The Evening Standard from Uniontown, Pennsylvania • Page 6

PAGE 6-UNIONTOWN, TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1969 THE MORNING HERALD THE EVENING STANDARD 26 Old-Time Forts In Fayette And Greene Counties By BOB BRODER1CK There were Fort Necessity, Fort Ligonier, Fort Pitt, Redstone Old Fort, and Fort Duquesne. 26 other forls, one of which could be situated under your own home. One of these 26 forts, all located in Fayetle and Greene Counties, may have been uncovered. Known as Fort Sparks in Revolutionary days, this stockade is situated in Perry Twp. It is located on the southern fringe ot the Youghiogheny River.

a A McClanahan, an owner of property in Perry was out looking for antiques. As he tramped down the high weeds and jagged briers, his eyes were fixed in observation. On the edge of a valley along Laylon Mr. McClanahan spotted something peculiar. It was an inset bounded by a continued on bis way, up a steep climb which overlooks the Youghiogheny River, and at Ihe summit of the hill he stumbled onto a well.

There were entrenchments which didn't appear to have been created by naiure. They were deep diiches similar to those the early pioneers used to enclose a fortification. In the center of each groove was a high mound. Mr. McClanahan, knowing these early forts positioned on high vantage points, theorizes old Fort Sparks may have been located there.

He has optioned this area to Ihe Perryopolis Area Historical Knciely for its Washington Grist Mill restoration. According to Walkinshaw in in the ground stone wall. He his "Annals of Southwestern Pennsylvania," Fort Sparks was a Revolutionary War period foi lificalion. It was famous as a voting place in early elections, the other precinct being at Hannaslown. There is mile history that the fort was ever atlacked.

But its history as an election center is documented. Election officers chosen to act at Fort Sparks were George Wilson, John Kite, and Robert McConnel, all prominent in the life of the frontier. The fort was located on a tract of land originally owned by George Washington. Some 185 acres of that land was sold to Isaac Sparks after Washington died in 1799. Whether the fort was named afler its owner is not known, hut historians say these "settlement forls" were named afler the persons on whose property they were buill.

These settlement forls were constructed mostly in 1V74, when the frequency of Indian attacks was on Ihe increase. With the discovery of a well near Ihe area in question, more credence may he given that this site may have been the location of Fort Sparks. Historians have also said these, forls were built near springs. Wells wore constructed over Ihe springs with Ihe fort nearby to supply water in the event (he pioneers would have to slay inside for a long period of time. 'Hie history of Fort Sparks continues.

Isaac Sparks sold his tract of land lo Samuel Burns in into upon an open and commanding hill sufficiently remote to prevent surprise. But Fort Sparks wasn't the only settlement fort. There were 25 others, just a few of which have been discovered. There was Fort Ashcraft in Georges Twp. It was built by Ichabod Ashcraft near a spring on land which was patented "Buffalo Pasture." It stock on land later owned by Phineas Sturgis and Jesse Evans, south of Smilhfield.

Fort Beeson had its beginnings in a mill built by Henry Beeson on Redstone Creek. It served lo allay the fear of many pioneers who traveled long distances with fheir grain to be ground at his mill. It was buill around 1774. William Goe, an active pioneer in the days of the Yoho- gania County court, constructed an old fort called Fort Cassell just above (he mouth of Little Redstone Creek -in -Jefferson Twp. It appears on an old map, showing also another at the mouth of Speer's Run in Belle Vernon.

Fort Cline, in Greene County, was erected at Garard's Fort afler the time nf the Spicer massacre in 1771 It was constructed by Jacob Cline on Muddy Creek. On Dunlap's Creek near Mer- riltstown, there was Fort Con well. It was erected by Capt. OLD I'OKTIFICATION? Art McClanahan points nut what he feels may be the remains of Old I'ort Sparks in Perry (he first voting place in Fayefte County. Mr.

McClanahan has op- William and Jehu Conwell who tioned 68 acres In that area along Layton Rd. to the Perryopolis Area Historical Society to be used in ils Washington' Grist Mill restoration. -Herald-standard phnto Mr. Burns called it Liberty Hill He devised the properly to his son, Thomas E. Burns.

It came Ihe possession of James Martin in Fuller and John F. 1831. In Veech's "Monongahela Old," an account is given on these early settlement forls. They were temporary structures with tog parapets -or stockades enclosing a cabin. They were sometimes used for governmental purposes, and they were always located Youth, 15 5 To Skip High School TULSA, Okla (AP) When Robert Mackay was 9 he announced he wanted to be a nuclear physicist.

He was interested in taking things apart and in- Irigued how they worked. Eleclricity especially fascinated Robert and several limes lie paid for his curiosity wilh backward somersaults across Ills living room from the shock. Now, 15 ami a student at Skchy Junior High, Robert is set lo somersault even farther He will skip the three years between junior high and college. The curly headed young man with sideburns starts toward that long-envisioned degree this fall at Kansas. Oltawa University in Until then, he will --AP Wlrcriliotn STUDIES nohert McKay pullers around in Ills home waiting for jump In college.

Legal Problems Q. If a workman In a machine shop devises a time and money saving piece nf equipment that is pill into use by the firm, is he enlillcd to share of the benefits resulting from the use of that A. When an employee on his employer's time and using his employer's equipment a materials, devises an invention, (Iierc arises a "shop right," which is an implied, non-exclusive license of Ihe employer lo use in his business the invention wilhoul paying for such use. spend a summer yanking weeds while perusing college-level trigonometry, calculus and chemistry al. home.

He'd pretei work in a laboratory, but sucl at 15 are hard to find. Robert read his first science fiction the summer between the first and second grades and now has a bulging science library. It was in the third grade thai be began such projects as an cx- perimenlal propulsion system conducted through a shock tube When his grade school education failed him in pin-suit ol Ihese projecls, he read anc read, physics and chemistry and recorded formulas on lape A man who strongly influenced Robert in his decision lo bypass high school in pursuit of learning is Theodore II Schupbach, bead of Ihe science department al Skelly. "Robert's way above me in science and ninth," Schpnbach says--a startling thing for any teacher lo admit. The scope of ihis "shop fni a wastc of has lo he ilclonnincd from Ihe nature of Ihe employer's business, Ihe character of Ihe invention, 1 circumstances under which il was created ami Ihe relation, conduct and intention of Ihc parlips.

A "simp right" duos mil in- elude Ihe righl lo the pjilcnl if lllrol l)f hydrogen fusion, one sliould he issued. This belongs lo and is retained hy (lip employee unless and nnlil lie conirarls il away. In other words, generally Ihe! Ol'K IS employer has Ihe right to use. Ihe device in his business wilb- oul paying addillonal compensation lo Ihe employee. The.

employer-lias Ihe right lo a patent, if any, and Ihe righl lo any bonefils from Iho invonlion oilier lhan payment from i employer. i "It will certainly be an improvement," Robert says when thinking of his coming days on Hie Ottawa campus. "Especially in communication." There he'll have someone else with whom lo contemplate the 1 Chalk Hill Perry Club Meeting Set Perryopolis 4-H Saddle Club will meet, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Members are asked lo bring their horses.

In the event of rain, Ihe. meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Curfew Grange Hall. All insurance money should be paid at this meeting. New members enrolled i Wayne Mills, Diane Stewart, and Vivian Lcnnard.

A 4-H Camp will be held near Mnrganlown, W. Va. The camp has facilities for all camping programs. Any 4-11 member wishing lo attend the camp may contact James t)ell, assistant county farm agent, at the Extension Office in (he Faycttc County Courthouse. Brownsville Township Meeting Is Postponed Brownsville Twp.

supervisors have postponed the regular June meeting until Monday, June. 9. Neiv Reservoir Topic Of SmithfieUPs Meet Smiihfield Borough Council entered a discussion for the possible construction of a new reservoir for the borough's water system at Ihe regular monthly meeting last night. There were no definite conclusions drawn in the discussion, but a sopkesman said the new South Union, Road Program South Union Twp. supervisors announced that the summer road program will begin Wednesday.

The first project will he repair work on Wiggins Rd. near Con- linental Nn. 2, a spokesman said. Of ttie planets of the solar system, Ihree have no known moons Mercury, Pluto and Venus. of i PrnnsyK'tinjA Bar In rciOiMT.iMoTi with tlio Faytie County fiar Af.su.

nnswrr-i re given (or Info nun I ton purposes nly nol mlcnrfad flnrl hould not lie considered jis suh- MI tile for I i arJvirr. Ancmytnoin niiertpsi a be answered, nrrss Inquiries lo Problems lo The Evening Stniulard H-10 R. Church Street, ITnlniUown, PR. ttt don'l know lawyer onrl desire Jceal counsel, con a Ihe Lawyer fteferrnl Service on Ihe second Iloor ol Ihe. court In Union or There were industrial mergers in this cminln lasl year, a figure ,17 prr ronl higher than in The Federal Trade Commission termed il "Ihe sharprsl increase in modern industrial history." Wharlon Twp.

supervisors said last night the hoard is preparing lo resurface a section of a lownship road near Chalk I Ml as pan of (he summer road Work will begin in (he near fill HIT nn Hie Iwo-niile srolion of roadway i oil and rrsurfac- iiiR also planned for a number ollu't 1 roadways, A spokesman said oilier routine business was also on the agenda of the iTRUlar June Hireling of Ihe hoard. I Salon I (to I'ilrrlioii i i i Fayelle County Salon 105 of will mod 'Thursday al p.m. al Ihe American Legion Home N'nminnliim ami olecliou of officers will be held, Chapenu Imogrne Smith will comlucl the mil relic. WHEN YOU USE Amarlca's standard of quality forlOO years SHERWIN-WILLIAMS OIL BASE A I Finest oIl-baiA houia paint you cnn buy. Touch, Hurabla ffniiK for extra yen" of beauty ard proleclinn.

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MAIN I FRI. Til. 3 1VS1. facility would he buill in Ihe same general area as Ihe present reservoir in Barton Hollow if approved. The borough owns all of Ihe land in lhal area, and acquisition of new grounds for the site would not be necessary, the spokesman added.

In addition the borough is still in need of a maintenance man to fill the post vacated by Warren Collins. Council also went over regular routine business matters at the regular session. has settled on the creek in present Luzerne Twp. There is no record of an Indian attack there, but it served lo protect pioneers smau and their families. John Craft built Craft's Fort on his land about, a mile and a half north of Mcrrittstown in the summer of 1774, It was sometimes called Patterson's Fort.

It was built to provide protection for women and children, while Ihe men cleared the land and tilled Ihe soil. Fort Crawford was located in present Perryopolis. It was constructed by Valentine Crawford, Washington's land agent. In a letter lo Washington in 1774, Crawford said, "I have, with the assistance of some of your carpenters and servants, built a strong blockhouse. my hotise.

We live in hopes we can stand our ground until we can gel. some assistance from below." Crawford also said Gilbert Simpson, manager at Washington Grist Mill, was building a fort at that site. Fort Gaddis along Morgantown three miles south of TO PURCHASE SAVINGS CERTIFICATES AT FAYETTE A Saving is no! enough where you save makes the difference between cents and dollars, fnvest- ing in savings Fayelte Bank insures you full benefits of a savings program, Not only will your savings earn more, but you will be investing with a full service bank lhal can handlo all your banking needs. Come into Fayelte Bank soon to discuss an individual savings program we promise it to ba very worthwhile, Al a savings are i by Ifia Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to a a i of $15,000 lor depositor. Fayette Bank andTrust Compnny 1 'rr lv 1 v.

rtOUAl. MTOVT IMIUUNU CMTOUlOa Unionlown, was buill by Col. Thomas Gaddis in 1763. It Has been dedicated as a shrine by the Fort Gaddis Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Fairchance. It is on the property of the late Basil Brownfiold.

Daniel Bonne once camped there with a parly of passing sellleis. Fort Graybill, south of Brownsville in Luzerne was built of hewn while oak logs, wilh loop holes for rifles, II was on land patented by Joseph Graybill in 1788. The exact dale of ils conslruction cannot be given, hut it is most likely posl- Revolutionary. Fort Harrison was in Greene County on Crooked Run, and not far from Fort Martin near Rosedale. It was built by Richard Harrison.

Fort Hughes was a one and a half slory blockhouse, located near Carmicliacls. II was creeled by Thomas and James Hughes in 1773. It was Ihe fort lo which the Heller, Hughes, and Swan families would flee in time of danger. In 1774 a seltlcmenl fort wns conslrucled near Waynesburg. Known as Fort Jackson, ii is best located as being on Hie lands formerly owned by Thomns Dougal, smith of Ten Mile Creek near Hooklown.

It was later called Easl Waynesburg and is now Ihe third ward of Hie county sea! town. Fort Lucas was erected in 1774 on the Richard Brown farm near Old Frame in Nicholson Twp There is only tradition of an Indian fight there. While Fort Gaddis was Ihe stronghold for the pioneers to the south of Unionlown, another fortification was erected on Ihe land of James McCoy in 1771 Called Fort McCoy, it was located in South Union Twp. on land laler owned by Eli Bailey and William C. Dixon.

Markle's Mill near West Newton has been known historically for ils paper manufacture, but earlier lhan Ihis it was a stronghold in Revolutionary days. Gaspard Markle built his mill in 1772. His strongly built slructure was turned inlo a fortification as necessity required. At the site of present Masontown was Ihe localion of Fort Mason. It was built sometime between 1774 and 1778 by John Mason.

It stood at the east side of the town, and was later lorn down and erected within Ihe new (own in 1823. Between the Youghiogheny River and Jacobs Creek was located Forl Minter. was built by John Minter between 1769 and 1780. Fort Pearse has designated as being about four mites northeast of Uniontown on the old Catawba Trail. Little is known about the fort.

Fort Riffle was located in Nicholson Twp. on George's Creek. At limes court was held at Fort Riffle, and as late as Ihe second eleclion of President James Monroe was used as a voting place for cilizens of present Georges, German and Springhill Twps. Forl Swearingen was built in 1774 by John Swearingen in Springhill Twp. It was localed about a mile from Morris' Crossroads, and built of split puncheon boards, banked with ground.

Duke Swearingen was captured by away, and never returned. Capt. VanSwearingen was laler Ihe first sheriff of Washington County, and was the son of John Swearingen. All Ihese forls were buift with some funds from the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, but there was always a scarcity of money and the settlers wrole many letters pleading for help. The bulk of them were built by the settlers.

These small settlement forts were the only salvation many early settlers in this area could rely upon in Indian attacks. Sheer necessity drove them to (lie blockhouses, when forts and stockades were too far away. They were built almost 2DO years ago, and today Ihey are slowly being uncovered. For many of (hem approximate lc- calions are known, Time and Ihe curiosity of area residents may turn up a whole county of these early fortifications. they may be stumbled upon.

Airmail Olheler la Tech School Grad Airman Walter M. Olheter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Olbeler of Uniontown R.D.

1, has graduated from a U.S. Air Force technical school at Lowry AFB, Colo. He was trained as a supply inventory specialist and assigned lo a unit of Ihe Tactical Air Command at Hotlomon AFB, N. M. The airman is a graduate of Laurel Highlands High School.

This is (he man idea for EchoSprieg to Hes not with us anymore. We bad (liis brainy accountant workmp for us. He told us that if we look a errat oyrarrlrlRourhnnthat should set! toyou for Sfi.OO and prirrd in sell al around quart, we'd end up wii one of the best-sellinp finnrhons in America. Well, lie was riphl. Incept for one little thinp.

Kdin Spring Pmirbon Iuriwd out to he such an exceptional Rmirhnn I hat people wnuld've been onlv too happy to pay six bucks for it. At the prior it's jelling for now, you ran'i afford not to tiy it. Echo Spring Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.