Fort Bridger in Uinta County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
The Post Trader's Store
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
1. The Post Trader's Store Marker
Inscription.
The Post Trader's Store. . Although Judge Carter dabbled in many areas, his main responsibility revolved around his activities as the post trader at Fort Bridger. In this store he sold various items not supplied by the Army to the garrison, including limited amounts of liquor. A post council of administration set a ceiling on prices to make sure that the military received a fair deal. In addition to food, dry goods and other items regularly found in a general store of this period, Carter also provided a post office, as well as telegraph and even telephone service in the store's many years of operation. When Judge Carter died in 1881, his wife Mary, continued in her husband's footsteps. She operated the store and its many facets, and when the government abandoned the fort in 1890, she became the custodian of the grounds until they were sold. , The building itself was an "L" shape with one wing of whitewashed wood running to the east and west for the store and a stone section which stood to the northeast for a tavern. The remains of this last section measures 25 feet 5 inches by 53 feet 4 inches. The walls rise 10 1/4 feet and the peak of the roof is 16 feet.
Although Judge Carter dabbled in many areas, his main responsibility revolved around his activities as the post trader at Fort Bridger. In this store he sold various items not supplied by the Army to the garrison, including limited amounts of liquor. A post council of administration set a ceiling on prices to make sure that the military received a fair deal. In addition to food, dry goods and other items regularly found in a general store of this period, Carter also provided a post office, as well as telegraph and even telephone service in the store's many years of operation. When Judge Carter died in 1881, his wife Mary, continued in her husband's footsteps. She operated the store and its many facets, and when the government abandoned the fort in 1890, she became the custodian of the grounds until they were sold.
The building itself was an "L" shape with one wing of whitewashed wood running to the east and west for the store and a stone section which stood to the northeast for a tavern. The remains of this last section measures 25 feet 5 inches by 53 feet 4 inches. The walls rise 10 1/4 feet and the peak of the roof is 16 feet.
Erected by Lions Club, Lyman, WY.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location.
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41° 19.103′ N, 110° 23.388′ W. Marker is in Fort Bridger, Wyoming, in Uinta County. Marker can be reached from Business U.S. 80 near Main Street when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Bridger WY 82933, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is located on the grounds of Fort Bridger Historic Site. Obtain a map at the entrance or museum.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
2. The Post Trader's Store Marker
This maker is the right-most of the three plaques in the foreground.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
3. The Post Trader's Store
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 286 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
