Fort Stamford Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Stamford Site
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View from atop the earthworks
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Westover, Stamford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1781 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001920 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1975 |
The Fort Stamford Site is a cool public park in Stamford, Connecticut. It's located in the Westover neighborhood. This park is special because it holds the remains of an old military fort. This fort was built during the American Revolutionary War.
The fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Its location was very important. From the fort, soldiers could clearly see the Mianus River and Long Island Sound. This helped them watch for enemy ships and movements.
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Fort Stamford: A Revolutionary War Story
Fort Stamford played a big role in protecting Connecticut. It was built to defend against attacks from British supporters. These supporters were called loyalists. They often raided towns during the war.
Building the Fort
The fort we see today was designed by a skilled engineer. His name was Rufus Putnam. He also helped build the famous West Point military academy. General David Waterbury was in charge of building the fort in 1781.
At its busiest time, about 800 soldiers lived at Fort Stamford. They worked hard to keep the area safe.
Early Battles and Defense
Even before the main fort was built, a military camp existed here. In 1779, British forces attacked Greenwich. General Israel Putnam rode to Fort Stamford for help. Troops from the fort successfully defended Stamford. They fought a battle near Palmer's Hill and the Mianus River.
Later that same year, another attack almost happened. British forces under Banastre Tarleton raided nearby Pound Ridge, New York. But the 2nd Regiment of Light Horse, led by Colonel Sheldon, stopped them. This prevented a direct attack on Fort Stamford.
After the War
Towards the end of the war, about 300 soldiers were stationed at the fort. Once the war ended, the fort was no longer needed. It was quickly sold off. Over time, local people started calling it "Fort Nonsense." This was because it was no longer used as a fort.
From Private Home to Public Park
After the war, the land where Fort Stamford stood became a private home. It was known as Fortland Farm. For some time, the Ogden family owned this property.
The Goodbody Family and Their Garden
In 1928, a stockbroker named Marcus Goodbody bought the property. He was the founder of a company called Goodbody & Co.. His family moved into Fortland Farm.
Marcus's wife, Virginia Goodbody, loved gardening. She created a beautiful Italian-style garden on the property. This garden is still there today! It is now known as the Goodbody Garden.
Fort Stamford Becomes a Park
In 1972, the City of Stamford bought the 5-acre property. They bought it from the Goodbody family. This is how Fort Stamford became a public park.
Today, you can visit the park and see parts of the old fort. You can also enjoy the lovely Goodbody Garden. The Stamford Garden Club helps take care of this special garden.
