Old Stone Fort (Schoharie, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old Stone Fort
|
|
The Old Stone Fort as photographed from across the street on March 11, 2008.
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Schoharie, New York |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1772 |
| Architect | Schuyler, John |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001643 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 2002 |
The Old Stone Fort is a historic building in the village of Schoharie, New York. It was first built in 1772. At that time, it was a church for the Reformed Dutch community. This building has a long and interesting history. It played a special role during the American Revolutionary War. Today, it is part of a museum complex.
Contents
A Church Becomes a Fort
The Old Stone Fort began as a church in 1772. It was a place for people to worship. But things changed when the American Revolutionary War started. This war was fought between Great Britain and its American colonies. The colonists wanted to become an independent country.
In 1777, the church needed protection. So, a strong wooden fence, called a stockade, was built around it. This turned the church into a fort. It helped protect the people living in the valley.
The Attack of 1780
On October 17, 1780, a large group attacked the valley. This group included about 800 loyalists and Native Americans. Loyalists were people who supported Great Britain during the war. The group was led by Sir John Johnson and Mohawk leader Captain Joseph Brant.
They briefly attacked the fort. You can still see a mark from this attack today. A cannonball hit the building. The hole is still visible in a decorative piece at the back. After the attack, the group moved north. They continued their raids in the Mohawk Valley.
From Fort to Museum
The war ended, and the fort was no longer needed for defense. In 1785, the wooden stockade was removed. The building went back to being a church. It served its community until 1844. A new church was built in the village that year.
In 1857, the old fort was sold to the State of New York. The state paid $800 for it. For many years, it was used as an armory. An armory is a place where weapons are stored. This continued through the American Civil War until 1873. After that, it was given to Schoharie County. The county wanted to use it for historical purposes.
The Old Stone Fort Museum Complex
In 1888, the Schoharie County Historical Society was formed. Their goal was to create a museum at the Old Stone Fort. By 1899, they had collected 2,500 items. These items told the story of the area.
Today, the fort is part of the Old Stone Fort Museum complex. This complex includes several other interesting buildings:
- The William Badgely Museum and carriage house, built in 1972.
- The Warner house, a Greek Revival style home. It shows exhibits about 20th-century communication.
- The Jackson law office, built in 1830.
- The Oliver one-room school house, furnished like it was around 1900.
- The Schaeffer-Ingold Dutch barn. Experts like Harold Zoch studied these unique barns.
The museum also has a research library. This library is open to historians and people studying their family history. The Old Stone Fort Museum is open to visitors from May through October. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it is recognized as a very important historic site.
See also
