GREENVILLE—Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution invites the public to a program on Fort Jefferson and the creation of the U.S. Army from 1783-1791.
The program will be at the Darke County Shawnee Prairie Nature Center on April 15, 2023 at 11:30 am. Doors open at 11:00am. Please plan to attend.
Dave Heckaman will present a program with slides entitled “Ye Heroic Sons of Independence — The 1st American Regiment, Fort Jefferson, and Greenville.” As the presenter, Heckman will dress as a soldier of the 1st AR, tell the unit’s history in frontier Ohio, it being the whole U.S. Army from 1783-1791, and it’s role in the
building of Fort Jefferson.
Besides having been a history teacher, and principle for 34 years at Clermont Northeastern School District east of Cincinnati, Historian David Heckaman from Milford, Ohio is well known as an author and public speaker, appearing in living history programs in the eastern U.S. and Europe from 1972 to 2022. Having received his B.A. in History and M.A.T. from Miami (Ohio) University, he was awarded the Clermont County Teacher of the Year by the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce in 1991. He has appeared in living history programs and participated in 14 documentary movies. He also co-authored a teacher’s guide and video on the “Ratification of the United States Constitution” for the U.S. Bicentennial Commission (1987), co-authored the booklet “St. Clair’s Defeat.”, co-authored “A Recently Discovered Old Map of Greenville, 1793”, and “Iron Case Shot and Musket Balls at Fort Jefferson” in Ohio Archaeologist. He has presented many speeches about the Northwest Territory and Indian War. In addition, Mr. Heckaman has also been especially focused on Fort Jefferson, Ohio, having written many original magazine and newspaper articles on Fort Jefferson which he deems, the “forgotten fort”. He is a leader of Friends of Fort Jefferson and a member of Wayne’s Legion Research Group.
Mr. Heckaman is a board member of The 1st American Regiment that recently donated the proceeds from selling their cannon to Friends of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built in 1791 and was the most advanced US. military post from 1791 to 1793 and used by General Anthony Wayne until 1796 during the Northwest Indian War. Fort Jefferson was very important in protecting the western frontier after the Revolutionary War. Due to the importance of Fort Jefferson, Fort Greenville Chapter NSDAR is working to place a marker honoring all of the soldiers who died at Fort Jefferson after St Clair’s Defeat on November 4, 1791. Several of the soldiers who died at Fort Jefferson also served during the American Revolution.
Fort GreeneVille Chapter NSDAR supports the research, planning, educating, and preservation of the Historical Fort Jefferson area located in Darke County, Ohio. A 17-acre area adjacent to Fort Jefferson Memorial Park includes the site of St. Clair’s encampment and probably some of the attacks on work and hunting parties in 1792, of which we know of seven. Archaeology and continued document research will enhance planning for the short term and long term interpretation of not only the Fort Jefferson site but the Northwest Indian War, 1790 to 1795. Ft. Jefferson has long been the “Forgotten Fort.”
Donations will be accepted and donated to the Friends of Fort Jefferson. Light refreshments will follow. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War.
Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890. If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership, visit Fort GreeneVille DAR Facebook, email fortgville@gmail.com or contact any chapter member.
