The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-09-24
fort ONTARIO
Is LANDMARK
Stronghold Dates Back to
Colonial Days-Once
q British Fort.

New York.-Because Of it's historic
association and picturesque appear
-ance, Fort Ontario Is one Of the show
places Of northern New York visited
by tourists from all parts Of the
United States and Canada.
One Of the oldest and most noted
landmarks on the North American
continent, the old fort stands on the
same site and Is constructed on the
same plan as the maps of the French
and British show 1t 200 years ago.
Construction Of the fort began by
British and colonial troops in 1855.
Its site, an elevated position looking
out on Lake Ontario and command.
ing the mouth Of the Oswego river
from its east bank, was selected by
Gov. William Shirley Of Massachusetts
and Sir William Pepperell.
Is Star Shaped.
The stronghold was completed in the
spring Of 1756.
It was then built Of logs, with outer
walls fourteen feet in height and with
a circumference Of 800 feet. The plan
was pentagon, on each angle Of which
was constructed bastion. giving the
general outline of five-pointed star.
In 1859 the fort was rendezvous
for 1000 British under Gen. John
Prideaux and 1000 Indians under Sir
William Johnson.
The fort was destroyed by American
troops in 177S, under orders from
Colonel Gansevoort, who wished there
by to prevent its reoccupation by the
British.
The British after the treaty Of peace
In 1888 continued to hold the northern
forts, demanding certain indemnities
from Virginia loyalists who sustained
property losses during the Revolution.
Jays treaty settled the dispute and
in 1796 the British began evacuating.
Fort Ontario was the last post to
surrender.
In July, 1912, the post was occupied
by nine companies Of militia, and some
attempt was made to repair it by
Colonel George Fleming. 1t was fired
on In June, 1913, by several armed
British vessels, but the fort batteries
and the American ship GROWER re-
turned the fire and the hostile fleet re-
tired.
Fort Ontario was not occupied by
regular troops until November, 1888.
The lands comprising the military
reservation were conveyed to the
United States by the state Of New
York on April 25, 1885, Between 1899
and 1916 the fort and barracks were
rebuilt at cost Of $4,000. -,
The new post, which lies to the
east Of old Fort Ontario, is modern in
every respect: All buildings are Of
red brick and were built between, 1903
and 1905 at a cost Of $4,000. The
fort was used as q general hospital
during the world war and about 20
temporary buildings were erected there
in 1918.
Resembles Ancient Castle.
The entire. military reservation has
an area of 75.9 acres. The old fort,
which stands at it's most elevated
point. Is about $500 feet in circum-
ference, and its outer walls, Of sand
stone, are. with concrete reinforce
ments, about 5 feet thick and from
8 to Is feet In height. Behind
these walls is an earth work about
20 feet In height and Is feet in thick
ness
Fire stone vaulted easement int
riors penetrate the earthwork, COM
manding, through slotted, iron-doored
ioopholes, all strategic approaches to
the fertilization.
These easements are reached by
way Of stone stairways descending
from the top of the earthern parapet
An outer earthwork once extended
about the greater portion Of the forts
circumference, permitting the forma
ton Of a moat about 20 feet In width
but this was leveled when construction
Of the modern post began In 1903.
Fort Ontario Is Immediately ada
cent TO the civ Of OsWe1o