Near Pickstown in Gregory County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Fort Randall
In 1875, soldiers of the Post, members of the I.O.O.F. lodge, wanting a lodge room, combined this idea with a Church and Library, designed by George Bush, the post carpenter, a discharged soldier and they built this structure from hand sawn chaulkstone from nearby quarries, aided in the quarrying and transportation only by the U.S. Government. Otherwise it was entirely a private venture.
You are standing in front of the church. From the north the structure looked like the sketch above with the lodge hall in the center. The fort finally was abandoned in 1892 and this ruin is its outstanding vestige. Two devastating wind storms and a bolt of lightning wrecked the roof and rain and frost finished the work. Detailed drawings by co-operation of the Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service were made in 1947 and filed in the Library of Congress. The ruins were stabilized by the Engineers in 1953. The orientation table adjacent shows the layout of the post and a walk over the parade grounds will show its outlines.
Sketch:
Old Church, I.O.O.F. Hall and Library
Erected 1953 by the South Dakota State Historical Society. (Marker Number 20.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Forts and Castles • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 26, 1856.
Location. 43° 2.957′ N, 98° 33.753′ W. Marker is near Pickstown, South Dakota, in Gregory County. Marker is on Stone Church Drive east of Toe Road West, on the left when traveling east. Located at Historic Fort Randall & Chapel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pickstown SD 57367, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Spiritual & Social Sustenance (here, next to this marker); Plat of Fort Randall (here, next to this marker); Echo Lodge, No. 2. (here, next to this marker); Fort Randall Established (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Without a Stockade (within shouting distance of this marker); The Advancing Frontier (within shouting distance of this marker); Explore Fort Randall (within shouting distance of this marker); Soldiers at Fort Randall (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pickstown.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These are the markers found along the parade ground trail at Historic Fort Randall.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2021. This page has been viewed 266 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on December 17, 2021. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2021. 2. submitted on December 9, 2021. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 5, 2021. 8. submitted on December 9, 2021. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.