Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne - Paperback

by David F. Jamroz (Author), James Conway (Author)

Michigan's historic Fort Wayne, located on the narrowest point of the Detroit River, is named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne. The fort was built in the 1840s to protect Detroit from British invasion following the strife of the 1838 Patriot War in Canada. Originally constructed of earth and wood, the fortifications were rebuilt in masonry during the Civil War, but the fort has never mounted cannons, as peace came to the international border and remains to this day. Fort Wayne has served the military as a training center, home to infantry regiments, supply depot, prisoner of war camp, and major induction center. It was a source of work for the unemployed during the Great Depression, a place of confinement during the Red Scare of 1920, and home for those displaced by civil unrest in Detroit during the 1960s. The fort continues to invite people to its riverfront view, not as soldiers but as guests, to enjoy community events on its broad parade fields and to learn about those who lived, drilled, and worked there.

Author Biography

James Conway serves as project manager at Fort Wayne. A Fort Wayne U.S. Army inductee and a community preservationist, he has served as chief curator of museum programs and architectural curator for Detroit Historical Museums. David F. Jamroz is a retired automotive engineer and West Point graduate with 32 years military service. A historian, he is active in community efforts to preserve historic Fort Wayne. The images used to tell the fort's story have been selected from the collections of the Detroit Historical Society, the Detroit Public Library, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives.