Clyde in Wayne County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Clyde Blockhouse Historical Site
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, April 7, 2019
1. Clyde Blockhouse Historical Site Marker
Inscription.
Clyde Blockhouse Historical Site. . In 1722 a blockhouse was built here by an expedition sent by Governor William Burnet of the Province of New York. The site was the location of an earlier French trading post, on the trail leading from Sodus Bay. During the French and Indian War, the Iroquois village of Sodoms was located here. The British built a stockade fort at the settlement in 1756, for the protection of its inhabitants. During the Revolutionary War the old fort fell into the hands of British Loyalists, who used it as a station smuggling supplies from Canada via Sodus Bay. After the war, a remaining blockhouse was used by squatters and smugglers until they were driven out by State militia in 1788. During the fighting, the structure was burned. In 1789, a trader named John Fellows came up the Clyde River, built a cabin here, and cleared a path to haul his boat to Sodus Bay. His was the first American craft on the Great Lakes. The site was used as a camping place by other traders seeking to bypass British held Oswego, and by boatman, hunters and trappers. The Clyde River was declared a public highway by New York State in 1799, and pioneers reported seeing the burned ruins of the block house. In 1809, a new blockhouse was built on the south side of the river at Lauraville Landing. It was the location of the first meeting of the Town of Galen in 1812. Clyde was called "Block-House” until 1817
In 1722 a blockhouse was built here by an expedition sent by
Governor William Burnet of the Province of New York. The site was
the location of an earlier French trading post, on the trail
leading from Sodus Bay. During the French and Indian War, the
Iroquois village of Sodoms was located here. The British built a
stockade fort at the settlement in 1756, for the protection of
its inhabitants. During the Revolutionary War the old fort fell
into the hands of British Loyalists, who used it as a station
smuggling supplies from Canada via Sodus Bay. After the war, a
remaining blockhouse was used by squatters and smugglers
until they were driven out by State militia in 1788. During the
fighting, the structure was burned. In 1789, a trader named
John Fellows came up the Clyde River, built a cabin here, and
cleared a path to haul his boat to Sodus Bay. His was the first
American craft on the Great Lakes. The site was used as a
camping place by other traders seeking to bypass British held
Oswego, and by boatman, hunters and trappers. The Clyde
River was declared a public highway by New York State in 1799,
and pioneers reported seeing the burned ruins of the block
house. In 1809, a new blockhouse was built on the south side
of the river at Lauraville Landing. It was the location of the
first meeting of the Town of Galen in 1812.
Location. 43° 4.889′ N, 76° 52′ W. Marker is in Clyde, New York, in Wayne County. Marker is on New York State Route 31, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clyde NY 14433, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on April 7, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 2. submitted on April 8, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.