Old Fort House (Fort Edward, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Fort House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 29 Lower Broadway, Fort Edward, New York |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1772 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001826 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1983 |
The Old Fort House is a very old and important building in Fort Edward, New York. It is located at 29 Lower Broadway. This special house is now a museum where you can learn about local history. The Fort Edward Historical Association owns and operates it. The Old Fort House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site.
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History of the Old Fort House
The Old Fort House was built in 1772. It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Northern New York. A man named Patrick Smyth built it using wood from the old Fort Edward. The house has two stories and a unique roof style called a gambrel roof.
Revolutionary War Era
During the American Revolutionary War, important leaders visited the house. In 1777, Major General Philip Schuyler inspected the old fort nearby. He decided it was not strong enough to defend against General John Burgoyne's army. So, he looked for a better spot further south.
General Schuyler put Benedict Arnold in charge of the army's advance guards at Fort Edward. Arnold arrested Patrick Smyth, the builder of the house. Smyth was arrested because he was a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British King during the war.
Baroness Frederika Charlotte Riedesel also wrote about the house in her memoirs. She called it "the Red House." Her husband, General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel, led soldiers from Germany who fought with Burgoyne's army.
The Old Fort House was used as a headquarters by both British and American forces during the war. Famous people like George Washington and James Madison also stayed there.
Solomon Northup's Story
Between 1830 and 1834, Solomon Northup and his wife, Anne Hampton Northup, lived in Fort Edward. They first lived in the Old Fort House. Solomon Northup wrote about the house in his famous book, Twelve Years a Slave. He described it as "the old yellow building."
Solomon Northup's story has been made into movies. One was a PBS television movie called Solomon Northup's Odyssey in 1984. Another was the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave in 2013.
In 1943, the Old Fort House was badly damaged by a fire.
The Museum Today
The Old Fort House is now part of a larger museum complex. This complex has seventeen buildings in total. Five of these buildings are open for tours during the summer. These include the Old Fort House Museum itself, the A. Dallas Wait Law Office, the Cronkhite Pavilion, the Riverside Schoolhouse, and the Baldwin Barn Gallery.
An author named William Hosley listed the Old Fort House Museum as one of the best house museums in Northeastern New York and New England. Each summer, the museum hosts a fun Annual Country Fair & Antiques Auction.
