Fort Hendricks, Shoch's Blockhouse, Kreamer Pa

 
Fort Hendrick, also referred to as Schoch's Block-House, was built around 1770.  Early settlers constructed the building near a spring on Mathias Schoch's land, as protection from the Native Americans.  Although several serious efforts were made to preserve the Fort in 1899 and again in 1915, sometime before 1949 the Fort either fell, or was torn down.  [Shoemaker states it fell in a strong gale.]  

  A replica of the Fort was constructed in 1976 clearly visible from Route 522.  In 2014, that replica was moved to it's new location, at the Middlecreek Recreation Grounds.  The replica can can still be seen there today.

A description of the Schoch Block House [Fort Hendricks] in 1939 reads:

"The Schoch Block House was built in 1770 of logs with no doors or windows on the first flood, other than the opening thru which the spring water flowed.  The first floor contained the fireplace, and remarkable for that day, a plank flood.  The second story had a floor of eight inch logs, hewn square, fitted tightly together with a trap door to the first floor.  To the outside was a door made of thick hewed planks, from which a ladder was used to reach the ground.  This was drawn up when the inhabitants were within.  Only two small openings were at the gable ends.  They were eight by 12 inches in size.  Whether the family resided in teh block house all the time, or in the first cabin, is not known.  They, with their neighbors, may have used it only as a refuge."  

The one story replica, built in 1976, bears little resemblance to the structure described and photographed prior to 1915.  This reminds me of the log cabin discovered in Washingtonville in recent years, "reconstructed" at the fairgrounds, but bearing no resemblance to the original structure.  See photos of that here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/this-revolutionary-war-era-cabin-has.html

Inside the replica

In 1976, a replica of the Mathias Schoch Block House/Hendricks Fort, was placed along Route 522  near Kreamer.  The log fort was constructed ty the Kreamer Boy Scouts for an Order Of the Arrow ceremony.  The scouts acquired a log building from Charles Ax of Freeburg, and recreated the Schoch Block House to the best of their abilities.

In June of 1896, The Middleburgh Post ran a short history of the Fort.  It read as follows:

"Hendricks blockhouse is located in middle Creek Township, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, on the South side of the public road leading from Selinsgrove to Lewistown, and is but a few rods West of the village of Kramer. It is constructed of huge oaken logs laid one upon another with the crevices filled in with clay or mortar, making a very solid structure. Although it has weathered time and storms for over a century it is still in very good condition and would yet be an almost impregnable fortress against the ordinary attacks of firearms.

[Unreadable] which is [unreadable] 20 feet square, there is a fine spring of water and at the West side thereof a huge chimney of stone starts from the ground and reaches through the shingle Brief. A clayey substance still sticks tenaciously to the outside of the chimney and is decorated by parallel lines drawn by some inventive individual before the mud covering became dry and hard. About six feet from the earth a floor of planks 3 inches thick was run across and upon this floor and settlers took refuge when attacked by the Indians. The settlers fired through loopholes about a foot square. Old residents state that it is yet within their recollection the fact of another building have been erected at no remote distance from the Fort blockhouse, where families lived; But they would all repair at nightfall or in cases of emergency to the fortress.

Due north of where the Fort stands, is the place where the stuck massacre occurred in 1781, where three people lost their lives. This massacre was quickly avenged by the citizens who followed the fleeing savages, overtaking them in the vicinity of the New York border where the Indian murderers were surprised at night about their campfire and dispatched, under the leadership of messrs Grove, Pence and Stroh, three experienced Indian fighters of the day

Mr. Charles keck owns the land whereon Fort Hendricks is erected. The Fort has variously been occupied as a spring house, tobacco house, etc.  Mr. Keck and other citizens think the state should mark the spot as a monument to the times and privations of the past period

The readers of the post will recall that the commissioner appointed by His Excellency ex governor Patterson to prepare the history relating to the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania embracing 16 counties of the Commonwealth, was Jay Gilfillian wiser, Esquire of Middleburgh. Mr. Weiser is a lineal descendant of Conrad Weiser the famous Indian interpreter who rendered such eminent service 100 years ago. We present herewith the meager history of what is known of fort Hendricks situated in Snyder county.

This Fort or block house was erected by private enterprise and took the name of those more prominent and it's erection. There is no doubt that the Hendricks of this locality, now only represented by collateral offspring were of the same stock from which sprang honorable Thomas a Hendricks, the distinguished Indian statesman. Governor Hendrick's father emigrated from Pennsylvania and there were hundreds on the tax list, of that early day in Lancaster and other counties of Pennsylvania. There are also living today both in Snyder and Northumberland counties members of this pioneer family while descendants are scattered over several of the western states, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Iowa."

1899

In 1889, Dr A.M. Smith introduced "his first bill into legislature, which provides for the purchasing and fixing up of Fort Hendricks in Middlecreek tp, a short distance west of Smithgrove, and carries an appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars with it.  The 1899 newspaper article goes on to say that the Fort or blockhouse was erected about 1770 or about ten years prior to the massacre of the Stock family, which occurred in this neighborhood, about one mile to the North west of the block-house.  Any son going west of Smithgrove or Kreamer, on the public road or in the cars, will see a little old log hut standing in a filed to the left of the road, a short distance from the town, immediately wed of the old Smith stone barn - This is Fort Hendricks.

In 1900, a report of the committee appointed in 1899 to purchase the "Schoch Blochouse" was given at the Schoch reunion.  The chairman, the Hon. G. Alfred Schoch of Middleburg, stated that: "The present owner of the land on which the blockhouse is located got the idea into his head that the Schochs were so anxious to get possession of the fort that they would pay a fabulous sum, probably $50,000 [roughly 1.8 million in todays equivalent] But not so.  The Association desired very much to come in possession of the fort, and are willing to pay a reasonable figure for it.  The committee, feeling that they had done all that could be done in the matter, asked to be discharged, which was done."

 

1915

If you look at the photos above, of the Fort in 1896, and compare them with the photo below, of the Fort in 1915, it does appear that perhaps some attempt was made to preserve the building.  In 1915 there were renewed efforts to preserve the site.

In April of 1949, Henry Shoemaker wrote, in the Altoona Tribune:

"In Snyder County many old fold felt relieved when Fort Hendricks, on the main road from Selinsgrove to Middleburg, fell down as it was full of ghosts: a family had been massacred there in 1781 by Indians and its fall, like a bag of bones, laid these wayside 'wafts' of the unfortunate Stock, Stuck, of Stouk family.  In this rare instance, their horrid killing was avenged by the rangers, Peter Grove, Peter Pentz, and Jacob Stoh, who followed the savage killers, they had made off in the direction of the New York State line and surprised seated around the campfire were 'bumped off' by the avenging rangers.  Probably because of the rumors of 'haunting' the local feeling was strong not to repair or strengthen Fort Hendricks, like in Lock Haven, a sentiment to get rid of the historic covered bridge caused three attempts to burn it, hte last one was successful.

Efforts to reinforce Fort Hendricks were always postponed, until the long looked for gale levelled this priceless survival of pre-Revolutionary days.  It dated back to 1770, or most likely to Pontiac's Ward, and sent its timbers scattering all over the field on which it had stood so long.  It was a pity, as it might be standing today, with one of Dr. Don Cadzow

s handsome blue and gold historical markers in front.  No doubt it was named for Captain William Hendricks, killed at Quebec, his death commemorated in glowing remarks by Provost William Smith, a Pennsylvania German hero, who appeared in Snyder county about the time Fort Hendricks was built, with his companion in arms Peter Eisenhower, General Ike's ancestor back from the founding of Hanover Township, Luzerne county, where they had fought the pennymite war."

In 1939, Miss Agnes S. Schoch of Selinsgrove told of the Schoch block house construction, "in 1768 by an ancestor, Matthias Schoch.  The marker on the site is built of stones from the original fire place and chimney."

==============
READ MORE
================

============

READ MORE

=============

==================

1900

===================================

1939

====================

This was a pioneer refuge during the Revolutionary War era. It is located near a spring and was built on Matthias Schoch's tract about 1770 and in use until 1783.

Mathias Schoch was born December 16,1738 in the disputed quarter of

Switzerland - the Alsace-Lorraine. At the time of his birth it was part of

Switzerland. He came to America via the ship "Albany" which landed in

Philadelphia, PA, on September 2,1749. As the youth was a poor boy he came to

this country as a "Redemptioner", and was indentured to Conrad Weiser of the

Tulpehocken area for a period of six years, during which time he worked out

his passage, paid by the Great Interpreter, before he was a free man in the

new land of great promise.

In 1755, Mathias Schoch, at the age of 17 years, obtained his freedom.

During the period he lived at the Weiser home, which is now so well preserved

as a State Park, he learned much from his master, Conrad Weiser. A better

school for the life of an adventurous youth could not have been found.

Frequently Weiser took Mathias on long trips with him into the interior.

The legend is that when this valley was first sought out by whites in 1760,

Mathias Schoch came here and pulled one of Conrad Weiser's now famous tricks.

Mathias decided upon the land where you are now standing and bargained with

the local Indians, giving in exchange for the land his rifle. Apparently

there was no dreaming about the negotiation. Mathias then returned to the

Tulpehoken and made application to the Penns for 186 acres, June 4,1762.

Having now become a land owner he took his next great step in life and

married Margaretta Maurette, the daughter of a Huguenot family, who settled in

Amity, Berks County, Penn. about 1747. You will see the graves of Mathias

Schoch and his French wife in the old cemetery at Rowe's Church in Salem.

By successive grants he became possessed of 402 acres, which plantation he

called "Braintree". His family remained in Tulpehocken, but each spring

Mathias came to the Middle Creek valley and cleared his land, returning to

Tulpehocken for the winter months. His family did not make their home here

until 1768. The first dwelling was located in back of the blockhouse.....The

year 1766 brought more settlers into the valley, including Peter Godshalk,

John Hendricks and his sons Abraham and Samuel. Into this latter family one

of Mathias Schoch's daughter's married and they resided in the old

blockhouse, and the place was known for many years as "Hendricks Fort".

The Schoch blockhouse was built in 1770 of logs with no doors or windows on

the first floor, other than the opening through which the spring water

flowed. The first floor contained the fireplace, and remarkable for that day,

a plank floor. The second story had a floor of 8-inch logs, hewn square,

fitted tightly together, with a trap door to the first floor. To the outside

was a door made of thick hewed planks, from which a ladder was made to reach

the ground. This was drawn up when the inhabitants were within the house.

Only 2 small openings were at the gabled ends. Whether the family resided in

the block house all the time or just used it as a refuge from Indian attacks,

is not known.

Early in the spring of 1776 there stealthily appeared at the block house an

old Indian, whom Margaretta, the wife of Mathias, recognized as a friend of

her husband. Mathias was away on picket duty. The Indian sat by the fireside

throughout the day and would only grunt when spoken to. Late in the afternoon

he went away.

That evening when Mathias came home his wife told him of the strange visit

and how strangely he acted. They decided it bode no good, and Mathias said

"If he comes again try to make him talk".

The next day he came again, and once again the husband was away on picket

duty. Margaretta must have had a French woman's intuition, for she gave the

Indian a bowl of venison soup. He ate it in silence, arose and went to the

trap door. He stood there for a long time and then came back to where Mrs.

Schoch and said she should flee, that the Indians were planning an attack all

along the frontier. He also told her not to tell of his visit or the news he

brought or he would pay for it with his life.

The hours seemed endless until Mathias returned home. When Margaretta told

him what the Indian said, Mathias took his horse and rode thru the valley

telling the news. He and the men prepared for the attack. First all the women

and children must be sent south, thru the gap at White Top to their old homes

in the lower counties. By daylight, the little train of women and children

were on their way south. The men then decided to till the soil by day, attend

to their usual picket duty and all gather in the blockhouse by night. That

is, all but one family. Across the creek lived the Stock family. They had

heard of Indian raids so often that they decided to stay on their farm. That

was a great tragedy.

Peace came at last. The colonies won their battle for Independence and the

Indians were subdued and retreated to the western country, and by 1783 the

people returned to Middle Creek valley and once again took up their abodes.

History has not revealed the name of the kindly Indian. Margaretta kept her

secret well, and she and all the children, other than the Stock family,

reached safety and eventually returned to the valley to found families whose

descendants today make up the old families of Snyder County.

====================

1898 Selinsgrove Times

2014

"According to legend, Mathias Shoch was one of the first white men to settle in the Buffalo Valley.  He traded his rifle in exchange for a tract of land.  On June 4th, 1762, Shoch applies for 186 acres.  Over time he acquired a total of 402 acres, naming his plantation "Braintree" ".