The Unknown Stories of Murney Tower
If you have visited our museum, you may have noticed the display case on the Barracks level, which contains a set of items that were found by Parks Canada archaeologists. Our knowledge about the archaeology of the Murney Tower has recently been expanded. In the Summer 2021 season, Murney Tower Museum obtained two archaeological reports from Parks Canada which present the key findings of an archaeological survey conducted in 1998. These reports have revealed many interesting pieces that tell the unknown stories of the people who lived in the Tower. During my time as a historical interpreter at the museum, I was given the task of reading these archaeological reports. This was no surprise to me since, as a MA student, my research interests all lie within archaeology. My hope was in reading these; we may find new and interesting ways to interpret some of the artifacts on display and learn more about the way the past inhabitants of the Tower lived. This hope became a reality in reading these reports, when I found new and exciting facts about the Tower, and the material culture of the people living there.
A well-known aspect of Murney Tower Museum is its dry ditch. It is one of the architectural features meant for the defense of the Tower during a siege, but many items have been lost to its depths. For example, I cannot help but notice the occasional toy being lost to the abyss as visitors play in the neighboring Macdonald Park. Historically, losing personal items to the ditch seems to be a common problem for residents of the Tower. Or, in some cases, inhabitants and visitors alike deliberately threw things down into the ditch. Parks Canada conducted an archaeological survey of our dry ditch (and its surrounding area) as a part of a re-stabilization and repair program. They found many interesting and exciting pieces, dating all the way back to the era of the Tower's first inhabitants: the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment (RCRR), who lived in the Tower from 1848-1870.
One of the main highlights of the RCRR’s era is an assemblage of 19 fragmented ceramic pieces that were found in our dry ditch. What strikes me most about this discovery is that all of these pieces were colorfully transfer-printed and decorated. One cannot help but imagine how colorful the Soldier's dinner table was inside the Tower. Another influential discovery made (even though the evidence group was relatively small) is the number of bowls compared to plates found. This means that the RCRR apparently ate more soup and stew-based foods than foods requiring a plate/cutlery. This definitely makes sense based on the evidence we have in the Tower, like our large stove with two welded pots with lids!
This time, another key episode of the Tower’s history occurred between 1871-1886 when the Tower was occupied by the Battery A and Battery B soldiers. The archaeologists saw a shift in the assemblage, particularly in the ratio of bowls to plates. There were more plates which may indicate a change from stewed meals to individual cuts of meat. They found a larger assemblage and assortment of finds during this era, demonstrating a lessening regimental discipline. There were household items, such as flower pots, children's porcelain dolls, and jewelry. During the Princess of Wales Own Regiments era, the finds were quite similar until the Tower was abandoned.
When the Tower became a Museum in 1925, it solidified its presence in Macdonald Park as a centerpiece for Kingston's locals and visitors for recreation and other activities. Excavations uncovered 200 pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters dating between 1903 and the present. Twenty-five percent of these were disposed of during the Second World War. This brings to mind the idea of Murney Tower being Kingston's wishing well or guardian of hope. People would flick these tokens on behalf of their hopes, dreams, and assurances. Or they would hope for the safe return of a family member from the War. Although coins were found all around the ditch, they were most prevalent by the entrance to the Tower. This indicates that these tokens of luck were flicked into the ditch before entering or as they departed Murney Tower. With this information, we could say that Murney Tower's ditch became Kingston's very own Trevi Fountain!
During the Museum era, which takes place from 1925 to the present, the rest of the assemblage were all family-related items. Flashbulbs, film canisters, 25 marbles, toy airplanes, and other assorted party favors. The pin, shaped like a set of flight wings inscribed with "Jimmie Allen Flying Cadet," is an exciting piece. Derived from the 1930s syndicated radio show, "The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen," the pin was a premium given to children by local promoters. It made this child most likely the enviable owner of a model airplane, which hopefully was not lost to the depths of the dry ditch. Another artifact of note was the "Make love not war" pin from the 1960s. Murney Tower has seen many eras filled with ever-changing ideas over the years.
In reading these reports, I cannot help but wonder: what will be lost in 2021 that an archaeologist will find in 50 to 100 years? This past opening weekend, a pair of children lost their frisbee into the dry ditch, which then spurred them to take a tour of the museum. They loved the fact that their frisbee has now become a part of Murney Tower and a part of Kingston's history. Even the most minor items can be valued by the people of the future to see how relatable the people of history really are.