Commanding Officers Quarters

Commanding Officers Quarters. . All of the buildings at Fort Verde were built in the typical architectural style once found at nearly every 1870s military post in the United States. There are probably fewer than a dozen such buildings left west of the Mississippi River., This one and a half story building consists of ten rooms and is of the Second Empire architectural style with mansard roof. Its outer walls are of pise adobe construction covered with board and batten. Pise adobe is a technique of casting massive adobe in a temporary wooden form, similar to rammed earth. This was simpler and faster than making adobe bricks, and the resulting structure was less susceptible to water damage. The upper story is wood framed with dormer windows and shingle roof., It was on this front porch that Tonto Apache Chief, Chalipun, and 300 of his followers surrendered to General George Crook in 1873., Fort Verde's Commanding Officer was typically the senior company captain. His monthly salary of $166 was enough for his wife to have gradually assembled the respectable household furnishings necessary to assume their roles in the center of military society., Captions , Captain Gerald Russell, Troop K, 3rd Cavalry, wife, and an unknown woman seated in front of Commanding Officers Quarters, circa. 1883 , Soldiers and Ladies in front of Commanding Officers Quarters, Lieutenant William Smith, Troop L 10th Calvary standing at far left, Gertrude Eggleston, Herbert S. Whipple and Ella Mearns on right holding baby, circa. 1885 , Women and Soldier on horseback in front of Commanding Officers Quarters, from right to left, Ella Mearns, Lieutenant William Smith, Louise Smith riding Daisy, and an unknown woman.