Fort Logan and Blockhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Logan and Blockhouse
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Fort Logan Blockhouse
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 17 miles northwest of White Sulphur Springs, Montana |
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| Architectural style | Military |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000360 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1970 |
Fort Logan and Blockhouse is a really old and important place in Montana. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special site that helps us remember history. You can find it near White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Today, only a strong wooden building called a blockhouse remains from the original fort. This blockhouse was fixed up in 1924 and then moved to the center of the old parade grounds in 1962. The site was officially added to the National Register on October 6, 1970.
Contents
The Story of Fort Logan
Why Fort Logan Was Built
Fort Logan was first set up on November 1, 1869. Back then, it was called Camp Baker. It was named after a soldier named Major Eugene M. Baker. The camp was built next to the Smith River, about ten miles north of where the fort is today. Its main job was to keep people safe. This included protecting the important Benton freight route, which was a path for moving goods. It also protected local miners and settlers who lived in the area.
Moving and Renaming the Fort
In March 1870, Camp Baker moved to its current spot. Years later, in 1877, the camp got a new name: Fort Logan. It was renamed to honor Captain Logan, a brave soldier who died in a battle called the Battle of the Big Hole. The fort continued to operate for a few more years. However, on October 27, 1880, the army decided to close it down. The land and buildings were then sold off in an auction on June 4, 1881.
Fort Logan After the Army
After the fort closed, a man named Judge William Gaddis bought the land and buildings in 1881. He had been the fort's post trader (someone who ran a store at the fort) and postmaster (the person in charge of the mail) since 1873. Judge Gaddis turned the old fort into a very large and successful cattle ranch. He continued to be the postmaster almost until he passed away.
In 1907, Josephine Rader became the new postmaster. She moved the post office to her own ranch, which was about a mile west of the old fort. Later, in 1918, she sold her ranch to James Doggett. James and his wife, Lugene Doggett, then took over as postmasters. Lugene retired in 1929, and at that point, the post office was closed for good. Even though the fort was gone and the post office closed, the community around the area kept the name Fort Logan for a long time.
