Fort Meigs to celebrate 200 years

PERRYSBURG - Two centuries ago, in one of the darkest periods of American history, the Northwest Territory, including Ohio, was facing invasion from the British as they advanced south out of Canada.
It was the War of 1812, and in the Western Theater of war the American forces had suffered defeat after defeat.
On the rapids of the Maumee, to prepare for a counterassault, Gen. William Henry Harrison ordered the construction of a fort to better their chances.
In April of 1813, that fort became Fort Meigs.
In observance of its 200th anniversary, Fort Meigs will host a wide variety of events throughout the area next month to commemorate the First Siege, which occurred in May, 1813.
"Her gates are creaking a little bit, but she's still going strong," said Rick Finch, the fort's site director. He spoke about the bicentennial before the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce on April 18.
"We are going to have a massive event, May 3, 4 and 5," he said, featuring more than 300 re-enactors, and including the dedication of the first permanent memorial at the fort since 1923.