Oh, no... Fort Washita landmark burns to the ground

[Sunny]

http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/103830028.html?storySection=story

Fort Washita has hosted living history groups from many periods; most weekends of the year there is a group out there. My Civil War group has held an event there on the second weekend of December for over 12 years; I know fortworthgal's WWII group has been out there as well.

My first event there was in 1998 or 1999. It's been part of my family's life all that time. It's always the "Fort Washita weekend." We've invited friends from all over the country to join us different years. We've juggled schedules and finals and SAT tests and sports and concerts and Christmas parties to keep that weekend open.

I can't believe we won't be back.



http://www.okhistory.org/outreach/military/fortwashita.html

This picture of the ruins of the original barracks was taken from the balcony of the building which is now gone.

Now the ruins will stand side by side.

 

[fortworthgal]

I saw this on another forum and was pretty shocked.

We go to a WWII barracks weekend up there every January for about the past 6 or 7 years. It is a pretty popular event with the WWII crowd. Three of us run the mess hall for those weekends, and we were already working on our plans for January 2011... I guess WWII weekends could theoretically still work, but most of the GIs would have to camp out. A lot of the guys relied on the barracks for the bunks, and the ability to set up barracks displays and footlockers. (The mess crew - self included - always slept in the Bohanon cabin.)

The only saving grace is that it appears none of the original buildings/cabins were damaged... but that is extremely unfortunate about the barracks. I really do wonder how the fire started... I can only guess probably some bored teenagers messing around.

I really do hope they rebuild it, but I'm not holding my breath. Very sad.

 

[Foofoogal]

That is just awful. So sorry.

 

[shortbow]

Makes a grown man cry.

 

[fortworthgal]

New pics I just received:

 

[Tomasso]

I really do hope they rebuild it, but I'm not holding my breath.

Why wouldn't they rebuild? It's a popular local attraction and I imagine that it was insured. [huh]

 

[fortworthgal]

Insurance won't cover the total rebuild cost, and I don't think the Oklahoma Historical Society has very deep pockets.

 

[Sunny]

I believe it is actually a state historic site, unless it has drastically changed status in the last few years. If it is, it depends mostly on the state of Oklahoma.

 

[fortworthgal]

This is where I got the info about the insurance coverage - I am only going by what they said, as I don't really know if the Fort is a state site or not.

http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/103899579.html

The Oklahoma Historical Society's insurance won't cover the entire cost to rebuild it. But if the South Barracks can be reconstructed they will do everything they can to raise the money.

"We're going to try and hit the ground running, don't believe we're not. Because we miss it already and it's only been a couple of days,” said Petty.

A structure engineer will first have to come in and evaluate the damage to the remaining stone walls to see if the barracks can be rebuilt at all. If they can, the Historical Society said they will look to fundraisers and the community to help raise enough money to restore the centerpiece of Fort Washita.

As for all other events and reenactments that were schedule at Fort Washita in the fall, Petty said those are all still scheduled to go. But instead of guests and Civil War actors staying the barracks, they’ll have to bring a tent.

 

[fortworthgal]

The Oklahoma Historical Society is accepting donations for a Rebuild Fund for the Barracks at Fort Washita. (Your donation is tax deductible)

Donations by credit card at 1-800-750-4090 8:00am-5:00pm

Or by check or money order at:

Museums and Historic Sites
Oklahoma Historical Society
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

 

[Ed Bass]

New ruins!

While it's a shame to lose this historic building, it already seems to have a new/old charm all its own.

Best,
Toots

 

[Sunny]

Thanks, that's more information than I had. (And how did I miss those pictures?) It doesn't look like it was a remarkably hot fire; the stone looks completely intact, even the chimney.

As for all other events and reenactments that were schedule at Fort Washita in the fall, Petty said those are all still scheduled to go. But instead of guests and Civil War actors staying the barracks, they’ll have to bring a tent.

Not the Civil War guys, though. Unless they've changed the rules, open fires/fire pits are not allowed. You WWII people have other arrangements, but we don't. Beyond keeping warm - it was in the single digits four years ago - we have no way to cook food without fires. There are several other small cabins, but really only for a handful of people.

 

[fortworthgal]

Not the Civil War guys, though. Unless they've changed the rules, open fires/fire pits are not allowed. You WWII people have other arrangements, but we don't. Beyond keeping warm - it was in the single digits four years ago - we have no way to cook food without fires. There are several other small cabins, but really only for a handful of people.

We've never been allowed open fires or pits, either. We occasionally had use of the fireplaces in the barracks (and frankly even that was hit or miss if we were allowed to use them). We always used the wood burning stove in the Bohanon cabin, but that was only for 3-4 people. Last January when we went, it was around 8-10 degrees at night. The cabin stayed warm, but I'm sure the guys froze in the barracks! I can't remember if there were any guys staying in pup tents or not. I think we had a couple of small wall tents, but those guys have stoves to keep the tents warm. We had a chow line set up outside the kitchen Saturday AM, and sitting on the table, our milk kept freezing in the metal pitchers.

For cooking we either set up a field mess, or we used the kitchen in the barracks, which definitely made life much easier. You're right... without use of the kitchen and no ability to have an outdoor fire, you're kind of stuck on the whole cooking issue.

I'm hearing rumblings of a large timeline fundraiser event for early 2011. I'll PM you.