Abercrombie in Richland County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Guardhouse
Photographed By Connor Olson, June 14, 2021
1. Guardhouse Marker
Inscription.
Guardhouse. . The building in front of you was Fort Abercrombie's guardhouse. It has been restored to look as it would have in the 1860s and 1870s. The guardhouse functioned in many ways like a police station. Soldiers on guard detail provided security for the fort and guarded prisoners held in the guardhouse's cells. The guard detail averaged between eight and 18 soldiers and the guardhouse typically held four or five prisoners on any given day in the late 1860s. Soldiers assigned to guard detail would serve a 24-hour shift. Each morning, the guard detail would be replaced in a ceremony called "Guard Mount." After Fort Abercrombie closed in 1877, the guardhouse was sold, dismantled and moved to a farm. Later it was moved back to its original site at Fort Abercrombie.
Prisoner on work detail
Soldiers were held in the guardhouse for a variety of offences. Drunkenness and desertion were typical problems in the frontier army, and either of these could land a soldier in the guardhouse. Prisoners were put on work details doing tasks such as picking up trash, digging new pits for sinks (outhouses), or reloading ammunition.
The building in front of you was Fort Abercrombie's
guardhouse. It has been restored to look as it would
have in the 1860s and 1870s. The guardhouse
functioned in many ways like a police station.
Soldiers on guard detail provided security for
the fort and guarded prisoners held in the
guardhouse's cells. The guard detail averaged
between eight and 18 soldiers and the guardhouse
typically held four or five prisoners on any given
day in the late 1860s. Soldiers assigned to guard
detail would serve a 24-hour shift. Each morning,
the guard detail would be replaced in a ceremony
called "Guard Mount." After Fort Abercrombie closed
in 1877, the guardhouse was sold, dismantled
and moved to a farm. Later it was moved back
to its original site at Fort Abercrombie.
Prisoner on work detail
Soldiers were held in the guardhouse
for a variety of offences. Drunkenness
and desertion were typical problems
in the frontier army, and either of these
could land a soldier in the guardhouse.
Prisoners were put on work details
doing tasks such as picking up trash,
digging new pits for sinks (outhouses),
or reloading ammunition.
Erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location.
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46° 26.696′ N, 96° 43.089′ W. Marker is in Abercrombie, North Dakota, in Richland County. Marker can be reached from Broadway North (County Road 4) near Abercrombie Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 935 Broadway N, Abercrombie ND 58001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Abercrombie (within shouting distance of this marker); Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Quartermaster Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Commissary Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Ferry Crossing (within shouting distance of this marker); Cannon Bastion (within shouting distance of this marker); Carpenter Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Headquarters (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abercrombie.
Photographed By Connor Olson, June 14, 2021
2. Guardhouse Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
