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Fort Cameron is important because of its relationship to three significant aspects of Utah history.

In the early 1870’s, Indian raids against the isolated southern Utah communities began to occur with enough regularity and intensity that local settlers were fearful of the kind of confrontation that had characterized the Black Hawk Indian War in that area during the mid 1860’s.

In a letter to Washington officials, Cyrus M. Hawley, associate justice of the Utah Supreme Court, noted that attempts to bring those individuals guilty for the Mountain Meadows Massacre to trial were unsuccessful and would continue to be so until witnesses were convinced that the Federal Government would guarantee them protection, Hawley went on to recommend that a military force of at least five companies be sent to leaver to render the required protection.

Because of the “Indian problem” and the “Mormon problem,’ Secretary of War William W. Belknap recommended a governmental appropriation of $120,000 to construct a military post near Beaver. After the money was appropriated, Colonel John D. Wilkins, with four companies of troops (about 181), was sent to establish the post in mid-1872. After President Ulysses S. Grant officially set aside the reservation on May 12, 1873, the fort was named Fort Cameron in honor of Colonel James Cameron who lost his life during the Battle of Bull Run.

After the completion of the Utah Southern Railroad to Milford in 1880, General Phil Sheridan recommended that the post be closed because troops could be transported by rail into Southern Utah. Accordingly, the fort was closed May 1, 1883 and the troops removed to Fort Douglas.

The land and buildings were purchased for $15,000 by John R. Murdock, President of the Beaver Stake of the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints and Philo T. Farnsworth, former bishop of the Beaver Ward. Apparently the purchase was made in behalf of the church for, in 1893, Fort Cameron was converted into an academy. The laundress quarters were used as a dormitory to house students coming from outlying areas. In 1922, the church decided to discontinue the academy. The land was sold and the school equipment donated to Beaver High School.

The last use of the laundress quarters was made in 1937-1938 when a branch of the Milford Civil Conservation Corps was housed there.

Related:

The original fort site was laid out in a rectangular shape 700′ x 620′. In the center was a parade ground around which the buildings were constructed. On the east side and on the west side stood two barracks.
On the south side were six officers’ quarters. To the north were the hospital, the headquarters building, and commissary store, Next to the east barracks stood the bakery. The stables were 300 yards west of the
post.

The buildings were constructed of the black, basaltic lava stone quarried nearby, mainly by local laborers. The original buildings were roughly plastered except for a two-story, 12-bed hospital which was finished with plaster of Paris.

When taken over by the LDS Church for an academy, the buildings were remodeled and a new building constructed. However, after the buildings were abandoned as a school in 1922, they soon fell into disrepair. In 1938, the CCC and WPA programs cleared away debris and built a race track.

Today only one building, the laundress’ quarters, remains. It was of black basalt rock, but altered slightly. Its rectangular dimensions are 31′ x 57′ with a gabled roof. The building has three chimneys, both ends and the center, and divides lengthwise with four rooms on each side, an outside door and a window for each room. Some of the interior partitions have been removed.

With the plans of the fort still available and part of the site undisturbed, there is good archaeological potential for much of the site. However, part of the fort site has been covered by the Beaver Golf Course. Primary preservation efforts will be devoted to the restoration of the launderess’ quarters building.

The fort was added to the National Historic Register (#74001932) on September 9, 1974.