BLAIR CO, Pa (WJAC) — The hills above the city of Altoona house a replica of a fort that dates back to the nation’s war for independence: Fort Roberdeau.
Executive director for Fort Roberdeau, Glenn Nelson, takes us back in time.
“Fort Roberdeau was built in the spring of 1778, for the purpose of lead mining. During that period of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was having trouble finding sources of lead to make musket balls and rifle slugs. General Roberdeau, had heard of sources of mineral rock that contained lead ore in Sinking Valley. They explored and found some lead ore, and it was decided to build the fort.”
“Blair County takes great pride in hosting our annual star spangled fourth. The reason we take such great pride is because Fort Roberdeau is a place of honor. Men that served here became some of the very first pensioned veterans of the United States. And the lead that was mined and smelted here did make it back to the Continental Army.”
Once the lead was mined and smelted at the fort, it was transported along the Juniata River to Carlisle, where it was made into ammunition.
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