Photos courtesy of the Fort King Heritage Association and Ronald W. Wetherington
WATCH // EXPLORE // CRAVE
HISTORY IN O THE MAKING The Fort King Heritage Association is bringing Ocala’s storied history to the forefront with the construction of the Fort King National Historic Landmark site. // B Y R O N A L D W. W E T H E R I N G T O N
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ne hundred and ninety-three years ago, Seminole Indian war drums sounded and United States Army soldiers fought for their lives and for the opening of a new territory. The year was 1827, and the first of two forts was built in what would one day become Marion County. Named Fort King to pay tribute to Colonel King, Commander of the Fourth Infantry, many important army leaders served at the fort, including General Scott, General Gaines and General Thomas Jessup. Does the name Osceola, ring a bell? Osceola, a Seminole war leader and his followers ambushed and killed Wiley Thompson, an Indian agent, along with Lt. Constantine Smith while they walked out of the Fort. Also killed was Erassus Rogers who owned the settlers store, along with a 12-year-old boy who worked at the store. The same day a contingent of 108 soldiers were in route from Fort Brooke in Tampa to reinforce Fort King. All but two were killed in the ambush lead by Chief Micanopy. This historical event came to be known as the Dade Massacre. In an effort to learn more about and honor Fort King’s history, the city and county created the Fort King Heritage Association, Inc. in 2011. A tax-exempt organization comprised of volunteers to raise funds, develop plans and rebuild the Fort King complex, the association will oversee the project to its conclusion. The ultimate goal is to rebuild the fort complex as it stood in 1837, which is the year the second fort was constructed, as the initial fort had been destroyed by fire. The four walls and two block houses have been
