The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-12
STATE PARK =.
IS PLAN n ED
AT JAMESTOWN
Monument to BE Erected ut
Site of Old Fort Seward
Land Is Donated

JalneStO"n, N. ~, Dcc. lG.-N0)--
This city will have state park and
a monument to commemorate one of
the most historic spots in the state
if the plans of local committee are
carried to fruitiOn. The park will
consist of three and one half acres
of land, recently donated to the com
mittee by the Northern Pacific rail
road, lying northwest Of this city on
the Sunshine Trail The monument
will mark the site of Old Fort Sew
| ard, once an outpost of the whites
against the warlike Sioux who at
tempted to impede the building of
the railroad.
Commenting on the history of the
fort and the Importance of making
the site state landmark. Dana
Wright of this city, authority on
North Dakota history, said: when
the Northern Pacific was being
pushed across the plains in the early
seventies, the Sioux nation had not
yet become reconcilcd to the coming
of the whites into their hunting
grounds. They had been severely
punished by Sully and Sibley in the
| campaigns of 1SG3-i4 and knew the
| consequences Of resisting the west
ward sweep Of the whites, but this
did not prevent them from making
| their disapproval' known in various
| Embarrassing ways.
Built Military Posts
| "TO OveraWc and restrain the
] Sioux and prevent their interference
with the railroad builders, the gov
| eminent built several military posts
| in the former haunts Of the plains
; Indians and stationed soldiers where
they would be available in case of
emergency.
! "One Of these posts was known as
; Fort William H. Seward in honor of
: Lincoln's secretary of state. 1t was
! established in 1872 shortly after F..
dOned. Some of the buildings and
much of the equipment of the latter
was hauled overland by Don Steven
| son, one of the contractors Of that
| day, whose bull trains have worked
| between nearly every military post
| and frontier town in the state.
"FOrt Seward was established on Il
bluff overlooking the timbered valley
| where the James and PipestOne meet.
\ Here, where the Indians had gathered
! in ages gone by to get ashwOod for
their bows and which was for them
a common meeting point, the whites
| established a city which was TO grow
and overshadow the old city Of Itaza
Paha Skaksa, or place for cutting
bows
! Location Protected
| "The little fort was perched on the
hill and was protected on the east
and south by the bluff which dropped
down to the river. On the. west a
ravine made approach difficult. Com
Portable buildings were erected and
for several years soldiers were sta
toned there. The military post was
the center of the social activities of
the time as we'll as the haven for
travellers who passed when trains
were not available during the deep
SHOWS of the early winters.
with the passing of the rail head
to points in Western North Dakota
and Montana the need for the SOL
diers vanished. jamestown was es-
tablished and civil officers took over
the local government. Indians were
placed upon reservations, land was
opened to settlement and the frontier
days were gone. The fort was ADAM
doned and one by one the frame
| OullOlnSS were SOIu or SIOIeH ana
only few cellar holes remain to
mark the spot where the old fort
stood. As the old settlers removed
and went west and newcomers took
their places. the old site was nearly
forgotten. The railroad yards were
widened and the steam shovels dug
into the hills to the very edge of the
old fort.
N. =. Gives Ground
"But the matter was taken up with
the railroad officials and at the re-
quest of the state historical society
the Northern Pacific decided to the
state the ground on which the Fort
stood so that it may be preserved for
all time as a spot of deep historical
significance"
Members of the committee in
charge Of promoting the state park
are w. A. Helm, Northern Pacific
agent; Mrs. o. Chenery, Mrs. Jo-
| sephine Nichols, and Archie Nc
Kechnie, all of jamestown and the
last three early residents.