Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

[Federal Bummer]

Sponsor: GHTI
Venue: Historic Fort Wayne - Detroit, Michigan (1840's star fort used as one of the main mustering sites for Michigan during the CW, as well as subsequent wars)
Date: Aug 10-12, 2007
Scenario: Federal muster-in, garrison.
Impression: Come as civilians and get issued uniforms, arms and accoutrements. Train as the men of Michigan did at the fort.
Website: Forthcoming
Target Participation: 150 men
Primary Contact: Pat Price, G.H. Thomas' Invincibles

In 2003, the GHTI sponsored a small event at historic Fort Wayne in order to bring more attention to this crumbling jewel of Michigan history. We succeeded in raising funds for and donating our time during the event to rebuild the cover to an entrance to one of the casemates inside the star fort. Now, 4 years later in 2007 we'd like to host another event at the fort.

Much has happened in the interim between our last event and this one in 2007. The fort is now being administered by the Detroit Historical Society (see their website on the fort here: http://www.detroithistorical.org/aboutus/fortwayne.asp ) and has a new administrator in Jim Conway. The fort has seen an influx of previously tied-up money close to the tune of $2 Million. Much of that has gone into a renovation of the enlisted barracks inside the star fort. Bay #1 is going to be kept intact to be used by reenactors and shown to the public as it was in the 1860's. Bays 2-5 are being set up to serve as a museum gallery. Plumbing and roofing projects have gone on in the barracks and a nearby building as well - bringing things up to date.

The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition (volunteer organization built around a nucleus of reenactors) has been very active around the fort completing projects of various size and scope to improve the property. They have been very instrumental in keeping the fort alive and open for the public and reenactors to appreciate.


More details about guidelines, deadlines, etc will be forthcoming with the website. Registration will be on an individual basis. This event is open to anyone who can meet the guidelines.

If you've never been to the fort before, please take a few minutes to chat with some of the folks who have. It's a great place that has been in disrepair for a while, but is coming back, with lots of potential. Beyond the actual star fort there are several dozen other buildings that day from the 1800's up through the 1960's or so. (Spanish American guardhouse, commandant's house, NCO row, officer's row, enlisted barracks, stables, base theater, etc)
Go to Google Maps and plug in the phrase "Detroit Historic Fort Wayne, detroit, mi" and it will plot a point just NW of the Fort property. You can easily see the Star Fort on the satellite imagery with NCO and Officer's Row's to the SW.

- Pat Price

[Chris Suppelsa]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

I'm there, any idea when the website will be up?

[John Legg]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Sha-weet

im in

Cheers,

[AndrewMartin]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Are you making the website Steve???

[unclefrank]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

I too am there.

[Federal Bummer]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Are you making the website Steve???

Pat Price is the man to talk to. I just thought I'd repost this since it was lost in the "Crash of 06"

[Milliron]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

I was at the Feast of St. Barbara there about, oh, 20 years ago (used to do artillery back then) and remember it as being a really cool place. Of course, the coolness was enhanced by a belly full of French '75's, but it really was a neat crumbling relic.

I will make an attempt to attend this event if at all possible. I urge others to do so.

[Beaner]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Frank and Chris I'll let Pat know you are interested.
Sam Billingsley
4th Tx. Co. E

[Beaner]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Here's the web address; http://www.fortwayne2007.com.
Sam Billingsley
4th Tx. Co.E

[pprice]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

All,
Thanks again for the interest. I'd wanted to fill in a few more of the holes on the website before releasing the URL, but now someone has posted it, here's a tad bit more. And Bob, yeah, the site is a great place. All sorts of great history in there. Unfortunately a lot of it is still off limits to the public in terms of the artifacts, etc. Nonetheless, it's a fantastic site, especially for CW events with the star fort.

One thing that I will say here, and can't stress enough, is that the premise of this scenario is to come as a civilian and you'll get issued arms, uniform and equipment. (your own) So, if you don't currently have a good civilian impression develeoped, please start working on it now.

Having said that, I'm off to talk to our webmaster and find out how to update some of the content on the site.

Thanks,
- Pat Price

[pprice]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Since I'm unable to access the website immediately, here is a fort history that is going to be added tonight:



Historic Fort Wayne was constructed between 1844 and 1847 at a time when tensions between British Canada and the United States were running high. A border dispute in the area of modern day Oregon, sometimes referred to by the name “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight”, were stretching the patience of both sides. The US was seen as having an expansionist agenda in the Polk administration at the time and distrust was still rife between the two great English-speaking nations. Rebellious sentiment had been running high in Upper Canada in the late 1830’s and the British government viewed those in the US as supporting insurgent views, possibly with material aid. With the War of 1812 still fresh in their minds but not having an up to date fort system along the northern border, the US decided to implement a string of forts along the border with Upper Canada.

Lt. Montgomery C. Meigs was placed in charge of building the new fort. Previous forts (Detroit and Shelby/Lernoult) having been located elsewhere, the Army chose a point on a bend in the Detroit River which would command river traffic in both directions. (The fort now sits well back from the riverside, but originally came nearly to the water’s edge.) The intent of the fort was to serve primarily as an artillery post, being able to fire directly across the river into Canada and on any boats transiting the river intent on lakes Huron or Erie. The fort was named in honor of General Anthony Wayne, who had defeated the British in 1796 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers to ensure US occupation of the Northwest Territory.

Sites for the fort were surveyed beginning in 1840 and construction finally began in 1844 on 23 acres of land at an initial cost of $50,000. During the construction of the classic earthen-walled star fort, diplomats were able to come to an understanding with Britain about border disputes. As a result, although work on the fort was finished, there is no evidence to support the idea that the fort was ever equipped with its intended complement of artillery pieces. The fort was garrisoned by infantry only after completion, with the only confirmed artillery piece being a single, small cannon mounted later on the demi-lune used to signal river traffic. Touring the site even today, you will find emplacements prepared for a large complement of artillery both on top of the walls and within them.

The fort was originally constructed as an earthen-walled star fort with bastions, dry-moat, revetments and demi-lune. It had wooden planking on some walls, which was later replaced with masonry. Forty additional acres were purchased for the site during the construction phase. While fort walls were completed in 1846, interior and exterior buildings were not started until 1847 and 1848. Barracks, kitchens, stables, powder magazine, bath houses and other buildings were completed over the next several years. By 1851 nearly all the original structures were complete and the fort grounds totaled 90 acres.

Infantry garrisoned the fort minimally during the next 15 years, but with the outbreak of the Civil War the state decided to use the fort as one of the primary training grounds for newly formed regiments in the state. Several regiments were formed at Fort Wayne during the conflict. It would go on to serve as an induction point for Michigan soldiers for every major US conflict through the Vietnam War.

The Fort Wayne post served many uses over the nearly 125 years of active military service. It served as a training station for many parts of the military including chaplains, engineers, and aerial forces. It was a procurement station mainly for vehicles during WWII as part of the Arsenal of Democracy plan – becoming the largest motor pool in the world. It also housed Italian POWs during that conflict. Additional buildings were constructed on the post and many were demolished during the years of the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

Starting in 1948 portions of the fort were given over to the City of Detroit by the US Army. This would culminate with nearly the sum total of fort grounds and buildings falling into control of the City over the course of the next 3 decades. Today only 9 acres of land are still actively controlled and utilized by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Other notable events that happened at the fort include it being the site of temporary housing for victims of the 1967 Detroit race riots. In the 1970’s vandalism began to take its toll on the fort buildings while at the same time a resurgence of historical preservation and interpretation began to take hold at the historic site. Dr. William Phoenix became curator of the newly formed museum authority at the fort. He created an interpretive program that employed about 15 people dressed in period attire that guided the general public and school groups alike through the fort grounds, buildings and displays.

In 1990 a labor dispute between the workers at the fort and the City of Detroit left the site without any interpreters. The fort plodded along for two years before shuttering the doors in 1992. The fort remained closed to the public and fell into severe disrepair over the course of the next 6-10 years.
The fort re-opened in the new millennium, but only with a severely restricted summer-weekend schedule and with near non-existent staff. It was during these years that volunteer groups re-formed to help lend their time and money towards projects around the fort grounds. While these projects helped solve minor problems, the fort requires funding on the order of tens of millions of dollars to renovate, rebuild and maintain the crumbling structures left on the site.

In 2006 the Detroit Parks and Recreation department inherited the historic Fort Wayne site from the city and the Detroit Historical Museum. Together with the outstanding efforts from the volunteers of the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition they have started down the long road to repair, refurbish and save what can be saved at this historic landmark in the heard of Detroit.

Around 40 buildings now exist on the site, most of them in various states of disrepair. Those include the site of the Indian Burial Mound, the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, the Commandants’s House, NCO Row, Officer’s Row, the Visitor’s Center, Post Stables, Spanish American Guard House, the 1848 Barracks, and several others. The old 12-acre parade ground now hosts soccer games through the warmer months for local teams, the Visitor’s Center is host to a bi-annual flea market, and the star fort is the site of several historical reenactments throughout the year. Most of the displays and artifacts from years gone by remain behind closed doors until such time as increased funding can be found to bring them back to the light of day. Visitors to the fort can walk freely about the site, but are only allowed in the 1848 Barracks, the Commandant’s House (maintained by the Colonial Dames), the star fort itself, and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum.

[Beaner]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Sorry Pat
Sam Billingsley
4th Tx. Co. E

[lawson]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

Anyone,
Will there be any place for authentic civilian impressions in the mix there? Perhaps well wishers, and family members seeing the B'hoys off to war. Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks,

[SGulley]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

That is as of yet undecided (our biggest conundrum being the housing of civilians). Please stay tuned for more info!

Thanks!

[pprice]

Re: Fort Wayne, Detroit MI August 10-12

We have secured housing for civilian attendees. They will be vetted on a case by case basis. Please contact us privately regarding participation.