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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., February 2, 1950, page 7
Includes photograph

HISTORY OF BLOCKHOUSE REPUBLISHED

The above the photo shows what is left of the once famous Fort Blockhouse which was a two-story structure when first built in October 1855 at the foot of Blockhouse Butte, following the murder of Indian Agent Bolan and the attack made by Indians on Major Heller and his men in 1855. The 8-foot stockade and Blockhouse housed troops for a period of six years. The "remains" of the historic fort has been moved on several occasions. At one time it occupied a spot near the old County courthouse. It was later moved to the old city park property west of the city limits and now stands on the I.C. Robinson property a few hundred yards from the I.C. Robinson garage in thesouthcity limits. Many feel that the building should be preserved and an appropriate marker with its history should be placed at the site where it now stands. In view of the fact that several have inquired about the history of Fort Blockhouse, a portion of which is "going to rot" along the highway near the south city limits of Goldendale, we are reprinting an article taken from the files of the former Klickitat County News publication. The article was written by T. D. Adams, an early-day resident in these parts, who was an uncle of Roy Adams of Goldendale: "Fort Blockhouse was built at the beginning of the Yakima Indian war of 1855-56. In September, 1855, Indian Agent Bolan, was murdered in the Simcoe mountains and his body, with that of his horse, was buried by a Yakima Indian. Major Haller, with one hundred men, was sent from The Dalles, Oregon, to investigate the murder and the cause. When some 60 miles from The Dalles he was attacked by more than one thousand Indians on October 6, and held out for three days. He managed to send, by night, a message to The Dalles, telling of his plight, and Lieutenant Day with 45 men was went to his relief. They met Haller on his retreat in Klickitat valley and built a blockhouse. This was in October, 1855. That next year a military road was built from The Dalles to Fort Simcoe. Fort Blockhouse was a two-story log building surrounded by an 8-foot stockade. United States cavalry was kept here until 1860. Willis Jenkins, with a large band of horses and cattle settled near the Fort in 1859. When the soldiers abandoned the fort the next year he filed on the tract having the fort. The fort was used for a residence for years, until a new house was built, about 1880, then used as a storage and granary. A family by the name of the Green lived there for years, built a new house and kept the post office. Fort Blockhouse was one half mile north of the present Blockhouse store and at the foot of the Blockhouse Butte."