The Laundress Quarters

The log buildings along the south side of the fort served as officers quarters in the fort's early years. After the brick officers' quarters were completed, the log buildings became quarters for married enlisted men and laundresses. The laundress charged soldiers by the piece or at a monthly rate set by the commanding officer, and she collected the money soldiers owed her directly from the paymaster. The buildings were dismantled in the 1890s, and several archeological digs later uncovered their locations, recovering artifacts such as bottle fragments, doll pieces, ceramics, and hardware.

South Dakota · United States