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Support the Fort, Inc. is a group of citizens committed to
reconstructing Fort
St. Joseph in the Four
Flags area. The purpose of Fort St. Joseph, a living history museum and educational
facility, is to preserve and promote the history of Fort St. Joseph
and the Four Flags area.
Regular Meetings of Support the Fort, Inc are held at 7:00 p.m. on
the 4th Tuesday of every other month at the Greater Niles Senior Center, 1109 Bell Rd., Niles,
MI 49120.
Stop by and get acquainted!
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Become a member and
Support the Fort!
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Brief History of Fort. St. Joseph
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History of the Fort St. Joseph
Archaeological Project
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1691
The French built a blockhouse and a fort on the east side of the St. Joseph
River, one mile south of the center of Niles,
Michigan. The fort commanded
the river which was navigable by boat or canoe for 150 miles from its mouth
at the present city of St. Joseph, where it
flows into Lake Michigan
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July 1997
STF contacts Dr. Michael Nassaney of Western Michigan
University about and
archaeological exploration at the site.
March 1998
STF receives permission from Niles City council to coordinate archaeological
exploration on a 15 acre parcel behind Fort St. Joseph
rock.
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1761
The British 60th Regiment, then called the Royal Americans, took the block
house. The French flag came down and the English Ensign went up.
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October 9, 1998
STF receives $11,564 from the Michigan Humanities council in support of the
archaeological effort and new curriculum development in Niles Community
Schools.
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1781
A force under Spanish control, but actually composed of French militiamen and
Indians traveled from St. Louis, Missouri to Fort
St. Joseph. They took
the fort by surprise and made prisoners of everyone there. The men then
raised the Spanish flag, looted the fort, and set off the next day for St. Louis.
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October 26, 1998
Phase 1 of the archaeological project completed by Dr. Nassaney and staff
November 5, 1998
Dr. Nassaney announces finding evidence of the colonial occupation associated
with the Fort. St. Joseph
site.
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1783
The Americans, through a treaty of peace with the British, were given
possession of all territory between lakes Michigan and Huron.
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Currently
WMU and the City of
Niles have now entered into a 10 year agreement to insure that the work
continues on an annual basis.
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Support
the Fort, Inc.
PO Box 1024, Niles, MI 49120
http://www.supportthefort.net/
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