Fort Frederick

This is the 192nd in a series of articles about the historical and architectural treasures of Washington County. The French and Indian War, the New World extension of a great European conflict between England and France, arrived in Maryland on July 9, 1755. Gen. Edward Braddock, commander in chief of British Colonial forces, fought with French forces near Fort Duquesne, which was located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. The British defeat and death of Braddock opened the area to savage attacks upon the farmers who had moved to the frontiers of Maryland.

In films, books and essays, it is claimed that Hessian prisoners of war were incarcerated at Fort Frederick during the American Revolution. Writers about this issue have no reluctance about making direct statements in the affirmative. Nonetheless, after several years devoted to the verification of this "fact," I have not found any reliable evidence for agreement. One important technical fact well known to all writers of history is that you have a footnote to show the authority of your sources.

BIG POOL - Rich, green pine trees dot the sides of the road that lead to a fort with four 120-foot-long walls. Each of those huge limestone walls forms an arrow point at the end. Two renovated buildings make up the east and west barracks in the fort; the east one is the museum. Gov. Horatio Sharpe ordered the fort built in 1754 to protect the western front in the French and Indian War. In 1763, American Indian Chief Pontiac staged a rebellion, and the fort provided shelter for civilians and other militia.

It was a harrowing time to live in Western Maryland. As the French and Indian War raged, hapless settlers found themselves in the midst of raids so fearsome that a fort was needed - one with stone walls 4 feet thick and 20 feet high in places - in which they could take refuge from the terrifying attacks.  Today this fort - now part of Fort Frederick State Park - is host to many activities designed to get folks acquainted with the history of...

Music played, stories told, historical items sold: A lot happens at the 18th Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick, but one man knows about it more than anyone. Chris Holmgren of Dickerson, Md., is a longtime volunteer and artisan featured at the fair. He does more than his share to keep the past alive. The Friends of Fort Frederick took over the Market Fair after its initial 11-year run, and Holmgren has been there since the host change.  “We didn't want to see it end,” he said.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service will host a special living history program featuring "Joshua Beall's Company of the Maryland Forces," this comng weekend. The "Garrison" Weekend will feature volunteers who will demonstrate the life of soldiers at Fort Frederick during the French and Indian War. The war, which was fought between 1756 and 1763, changed the landscape and fabric of the North American continent. The war, which pitched the French and their Indian allies against the British and their Indian allies, brought destruction to the Maryland frontier.

By MARLO BARNHART Staff Writer INDIAN SPRINGS, Md. - The prospect of seeing a Revolutionary War re-enactment Saturday brought Neila Harrigan to Fort Frederick from her home in Charles Town, W.Va. "We've been to Civil War battles before but never any from the Revolutionary War," Harrigan said. Harrigan and her family were among the several hundred spectators who braved the heat Saturday for the first day of Revolution and Remembrance '97. Today, the British and American troop camps will again be open at 10 a.m. to the public.

The treasurer of the Friends of Fort Frederick withdrew her resignation and two new officers were elected during a meeting Monday evening. Katy Grosh of Hagerstown was reinstated as treasurer; Chas. Rittenhouse of Boonsboro was named president and Bill Weaver of Boonsboro was named vice president of the volunteer organization that supports the state park. During a meeting on Sept. 14, Scott Allen, president; Kenny Moore, vice president; Grosh; and Gary Dyson, secretary, resigned.

tarar@herald-mail.com A Fort Frederick State Park official said this week a popular annual event will be scaled back next year because the event's main organizer has decided to no longer put it on. The Patuxents, which have organized the 18th-century Market Fair and Rifle Frolic for the last nine years, told park officials on May 23 that it would no longer participate in the event. The event is intended to give visitors a chance to experience life as it was on the frontier from 1640 through 1840.

BIG POOL -- The Washington County Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday approved a special exception that would permit a 199-foot-high communication tower to be built near Fort Frederick, Assistant County Attorney Kirk C. Downey said. He said Vista PCS LLC, a private company, sought the special exception to build the tower near the 18th-century fort so Verizon could satisfy a gap in service coverage. The tower would be raised in the 11000 block of Gehr Road, according to county documents.

"Rediscover America 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, United States of America-Washington County, Maryland, 1776-1976" was the full name of an event that would involve most of the members of the Washington County Historical Society and the community, as a whole, for most of 1976. An executive committee and large sub-committees were established to manage the events and coordinate with the state and other area venues. On the executive committee were Robert and Marianne Zeigler and Paul and Ruth Horst, as general co-chairmen; Edward O'Brien, treasurer; Robert Statton, secretary; Robert Hill, assistant secretary; Franklin Miller, headquarters chair; Robert M. Hedges, Rediscover America Shoppe manager; John and Betty Seburn, student activities coordinators; Jim Wilson, decorations; Howard Kaylor, operating capital; Al Twiss, insurance; and Ted and Janice Reeder, revenue division.

Traders pulled primitive carts full of wares across fields in the cool morning air. Servants used long sticks to stir stew in sturdy black pots, and a town crier announced an auction to take place after noon. The wistful tunes of a fife sailed in the breeze as young girls in bonnets frolicked Saturday morning near a 1756 stone fort. It was the 19th year of the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park's 18th Century Market Fair, where re-enactors and vendors known as sutlers gather from across the United States to remember and celebrate colonial life.

Music played, stories told, historical items sold: A lot happens at the 18th Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick, but one man knows about it more than anyone. Chris Holmgren of Dickerson, Md., is a longtime volunteer and artisan featured at the fair. He does more than his share to keep the past alive. The Friends of Fort Frederick took over the Market Fair after its initial 11-year run, and Holmgren has been there since the host change.  “We didn't want to see it end,” he said.

The weekend of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, they came from North Dakota, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, which had the largest contingency, and met with an equal number from Maryland to experience the anniversary and much more. These families all had a common ancestor from Washington County and they were here to celebrate their personal history, as well. This common ancestor, Henry Eavey, entered the colonies in 1732 through Philadelphia, migrated into Maryland very soon thereafter and Washington County (actually Prince George's County at the time)

It was a harrowing time to live in Western Maryland. As the French and Indian War raged, hapless settlers found themselves in the midst of raids so fearsome that a fort was needed - one with stone walls 4 feet thick and 20 feet high in places - in which they could take refuge from the terrifying attacks.  Today this fort - now part of Fort Frederick State Park - is host to many activities designed to get folks acquainted with the history of...

Before a Sunday afternoon thunderstorm caused Fort Frederick State Park to cancel the remainder of its French and Indian War Muster weekend, visitors got to witness one battle re-enactment outside the stone fort. Musket fire volleyed back and forth between the French and British sides of the re-enacted battle. Some French could be heard among the re-enactors portraying French Marines and Milice, or French militia. That French came in handy Sunday, as the state park had visitors from France among its tourists, said Park Ranger Bob Study with the Maryland Park Service.

Special to The Herald-Mail For the first 55 years of the existence of the Washington County Historical Society, the group had no home and functioned under nomadic conditions. Early meetings were held in the Washington County Free Library, in churches and in members' homes and offices. As time went on, the group continued at parish halls, local hotels, restaurants, the health department, City Hall, the Rose Room of the YMCA, the Women's Club, and boardrooms of local businesses and banks.

Fort Frederick State Park staff invites children ages 4 to 7 to join them for a week of nature-related activities, hikes and discussions at the Junior Ranger Sprouts program. The program is from 9 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22, at Fort Frederick State Park. The cost is $20 per child. The deadline to register is Friday, June 8. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call 301-842-2155.

This is the 192nd in a series of articles about the historical and architectural treasures of Washington County. The French and Indian War, the New World extension of a great European conflict between England and France, arrived in Maryland on July 9, 1755. Gen. Edward Braddock, commander in chief of British Colonial forces, fought with French forces near Fort Duquesne, which was located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. The British defeat and death of Braddock opened the area to savage attacks upon the farmers who had moved to the frontiers of Maryland.