Near Havre in Hill County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Company Officer's Quarters (Duplexes)
Fort Assinniboine
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
1. Company Officer's Quarters (Duplexes) Marker
Inscription.
Company Officer's Quarters (Duplexes). Fort Assinniboine. A row of thirteen mansard-roofed officer's quarters, flanked by two flat-roofed apartment buildings, defined the north east side of the parade grounds. Ten of the buildings were duplexes, most like this one, designed to house married officers and their families. At the center of the row were three single-family homes, intended for the post commander and his field staff. The last remaining duplex was likely the first one built in 1879-80 from brick manufactured on site, with "fire brick" for the chimneys and fireplaces imported from Helena. Steamboats brought the woodwork upriver to Coal Banks, before freighters hauled it forty miles north by wagon. Each unit contained two identical apartments with mirrored floor plans. Local stories recount that the thin walls between apartments led couples to take their arguments outside. Nevertheless, an 1889 Helena Independent article described these homes as the "center of a little world of charming society," enlivened by whist parties and formal dinners. Officers' wives "guided by excellent taste" adorned their parlor walls "with costly and well-selected etchings" and furnished the duplexes with "all the dainty luxuries ... found in the city homes."
A row of thirteen mansard-roofed officer's quarters, flanked by two flat-roofed apartment buildings, defined the north east side of the parade grounds. Ten of the buildings were duplexes, most like this one, designed to house married officers and their families. At the center of the row were three single-family homes, intended for the post commander and his field staff. The last remaining duplex was likely the first one built in 1879-80 from brick manufactured on site, with "fire brick" for the chimneys and fireplaces imported from Helena. Steamboats brought the woodwork upriver to Coal Banks, before freighters hauled it forty miles north by wagon. Each unit contained two identical apartments with mirrored floor plans. Local stories recount that the thin walls between apartments led couples to take their arguments outside. Nevertheless, an 1889 Helena Independent article described these homes as the "center of a little world of charming society," enlivened by whist parties and formal dinners. Officers' wives "guided by excellent taste" adorned their parlor walls "with costly and well-selected etchings" and furnished the duplexes with "all the dainty luxuries ... found in the city homes."
Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places
Location. 48° 29.916′ N, 109° 47.718′ W. Marker is near Havre, Montana, in Hill County. Marker is on Fort Circle near 82nd Avenue West (Assinniboine Road). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Havre MT 59501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker on the grounds of Fort Assinniboine.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
2. Company Officer's Quarters (Duplexes) and Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
3. Company Officer's Quarters (Duplexes)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.