Ridgeley American Legion Post 136

A donation was made to Ray Dixon, Chairman for the Fort Ohio Fund in the amount of $450.00 this past winter ‘07 by the American Legion, Ridgeley West Virginia, Post 136.

What Fort Ohio was, according to local historian Gary Clites, is the first civilization in this area, built by a private venture in 1750. Prior to that, the closest settlement was 13 miles away, in Oldtown, which was settled about 1740.

Local residents consider Fort Cumberland, an actual military fort, the first settlement, Dixon said. But Fort Cumberland was built later, as attested to by its historical marker, which says, “The store houses of The Ohio Company were first located near this point. In 1754 the first fort (called Fort Pleasant) was built.” Clites doesn’t dispute the Fort Cumberland statement, but think it may be referring to the military installment in Cumberland — not to the first commercial settlement across the Potomac River in West Virginia.

“It’s confusing … and I do believe a lot of people believe the first settlement was built in Cumberland,” Clites said, but “for the bigger part of five years, there was little else here than Ridgeley.”

Ridgeley is what Fort Ohio became after it grew from a small trading post built by The Ohio Co., a private business venture Clites said was comprised of wealthy businessmen from England, Maryland and Virginia.

Originally, Fort Ohio was called The New Store during George Washington’s era, which could lead to the confusion about why Fort Ohio hasn’t received the proper recognition Clites and Dixon believe it should have.Dixon has proposed putting up a historical marker at the end of the Blue Bridge that leads from Cumberland into West Virginia. There was once such a sign telling travelers about Fort Ohio, which Dixon remembers seeing across from the old Ridgeley High School on state Route 28, as he walked to and from school as a boy.

“As a young man I remember the sign. And it’s gone,” Dixon said. “It’s just been a dream of mine to get that sign back.”

Dixon proposes to put the sign on the site of the actual trading fort — which Clites said was the center of commercial activity at that time — near the current Lions sign, in the triangle area at the end of the bridge, just over the West Virginia border where Ridgeley begins.

“I’m putting it where it’s supposed to go,” Dixon said.

To do that, Dixon has to come up with enough money to purchase a historical marker from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. He hopes enough people will be interested and they will donate to a fund he’s set up at Standard Bank in LaVale.

According to the agency’s Web site, the Highway Historical Marker Program began in 1937 as a way to promote tourism during the Great Depression. The state funded the markers until 1985, but since then the markers have been paid for by individuals or groups. The markers are made of cast aluminum, and include the state seal. They cost $1,325 if the same inscription is used on both sides, or $1,425 if two different inscriptions are used. The cost to transport and install the marker is $75.

“If anybody wants to donate, they can just come in and tell us, or contact Ray Dixon,” bank branch manager Cindy Schartiger said. Standard Bank also plans to make a donation to the fund, Schartiger added.

The Web site also said markers will be considered for a property that “possess(es) some degree of significance in state or local … history …” and Clites said the Fort Ohio project qualifies. Only a fortified storehouse at first, The New Store later had a second storehouse added, and then stables and a dairy. There were also trader’s cabins, one even owned by Christopher Gist, Clites said.

Gist, whose father helped plot the state of Maryland, accompanied George Washington in 1753, and helped negotiate with the French military forces just prior to the start of the French-Indian War in 1755.

“Until Cumberland was built, Fort Ohio was the center of activity here,” Clites said. “But it was overshadowed by Cumberland,” much the same as suburbs are overshadowed by the bigger cities they adjoin.

Dixon’s dream comes in part from boyhood memories, but it’s also rooted in a desire to improve the small town of Ridgeley. Last year he helped organize a project that put a flower garden at Mineral and Main Street, a spot Dixon said had been “an eyesore for 800 years.”

Now, he hopes to continue cleaning up the small town, “and make it so people will come over (to visit).”

Mayor Mitchell Reeves said Dixon has the Town Council’s blessing and he hopes that perhaps grant money will be available to help pay for the sign.

Daleen Berry writes for the Cumberland (Md.) Times-News.

Article Source CNHI News Service