44°31′N
88°1′W
/
44.517°N 88.017°W
/
44.517; -88.017
(
Fort Howard (closed 1853, location approximate)
)
Fort Howard
was a 19th-century
fortification
in the
north central
United States
, built by the
U.S. Army
. It was located along the west bank of the
Fox River
in
Green Bay, Wisconsin
.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
Along with
Fort Crawford
at
Prairie du Chien
, Fort Howard was constructed during the
War of 1812
to protect the
Fox-Wisconsin Waterway
, an important regional trade and travel route between
Lake Michigan
and the
Mississippi River
, from
British
invasion. The fort was built at the site of the earlier French
Fort La Baye
(and renamed Fort Edward Augustus by the British in 1761). The initial estimate of its building cost was $16,644.70.
(Military History of the Upper Great Lakes)
For a time it was commanded by
Zachary Taylor
.
[2]
During an outbreak of
malaria
in 1820, the garrison moved to
Camp Smith
[3]
on higher ground nearby. Fort Howard was reoccupied two years later. Abandoned again in 1841, when the garrison was sent to
Florida
during the
Seminole Wars
, the fort was officially decommissioned in 1853.
In 1863, the United States government granted land to the States of Michigan and Wisconsin for construction of a military road between Fort Howard and
Fort Wilikins
near Copper Harbor, Michigan. This road was completed in 1872.
[4]
Following the fort's closure its buildings fell into decay. Several structures were subsequently removed to the Camp Smith site, where they are now part of the
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
. Three of the fort's remaining structures are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
: the
hospital
,
hospital ward
, and
officers' quarters
.
Later use of name
[
edit
]
In the 20th century, the
Fort Howard Paper Company
was a
pulp and paper
manufacturer based in Green Bay, founded by
Austin E. Cofrin
in 1919. It merged with
James River
in 1997 to form
Fort James Corporation
and became part of
Georgia-Pacific
in 2000.
Images
[
edit
]
-
Kitchen
-
Hospital
during 2014 restoration
-
Dining area in Officers' Quarters
-
-
Looking southeast at courtyard
-
Looking northwest across courtyard
-
School
-
-
Guard house during 2014 reconstruction
Notes
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Presidency
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Family
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