Manada Gap, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manada Gap, Pennsylvania
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 Manada Gap, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Manada Gap, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Dauphin |
| Township | East Hanover |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Official name: Fort Manada | |
| Designated: | May 12, 1982 |
Manada Gap is a small, unincorporated community in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Harrisburg-Carlisle area. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's also quite close to Fort Indiantown Gap, a military training base.
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Fort Manada: A Historic Stronghold
Fort Manada was an important defensive structure built long ago. It was also known as James Brown's Fort. This fort was a type of building called a blockhouse, which is a strong, small fort, often made of logs. It was surrounded by a stockade, which is a fence made of tall, pointed logs.
Why Fort Manada Was Built
The fort was built by a settler named James Brown. He created it to protect people in the area from attacks during conflicts with Native American groups. Later, Captain Frederick Smith took charge and improved the fort. It served as a smaller outpost connected to a larger fort called Fort Swatara.
Where Was Fort Manada Located?
We don't know the exact spot where Fort Manada stood today. However, old records tell us it was on land owned by William Rhoads. It was about 300 yards west of Manada Creek. It was also roughly halfway between the creek and the road leading to Jonestown. The fort was about three-quarters of a mile south of Manada Gap itself.
Life at the Fort
In early 1756, Captain Frederick Smith and his soldiers were sent to the area. Their job was to build or improve defenses at Swatara and Manada. People living in Manada Gap had already built a stockaded blockhouse in late 1755. The soldiers, probably around 20 men, were spread out. They protected both the fort and the homes of settlers. They also guarded workers in the fields.
When Was the Fort Used?
Captain Smith and his company finished building or improving the fort in February 1756. They named it Fort Manada. Sadly, James Brown, who first built the fort, was killed in August 1756. The fort was used from late 1755 until May 1757. That is the last time it is mentioned in official historical papers.
Remembering Fort Manada
To help people remember this important historical site, a special marker was put up in 1970. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed this marker in East Hanover Township. You can find it on Mountain Road.
