Hi-Line Living: A Brief History of Time

Fort Assinniboine is where Havre began...

The fort was authorized in 1879 by President Rutherford Hays to settle disputes between settlers and Native American tribes.

Havre wasn't dreamed of in those day. For the most part, Natives used the land for hunting, but hadn't settled in the area.

At its height, the fort had more than 100 buildings. Many remain today, though some are in bad condition. Most forts of that era have been wiped out by the ravages of time.

A group of loyal, dedicated volunteers have kept the fort going for a number of years.

The Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association has put hammer to nails for years and searched for grants to preserve the remaining buildings.

It has become part of the the Old Forts Trail, a group of military installations that encourages military history buffs to tour the forts from Alberta to Fort Benton.

Gary Wilson, the longtime president o the Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association, died earlier this year. He was an expert of the fort and had written many articles about it and was planning a book on the fort's history.

The remaining members of the association say they want to carry on Wilson's spirit and are planning many new things for the fort in coming months.

The old library, a building that remains in pretty good shape, will be converted into an information center where visitors can learn about the fort and its long history.

Association member Lynda Taplin says she would like to see the building used as a depository of where memorabilia and historical items of days past can be kept.

People all over the country are finding information - pictures and diaries - of the fort, and they have no idea where it can be kept.

Folks are finding theses things in their attics that would be of help to putting together pieces of the fort, Taplin said.

Taplin said there is a shortage of volunteers on their project.

"Hopefully, we could get some younger people than the group we have now," she said.

There are spots for people of all talents, she said.

But mostly, they are looking for people who are willing to get their hands dirty and do the work that is needed to keep the buildings standing.