Fort Van Meter
Encyclopedia
Fort Van Meter — also known as Fort Pleasant and Town Fort — was an 18th century frontier fort in the South Branch Potomac River Valley south of Romney
in Hampshire County
, West Virginia
, USA. It is located approximately a mile and a half north of the rugged river gorge known as The Trough
. Fort Van Meter's stone blockhouse
, erected in 1756, still stands and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 2009.
In 1756, at the outset of the French and Indian War
, the fort and its supporting structures were erected on Isaac Van Meter's property by Captain Thomas Waggener under orders from Colonel George Washington
. The fort was first known by the name of the Van Meter family, which had also assisted in its initial construction and maintenance. Fort Van Meter was one in a chain of forts that ran along the frontier of the Allegheny Mountains
.
After its construction in 1756, the Battle of the Trough
took place a short distance to the north of Fort Van Meter. After the 1777 founding of Moorefield
to its south, the fort was known as "Town Fort" due to its proximity to the new town. When Washington visited the area in 1784, Fort Van Meter was still standing.
According to the Geographic Names Information System
, Fort Van Meter was also known throughout its existence as "Fort Hopewell" and "Waggener's Lower Fort." (The latter name distinguished it from Fort Buttermilk, also known as "Fort Waggener", about 5 miles upstream and also built by Waggener in 1756.)
It is one of four significant VanMeter family dwellings; the other are Traveler's Rest, Garrett VanMeter House
, and Buena Vista Farms
.
d defense enclosing a blockhouse
and log houses.
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
in Hampshire County
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. It is located approximately a mile and a half north of the rugged river gorge known as The Trough
The Trough
The Trough is a large river gorge carved by the South Branch Potomac River and situated in the Allegheny Mountains of Hampshire and Hardy Counties, West Virginia, USA...
. Fort Van Meter's stone blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
, erected in 1756, still stands and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
since 2009.
History
Prior to the fort's construction, the area was settled by Isaac Van Meter (ca. 1696-1757), his wife Annetje Wynkoop, and their four children. Van Meter and his family constructed a fortified log residence in 1744.In 1756, at the outset of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, the fort and its supporting structures were erected on Isaac Van Meter's property by Captain Thomas Waggener under orders from Colonel George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. The fort was first known by the name of the Van Meter family, which had also assisted in its initial construction and maintenance. Fort Van Meter was one in a chain of forts that ran along the frontier of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
.
After its construction in 1756, the Battle of the Trough
Battle of the Trough
The Battle of the Trough was a skirmish of the early French and Indian War fought between Native Americans and British settlers in the valley of the South Branch Potomac River in what is now northern Hardy County, West Virginia, USA.-Background:After the defeat of General Edward Braddock at the...
took place a short distance to the north of Fort Van Meter. After the 1777 founding of Moorefield
Moorefield, West Virginia
Moorefield is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia, USA. Moorefield is the county seat of Hardy County. It was originally chartered in 1777 and named for Conrad Moore, who owned the land upon which the town was laid out...
to its south, the fort was known as "Town Fort" due to its proximity to the new town. When Washington visited the area in 1784, Fort Van Meter was still standing.
According to the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, Fort Van Meter was also known throughout its existence as "Fort Hopewell" and "Waggener's Lower Fort." (The latter name distinguished it from Fort Buttermilk, also known as "Fort Waggener", about 5 miles upstream and also built by Waggener in 1756.)
It is one of four significant VanMeter family dwellings; the other are Traveler's Rest, Garrett VanMeter House
Garrett VanMeter House
Garrett VanMeter House is a historic home located near Old Fields, Hardy County, West Virginia. It was built about 1830, and is a two story brick I house dwelling with a two story rear ell. It has Greek Revival stylistic elements. Attached to the ell is a one story summer kitchen. It has a side...
, and Buena Vista Farms
Buena Vista Farms
Buena Vista Farms is a historic home located near Old Fields, Hardy County, West Virginia. It was built in 1836, and is a brick dwelling in the Greek Revival style. Also on the property is a large Gothic Revival style frame bank barn dated to 1904...
.
Architecture
Fort Van Meter was a substantial palisadePalisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
d defense enclosing a blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
and log houses.
See also
- List of historic sites in Hampshire County, West Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West VirginiaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West VirginiaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West Virginia.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States...