Fort Montgomery (Lake Champlain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Montgomery
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The remaining southern two bastions and curtain (wall) of Fort Montgomery, July 17, 2011. Note the numerous rifle loopholes on the lower level.
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| Location | Rouses Point, Champlain, Clinton County, New York, US |
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| Built | 1844 |
| Architect | Montgomery C. Meigs; Joseph Totten |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000937 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1977 |
Fort Montgomery is a historic stone fort located on Lake Champlain in Rouses Point, New York. It sits right on the border between the United States and Canada. This impressive fort was built between 1844 and 1871. It was the second fort constructed at this important spot on the lake.
Contents
History of Fort Montgomery
The First Fort: "Fort Blunder"
Before Fort Montgomery, another fort was started in 1816 at the same location. This first fort was built to protect against attacks from British Canada. An attack like this happened during the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814. The fort was designed with tall walls, about 30 feet (9 meters) high.
However, there was a big mistake! An early surveying error meant the fort was accidentally built in Canada. Because of this, people started calling it "Fort Blunder." When the mistake was found, all building stopped. The site was abandoned, and locals took materials from it. This first fort was never officially named.
Building Fort Montgomery
In 1842, a new agreement called the Webster–Ashburton Treaty was made. This treaty gave the land where the first fort stood to the United States. So, in 1844, work began on a new, stronger fort. It was named Fort Montgomery to honor Richard Montgomery. He was a soldier who died during the American Revolutionary War in 1775.
Fort Montgomery was one of the few large "Third System" forts built along the northern border. Most forts like this were built along the Atlantic Coast. Construction continued almost non-stop until 1870. Building sped up during the American Civil War. People worried that Britain might help the South from Canada. A small group of soldiers even stayed at the fort in 1862. These fears were not totally wrong. In 1864, Confederate soldiers raided a town in nearby Vermont from Canada. This event was called the St. Albans Raid.
Advanced Design and Features
Building Fort Montgomery took about 30 years. No expense was spared, and it used the best military technology of its time. At its busiest, about 400 stonecutters and masons worked there. When finished, the fort had walls about 48 feet (15 meters) high. It also had spots for 125 cannons on three levels.
The fort was also special because it had a moat all around it. This made it surrounded by water. You could only get in by a special drawbridge from the land side. This drawbridge worked like a seesaw. One end would go up to block the entrance, and the other would drop into a pit. This made the fort's entrance 15 feet (4.6 meters) above the water. There was also a "water gate" with another drawbridge for boats from the lake.
A large man-made island, called a "cover face," was built behind the fort. This protected the fort from enemy cannons on land. Later, an engineer named Joseph Gilbert Totten invented special iron-reinforced openings for cannons. These protected the gunners better. These new openings were added to the fort's upper levels.
Fort Montgomery's Purpose
Fort Montgomery was designed for 800 soldiers. However, it was never fully staffed. Its main job was to be a military deterrent along the border. Many forts like this were meant to be ready only if needed. Even though the fort never fired a shot in a real battle, it was armed. In 1886, it had 74 cannons, including large 8-inch and 10-inch Rodman cannon. Most of these guns pointed north towards Canada.
In 1880, General William Tecumseh Sherman visited the fort. He was so impressed that he wanted to move soldiers from another base to Fort Montgomery. But local citizens protested, so the move never happened.
After the Civil War, new weapons like explosive shells made old stone forts less useful. By the late 1800s, Fort Montgomery's military importance faded. Its cannons were slowly removed. By 1909, most of the larger guns were gone. Many were melted down for scrap metal. After this, a caretaker, usually a retired soldier, watched over the empty fort.
What Happened to the Fort
In 1926, the U.S. Government sold Fort Montgomery at a public auction. Like the first fort, locals took wood, bricks, and other materials from it. Most of the fort was torn down in 1936–1937. Its huge stones were crushed and used to build a nearby bridge.
The property had several private owners. In 1983, Victor Podd, Sr. bought it. He built a company headquarters nearby, but left the fort site untouched. In the mid-1980s, Podd tried to get New York State to buy the fort for restoration. Even though it was offered for free, the state said no. Since 2006, Podd's family has tried to sell the fort, even on eBay. The fort and its land are still for sale.
Today, there are worries that the remaining parts of the fort might collapse. This is partly because iron rods that supported the walls were removed during World War II for scrap metal. These rods were important for the fort's structure. In 1980, another part of the fort on the northern side collapsed into the moat. In 2008, the Preservation League of New York State listed Fort Montgomery as one of their "Seven to Save" properties. This means the fort is historically important and needs urgent help to be saved.
Images for kids
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The remaining southern two bastions and curtain (wall) of Fort Montgomery, July 17, 2011. Note the numerous rifle loopholes on the lower level.
