List of forts in Washington County, Pennsylvania
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
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| Location | Pa. 844 west of Pa. 231 at Sugar Run Road, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of West Middletown, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°14′55″N 80°28′20″W / 40.24851°N 80.47213°W |
| Built/founded | circa 1773 |
| PA marker dedicated | May 28, 1947[1] |
Doddridge's Fort was a series of stockaded log cabins in Washington County, Pennsylvania.[1] It was built roughly in the year 1773 by John Doddridge as a refuge for settlers in area, which was then the American frontier.[1] Dr. Joseph Doddridge was born and raised there.[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]
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 Frrt to the history of Pennsylvania.[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.[4] The facility was to have been known as The Washington County Frontier Experience Center.[4]
Miller's Blockhouse
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| Location | U.S. 40, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville |
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| Coordinates | 40°06′34″N 80°29′42″W / 40.10934°N 80.49506°W |
| Built/founded | circa 1780 |
| PA marker dedicated | May 28, 1947[5] |
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.[5] The fort served to protect settlers in the Dutch Fork area from Indian attacks.[5] On March 31, 1782, the fort was attacked, and Ann Hupp led a heroic defense.[5]
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.[5] The actual site of the blockhouse is 3 miles (4.8 km) north.[5]
Rice's Fort
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| Location | U.S. 40 at Lake Road, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Claysville |
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| Coordinates | 40°07′16″N 80°28′28″W / 40.12103°N 80.47432°W |
| PA marker dedicated | 1973[6] |
Rice's Fort was a fortified blockhouse in present-day Washington County, Pennsylvania.[6] During the American Revolution, it was built by Abraham Rice along Buffalo Creek.[6] In September 1782, the occupants successfully held off a siege Indians.[6] The attack on Rice's Fort was recorded in historian's Samuel Kercheval 1883 history A History of the Valley of Virginia.[7]
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.[6]
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 |
| PA marker dedicated | May 28, 1947[8] |
Wolff's Fort was a stockaded log house built in about 1780 by Jacob Wolfe.[8] The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission describes it as "one of the most important forts in the area."[8]
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.[8]
References
- 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. 2 (2 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Doddridge's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers" (Database search). Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 Newhouse, Maggi (March 9, 2003). "Group hopes to build replica of Doddridge's Fort". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Miller's Blockhouse - PHMC Historical Markers" (Database search). Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Rice's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers" (Database search). Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 3 4 "Wolff's Fort - PHMC Historical Markers" (Database search). Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.