Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-02-02
OLD FORT NIAGARA IS
STILL USED BY u. S.
Ancient Forfifcdtion Once
Capital of Great Empire

Old Fort Niagara, once capital Of
an enormous empire and long the cas-
tie Of the emperor, In fact II not In
name, is one of the most antique for
tifications now In use, says Col. Fred
erick D. Evans. There has been a
commanding officer at the post con-
tlnuOusIy since 1879, when La Sale
constructed and occupied with his
hardy voyagers Fort Cont CT the
present site Of Niagara. The post is
located on wooded peninsula
stretching into the water between the
Niagara river and Lake Ontario. OF
the 2SS acres which comprise the
reservation fully 115 are covered with
great oaks, a virgin forest on slightly
rolling land The post itself harmon
ICES with the rugged landscape, al
though the buildings and equipment
have been made modern in every way.
The castle or chateau Of the old
fort has a beauty of architecture sur
prislng when the time and circum-
stances Of Its building are considered.
1t was completed In 1925, all of the
material for It's construction having
been brought from the French settle
ments on the St Lawrence. The maya
zine was added in 1857.
A Fashioned stockade Of earth and
tree trunks was built around the cas-
tie in 1871, which inclosed about an
acre of ground. Shortly afterward
the energetic elder Pitt came into
power IN the British parliament and
bent his will to taking all Canada and
the Mississippi valley from France.
The capture of the key fort, Niagara.
was an important part of his plans.
Twice In 1855 and 1855, the English
launched expeditions against the fort
ress at the Falls but neither force ever
reached the fort, although they served
to arouse the French government TO a
| state of alarm. and one of the most
trusted French colonial military lead
ers, Pouchot, was sent to take com.
mand in 1857 Pouchet enlarged the
defensive works eight separate times
| during his residence In the chateau.
The British in their third attempt
TO take the fort met with success. In
| 1850 Sir William Johnson took up
his duties there and during the 16
years which he remained became the
most powerful man in western Amer
ica. Continuing, Colonel Evans says
During the Revolutionary war Fort
Niagara was a thorn, about the size
of n railroad spike, In the thigh of
the colonies. 1t was from the castle
that expeditions which ravaged south
ern New York and Pennsylvania were
directed. The Wyoming Cherry val.
ley and Schoharie massacres were all
projected there, and Fort Niagara
! became a prize scalp market. White
scalps reached a market value at one
time of about SO, but the payment was
usually made In goods In various sorts
Even after the signing of peace at the
close Of the Revolutionary war, IN
1888, Great Britain retained Fort Mag
! ara, relinquishing II In 1895, when II
was occupied for the first time BY
United States troops.
'The first American flag to fly from
the castle after II had been taken over
was carried there through the then
wilderness by the Empire Loyallsts
club. The fort was again under the
cross of Saint George during the War
of 1912, when a party of British and
Indians captured II. The terms OF
peace made the next year required that
1t he evacuated.
1.-THE present bakery al the post, as
well as the old barracks, bastions and
block houses were constructed in
177o1771, surrounding the castle.
The Castle OF Fort Niagara ranks in
American historical Importance with
Faneull Hall, Independence Hall and
the Citadel at Montreal, although II Is
Older than any OF the former. No
building in the United States with
such a background is so little known
or so much neglected.
Construction os the present post
was begun ID 1871. II consists OF
brick barracks for eight organizations
with suitable officers quarters and
quarters for "a married enlisted men.
During the World war one Of the
training camps for officers was locat-
ed on the post."-U. s. Army Recruit
Ing News.