Introduction
Several old books state that ruins of an old fort or fortification existed at one time near the White Oak Churches in Larimer Township, Somerset County, PA (I need to find the statements again, and quote them here). Some of these accounts seem garbled, and improbable. The main purpose of this page, at present, is to ask people to
e-mail me with any information they may find on the subject, so that I can include it here.
1884 "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania
One mention of a Larimer Township fortification is on page 590 of the 1884 "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania", which states "Along Wills Creek led one of the earliest routes of travel. It was over this road that Braddock's army passed on it's memorable expedition in 1755. The remains of a rude fortification or breastworks are still to be seen at a point on Wills Creek near the center of Larimer. This defense is supposed to have been constructed by Braddock's forces.". I believe the fact that remains were visible. Braddock's expedition is relatively well documented, and I can discover no reason to believe that any part of Braddock's army passed through what is now Larimer Township. I suspect that the author was merely confused the old French and Indian War records that reference the present-day Cumberland area (or possibly a location just above it) as Wills Creek.
1903 "The Pennsylvania-German in the settlement of Maryland"
One statement that may possibly shed a little light on the reason why there might have been a fortification in Larimer Township is the 1914 book The Pennsylvania-German in the settlement of Maryland”. That book states "After the defeat of Braddock the Indian raids became more frequent and a number of blockhouses were built between Fort Cumberland and the western frontier to which the settlers could flee upon the raising of an alarm. These, however, had but little effect in preventing the raids or in affording protection to the settlers. As Judge Stockbridge says, " a period of terror and desolation ensued. The borders of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia became one extended field of petty battles, murder und devastation. The outposts were driven in, and some of the smaller posts captured and their garrisons massacred; and Frederick, Winchester and Carlisle became the frontiers of the colonies. Fort Cumberland was still held by the troops under Captain Dagworthy, but this isolated fortress could afford no protection against roving bands of savages who passed around it to seek their prey in the settlements beyond. "
1903 "The Old Glade (Forbes) Road"
Pages 36 and 46 of the 1903 book "The Old Glade (Forbes) Road" state: Page 36 states "A flood-tide of murder and pillage swept over the Alleghenies. The raids of the savages brought the people to their senses, as the most terrible of tales came in from the frontier. But soon the question arose, '' Where is the frontier ?'' The great track Braddock had opened for the conquest of the Ohio valley became the pathway of his conquerors, and soon Fort Cumberland, the frontier post, was far in the enemies' country. The Indians soon found Burd's road on the summit of the Alleghenies and poured over it by Raystown toward Carlisle and Shippensburg. Each day brought the line of settlements nearer and nearer the populous portions of Virginia and Pennsylvania, until Winchester became an endangered outpost and fears were entertained for Lancaster and York. Hundreds now who had refused the despairing Braddock horses and wagons saw their wives and children murdered and their homesteads burned to the ground.".
Page 46 states "Late in 1756 the Pennsylvania Assembly, now awakened to the condition of affairs caused by their shortsighted, prejudiced policy, took the matter of protection of the frontier into their own hands. Failing to furnish the ounce of prevention, they came quickly with the pound of cure. A chain of forts was planned which, stretching along the barrier wall of the Blue Mountains from the Potomac to the Delaware, should guard the more prominent gaps. " Sometimes the chain of defenses ran on the south side, and frequently both sides of the mountains were occupied, as the needs of the population demanded. Some of these forts consisted of the defenses previously erected by the settlers, which were available for the purpose, and of which the government took possession, while others were newly erected. Almost without exception they were composed of a stockade of heavy planks, inclosing a space of ground more or less extensive, on which were built from one to four blockhouses, pierced with loopholes for musketry, and occupied as quarters by the soldiers and refugee settlers. In addition to these regular forts it became necessary at various points where depredations were most frequent, to have subsidiary places of defense and refuge, which were also garrisoned by soldiers and which generally comprised farmhouses, selected because of their superior strength and convenient location, around which the usual stockade was thrown, or occasionally blockhouses erected for the purpose. The soldiers who garrisoned these forts were provincial troops, which almost without exception were details from the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment, under the command of that brave and energetic officer, Lt. Colonel Conrad Weiser.".
The confusing thing about this is I think I read somewhere that Somerset County wasn't really settled much, if at all, at the time of the French and Indian War.
Indian fortifications
I believe that I recall seeing that Indians built palisade-type structures in Somerset County, so perhaps the Larimer Township fortification may possibly have been an Indian Structure. Everything is conjecture at this point, if you have information, please send it.