Fort Klock facts for kids
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Fort Klock
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Fort Klock in September 1991
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | St. Johnsville, New York |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Built by | Johannes Klock |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000859 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | November 28, 1972 |
Fort Klock is a special stone house in the Mohawk River Valley of Upstate New York. It was built around 1750 by a man named Johannes Klock. This building is a great example of a fortified home from the mid-1700s. It was also a trading post where people could buy and sell goods.
Fort Klock was used during important times in history. These included the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. Today, you can find Fort Klock about two miles (3 km) east of St. Johnsville, New York. It is part of a larger area that includes a historic barn, a blacksmith shop, and an old schoolhouse. The site is now a living museum, open at certain times of the year. In 1972, Fort Klock was named a National Historic Landmark.
Contents
What is Fort Klock?
Fort Klock is located between New York State Route 5 and the Mohawk River. The fort is a single-story building made of strong stone. It is shaped like the letter "L". Part of the building sits on natural rock, and part is on a stone foundation.
Inside the Fort
The walls of Fort Klock are very thick, usually about two feet (0.6 meters) wide. These thick walls have many small openings called loopholes. Defenders could fire through these holes to protect the fort.
On the main floor, there are two rooms with smooth plaster walls. The bedrooms are located upstairs in the attic. You can enter the basement through a door on the east side. The basement is divided into two sections by a heavy stone wall. One part of the basement even has a small pool fed by a natural spring!
History of Fort Klock
Johannes Klock built this house in 1750. It replaced an older building that stood in the same spot. Johannes used the building as his home on the frontier. It was also a busy trading post where he traded with local Native American groups.
Fortifying the Home
In 1776, Johannes Klock made his home even stronger. He built a wooden fence, called a stockade, all around the building. This was to protect it during the American Revolutionary War. Johannes Klock was very active in the war. He served in the local militia, which was a group of citizen soldiers. He fought in the 1777 Battle of Oriskany.
Between 1778 and 1782, the area around Fort Klock was often attacked. These attacks were led by the British and their Native American allies. Many homes, barns, and crops were burned during these raids. In October 1780, one of these raiding groups was met by the state militia. This battle happened in a field just west of the fort. It is now known as the Battle of Klock's Field.
Fort Klock Today
Members of the Klock family lived in the house until the 1950s. After that, the house was left empty and started to fall apart. A local group, now called Fort Klock Historic Restoration, worked to save it. The last Klock owners gave the property to this group in 1973. Thanks to their efforts, Fort Klock was restored and is now a historical site for everyone to visit.
Other Fort Klock Locations
During the Revolutionary War, people sometimes talked about two different places called Fort Klock. One was Johannes Klock's house, which we just learned about. The other was the home of his brother, Conradt Klock. Conradt's house was located north of Little Falls, New York.
These Klock Forts were just two of many forts in the Mohawk Valley. These forts were built to help protect people from attacks during the war.
