The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-08-17
History of"Oid Fort. :

granite monument in front Of "Old
Fort" Hotel, with this inscription /:
"Erected June 8, 1898, by the Eel
lefonte Charter of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution to mark
the location of the old Indian Fort,
known IN 1777 as Potter's Fort
which stood $50 !eet north Of this
mark"
The "Old Fort" as is the familiar
name, was built by Colonel James
Potter in 1777 as a defense to the
hostile Indians who frequently made
desperate raids through Penn's Val
ley in these earlier days when only
u few settlers lived in this beautiful
valley-then a wilderness. 1t was
likely the beautiful spring of water
that helped Colonel Potter to select
this place to build his little log cabin
in 1871. Later this place was oc-
cupied as tavern by Stephen
Smith. In June 1925 j. and j.
Potter built a stone tavern and ever
since known as "Old Fort Hotel"
Many years later while erecting
house ut this place, many old relics
were found. This gave proof of the
definite location of the fort. The
name. however, had at one time been
changed to McCoy's tavern; but
later took the old name again.
In July 1858 it was occupied by
Captain Fiuley's company of Colonel
Brodheads command for a few weeks.
Tradition relates a fight between two
Indians and two white men in which
they grappled and cut each other in
pieces. All four died.
The graves ofthe two Indians are
still marked alongthe Lewistown &
Bellefonte road, not far from "Old
Fort" The only service done by
Captain Finley with twenty-five
privates, was his march through the
Penn's Valley to protect the reapers
from the invading bands Of Indians.
After the treaty of 1853 James
Potter, afterwards a brigadiergeneral
under Washington, came up the West
Branch and Bald Eagle Creek to
seek valuable land. He crossed the
Nittany mountain at Logan's Gap.
Here, from the top of the mountain,
he saw for the first time that beauti-
full valley which was to be his per-
manent home. Any one who has
crossed here on the Lewistown &
Bellefonte road, will ever remember
the impression made of that luxuri-
ant valley spread out like a map,
with copses ofwoodland
and fertile farms with cheerful white
cottages. After recounoitcring the
valley he descended the Penn's Creek
in canoe to see, as he probably !
thought, a more beautiful location
for a settlement; but soon returned,
made settlement, and erected a
stockade fort. Traces of the fort are
still seen near McCoy's tavern.
Many of the rich farmers, of Pot
ter's Bank and for miles farther south,
belong to the Potter family.
AT the opening Of the Revolution
a band of rowing Indians drove Cen
eral Potter, with others, from their
settlement. He then entered the
service under Washington in the
Of Valley Forge, Brandy
wine, Germantown, and New Jersey.
Many of Washiugton's orders and
letters are preserved among General
Potters papers. After the war a
treaty with the Indians for the pur-
chase OF the land south and north
west of West Branch. General Pot
ter was employed as agent and sur
veyor and superintended the land Of
the settlements On the Sinnemahon-
ing and West Branch above the
Allegheny mountains.
Many of the white settlers were
killed by the frequent Indian raids
made through the valley. The fort
was built of logs and some parts Of
the foundation are still to be seen. |
The farm on which the fort stood is
owned by John P. Taylor Of Mifflin
The beautiful spring is still
there. SKETCHES BY THE WAY.
Teachers Examination.