Pieces of Fort Gratiot History

From the December 27, 2015, Lansing State Journal "From dorm site, pieces of Fort Gratiot history."

Baker College of Port Huron is planning a new dorm south of Blue Water Bridge on St. Clair Street, the fort's ditch.

The fort was erected in 1814 and used intermittently through the years until the 1870s.

Many artifacts have been recovered from the site, including uniform buttons of an 1854 artillery pattern, and 1834 infantry pattern and 1812 light artillery pattern.

Also an 1825 large cent and two complete clay bowls were found.

The moat was dug out for use on the fort's ramparts and was actually a dry moat.  The ramparts were topped with a wooden palisade.

Fort Gratiot was regarrisoned during the Black Hawk War in 1832 over concerns of a possible Indian attack.

--Brock-Perry