Fort Richardson State Park Volksmarch Jacksboro, TX 05/16/2015
First a short history lesson on Fort Richardson. It was officially established in February 1868 in order to provide protection against marauding Comanche and Kiowa Indians. The unstockaded fort occupied some 300 acres along Lost Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River. Eventually fifty-five stone, picket, and cottonwood-lumber buildings were constructed. It was the northernmost army outpost in Texas and for a brief period from 1868 to 1873 it was strategically the most important post in Texas. In 1872 it had the largest garrison (666 officers and men) among military installations in the United States.
Now a state park, it is located just south of Jacksboro, TX and a few miles west of Fort Worth. The Tarrant County Walkers hosted this Volksmarching event. We walked the 10K route. The walk started out on the natural trails in the park.
Volksmarcher with her two companions.
Cactus with red and yellow flowers.
Ed on the trail.
Carol waiting for us to catch up.
Great rocky area.
More big rocks.
Stepping stones across Lost Creek.
Spring from under a rock ledge.
Just a view of the trail.
Don't stub your toe on a rock.
More nice rocks.
Deborah, David and Carol on the trail.
We eventually left the trail to visit the fort
Marker tells of the Texas National Guard Unit
that mobilized here November 1940 for active duty.
Memorial lists the names of the members of the Lost Battalion.
Restored Fort Richardson Hospital.
We took time to go inside and look around.
We headed back outside to continue the walk
Morgue out back of the hospital.
This is a Rail Road bridge that was built in 1898
to cross Lost Creek about a mile from where it sits
today. It was moved to this field in 1981.
Flour Mill Ruins.
Looks like an old quarry location.
Our checkpoint volunteers.
Historical marker near cement picnic tables.
Leaving the checkpoint area we continued on the Lost Creek Reservoir State Trail.
We crossed Lost Creek on a low water crossing.
Information board tells us the trail we were currently walking on was the old rail bed.
We eventually reached Jacksboro and left the trail to walk around town
Pretty and sweet smelling.
1940 Courthouse has Six stories. It is constructed of granite and buff brick.
Marker at the entrance to the cemetery says earliest
graves were from 1859.
First United Methodist Church.
One end of a mural.
Other end of the same mural.
The bell and cornerstone from the 1886 Jack County
courthouse are now displayed on the lawn of the new courthouse.
Building has 1893 above the 2nd story window.
Former Gulf, Texas & Western Railroad Depot.
Carol reading the 1936 Texas Centennial Marker commemorating
nearby Fort Richardson.
We left town and walked along HWY 281 back to the State Park.
Ed and I posed at the Park entrance.
Historical Marker near the ranger station
commemorating the career of Texas Ranger and
Confederate soldier, James P. Dosher.
.
Flowers border the lake.
More cactus flowers.
RR Depot built in 1898 of native stone for the Chicago,
Rock Island & Texas Railway. This depot sits on its original
location and is part of Fort Richardson State Park.
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Fort Richardson archway entrance.
Replica of the Fort Richardson Officer’s Quarters.