Hide Article Text (OCR)
Restored And Ready:Fort Roberdeau Comes A live July 5—By PEG HURD —Staff WrilerFort Roberdeau is going to make it!The restored fort, located in Sinking Valley and now officially designated as a National Historic Site, will be completed in time for its scheduled dedication on July 5.We recently had a sneak preview of the historic attraction in the form of a tour guided by Blair County Commissioner Colson Jones, who has been active in the restoration project and instrumental in the organizing of a Fort Roberdeau Restoration Committee in 1973.The realization of the dream has taken a long time.BEGUN IN 1938 As long ago as 1938, architects from Penn State surveyed the area and made archeological studies to determine the exact spot where the old fort stood.The land was cleared and the foundation built in 1939 by the National Youth Administation; but the project ended with the advent of World War II.For the next thirty years the trees again took over the land, so much so that they covered the concrete footers that had been built to support logs to be laid horizontally in the building of the fort.In 1973, after the formation of the restoration committee, the ground was cleared again.“At that point”, said Jones, “we decided that, with the Bicentennial coming up, this was the ideal time to complete the restoration. We thought, lIf we don’t do it now, it never will be done’.“Except for a small part of the stockade, the fort will be ready in time for the observance of America’s 200th birthday.”IMPRESSIVEThis visitor was impressed by the size and scope of the project and its potential as a future tourist attraction.The restored fort covers almost two acres of ground off the Kettle Road in Sinking Valley, adjacent to what used to be the Kiwanis Youth Farm.Among the buildings now almost completed are the officers’ quarters, storehouses, soldiers’ quarters, blacksmith shop and kitchen, plus the iron smelter and the stockade itself. The stockade is complete with firing platforms (from which Blair County children are destined to enjoy “shooting Indians” for many years to come.)Built with logs imported from Cambria County, Fort Roberdeau is one of two forts in the country built with the stockade logs in a horizontal rather than a vertical position. This was done because of the limestone base which made it impossible for colonial workmen to dig deep into the earth to drive in the verticle logs.The largest building inside the stockade is the officer’s quarters, where seven to ten men lived in relative comfort. The building contains an impressive fireplace built of native stone and a pull-down staircase leading to the sleeping area upstairs.The enlisted men’s quarters are smaller but similarly constructed. About 50 militiamen were quartered in these buildings.An underground powder magazine has been constructed nearby, complete with a stairway and the shelves where the gunpowder was stored.The first thing we noticed in the kitchen was what must have been the “original wall oven”, brick lined and built into the wall next to a gigantic fireplace used for cooking. In time for the July 5th dedication, furniture authentic to the period will be installed in the building. Everything in the fort is functional, including the oven, which will be used for baking bread over the July 4th weekend.BLACKSMITH SHOP The blacksmith’s shop will also be in operation in time for the dedication; and the blacksmith at work will be Ernest Grove, of Williamsburg, who was one of the first men to work on the restoration project. According to Colson Jones, “Ernie Grove was a real find for us. He came to work because he was familiar with woodworking, but he turned out to be very talented at pegging doors and working with metals. He made much of the hardware used in the buildings. ’'The blacksmith shop is equipped with anvils and an old-time bellows over six feet long.The most important part of the fort, and the reason for its existence, was the smelter.FOR LEAD MINERS Fort Roberdeau was originally built in 1778 by Gen. Daniel Roberdeau as a protection to workmen mining lead and as a refuge for the settlers throughout the entire area who were harrassed by the Indians, who were inspired by the British and Tories to kill and capture them.(Cont’don Page 2)V • ' • vv•• • •.: \ • v •• '..:n'ix, ■* . , •.FORT ROBERDEAU RECONSTRUCTION — Two views of Fort Roberdeau buildings taken during the reconstruction which is now near completion. One photo shows the officers’ quarters and a part of the stockade. The other is a fireplace in the enlisted men’s quarters during construction. The finished Fort Roberdeau, with living quarters, kitchen, blacksmith’s shop, storehouse, powder magazine, well, smelter, ore bins and stockade will be dedicated July 5.
Newspaper Details
Tyrone Daily Herald
Tyrone, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Jun 26, 1976
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Pennsylvania S.
PA, USA 12 Mar 2018
Other Publications Near Tyrone, Pennsylvania
Tyrone Star
Daily Herald
Tyrone Herald
Tyrone Daily Herald
