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July 2011 Update - April 2011 Update - October 2009 Update - March 2009 Update - January 2009 Update
After the restoration of Heald Home, the Foundation took on the rebuilding of Zumwalt’s Fort as its next project. Once the fort is reconstructed, “It will be the only War of 1812 site in the State of Missouri that’s open to the public,” says Jeanette Koechner, President of the Foundation. Although there are at least thirty War of 1812 sites throughout the state, Zumwalt’s Fort is the only one in a publicly-owned park. Most sites have been destroyed or are in private hands. All that remains of the Fort today is the chimney. The First Step 
Then Mayor Paul Renaud, Raleigh Jessup and Foundation President Jeanette Koechner break ground for the excavations to begin in spring of 2004 as then aldermen Cheryl Hibbeler, Dan McAteer and Dan Brungard look on.
Through the excavations, we learned how this log residence was constructed which will aid in its accurate reconstruction. More importantly, we gained a deeper appreciation for the lives of the Zumwalt and Heald families who resided in this log home, and a better understanding of what life was really like for the early American settlers of O'Fallon. 
Raleigh Jessup steadfastly displayed his model of the Fort during the excavations.
The foundation stones of the original Fort are uncovered.
Storage pits are found on the east end of the Fort.
The Second Step With the excavations completed, the next step was to draw up plans and gather the expertise and the materials needed to begin construction. The Foundation received a tremendous boost when Charlie Brunjes, a longtime resident and chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, offered to donate timber from his property in Silex, Missouri to build the first phase. "I've always been interested in history and what's happening in O'Fallon, he said. "I hope other citizens take an interest in the history and the rebuilding of the fort," Brunjes said. 
Charlie Brunjes marks trees on his property to be harvested for rebuilding the Fort. Jacob Zumwalt was said to mark his trees with a “Z” to indicate his property boundaries.
Charlie Brunjes harvested the timber during the winter of 2006 and 2007. Mueller Brothers of Old Monroe milled the white oak timbers and stored them for curing with construction slated to begin in 2008. Learn more in the Zumwalt's Fort FAQs and visit the Reading Room to read the entire report on the excavation of Zumwalt’s Fort from Joe Harl of the Archaeological Research Center. Due to pressing work schedules, weather, and time spent obtaining proper documentation for the rebuilding of the Fort, we haven’t quite made the progress we’d hoped for. However, the logs were delivered to the site in December and are now being hewn prior to the actual construction. The perimeter of the Fort has been staked and as soon as the weather allows, the stone foundation will be set in place. The Foundation has contracted with Jesse Francis to construct the Fort. Jesse built the reconstructed St. Charles Borromeo Church at Jackson and Second Streets in St. Charles. Built in 1791, the church was built in the French (vertical) style of log cabin construction. If you visit the Fort on the weekends, you just might find Jesse hard at work. On March 9, 2009, the City of O’Fallon sent out the following press release: 
Charlie Brunjes sets the final stone
First, City staff poured concrete into a rectangular form set into the dirt on the east side of the old limestone chimney, which is all that visibly remains of the original fort. Then, five flat stones were set into the concrete by Charlie Brunjes, who directed the crew. The stones were among the fort’s remains that were unearthed by St. Louis Archaeological Research Center archaeologists. Brunjes acknowledged that concrete wasn’t available on Missouri’s frontier when the Jacob Zumwalt family’s log house was begun circa 1798. “Jacob and the boys laid the foundation stones directly on the dirt,” said Brunjes. “But we are using cement to help level and stabilize the building, so that this structure can be enjoyed for generations to come.” After the concrete cures for a few days, the stone foundation for the building, called the East Cabin, will be laid. After that, the work of raising the log walls will begin. Brunjes, who is a construction inspector for the City of O’Fallon, donated the logs for the project. 
Concrete pouring
Completed foundation
“This project is a collaboration between the O’Fallon Community Foundation, which has been instrumental in raising the funds and getting materials, and the City of O’Fallon,” said John Griesenauer, O’Fallon’s Director of Administrative Services, and also a Community Foundation member. “The Community Foundation could not complete the project without the blessing and support of the City.” On Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 9 AM, the first logs will be set into place at the Fort. The public is welcome to attend. 
The center chimney awaits the completion of the main section of the homestead fort as the easternmost cabin, nearly completed, is the object of everyone’s attention.
On September 30, 2009, the O’Fallon Community Foundation held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the reconstruction of Jacob Zumwalt’s homestead fort. Though the floor of the east cabin and the chimney remain to be completed, everyone present felt the elation of seeing the tangible results of many years of research and fund raising. 
Lewis Swinger exhibits the model of the Fort built by Raleigh Jessup to Councilman Mark Perkins and Nancy Hadler Tulley of MasterCard.
President Jeanette Koechner Thomas expressed the Foundation’s gratitude for the many organizations and individuals who have supported this endeavor, among them MasterCard International, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Charles Brunjes, the O’Fallon Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Joe Harl of Archaeological Research Center, Tim Kilby, Jesse Francis, and members of the city staff. Notable among those attending were speakers Steve Ehlmann, St. Charles County Executive, and Bill Hennessy, Mayor of O’Fallon. Also on hand to receive the Foundation’s sincere appreciation for their generous support was Nancy Hadler Tully, Senior Vice President - Worldwide Communications of MasterCard International. Blue skies and mild temperatures provided a perfect backdrop for the event and the evening would have been perfect had it not been for the absence of Raleigh Jessup due to ill health. Raleigh has been the moving force for this project since his term as an alderman for the City of O’Fallon in the early 1970s. His son, Ken Jessup, used an ax against a slab of white oak from the trees harvested by Charlie Brunjes for the Fort to cut the ribbon in his father’s stead. Following the ceremony, attendees were treated to a casual dinner of roast pig with all the trimmings. The O’Fallon Community Foundation would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of this event: 
Foundation Board members Jeanette Koechner Thomas, Pat Swinger, Wendy Prakop, Don Schappe, Darrell Mueller, Dennis Maher, John Griesenauer, and Jerry Hurlbert hold the ribbon as Ken Jessup uses an axe to make the cut.
Mayor Bill Hennessy (above) and County Executive Steve Ehlmann (right) were honored speakers at the ribbon cutting.
  Pat McMenomy treated guests to dulcimer music during dinner.
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We ran into a snag, however, when Charlie Brunjes, construction superintendent for the project, measured the angle of the chimney prior to the beginning of work on phase two. At that time, he discovered that the chimney was leaning a few degrees from the measurement he'd taken prior to the beginning of the reconstruction.
In the meantime, Mueller Brothers Timber of Old Monroe delivered the remaining logs and Jesse Francis set to work hewing them. Now that the nice weather is here and the chimney has been stabilized, construction will resume.
The east cabin finally got its chimney in June of 2011. Hawkins Construction Company of O'Fallon showed up with scaffolding, front loaders and some strong masonry experts who didn't mind the heat too much. Those of us who watched from the sidelines, as well as the workers themselves, couldn't help but wonder how Jacob Zumwalt and his brothers managed to get this amazing structure built with little more than ropes, a strong mule, and a lot of back-breaking work. The hearth inside the east cabin is now ready to be outfitted as it would have been when Jacob and his family relied on it for warmth and the preparation of meals. As the walls of the remaining cabin go up over the coming year, the Community Foundation will be hard at work gathering the furnishings, tools and personal items that will tell the rest of the story of Jacob Zumwalt's homestead.
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