The Fort William historical marker at the corner of US 220 and Trinity Road north of Daleville is out of service, temporarily.

According to Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials, the marker that was installed in 1999 was hit by a vehicle and damaged. VDOT, which maintains the signs that are authorized by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, has taken the sign for either repair or replacement. The sign will go back up, whether as a repair or replacement, according to VDOT officials. The sign was erected to bring attention to Fort William. It reads, “Col. William Preston constructed Fort William nearby in 1755 during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) as one in a series of fortifications to protect Virginia’s frontier. A group of Indians paid a friendly visit in Oct. 1755, and Col. George Washington inspected the fort during his frontier tour in 1756. Indians attacked the fort in Oct. 1756 but were repulsed. In 1763, during Pontiac’s War (1763-1764), nearby settlers flocked to Fort William for protection.”