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STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS
~ VENANGO COUNTY ~

FORT MACHAULT - Erected April 7, 1969 (revised the 1947 marker), this marker is located at 8th and Elk Streets in Franklin.

Built by the French in 1756 to guard the route to the Ohio, it was evacuated and burned by them after the siege and fall of Fort Niagara in 1759. Site of fort is one block south.

As the French were finishing the work on Fort LeBoeuf (at present-day Waterford) 50 men were sent to Venango (Franklin) to begin work on Fort Machault, named for Jean-Baptiste Machault d'Arnonville, the French minister of marine. This post, Franklin's first fort, was to be a depot for supplies headed for Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh area). Accounts differ for the date of completion of the fort - 1754 to 1757. Lieutenant La Chauvignerie arrived in 1755 to take command of the fort. An English deserter, William Johnston (alias Marshall) was captured and held by the French here in 1756 and reported the fort had nine cannons, 60 soldiers and 200 Indians lodged in cabins supplied for them near the fort. Built of oak and chestnut logs, the design of the fort was simple as it was generally considered a supply fort and because of its location at the base of the hill, all movement inside the fort could easily be observed.

Donated by Penny Haylett Minnick
pictures Penny Haylett Minnick