[If you were awake around 5:30am a couple of days ago and happened to be
listening to KMOX radio (AM-1120), you also got to hear Joe interviewed live
about this exciting project. The Mound City Archaeological Society sponsors free
lectures at 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Missouri History
Museum. For more information, visit http://moundcity.missouriarchaeology.org/ or
call (314) 704-3507. -- Greg]

Florissant council OKs archaeological study
By SHERI GASSAWAY
Published: Thursday, Feb. 19 2004

The Florissant City Council has approved a resolution supporting an
archaeological investigation of the old St. Ferdinand Church in Spanish Land
Grant Park.

Officials hope the investigation will lead to a better understanding of the
original French settlement of Florissant, through soil deposition, artifact
distribution and the search for other remains.

"We're hoping to begin phase 1 of the three-year project at the end of March,"
said Councilwoman Geri Debo, 4th Ward. "It will be really exciting because it
will help Florissant learn a little bit more about its beginnings."

Historians say the log church, which served as the political and social center
for the settlement, was used until 1821, when the new St. Ferdinand Shrine was
constructed. The log church was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1836, while
the associated cemetery continued to be used until the 1870s.

Spanish Land Grant Park, which is a historic landmark in Florissant, is about 2
1/2 acres and contains a plaza, a small pavilion, benches, a parking lot and the
burial area. The park is bounded by St. Ferdinand, St. Louis, St. Charles and
St. Denis streets.

Mayor Robert Lowery said that because the park was not used very often,
officials were not planning to close it for the investigation. He added that the
graves at the cemetery in the park were all unmarked but that officials knew
where the grounds began and ended and planned to investigate only the grounds of
the log church.

The total cost for the three-year project is $15,000. Joe Harl of the Mound City
Archeological Society is under contract to head the investigation.

The project is financed by money raised at this year's Florissant Lewis and
Clark celebrations. Several volunteers with Lewis and Clark Committee, as well
as other historic groups in Florissant, will assist in the investigation.