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The military reservation was transferred to the Department of the Interior on July 14, 1879. Shortly thereafter, Albert Schmidt, a resident near the fort, saw a public notice in a St. Cloud Minn. news paper announcing the auction of all land within the Fort Abercrombie reservation, to be sold at public auction in Washington. This deeply incensed the area residents.
These residents met at the former post trader's store. They developed a set of nine resolutions asking that the reservation be opened up for settlement and collected a purse to send to John Hazelhurst who was the government appointed sales agent in Washington for the Fort Abercrombie military reservation. He presented the resolutions and claims of the settlers, securing approval of the Territorial Governor and the Congressional Representatives who were instrumental in passage of a bill which open the military reservation for settlement.
This than, is the story of Fort Abercrombie, more than merely boards, it is the story of people, places, and events that shaped this areas history. Thank you, please visit the Museum to further enjoy the history of the fort and surrounding area.
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