Forts of the Texas Frontier - Fort Richardson (cont.)
Following the end of the Indian Wars in North Texas the post was abandoned in 1978. These picket constructed buildings didn’t last much beyond the decommissioning of the Fort. The more substantial buildings remained and were utilized by the town of Jacksboro. The remaining wood frame building was the Commanding Officers Quarters (8). It is good example of a vernacular residential style building with board and batten sheathing.
The most imposing building is the very substantial stone masonry Post Hospital (2). The sandstone used in the construction of the post was quarried on the site from what is now the Quarry Lake. The masonry in various parts of restored buildings and ruins are combinations of uncoursed and built to course rubble style. Most notable on the Hospital building are the use of rough tooled ashlar style large corner stones and lintels at doors and windows. Some of this is seen to a lesser extent in the masonry of the other remaining stone buildings, the Morgue (3), the Bakery (4), the Magazine (6), and the ruins of the Guardhouse (5). Most notable on the Hospital building are the use of rough
tooled ashlar style large corner stones and lintels at doors and windows. Some of this is seen to a lesser extent in the masonry of the other remaining stone buildings, the Morgue (3), the Bakery (4), the Magazine (6), and the ruins of the
Guardhouse (5). The buildings are roofed with shakes on wood rafters including porches except for the Magazine. The Magazine is topped with a rough corbelled dome. The Magazine was for storage of explosives and ammunition and the literature states that this roof was intended for containment. The Hospital was maintained for some time and then in 1936 restoration efforts were begun by Jacksboro and then the site was turned over to Texas Parks and Wildlife for further restoration. These efforts have basically preserved a good example of a frontier military outpost/fort.
