Fort Cameron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fort Cameron
|
|
The fort as seen from the nearby hills
|
|
 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Utah State Route 153 |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Beaver, Utah |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1872 |
| Built by | United States Army |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001932 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1974 |
Fort Cameron was an old military base in Utah. It was built by the United States Army. The fort was located near the town of Beaver, Utah. It was used from 1872 to 1883. Most of the fort was taken down in the early 1900s.
Contents
History of Fort Cameron
Building the Fort
Fort Cameron was started on May 25, 1872. It was built by soldiers from the 8th Infantry. Major John D. Wilkins was their commander. The fort was built next to the Beaver River. Many of its buildings were made from a special black rock. This rock came from the mountains nearby.
The fort had many important buildings. There were four barracks for soldiers to sleep in. It also had a guardhouse for holding prisoners. A commissary was there to sell supplies. There was a hospital and homes for the officers. At first, it was called the Post of Beaver. On July 1, 1874, its name changed to Fort Cameron. This was to honor Colonel James Cameron. He was a brave soldier who died in 1861.
Why the Fort Was Built
The fort was active for 11 years. It closed in May 1883. Its main job was to protect new settlers in central Utah. It also watched over local Native American groups. The fort also kept an eye on possible disagreements with Mormon settlers.
The fort had the only hospital for a very long distance. It was about 150 miles (240 km) from other hospitals. The hospital mostly treated soldiers. But it also helped people living nearby who were not soldiers.
Fort Cameron and Justice
Cyrus M. Hawley was a judge in Utah at that time. He thought the fort would help with a big court case. This case was about the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre. The fort could offer protection for people who needed to speak in court. This made it safer for witnesses to share what they knew.
After the Fort Closed
When the fort closed, the soldiers moved away. They went to Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. The buildings at Fort Cameron were then sold. Two local men bought them: John R. Murdock and Philo T. Farnsworth.
These men helped start a school called Murdock Academy. This school was a part of the Brigham Young Academy. That school is now Brigham Young University in Provo. Murdock Academy was open from 1898 to 1922. Later, a new law said that counties had to offer free schools. Because of this, the church that ran the school closed it. They sold the land. Almost all of the fort's buildings were torn down. Today, most of the land is a golf course.
