This crossroads was an early vital junction for pioneer defense, with routes linking Harrodsburg, founded in 1774, Harrod's Fort in 1775, Bowman's Fort two miles east in 1777, and eight nearby fortified stations built in 1779-80: Crow's, Fisher's, Gordon's, Haggin's, McGary's, McMurtry's, Smith's, and Trigg's; these routes converged here as part of a defense plan, and all Indian attacks in the area were defeated. Colonel John Bowman, appointed Military Commander of Kentucky in 1776 by Gov. Patrick Henry of Va. and again in 1778 by Gov. Thomas Jefferson, built Bowman's Fort in 1777, brought 30 families to settle there in 1779, led defense against Indians during the hostilities, directed an attack into Ohio in 1779, served on the first court at Harrodsburg in 1777, and was a first Transylvania trustee.