FORT RANDOLPH -  YEARS 1996 - 1999

 

 


Built in 1974, for the Battle of Point Pleasant Bicentennial, the Fort has stood on the edge of Krodel Lake for a quarter of a century, used from time to time by civic organizations, clubs and youth pro­grams (4Her’s and Boy Scouts), but for the most part of those 25 years, the Fort has stood empty.

In early spring of 1997, the Fort Committee, with funding from the Claude Worthington Benedium Foundation, Greater Kanawha Resource Conservation & Development Area (RC&D) and the Gover­nor’s Community Partnership Grant Program, built a hewed log structure we now use as the trading post and museum. The building is 48’ long and 28’ wide. In addition to the trading post, an 1840 log house was reconstructed adjacent to the Fort in 1997. After acquiring more funding, from RC&D, a beautiful stone fireplace and chimney was added to the log house.

In 1998, the Fort Committee received funding, from the Gordon C. and Mildred R. Jackson Foundation and the Governor’s Community Partnership Grant Program, to build two blockhouses at the front corners of the Fort and this year another grant from the Jackson Foun­dation, enabled the committee to construct a 12’ X 24’ hewed logged Blacksmith Shop and that was just recently completed.  

In May of 1998, Fort Randolph opened its gates to the public for viewing and was open every first weekend thru October of that year. This year the Fort has been open every weekend, using a special theme on the first weekend of each month. The Fort has offered our visitors a number of demonstrations and re-enactments. Colonial car­pentry, broom making, native Indian lore, candle dipping, basket wea­ving, soap making, spinning wheel demonstrations, flintlock and cannon demonstrations, flint napping and will soon have colonial black­smithing added to the list. There also is a nature trail built around the Fort and additions are being added to it by RC&D at this time, it includes trees and shrubs that are native to this area and a watering system was added this past summer so the plants could be cared for during the dry seasons.

The Fort Randolph Committee has twelve members who have, along with other volunteers, contributed well over 2000 man-hours of volunteer work since we starting keeping a record of these hours last March. Construction and other improvement costs, over the past three years, have exceeded Three Thousand Dollars.

Since opening day, May 1st. (weekends only) the Fort has greeted over 3000 visitors to date. There has been one wedding, 4H Club and Boy Scout camp outs. During Battle Days there will be an encampment and battle re-enactments along with demonstrations and story telling. On Nov. 13th The Veteran’s of Foreign Wars will sponsor a Health Fair for veterans at Fort Randolph.