Near this location stood the Fort Dodge sutler store and its associated buildings. A sutler was a civilian who kept a store in connection with a fort, paying a fee for a monopoly on all buying and selling on the military reservation. He was recommended by a post council, appointed by department headquarters, and granted the rank of a warrant officer to give him standing with the men. The store sold foodstuffs including canned vegetables, fresh milk, butter, eggs, firearms and ammunition, wagon repairs, dry goods, and many tools and utensils. Liquor sales were regulated at the discretion of the commanding officer, who also oversaw prices. The store served soldiers, civilian employees, trail travelers, and Indians who visited regularly. William Ladd, the first sutler, provided the buildings for his business, including the store, stables, saloon, billiard hall, eating place, and residence. Later sutlers included Jesse Crane, J. C. Tappan, T. Weichslebaum, Robert M. Wright, and James Langton. As Harper's Weekly wrote on May 5, 1867, the sutler store was a lounging place for idlers about the station and the grand hotel, restaurant, and clubhouse of the post.