History

The French defied the warning and built Fort Machault. They amassed large forces of French, Indians and boats there, and planned to mount an attack on Fort Pitt (in what is now Pittsburgh) to reclaim Fort Duquesne for France. Before an expedition could leave, however, word was received that the British were launching attacks on other French forts along the lakes. The French had to scurry north to protect Fort Niagara after they had burned their fort and supplies here.

The British built their own fort, which was destroyed by Indians during Pontiac’s uprising in 1763. The fort was burned and the soldiers massacred in a surprise attack.

After America built Fort Franklin in 1787, a large tract of land was reserved here by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Andrew Ellicott (who had surveyed for the site of Washington, D.C.) had charge of the crew that laid out the city of Franklin.

Franklin became a center for worldwide oil production following Colonel Edwin Drake’s discovery of oil in nearby Titusville. Unique to this valley, “Franklin Heavy Crude” was sold at a premium price.