRay Mansion
The LeRay Mansion, located in Fort Drum, New York is recognized to have significantsociocultural relevance to the history and development of the North Country region. Seemingly, it represents the social identity of James LeRay, a French-American immigrant and businessman. Dendrochronological material as well as historical documents, architectural comparisons, and prior archaeological site reports were considered in the process of resolving the ambiguous construction history of the mansion. Based on the findings from the Pinus strobus wood samples taken from the site, it can be confidently stated that construction of the extant mansion started in 1824 and finished in 1827. The extant mansion was preceded by an older, likely Federal style structure built in 1806/1807, around which the auxiliary buildings of the Complex were thereafter erected. The older mansion was deconstructed following the transition in ownership between James LeRay and his son, Vincent, in 1823. Most probably, this was because the social function of the original mansion became obsolete following James’ bankruptcy.