Near Pickstown in Gregory County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Women at Fort Randall
December 3, 2021
1. Women at Fort Randall Marker
The building that once stood here housed junior officers called subalterns. Officers' wives, along with their children and servants, were allowed to live on a frontier fort. The officers' wives formed a Women's Association to help relieve the boredom of post life by organizing dinners, dances, plays, picnics, and other entertainment.
Captions:
Mrs. William Lyster, wife of the commanding officer at Fort Randall, with 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Seay, and Leddie Schultz, one of the children at the post, 1891.
Army laundress, 1862.
The only women who were officially part of Fort Randall were the laundresses hired to wash soldiers' clothes. In addition to their pay, laundresses were given housing, fuel, and a daily food ration. Their quarters were located to the east of the fort.
Women at headquarters building, around 1855.
All of the officers' families, from whom they had been separated for two years, joined them at Fort Randall. It was quite a novelty to see white ladies again and to see their children playing on the parade ground. While it cheered me to see families reunited after such a long absence, it alsomade me melancholy and homesick.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 43° 2.92′ N, 98° 33.635′ W. Marker is near Pickstown, South Dakota, in Gregory County. It can be reached from Stone Church Drive east of Toe Road West, on the right when traveling east. Located along the Historic Fort Randall parade ground trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Andes SD 57356, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Command Central (within shouting distance of this marker); Commanding Officers Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Lifestyles of the Rank & File
December 3, 2021
2. Women at Fort Randall Marker
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers along the Historic Fort Randall parade ground trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 11 times this year. Last updated on December 15, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 10, 2021. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
