MONOGRAPHS OF KINNEY COUNTY’S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE (#19): Forage House

This bi-weekly feature examines the enduring unique architecture to be found here in Kinney County by spotlighting individual buildings and providing brief histories, complimented by period photographs. Our intent is to explore the past, inspire the present, and build the future by showcasing the remarkable associations and legacies of structures which have stood the test of time and continue to contribute so much to the exceptional heritage of Kinney County. Our next subject is “Fort Clark’s Forage House and Granary,” completed in the mid-1870s, post building No. 45 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as a compatible structure in the Fort Clark Historic District. Today the building is known as Shafter Hall.

With only one existing historic photograph, little else is known about this building other than its military function as identified on period maps. It is located in what was once the Quartermaster area of the post along with other shops, storehouses, corrals, etc. 19th century maps identify the building as a “granary” while on 20th century maps the building is labeled a “forage house.” In either capacity the building was used to store feed for animals, keeping grain and other forage dry, easily distributed and accounted for.

The 1912 description of the post reports a single story stone building containing one room 100x30 with a capacity of 1,000,000 pounds of grain. Most often the building was under the supervision of a civilian “forage master” employed by the Quartermaster Department. In its final military assignment the building served as the post bakery in 1944 and had a frame addition added to the west end. When the building was stuccoed is unknown, but most likely a post-closure treatment.

In the 1970s North American Towns of Texas (NATT) converted the building for use as sales offices including a large meeting room and an efficiency apartment. In 1981, Killis Almond observed – This one story structure has a rectangular plan and gable roof. The wall finish is painted stucco, the wall material has not been determined. The windows are typically six-over-six wood double hung. The doors are a mixture of wood paneled and plain metal slab doors. There is an addition to the side (west) which is wood frame with horizontal wood siding. The roof is asphalt composition shingles. The gable ends are horizontal wood siding. The condition of the building appears good but verification of original or historic conditions has not been determined.

For many years after the departure of NATT the building served as the home of the Fort Clark Community Council and was used for meetings and as their bingo hall. In 1996, the building was named “Shafter Hall” in honor of Medal of Honor Recipient Major General William Rufus Shafter who commanded Fort Clark in the late 1870s. A national Register plaque was placed on the building that same year. Today the building is vacant and no doubt subject to the slow deterioration brought on by that status.