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
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Port Huron Mi.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Port Huron Mi.. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2017
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Exterior Work on Fort Gratiot Hospital Nearly Completed-- Part 2
Baker College of Port Huron, Michigan, has given $10,000 to the project as they are building student housing on what was once the Fort Gratiot Military Reservation. Overall, the project had raised $41,000 and it is expected another $10-12,000 will be needed to complete it.
The fort was built in 1814 and engineered by Charles Gratiot. After it was abandoned by the Army for awhile, it was reopened during the Winnebago War of 1827 and it also experienced the start of the cholera epidemic of 1832.
Several officers who later achieved fame during the Civil War were posted there over the years leading to the war. Probably the most famous was Army of the Potomac commander George Gordon Meade, the victor at the Battle of Gettysburg.
--Brock-Perry
The fort was built in 1814 and engineered by Charles Gratiot. After it was abandoned by the Army for awhile, it was reopened during the Winnebago War of 1827 and it also experienced the start of the cholera epidemic of 1832.
Several officers who later achieved fame during the Civil War were posted there over the years leading to the war. Probably the most famous was Army of the Potomac commander George Gordon Meade, the victor at the Battle of Gettysburg.
--Brock-Perry
Exterior Work on Fort Gratiot Hospital Nearly Completed-- Part 1
From the April 14, 2015, Times Herald by Bob Gross.
The building is now sheathed in a moisture barrier of what is considered the oldest wooden structure in St. Clair County which is now nearing restoration. Its windows are being made and the front porch is being constructed.
The work is being overseen by the Fort Gratiot Hospital Heritage Committee.
The hospital was built in 1829 and had space for the post surgeon and a hospital ward. After the fort was finally shut down in 1879, it was moved and split in two. It was then located on St. Clair Street.
Port Huron bought the two houses were bought by Port Huron in 2002 and reunited them at the city's Lighthouse Park adjacent to the Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park.
--Brock-Perry
The building is now sheathed in a moisture barrier of what is considered the oldest wooden structure in St. Clair County which is now nearing restoration. Its windows are being made and the front porch is being constructed.
The work is being overseen by the Fort Gratiot Hospital Heritage Committee.
The hospital was built in 1829 and had space for the post surgeon and a hospital ward. After the fort was finally shut down in 1879, it was moved and split in two. It was then located on St. Clair Street.
Port Huron bought the two houses were bought by Port Huron in 2002 and reunited them at the city's Lighthouse Park adjacent to the Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park.
--Brock-Perry
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Some Interesting Facts About Port Huron, Michigan-- Part 2
** 1857: On Feb. 3 Port Huron became an incorporated city. It consolidated with the villages of Fort Gratiot, Desmond, Huron and Peru.
** Prior to the Civil War, Port Huron was an important terminus for the Underground Railroad.
** The population grew rapidly after the 1850s because of shipbuilding and the lumber trade.
** In the years after the Civil War, Port Huron was the second largest immigration point in the United States. Only the one in New York City at Ellis Island was larger.
** The Thomas Edison Boyhood Home is located in Port Huron.
--Brock-Perry
** Prior to the Civil War, Port Huron was an important terminus for the Underground Railroad.
** The population grew rapidly after the 1850s because of shipbuilding and the lumber trade.
** In the years after the Civil War, Port Huron was the second largest immigration point in the United States. Only the one in New York City at Ellis Island was larger.
** The Thomas Edison Boyhood Home is located in Port Huron.
--Brock-Perry
Some Interesting Facts About the City of Port Huron, Michigan-- Part 1: A Thomas Edison Connection
From the city site.
** French explorer Daniel Greysolon Duluth established Fort St. Joseph near the present site of the Blue Water Bridge in 1686.
** 1814: Fort Gratiot was established at the base of Lake Huron and was considered the first organized population in the area. It was built near the site of Fort St. Joseph.
1825: Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built. It was the first lighthouse in Michigan. The present lighthouse was built in 1829.
1854: Thomas A. Edison's family moved to Port Huron where he worked at the railroad selling newspapers and "testing" his new inventions. That explains the Thomas Edison Parkway in Port Hudson. I did not know he lived there.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
** French explorer Daniel Greysolon Duluth established Fort St. Joseph near the present site of the Blue Water Bridge in 1686.
** 1814: Fort Gratiot was established at the base of Lake Huron and was considered the first organized population in the area. It was built near the site of Fort St. Joseph.
1825: Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built. It was the first lighthouse in Michigan. The present lighthouse was built in 1829.
1854: Thomas A. Edison's family moved to Port Huron where he worked at the railroad selling newspapers and "testing" his new inventions. That explains the Thomas Edison Parkway in Port Hudson. I did not know he lived there.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Some More on Fort Gratiot-- Part 1: Civil War Service
And to think I didn't know anything about this fort a month ago. I sure know stuff now.
From the Port Huron website.
The original fort is now where the Thomas Edison Parkway and Greenway are located as well as some parcels south and west of it. (Wonder why they would name it after Thomas Edison. Probably another story.)
From 1829-1830, Fort Gratiot was rebuilt with timber framed structures, including officers quarters and the hospital building. these structures were moved several times within the confines of the fort, finally ending up on the western corner.
During the Civil War, it served as the site for training for several Michigan regiments which served with distinction. the fort played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States.
--Brock-Perry
From the Port Huron website.
The original fort is now where the Thomas Edison Parkway and Greenway are located as well as some parcels south and west of it. (Wonder why they would name it after Thomas Edison. Probably another story.)
From 1829-1830, Fort Gratiot was rebuilt with timber framed structures, including officers quarters and the hospital building. these structures were moved several times within the confines of the fort, finally ending up on the western corner.
During the Civil War, it served as the site for training for several Michigan regiments which served with distinction. the fort played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States.
--Brock-Perry
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
From the Pure Michigan Site.
Port Huron, the home of Fort Gratiot, is also the home of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the first and oldest lighthouse in Michigan and the oldest on Lake Huron.
It is the oldest operating light on the Great Lakes, established in 1825 and rebuilt in 1829 and 1869.
The lighthouse is located on Lake Huron by the mouth of the St. Clair River and stands 86-feet tall and is made of red brick and painted white. The keeper's house and fog whistle house are painted painted red.
The lighthouse was built just north of the fort.
--Brock-Perry
Port Huron, the home of Fort Gratiot, is also the home of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the first and oldest lighthouse in Michigan and the oldest on Lake Huron.
It is the oldest operating light on the Great Lakes, established in 1825 and rebuilt in 1829 and 1869.
The lighthouse is located on Lake Huron by the mouth of the St. Clair River and stands 86-feet tall and is made of red brick and painted white. The keeper's house and fog whistle house are painted painted red.
The lighthouse was built just north of the fort.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Gratiot Township
From Wikipedia.
Fort Gratiot Township in St. Clair County, Michigan is named for Fort Gratiot which was located there from 1814-1879.
It was established in 1887 and was named for General Charles Gratiot, the engineer who built the fort. It is next to the city of Port Huron.
Pine Grove Park in Port Huron occupies part of the fort's former site.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Gratiot Township in St. Clair County, Michigan is named for Fort Gratiot which was located there from 1814-1879.
It was established in 1887 and was named for General Charles Gratiot, the engineer who built the fort. It is next to the city of Port Huron.
Pine Grove Park in Port Huron occupies part of the fort's former site.
--Brock-Perry
Monday, July 6, 2015
Fort Gratiot-- Part 2: Built for $3,055.57
Buildings also constructed at the time included barracks for 200 soldiers, officers quarters, a hospital, guard house, powder magazine and storehouse.
Fort Gratiot was completed in five months at the cost of $3,055.57.
At the end of the War of 1812, the troops were sent elsewhere and the fort officially abandoned 30 June 1821. The troops then were sent to Fort Detroit. It was regarrisoned in 1828 during the Winnebago Conflict and rebuilt between 1828 and 1830. A garrison was then present until 1 June 1879 when the Army again abandoned it, this time permanently.
Its present status is that there is one relocated marker and a hospital/officers quarters being restored on the site. These are the only two things indicating its former use.
It is located near the Blue Water International Bridge connecting with Canada.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Gratiot was completed in five months at the cost of $3,055.57.
At the end of the War of 1812, the troops were sent elsewhere and the fort officially abandoned 30 June 1821. The troops then were sent to Fort Detroit. It was regarrisoned in 1828 during the Winnebago Conflict and rebuilt between 1828 and 1830. A garrison was then present until 1 June 1879 when the Army again abandoned it, this time permanently.
Its present status is that there is one relocated marker and a hospital/officers quarters being restored on the site. These are the only two things indicating its former use.
It is located near the Blue Water International Bridge connecting with Canada.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Gratiot-- Part 1: Charles' Fort
Since I am on the subject of Charles Gratiot, not only did he build this fort, but also had it named after him.
From Wikipedia.
1814-1879, U.S. Army fort established by Port Huron, Michigan, near the end of the War of 1812 by Charles C. Gratiot, 2nd U.S. Infantry. Named after its builder. Abandoned 1821-1828. Garrisoned after that until 1879 when it was permanently abandoned.
Constructed near the shore of the St. Clair River at the southern end of Lake Huron. A rectangular fort with bastions at each corner measuring 190-feet-by-290-feet.
The riverside wall was made of vertical log pickets. The other three walls and bastions were earthworks with a wide, shallow ditch in front of each.
Nine cannons were initially placed in the fort, including two 18-pdrs.,, two 12-pdrs. and one howitzer. The biggest cannons were all removed to Fort Malden in October 1814.
--Brock-Perry
From Wikipedia.
1814-1879, U.S. Army fort established by Port Huron, Michigan, near the end of the War of 1812 by Charles C. Gratiot, 2nd U.S. Infantry. Named after its builder. Abandoned 1821-1828. Garrisoned after that until 1879 when it was permanently abandoned.
Constructed near the shore of the St. Clair River at the southern end of Lake Huron. A rectangular fort with bastions at each corner measuring 190-feet-by-290-feet.
The riverside wall was made of vertical log pickets. The other three walls and bastions were earthworks with a wide, shallow ditch in front of each.
Nine cannons were initially placed in the fort, including two 18-pdrs.,, two 12-pdrs. and one howitzer. The biggest cannons were all removed to Fort Malden in October 1814.
--Brock-Perry
Friday, July 3, 2015
Michigan's M-3, Gratiot Highway-- Part 2
Historically, Gratiot Highway was one of 13 main Indian trails in the area. After the fire in 1805, Detroit created a 120-foot right-of-way for each of five main avenues, Gratiot being one of them.
Earlier, Gratiot Highway was called the Detroit-Port Huron Road and was authorized by the U.S. Congress on March 2, 1827, as a supply route between Detroit and Fort Gratiot at Port Huron. Construction in Detroit began in 1829 and was completed that same year to Mount Clemens. The rest was finished in 1833.
The road was named for the fort at Port Huron which was named for Col. Charles Gratiot, its supervising engineer. This fort was built in the aftermath of the War of 1812.
--Brock-Perry
Earlier, Gratiot Highway was called the Detroit-Port Huron Road and was authorized by the U.S. Congress on March 2, 1827, as a supply route between Detroit and Fort Gratiot at Port Huron. Construction in Detroit began in 1829 and was completed that same year to Mount Clemens. The rest was finished in 1833.
The road was named for the fort at Port Huron which was named for Col. Charles Gratiot, its supervising engineer. This fort was built in the aftermath of the War of 1812.
--Brock-Perry
Michigan's M-3, Gratiot Highway-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Michigan's M-3 is a north-south trunkline highway running 43 miles long in the Detroit Metro Area. For most of its length, it is known as the Gratiot Highway. It starts in downtown Detroit and runs northward along one of the city's five main avenues. Along the way, it passes several historic landmarks and a historic district.
It is one of the original avenues laid out by Judge Augustus Woodward after the Detroit Fire of 1805. Later, it became a supply road to Fort Gratiot in Port Huron.
It was included in the State Trunkline System of 1913 and was signposted in 1919. After that, it was a part of US-25 before being replaced by I-94 in 1960. It received its M-3 designation in 1973.
--Brock-Perry
Michigan's M-3 is a north-south trunkline highway running 43 miles long in the Detroit Metro Area. For most of its length, it is known as the Gratiot Highway. It starts in downtown Detroit and runs northward along one of the city's five main avenues. Along the way, it passes several historic landmarks and a historic district.
It is one of the original avenues laid out by Judge Augustus Woodward after the Detroit Fire of 1805. Later, it became a supply road to Fort Gratiot in Port Huron.
It was included in the State Trunkline System of 1913 and was signposted in 1919. After that, it was a part of US-25 before being replaced by I-94 in 1960. It received its M-3 designation in 1973.
--Brock-Perry
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