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The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., May 16, 1963, page 1

OLD BLOCKHOUSE BUILT IN 1856 DOOMED TO FIRE

Klickitat county's old log Blockhouse, built in 1856 and now located in Brooks State Park, has been condemned to make way for progress. Frank Troffer, park ranger, has been instructed to have the old Block house removed or burned right away in order to clear the area for a road widening project. The death sentence has been postponed for a few days to give the County Historical Society or other organization and opportunity to move it. Some of the old logs are from the original fort, but after moving and replacing rotted logs, little if any of the original structure will be left. Two-thirds of the logs are too rotten to be moved, according to Troffer. Although the shape of the present building is not the same as the old Fort Blockhouse, the Klickitat County Historical Society has alerted its members and others that the roof and some parts of the building could be salvaged, stored and used again. The little fort with an 8-foot stockade was built in the summer of 1856, during construction of the old military road over the Simcoe range from Fort Dalles to Fort Simcoe on the Yakima reservation. It was originally located on Spring creek, seven miles northwest of Goldendale. The garrison of U.S. calvary was removed in 1860. It's four years of usefulness left their mark on the old fort. According to the first settlers, the old building was pock-holed from bullets fired by Indians in skirmishes with the soldiers.