Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Laundry

Photographed by James Hulse, June 9, 2024

1. The Laundry Marker

Inscription. One of the Army laundresses listed as residing at Fort Martin Scott in the 1850 Census was Rose Bangs, a twenty-two-year-old woman from Ireland. Her days began at 5:00-5:30 a.m. and her first chore was to fetch water from Baron's Creek. Before breakfast she had a cauldron of water warming to a boil on the coals from yesterday's fire. Her day would then be filled with steaming water, lye soap and dirty linens. In the afternoon, when the sun was high, she hung the clean laundry out to dry, and then turned her attention to mending clothes.

Records of frontier fort laundresses are scarce, but these young women usually were noncommissioned officers' wives or camp followers. Of the nine laundresses at Fort Martin Scott, four were children. Rose Bangs was married to Richard Bangs, of Washington DC, a thirty-year-old corporal stationed at Fort Martin Scott. Like her husband, she too was employed by the US Army. A laundress on an Army post washed for a certain number of men and was paid an established rate. She was also subject to military law and drew a daily ration.

Image Courtesy Lee Casbeer.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 30° 14.972′ N, 98° 50.711′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. It is on East Main Street (U.S. 290) south of Industrial Loop. The marker is located within the Fort Martin Scott grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1587 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New

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Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Bakery (a few steps from this marker); The Sutler's Store (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); The Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Uncovering the Past (within shouting distance of this marker); The Braeutigam Family (within shouting distance of this marker); The Natural Setting (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peace with the Indians (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. Fort Martin Scott is a restored United States Army outpost in Fredericksburg, Texas, that was active from 1848 until 1853. It was part of a line of frontier forts established to protect travelers and settlers within Texas. This marker is somewhat weathered and difficult to read.

Also see . . . From a Former Army Base to Texas Historical Site. Fort Martin Scott Organization

Between 1870 and 1959, the Braeutigam folks
Photographed by James Hulse, June 9, 2024

2. The Laundry Marker
bought the former army installation. Johabb Wolfgang Braeutigam had moved from the Kaltenlengsfeld district of Germany, with his folks, and advanced toward Indianola in 1845. He and his significant other chose to settle in Fredericksburg with their 9 youngsters. In 1870, the Braeutigam moved into the former army base, after soldiers deserted it and utilized it as a farm. On 3rd September 1884, Johann Braeutigam was murdered in a theft involving 4 individuals who were after Biergarten’s cash box. The Braeutigam family later sold the property to Fredericksburg City.

Some of the remarkable highlights of the former army base include: the quarters for the post commander which previously acted as the Braeutigam garden, 6 structures of troops’ houses, sutler’s warehouse and store, pastry kitchen with a stove, laundry, emergency military clinic, 3 sets of battalions for enlisted troops, quartermaster’s warehouse, a blacksmith store, and shed-fused stable. The watch house is presently the station’s only surviving structure after it was restored to mirror its underlying design of cut limestone, during the beginning of the 1900s.

(Submitted on July 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.