Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-08-16
"HlsTORY OF THE OLD
FORT"

anyone WHO LAS peeh ~" >'-
Hall, Cebtre county, will see large
granite monument in front of "O!d
Fort" Hotel with this inscription:
"E,ected June 9, 1898 oy the Belle
fonte Chapter of tie Daughters OF
tho Revolution to mark the location
of the old Indian Fort, known in
l777 as Potter's Fort, which stood
$50 feet north of this mark"
The ''Oid Fort" as is the familiar
name, was built by Colonel James
Potter in 1777 as defense to the
hostile Indians, who frequently made
dezpe,a ate raids through Penn's Val
ley IN these earlier days when only a
few settlers lived in this beautiful
valley, then a wilderness. IL was
likely the beautiful spring of water
that helped Colonel Potter to select
this place to build his little log cabin
in 1878. Later this place was occu-
pied as tavern by Stephen Smith
In 1925 J. and l. Potter built stone
tavern ever since known as "O,d
Fort" Hotel Many years later while
erecting house at this place maDy
old relics were found. This gave
proof of the defiuite location o. the
fort. The name, however, had ut one
time been changed to McCoy's tav-
err, but later took its old name
again.
In July 176S it was occupied by
Captain Finley's company Of C1lonel
Brodhead's command for few
weeks. Tradition relates of two
soldiers and two Indians who fought
here until they had almost cut each
other in pieces. All four died. The
graves of the two Indians are still
marked along the Lewistown and
Be!lefonte road not far from '.Old
Fort" The only service done hy
Colonel Brodhead WAS the command
to Captain Finley with twenty five
privates 70 60 into Penn's Valley to
protect the reapers from the invad-
ing bands Of Indians.
ASer the treaty of 176S JAMES
Potter afterwards brigadier general
under Washington, came up the West
Branch and Bald Eagle Creek to
seek valuable land. He crossed the
Nitiany mountains at Logan'a Gap.
Here from the top of the mountain
he saw for the first time that beauti-
full valley which was to be his psr-
maneDt home. Anyone who has
crossed here on the Lewstown and
Bellefonte road will ever remember
the impression made of that luxur-
liant valley spread ous like a map,
checkered with copsss of woodland
ard fertile farms with cheerful white
cottages. After accommodating the
valley he descended PENIS creek In
canoe to see as he probably thought
more beautiful location for sst'
Element, but son returned, made a
settlement ond erected u s:ockadf
fort. Traces of The fort are still seer
where McCoy's tavtru stood.
| Many of the rich farmers belong tc
Potter's family tie principal res;
dents of Potter's bank aud for mules
further south.
At tbe opening of the revolution 6
band of hostile rowing Indians drove
General Potter with others from the
settlement. BE then entered the
service of Washington in the cam.
paign at Valley Forge, Brandywine,
Germantown and New Jersey. Many
of WashiDgton's orders and letters
were preserved among General Pot
ter's papers.
After the war treaty was made
with the Indians for the purchase Of
the land south and northwest of West
Branch. General Potter was employ
ed as agent and surveyor and super
intended the lands of settlements on
the Sinnemahoning and West Branch
above the Allegheny mountains.
Indian raids were frequently made
and many white settlers were killed
Some came eighteen miles to find
shelter in the fort. This fort was
built of logs and some parts of the
foundation are still to be seen. The
farm on which the fort stood is own.
ed by John P. Taylor of .Mifflin coun
ty. The beautiful spring where
General Potter may have often re
freshed himself is still there and
uch of the water is used by tho
town people.
SKETCHES By THE WAY.
Es2YsEe2GYS