Fort Brady was originally located strategically on the east side of the Saint Mary’s river rapids in order to prevent the British, who at the time, controlled the southern entrance to the St Mary’s river from their location on Drummond Island, from moving any further north.  The first troops arrived during the summer of 1822, and the fort was named for their commander, Colonel Hugh Brady.  The fort quickly became a center of attention in the small community of Sault Ste Marie with parades, and every spring activities were held at the fort including foot races, horse races, dog races, and canoe races. The races would take place on Water Street and at the base of the Saint Mary’s River, starting at Sugar Island.  The fort remained just a small installation with only about 200 soldiers until 1857 when the soldiers were moved to help quell an Indian uprising.  A caretaker was left at the fort, but the fort fell into disrepair.  In 1866, Federal troops again took over remains of the fort, and soon Fort Brady II came into existence. Much of the fort had to be rebuilt, and additional buildings erected.  The main function of garrison was to protect the State Lock (which had been built in 1855) from invasion or destruction due to the vital cargos of iron ore that were shipped through it to the steel mills further south.  The fort continued to be a major part of life in the quickly growing community, until it was decided that the lock must be expanded which would cut right through the land that the fort sat on.  The government thus decided to move the fort, and chose the commanding location atop Ashumn hill and constructed the third Fort Brady starting in 1892 and continuing the construction through the turn of the century. 

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