Fort Frye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Frye |
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| Part of the Northwest Territory of the United States | |
| Beverly, Ohio | |
Fort Frye at Beverly, Ohio
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| Coordinates | 39°32′42″N 81°38′10″W / 39.545°N 81.636°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1791 |
| Built by | Joseph Frye |
| Battles/wars | Northwest Indian War |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
William Gray |
| Occupants | Ohio Company of Associates |
Fort Frye was a special kind of fort built a long time ago in Ohio. It was shaped like a triangle! Pioneers, who were early settlers, built it in 1791. They were part of a group called the Ohio Company of Associates. The fort was located near the Muskingum River in a place now called Beverly, Ohio. The settlers built Fort Frye to protect themselves after a sad event called the Big Bottom massacre. This fort was important during the Northwest Indian War.
Contents
What Fort Frye Looked Like
Fort Frye had a very interesting design. It was shaped like a triangle, which was unusual for forts back then. The builders were in a hurry, and this shape helped them build it faster.
Key Features of the Fort
- River Side: One side of the triangle, called the base, was about 200 feet long. It was very close to the Muskingum River.
- Blockhouses: At each corner of the triangle, there was a two-story building called a blockhouse. These were like small towers, about 20 feet wide. They helped defend the fort from attacks.
- Houses and Barracks: The longer sides of the fort were filled with houses where the settlers lived. Some were two stories tall. Other parts were built like barracks, which are buildings for soldiers. These had roofs that sloped inward.
- Walls and Gates: Any spaces not covered by buildings were filled with strong wooden poles called pickets. These formed a protective wall. There were also big, strong gates that led out to the fields. A smaller gate, called the "water gate," allowed access to the river.
- Outer Wall: Around the whole fort, there was another line of tall pickets, about 12 feet high. This outer wall was about 30 feet away from the main fort and also went down to the river.
Other Forts in the Area
Fort Frye was not the only fort built to protect settlers in this region. Other important forts were also built nearby.
Forts Along the Muskingum River
- Fort Harmar: Down the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio, United States troops built Fort Harmar.
- Campus Martius: Also in Marietta, the Ohio Company of Associates built Campus Martius. They also built a smaller defense called Picketed Point Stockade.
- Farmer's Castle: Further down the Ohio River from Marietta, the settlers built Farmer's Castle. This fort was located where the town of Belpre, Ohio, is today.
