Valley Girl Views: The Fort Augusta Replica

Sunday, May 5, 2024

The Fort Augusta Replica

The Fort Augusta Replica, located in front of the The Hunter House [Northumberland County Historical Society Museum] on front street in Sunbury, is one of the neatest little sights to see in our area. There are speakers on each of the light posts around the display, pressing a button on the post will give you some of the history as you walk around [although they can be difficult to hear over the traffic noise, at times].

Posts with speakers provide some of the history of Fort Augusta

This is FREE to visit, you can just walk through, whether or not the museum is open that day - although a trip through the museum is always fun too, there's so much history to see in that little space. Also - don't forget to walk over to see the magazine while here - it's just a few feet away, along with the original spring from the fort, and closer to the building, there is one of the original stone markers from the old canal. And then, cross the street and walk north a bit to the gazebo view of Shikellamy's profile. Like I said, so much history to see here.

The original replica was constructed in 1939, as part of a WPA project. I'm told that the original was built using the wood from the trolley poles, after the Sunbury Trolley line was shut down.

The idea for a Fort Replica originated at the "Tuesday Luncheon Club". As a result, a Citizens Committee was formed, and $2,300 was subscribed by business men, citizens, and school children.

A WPA project was obtained, amounting to $9,000 for labor. The $2,300 was used for materials to renovate the rooms of the house for the Northumberland County Historical Society and Museum.

It was officially dedicated with "crowds numbering in the thousands" on May 30th 1940.

The Replica was 1/6th the size of the original and was made to scale by Eugene Gardner, who was sent to Sunbury from the Pennsylvania Historical Society. He was assisted by Heber G. Gearhart, George H. Neff, and others. The original replica was made as large as the width of the property obtained by the state, limiting it's dimensions to 30 sq feet.