HGB Ep. 599 - Fort Ontario

Moment in Oddity - Megaflash (Suggested by: Duey Oxberger)

Central Florida is known as the lightning capital of the United States. But back in October of 2017, there was an extreme light show which is known as a Megaflash. Megaflashes are storm cloud discharges that are classified as stretching 60 miles or more. They typically occur over hotspots like the Great Plains where multiple storms cluster together. This particular strike was only recently able to be fully measured with recent scientific data analysis collected by a geostationary satellite. The measurements found the 2017 strike to be 515 miles long, covering the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and almost all the way to Kansas City, Missouri. The length of time of the strike clocked in around 7 seconds. Lightning occurs when electrons pool in one region of a storm cloud, creating an ionized path in the air between where ions flow from negative to positive charges. A professor of geographical sciences at Arizona State University commented, "It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time". With the proof of lightning being able to strike such a far distance from the original storm cell, it's always recommended to take shelter any time thunder is heard. And although lightning can be beautiful, it can also be quite scary and destructive, and a lightning bolt spanning nearly five states, certainly is odd.

This Month in History - Double Eagle II Balloon

In the month of August, on the 11th, in 1978, the Double Eagle II balloon made the first transatlantic flight. Unlike modern hot air balloons, the Double Eagle II  was propelled by helium gas. Its pilots, Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman managed the balloon's ascent and descent by releasing helium gas and by utilizing ballasts. It departed Presque Isle, Maine on the 11th and successfully landed in Misery, France on the 17th. The balloon measured 112 feet high and 65 feet in diameter. The gondola that the pilots rode in was named "The Spirit of Albuquerque", recognizing where the three pilots came from. Interestingly, the gondola featured a twin hulled catamaran for emergency floatation. The entire flight took 137 hours and 6 minutes and the distance that was covered was 3,233 miles. In 1977, the pilots had attempted the same transatlantic flight but were  unsuccessful in that venture. This event in aviation history was marked as the first successful transatlantic manned balloon flight. 

Fort Ontario (Suggested by: Katherine McManus)

Oswego, New York was a bustling port in the 1800s, but long before that, there was Fort Ontario. The Fort represents over 260 years of history from its beginnings as an earthworks fort to a brick and mortar one and it has had a significant role in several conflicts. The structure was destroyed and rebuilt four times. There was a time that it was a huge general hospital as well as a safe haven for refugee Jews fleeing Europe during World War II. Today, the Fort is a living museum with costumed guides that lead all varieties of tours, including the ghost ones because there are several spirits here. Join us for the history and hauntings of Fort Ontario!

Indigenous groups followed the retreat of the glaciers and were in the Oswego, New York area for thousands of years. The Iroquois would be the last significant Native American group to be here, having come from the Mississippi River region. The first Europeans arrived in 1615. This was an attractive region because there was Lake Ontario and the Oswego River. This would make for a great port eventually, but in those early settler years, it was the fur trade that took hold and the British and Dutch established a settlement in 1722. The French and Indian War erupted in 1754 over control of the Ohio River Valley. The British had a supply route between Albany and Oswego that they needed to protect, so they built five forts with three of them being in the Oswego area: Forts George, Oswego, and Ontario. By 1796, the British were moving out of Oswego and replaced with settlers from New England and eastern New York. The Erie Canal opened in 1829 and this fired up Oswego's economy and that lasted through until the 1870s. The boom wouldn't last, but many stately historic homes were left in its wake and remain today in a town that embraces it historic roots.

As mentioned, one of the forts the British erected to protect their supply lines was Fort Ontario. This was situated to guard the east end of Lake Ontario. This first fort was named the "Fort of the Six Nations" and was destroyed during the Battle of Fort Oswego in 1756. The British rebuilt it in 1759.  The policies that the British put into place after the French and Indian War, left the Native Americans in the area dissatisfied and they rebelled in 1763 leading to a conflict named Pontiac's Rebellion that lasted over two years. The peace treaty that was signed between the British and Pontiac took place at Fort Ontario on July 25, 1766. There would be peace for the fort until the American Revolutionary War. This would be a British strong hold until the 3rd New York Regiment destroyed the fort in July of 1778. The British abandoned it for a few years and then rebuilt it in 1782 and they would hold the fort through the rest of the war. They continued to keep it until 1796. Jay's Treaty of 1794 settled outstanding disputes over British occupation of forts and so they turned the fort over to America. 

America occupied the fort and it would see battle again during the War of 1812. The British destroyed the fort in 1814. So we now have Fort Ontario being destroyed three times. The fourth fort would be the one that stands today. The Americans rebuilt the fort after the war and added some new construction. The fort was mainly used to control smuggling, but it would be involved in war again when the American Civil War started. Oswego was pretty far north, but there were worries that Canada and Britain would help the Confederacy. Improvements to the fort included adding a west and east guardhouse and timber and earth walls were replaced with masonry. No major military action took place at the fort and after the war, it housed Company F, 42nd Infantry. Most of these were men wounded in the Civil War who reenlisted. Much of the fort fell into ruin during and after this period. 

In 1906, the Brownsville Incident took place in Texas. The 25th Infantry of Buffalo soldiers had been stationed at nearby Fort Brown. Jim Crow Laws were in full effect and so the town had segregated areas for blacks and whites. A white woman reported a rape on August 12, 1906 and the Mayor and a Major from the fort, issued an early curfew for the soldiers to prevent any trouble. A bartender was killed the following night and a police lieutenant was wounded and residents of Brownsville blamed the black soldiers who had actually never left their barracks that evening. When word of the incident reached President Teddy Roosevelt, he discharged without honor the entire regiment of 167 men. It would be what most historians consider the greatest mistake of his presidency. There was no military trial and a Texas court cleared the soldiers, but the President never reversed himself or apologized. Journalist John Weaver would reignite interest into this in 1970 and the U.S. Congress conducted and investigation of their own and in 1972, Congress reversed Roosevelt’s order of dismissal and made restitution to the soldiers. 

Shortly after the Brownsville Incident, a regular army infantry battalion of three hundred Buffalo soldiers arrived at Fort Ontario. As we've shared on previous episodes, the all-black regiments got their nickname from Native Americans who said the soldiers fought like the Great Plains buffalo and their hair reminded them of the mane of the buffalo. The regiments would be legendary for their skill in fighting and their bravery. This was the first of the group to be stationed east of the Mississippi River. The practice of segregating military unit wouldn't end until the Korean War in 1951. This would be a significant chapter in the Civil Rights Movement as it was believed that the soldiers would be safer in Oswego, which was a place that had been a hotbed of abolitionist movement and had an active Underground Railroad during the Civil War. But here in 1906, the civilians of Oswego didn't want the soldiers there. The Secretary of War at this time was future president William H. Taft and he wrote, "Sometimes communities which objected to the coming of colored soldiers, have, on account of their good behavior, entirely changed their view and commended them to the War Department. The fact is that a certain amount of race prejudice between white and black seems to have become almost universal throughout the country, and no matter where colored troops are sent there are always some who make objections to their coming."

There would be a fight with cabinet members and inside the War Department as declarations were made that the War Department knows no color line. And while many members of the Oswego community resented the soldiers being sent there, the Buffalo soldiers conducted themselves with honor. And this thing happened. The residents realized that it was good to have the regiment there. These men had just arrived from the Phillippines and they needed stuff like warm clothes. They spent their money in the community. And they participated in the community events like funerals and sporting events and their orchestra performed regularly for the community. And when the garrison left in 1911 it was written, " It has been estimated that when the colored battalion was at Fort Ontario there were over 100 colored women in this city and they were certainly gorgeous dressers.  Violet bonnets and flaming dresses are in the minority now and the merchants in retail business miss them, for both soldiers and the others were good spenders and bought only the best." 

World War I would breathe new life into the fort. It was repurposed as a military hospital, known as General Hospital No. 5. The Secretary of War ordered for 30 new buildings to be built on the property and this was completed in January 1919. This made Fort Ontario one of the largest army hospitals in the country and it was the best equipped. Medical personnel started arriving in 1917 and most were recruited from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital in New York City. There was not only the main general hospital, but two field hospital units, two ambulance companies and two base hospitals. Ninety percent of the patients here came from overseas. About 200 patients would die at the hospital.

By 1921, the fort was back to being an infantry base and the 28th Infantry Regiment was stationed there. They were replaced in 1933 by the 2nd Brigade of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. A golf course was added to the property and the buildings were all restored. When World War II started, new buildings were added to the fort and in 1940, this became an induction center for new conscripts. That was just for a little while and then several National Guard anti-aircraft units used the fort as a base. Then black military police were trained here. There is this excerpt from George and Carol Reeds 1999 book Fort Ontario: Guardian of the North:

Fort Ontario would take on one of its most significant purposes in its long history during this time. It would become a safe haven for the Jews that were fleeing the concentration camps of Europe. From August 1944 to February 1946, this would become home for 982 Jewish refugees. When an international effort was started to remove refugees from war zones and send them to safe camps in other countries, the United States didn't step up. The Allies noticed and they began to ridicule the US, so President Franklin Roosevelt announced a plan to establish a free port at Fort Ontario and he used the term "port" because "camp" had such a negative connotation. After the war was over, the Jewish refugees had to stay at the fort because there were disagreements concerning whether or not to allow them to become United States citizens. In January 1946, the decision was made to allow them to become citizens and this would be the first time that a large number of undocumented people were granted asylum in the US. The refugees were allowed to leave Fort Ontario in February 1946.

After World War II, the Army shut down most of the fort, but some buildings are still used today by the Army Reserve. The fort was restored and in 1949 became the Fort Ontario State Historic Site. In 1970, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. What is left of the fort is the main fort that was built in 1840 and designed as the typical pentagonal plan with five bastions that had heavy cannons mounted en barbette. Howitzers were mounted in casemates built into the ramparts of the bastions and there were holes to allow rifle fire. The parade grounds are still here and there is Officer's Quarters #1, which was built between 1842 and 1844 and featured two six-room apartments for use by officers and their families. There was a parlor in the front and bedrooms in the back. The second floor had more bedrooms and the third floor was for servants. There is the Powder Magazine, which has interpreters that demonstrate how kegs of gunpowder were stored here. There are also two guardhouses by the entrance of the tunnel to the main entrance. The Enlisted Men’s Barracks was built in 1842 and most of the garrison was housed here. It featured a large kitchen, mess halls and a workshop on the first floor and two barracks rooms on the second floor. The Storehouse was built between 1842 and 1844 and not only had room for storage, but also had the fort jail with four cells. And there in Officer’s Quarters #2, which was built Between 1842 and 1844, and was similar to OQ1. However, from May 1868 to April 1869, two of the first floor rooms were used as the Post Headquarters, while other rooms were used as offices for various departments. 

Some fun facts about dogs at the fort. An Airedale puppy named Wow became the mascot of the fort in 1917. A little uniform was made for him. This started a rivalry between barracks. Another pup named Dynamite got his own uniform representing another barracks. A knitted olive drab jacket was added to his uniform in the winter. Competitions for best dressed barracks mascots were held. Other dogs were named Shrapnel and Kaiser. 

There are at least 77 people buried on the property. There was definitely death here. Fort Ontario offers ghost tours, so the historic site clearly embraces their ghostly reputation. Paul Lear was the historic site manager at Fort Ontario when he spoke with Krystal Cole for Spectrum News 1 in 2023. He said, "One of the legends is every time there is going to be a war, a ghostly figure appears at Fort Ontario." Lear explained that ghost stories have been told about the fort since the early 1900s. These stories usually are about a soldier seen in a red coat, white britches and white cross belts. This figure quite possibly could be one of the main spirits seen here who is simply referred to as the Post Ghost. This is believed to be George Fikes who was a member of the King's Royal regiment of NY. He died on November 30, 1782 and he was buried on the post, so there is a gravestone for him and a legend claims that if you step over the gravestone three times, you'll have good luck. And supposedly he will show himself as well. When the garrison has been in trouble, he has made appearances as Paul Lear mentioned. Soldiers on guard duty throughout the decades have reported interacting with Fikes. One of these men was so frightened by the encounter that he ran away from his post and was court-martialed. Fikes is said to walk the ramparts and grounds at night with a red lantern and many times he is just a shadow figure that seems to absorb all the light around it. He hangs out in rooms at the officer's quarters. There is an actual marker at the site that shares all of this. 

Caroline Lamie was an office manager at Fort Ontario and also is part of a paranormal investigations group and she claimed to see plenty of paranormal activity. Or hear it. She had heard disembodied footsteps and many times it would be above her, so she would go up to the next level and find no one up there. She would also hear furniture being dragged and when she would go to the source of the sound, it wasn't just that the furniture hadn't moved. There was no furniture. Lamie has been told by visitors that they have seen soldiers walking around and these are not employees. She has participated in ghost hunts where EVPs have been captured featuring a cat meowing and the voice of a little boy. This ghost cat also brushes against legs and people will feel something like fur against their legs. The little boy has also called for the cat. Lamie said, "Gentleman was in here and he captured the picture of the little boy standing over here. And that night, the group that was in here ghost-hunting got kids giggling in the building next door to where the photo was taken."

Lamie told the Haunted History Trail of New York State the following stories. Some maintenance guys were doing some work in 2016. Their names were Izzy and Brian and Izzie asked Brian, "Hey, who were those two guys that just ran through here?" And Brian answered, "Nobody just ran through here." A ghost with a red cap is often seen. That goes back to the French and Indian War. A man wearing a brimmed hat has been seen in the cemetery. She was working on a window in one of the Officer's Quarters when she heard a woman humming. She was the only woman in the building. Lamie has also several times unlocked and opened a building first thing in the morning and heard an audible "Hi" or "Hey." There was a stern sergeant who once lived in Q2 and many times, little girls have stood outside and refused to go inside because there was a mean man. And she has had times when people have told her that they really liked the way a certain re-enactor was dressed and Caroline will be like, we don't have anybody dressed up today. 

Past and Present Paranormal investigated in 2016. They asked if there was anyone there willing to speak with them this evening and then they asked soldier or civilians and the Spirit Box replied what sounded like "Creepers." One of the investigator was named Xenia and she decided to go into one of the small closets in the Officers' Quarters and just as she was about to enter it, a voice is picked up by the mic on the video recorder saying "Lea," which was Xenia's middle name. Coincidence? After she went in, the Spirit Box said, "Dark." When she asked who was in there with her, it said "Children." The hair on her arms stood up while in there. She asked," Will you talk to me and the Spirit Box answered no. She asked if they used to hide in the closet and who they were hiding from and the eerie answer was "Them." They asked, "Did you die here?" and there were two responses. One answered, "Don't know" and the other was "During war." They moved to the Enlisted Bunkhouse and asked if anyone wanted to speak with them and got a clear "Me" through the Spirit Box. Later they got the name David.  

Paranormal of Watertown investigated in 2022 and they were in a tunnel with an audio recorder and asked if there were any soldiers with them, if they could tell them what regiment or unit they were part of and there was a very clear EVP, "Can't move." In the Soldier's Barracks they turned on the Spirit Box and set up a REM Pod. They asked the spirits to touch the REM Pod once for yes and twice for know and across the Spirit Box came "Turn that...off." They asked if women were allowed up there and there was a clear, "No." In Q2, they got some cat balls to go off and when they asked for a spirit to touch them again, the Spirit Box said, "The Light." There was a sign that mentioned a Lt. Michael Hagarty and so they asked if he was there and a cat ball lit up. They captured an EVP here as well with a clear, "Get out." Are you glad we can acknowledge you and hear you speak and the Spirit Box said, "What?!" In the casemates, they captured an EVP asking, "Who's down here?" Later, they also got an EVP asking, "Who's there?" That was really clear and loud.

The town of Owego has a couple of other haunted locations, so there is actually an independent ghost tour there. One of those locations is the Old City Hall that has a story about a convict named Horse housed at the jail that claimed to be haunted by demons every night. The first citizen of Oswego was Alvin Bronson. He worked as the military storekeeper at the fort and was once held prisoner by the British. They took him onboard their flagship and he was sitting in a rocking chair. He lived to 98 and loved to rock on his porch and people claim that he still sits in his rocking chair on the front porch of his former home. Luther Wright built his mansion in 1848 for his family. That mansion is today a bunch of apartments called Apts On Fifth. It was renovated by Sal Vasapolli in 2021 and he saved it from being a nuisance property run by a slumlord. Hopefully Luther likes what he did because he is still haunting his former home. People claim to get an unearthly cold chill in the solarium. At one time, tenants discovered wooden cells, cages, and a large table in the basement leading people to wonder what had gone on at this property at one time. A female spirit is known as the Seneca Hill Ghost and she is seen running up the hill to what had once been her home that burned down with her baby inside. She is most often seen by motorists and they describe her wearing a nightgown. Sometimes she is holding the hand of a six-year-old girl. The spirits always vanish at the crest of the hill.

The Richardson Bates House is a gorgeous Victorian mansion that features opulent interiors. The Oswego Historical Society took over the care of the house in 1947 and opened it as a museum. The Richardson-Bates House was built for attorney and mayor Maxwell B. Richardson who was a lifelong bachelor, so he moved into the house with his mother and divorced sister. The house was designed by Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner in the Italianate style and completed in 1872. An addition was added to the house by Oswego architect John Seeber and this was completed in 1889. The interior featured Renaissance Revival and Egyptian Revival furniture and décor. Ninety percent of the furnishings are original to the family. Maxwell's nephew was the sole heir, so he inherited the house in 1910. The Bates part comes from him as his name was...wait for it...Norman Bates. He lived here with his wife and four children. The whole family had been very active in the historical society and so that is why the house was donated by Norman's children to the group. A story about the house is about a little girl who told her parents that she needed to say goodbye to her friend. They watched her wave to nothing and when they asked who she was waving to, she answered "The boy I was playing with." She was the only child in the house. 

Oswego has a history reaching back a couple centuries and the fort has been witness to most of it. No one has ever come away from a ghost hunt without some kind of evidence. Are the red blobs captured in pictures or seen on the hills, ghosts reaching back from the past? Are there soldier, female and child spirits hanging out here? Is Fort Ontario haunted? That is for you to decide!