Mineral County, WV
Fort Ashby

Ashby's Fort at Alaska, Frankfort Community (now Fort Ashby, WV) [The old log fort owned and occupied as a dwelling by Thomas F. Pyles is now owned by the D.A.R.] Source: The Northwestern Turnpike Bulletin, Vol. 49-68 By West Virginia. Dept. of Agriculture

Built in 1755, Ashby's Fort was established by orders of Colonel George Washington. It stood on the east bank of Patterson's Creek on the site of the present village of Alaska, formerly Frankfort, in Frankfort district, Mineral County. Erected by Lieutenant John Hacon under orders from Colonel Washington, in 1755. December 21, 1773, Captain Charles Lewis of Fredericksburg assumed command at this fort in which he found a garrison of twenty-one men to whom Lieutenant Bacon, whom he had appointed adjutant, read the Articles of War. On the 11th of October, Colonel Washington received letters from Captain John Ashby regarding conditions there.

The next spring—May 23, 1756—Colonel Washington issued orders to Lieutenant Colonel Adam Stephen to have Fort Ashby fully supplied from Fort Cumberland, Maryland, distant twenty-five miles. In August, that year, Lieutenant Robert Rutherford, with a company of Rangers was defeated here by the French Indians. Soon after Captain John Ashby made a remarkable escape from the Indians, reaching the fort in safety. Sources.— [Source: "Biennial report of the Department of Archives and History of the State of West Virginia" WV, Dept. of Archives and History, Ohio Valley Historical Association, Virgil Anson Lewis, Henry S. Green, 1906 See De Hass' "History of the Early Settlements and Indian Wars of Western Virginia," p. 204; Kercheval's "History of the Valley," p. 126 (First Edition) ; Toner's Edition of "Washington's Journal over the Mountains, 17478" ; "Journal of Captain Charles Lewis," printed in "Collections of the Virginia Historical Society," Vol. XI, p. 216, (new series) ; "Dinwiddie Papers," Vol. II, p. 239 ; Sparks' "Writings of Washington," Vol. II, pp. 125, 163, 167.] Fort Ashby sheltered settlers for many years under the command of Col. John Ashby. George Washington had his last connection with Fort Ashby in 1791, when, as President of the United States, he ordered troops there to take part in suppression of the "Whiskey Rebellion". The town of Frankfort was named Fort Ashby in 1932. The last owner of the fort was about to tear it down when the Potomac Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Keyser bought it on July 28, 1927. They remain the current owners. The fort is open for special tours. On Dec 12th, 1970, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.