Fort Chadbourne Restoration
A lot has happened at Fort Chadbourne since 1999. The first year we
filled out the necessary paperwork to apply for a 501(c)3 non profit charitable
organization. We scrambled around trying to apply for the TX DOT
Enhancement Program Funding to build a visitor's center and at the end of the
year decided we just were ready to tackle that project. In between 1999
and 2000 we developed a Master Plan for Fort Chadbourne. The year 2000, we
spent looking for grants to help stabilize the fort ruins. They were in
desperately need. We had submitted a proposal to the Dodge Jones
Foundation for the stabilization of the Fort. At the end of 2000, the
Dodge Jones Foundation funded us for $374,000.00 toward the stabilization of the
fort ruins. Joe Freeman, from Austin, TX,
is overseeing the project and has been pleased with the ability to move the
walls with the bracing which was designed by the foundation staff. During
the stabilization plan, the Officer's Quarter "Fountain House" (named
for a family who lived in it after fort times) was our main priority in
restoring. This building has wonderful graffiti from the 1870's. The
stabilization costs ended up being less expensive than we originally planned and
we were allowed to utilize this toward installing a roof.
In 2007, we received an anonymous donation toward the restoration of the Double
Officer's Quarters. The restoration will be completed by the end of June
2008. Work began last summer and it is looking fantastic.
The 2008 year will be another great one! Really good things are happening
at Fort Chadbourne. The Butterfield Stage Stop will be 150 years old in
September. We have in place one half of the funding to restore the
Butterfield Stage Stop. Once this is completed, we will have the only
restored Butterfield Stage Station in the State of Texas! We are currently
seeking the other half of the funding and hope to begin reconstruction on it by
the end of the year.
The Summerlee Foundation awarded us a grant in March 2000 for a research
document to be compiled on Fort Chadbourne by Martha Doty Freeman. This
was completed in 2002. We have been adding to this report as we find new
information. The Summerfield G. Roberts Foundation has granted us $5000.00
to update and establish a database in digital and printed format to add to the
research document on Fort Chadbourne.
We recently have excavated the Butterfield Stage Stop with the help of the
Special Military Active Retired Military Travel Club under the direction of the
Concho Valley Archeological Society. The CVAS has been instrumental in
helping Fort Chadbourne achieve its archeology goals. The SMART group has
volunteered at Fort Chadbourne for 3 years now. Each year 28-30 people
come out and stay for 2 weeks to help with projects that need to be
completed. Each of these groups have been a tremendous help to the
Fort!
The Summerfield G. Roberts Foundation awarded us a grant of $10,000.00 toward
the archeology of the Butterfield Stage Stop. These funds will be utilized
toward expenses in the archeology excavations, report publications the
Butterfield and printing of the materials. They have been great to help
out with projects at the Fort.
WE APPRECIATE OUR SUPPORTERS, VOLUNTEERS AND THE FOUNDATIONS THAT HELP MAKE FORT CHADBOURNE A REALITY!
Officer's Quarter - "Fountain House" during stabilization project.
The braces were a necessity in keeping the walls from falling.
An Officer's Quarter building built in 1854. A family by the name
of
"Fountain" lived in this house after fort times therefore earning the
name "Fountain House". This building has been completely
restored.
1918 Photo of the East Barrack
Stabilized and reconstructed barrack at Fort Chadbourne
email: fortchad@taylortel.com
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