This article is a list of forts in Washington County, Pennsylvania. During the colonial era and the American Revolution, Washington County, Pennsylvania was on the American Frontier. The forts provided protection for settlers from attacks by Indians who already lived in the area.
Doddridge's Fort
edit  | |
| Location | Pa. 844 west of Pa. 231 at Sugar Run Road, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of West Middletown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°14′55″N 80°28′20″W / 40.24851°N 80.47213°W |
| Built/founded | circa 1773 |
| PHMC dedicated | May 28, 1947[1] |
Doddridge's Fort was a series of stockaded log cabins in Washington County, Pennsylvania.[1] It was built c. 1773 by John Doddridge as a refuge for settlers in area, which was then the American frontier.[1] The fort was located in present-day Independence Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.[2] The attack on Doddridge's Fort was recorded in historian's Samuel Kercheval 1883 history A History of the Valley of Virginia.[3]
The fort was a frequent stop for Methodist circuit riders, including Francis Asbury. It was also the childhood home of priest-physician Joseph Doddridge, author of the widely cited Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and his brother Philip Doddridge, a leading advocate for democratization on behalf of western Virginians.[1][4][5]
On May 28, 1947, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission erected a historical marker at Pa. 844 west of Pa. 231 at Sugar Run Road, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of West Middletown, Pennsylvania, noting the importance of Doddridge's Fort to the history of the commonwealth.[1] The actual location of the fort was north of the marker.[1]
In 2003, plans were developed for the Washington County Historical Society to create a replica of Doddridge's Fort at Cross Creek County Park.[6] The facility was to have been known as The Washington County Frontier Experience Center.[6]
Lindley's Fort
editLindley's Fort was a blockhouse established by frontier settler Demas Lindley near Ten Mile Creek in what is now the village of Prosperity in Morris Township, Washington County.
County historian Alfred Creigh described it as "one of the strongest forts in the western country, because it most exposed to the hostile incursions of the savage inhabitants."[7] Frontier settlers erected additional cabins near the fort as temporary homes during times of increased danger in order to easily retreat with the fort's walls.[8]
In 2011, Lindley's Fort became the subject of dispute. Archaeologists and local historians expressed concern that natural gas extraction operator Range Resources planned to construct a drilling pad access road through the historic site.[9][10]
Miller's Blockhouse
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| Location | U.S. 40, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°06′34″N 80°29′42″W / 40.10934°N 80.49506°W |
| Built/founded | circa 1780 |
| PHMC dedicated | May 28, 1947[11] |
Miller's Blockhouse was a blockhouse built in about 1780 by Jacob Miller, Sr., a pioneer in American Frontier in present-day Washington County, Pennsylvania.[11] The fort served to protect settlers in the Dutch Fork area from Indian attacks.[11] On March 31, 1782, the fort was attacked, and Ann Hupp led a heroic defense.[11]
On Wednesday, May 28, 1947, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission erected a historical marker on U.S. 40, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville, noting the importance of Miller's Blockhouse to the history of Pennsylvania.[11] The actual site of the blockhouse is 3 miles (4.8 km) north.[11]
Rice's Fort
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| Location | U.S. 40 at Lake Road, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°07′16″N 80°28′28″W / 40.12103°N 80.47432°W |
| PHMC dedicated | 1973[12] |
Rice's Fort was a fortified blockhouse in present-day Washington County, Pennsylvania.[12] During the American Revolution, it was built by Abraham Rice along Buffalo Creek.[12] In September 1782, the occupants successfully held off a siege by Indians.[12] The attack on Rice's Fort was recorded in historian's Samuel Kercheval 1883 history A History of the Valley of Virginia.[13]
In 1973, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission erected a historical marker at U.S. 40 at Lake Road, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville, noting the importance of Rice's Fort to the history of Pennsylvania.[12]
Wolff's Fort
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| Location | U.S. 40, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) southwest of Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°09′02″N 80°19′24″W / 40.15056°N 80.32347°W |
| Built/founded | circa 1780 |
| PHMC dedicated | May 28, 1947[14] |
Wolff's Fort was a stockaded log house built in about 1780 by Jacob Wolfe.[14] The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission describes it as "one of the most important forts in the area."[14]
On May 28, 1947, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission erected a historical marker at U.S. 40, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) southwest of Washington, noting the importance of Wolff's Fort to the history of Pennsylvania.[14]
References
edit- Doddridge, Joseph; Narcissa Doddridge; John S. Ritenour; William Thomas Lindsey (1912). "The Frontier Forts of Washington County". Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania from 1763 to 1783: Inclusive, Together with a Review of the State of Society and Manners of the First Settlers of the Western Country. The New Werner Company. pp. 310–315.
- Albert, George Dallas (1916). Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania: The frontier forts of western Pennsylvania. Vol. 2 (2 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer.
- ^ a b c d e f "Doddridge's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original (Database search) on 2013-12-07.
- ^ "History - Independence Township Pennsylvania". Independence Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ Kercheval, Samuel; Charles James Faulkner; John Jeremiah Jacob (1833). "Chapter X - Expected Attack on Doddridge's Fort". A History of the Valley of Virginia. Winchester, Virginia: Samuel H. Davis. pp. 307–309.
- ^ Richards, Samuel J. (2018). "The East-West Divide and Frontier Efforts of the Reverend Dr. Joseph Doddridge". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 85 (4): 460–487. doi:10.5325/pennhistory.85.4.0460. ISSN 0031-4528. JSTOR 10.5325/pennhistory.85.4.0460. S2CID 149943936.
- ^ Richards, Samuel J. (2019). "Reclaiming Congressman Philip Doddridge from Tidewater Cultural Imperialism". West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies. 13 (2): 1–26. doi:10.1353/wvh.2019.0019. ISSN 1940-5057. S2CID 211648744.
- ^ a b Newhouse, Maggi (March 9, 2003). "Group hopes to build replica of Doddridge's Fort". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- ^ Creigh, Alfred (1870). History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time. p. 55.
- ^ Veech, Hon. James (1858). Monongahela of Old: Historical Sketches of South-Western Pennsylvania to the Year 1800. p. 21.
- ^ Campbell, Christie (October 9, 2011). "As drilling expands, area archaeologists worry that historical sites will be undone". Observer-Reporter.
- ^ Henshaw, Marc (October 18, 2011). "Gas Well Drilling is threatening Revolutionary War Period Fort!".
- ^ a b c d e f "Miller's Blockhouse - PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original (Database search) on 2013-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e "Rice's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original (Database search) on 2013-12-07.
- ^ Kercheval, Samuel; Charles James Faulkner; John Jeremiah Jacob (1833). "Chapter IX - Attack on Rice's Fort". A History of the Valley of Virginia. Winchester, Virginia: Samuel H. Davis. pp. 302–307.
- ^ a b c d "Wolff's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original (Database search) on 2013-12-07.