Fort Hoskins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Hoskins |
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| Benton County, Oregon | |
Grounds of the former Fort Hoskins
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| Type | Military base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Wood |
| Events | |
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Fort Hoskins Site
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| Nearest city | Kings Valley, Oregon |
| Built | 1856 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001672 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1974 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 4th Regiment of California Infantry |
| Occupants | 2nd Lt.Philip Sheridan, Capt.Christopher C. Augur |
Fort Hoskins was a military post built by the U.S. Army in the mid-1800s. It was one of three posts set up to watch over the Coastal Indian Reservation in what was then Oregon Territory. Today, the land where Fort Hoskins once stood is a special historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many soldiers were stationed at Fort Hoskins during its short time. Two future generals from the American Civil War, Christopher Columbus Augur and Phil Sheridan, even served there.
History of Fort Hoskins
Building Fort Hoskins started in 1856. Captain Christopher C. Augur oversaw the work. The fort was built along the Luckiamute River. It was finished in 1857.
Lieutenant Philip Sheridan was in charge of the construction. The fort was named after Lt. Charles Hoskins. He had died in the Mexican–American War. Fort Hoskins was about 19 miles northwest of Corvallis.
Captain Augur was the first commander of Fort Hoskins. He served there from July 1856 to July 1861. He and his family lived in one of the new houses. During this time, 2nd Lt. Phil Sheridan helped build the fort.
Two soldiers kept journals while at the fort. Their names were Royal A. Bensell and William M. Hilleary. They wrote about being bored and wet a lot. But their journals give us a good look at life in the 1800s.
Fort Hoskins played a quiet but important role in local history. Some soldiers decided to stay in Oregon after their army service ended. Several places in the area, like Kings Valley, are named after these soldiers.
The fort never saw any major battles. However, soldiers did help stop a small uprising by Native Americans at Yaquina Bay. No one was hurt in this event. After the Civil War, it was learned that the Confederate government had been interested in Fort Hoskins. The fort was closed down in 1865.
Fort Hoskins as an Archeological Site
The area where Fort Hoskins once stood is an important archeological site. This means that scientists can study the remains found there. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In 2002, Benton County opened the site as Fort Hoskins Historical Park. It is a place where people can visit and learn about the past.
In 2012, the house where the fort commander lived was moved. It was brought back to its original spot at Fort Hoskins. The house had been moved to a nearby town called Pedee after the fort closed. In 2015, Benton County approved money to fix up the outside of the house.
Hoskins Community and Post Office
A community called Hoskins grew up near the old fort. It was located west of Oregon Route 223. The Hoskins post office opened in 1891. It was named after the fort and stayed open until 1965.
Hoskins was an important stop for the Valley and Siletz Railroad. A small town grew around the railroad. It had a store and a tavern. The railroad also had a yard and a roundhouse there.
In 1915, about 150 people lived in Hoskins. The community also had a school. There was once a covered bridge over the Luckiamute River. By 1990, the railroad buildings and the covered bridge were gone. Only the tavern remained by 1972.
Two historic houses are also part of the Hoskins area. The James Watson House was built in the 1850s. It is thought to be the first plastered house in Oregon. The Samuel Frantz House was once the fort's hospital. It is now a home and part of the county park.
