Bunks or Beds in Garrison

[GeraldDuval]

Hello all,

I was hoping one of you would be able to help with this. Fort Delaware State park is looking to restore the artillery enlistedman's barracks sometime in the near future. Our first priority is to get bunks built in one of the small NCO rooms to show our bosses so we can get approval.

Now, rather than just throw up a couple of bunk bed I wanted to do this right. Would anyone happen to have a sketch, picture or bluprints for a garrison's bunks?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[fahtz]

Fort Scott Kansas has reconstructed bunks, tick, tables and hooks all over the dragoon barracks they have rebuilt. Call 620-223-0310 (Park main number) and ask for Galen. He should be able to help you out.

[gunboats1861]

Hello, fort Clinch state park has constructed, bunks there contact number is 904-277-7274 .

Regards,
Ted Wojciechowski

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Without a doubt, obtain the book "The Army Called it Home" by William L. Brown III, available used on Amazon and several other sources. It has many detailed photographs, sketches, and information regarding Army garrisons, many of which are post-war, but with enough CW info to help immensely. We've used that as a reference for the garrisons at Fort Clinch in Fernandina, FL, and its an excellent resource.

[Charles Heath]

Now, rather than just throw up a couple of bunk bed I wanted to do this right. Would anyone happen to have a sketch, picture or bluprints for a garrison's bunks?

Rob,

Get in touch with Paul Lear, who is the Site Manager of Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY. Over the past decade, their ever expanding bunk bed project in the enlisted barracks has grown from a couple of beds to enough for company level snoozing.

The good news is these tri-level affairs were built from the actual US Army plans for these beds for this installation, and these beds include the pegs for accoutrements, footlockers that stow beneath, and the musket racks on the ends. These bunks have far more detail to them than would typically come to mind.

Also, the Friends of Fort Ontario are also delving into reproducing the smaller iron bunks this season, of which they have at least one original, and the materials (mild steel) are onsite and ready to go. Contact info is can be found:

NY State Park Fort Ontario (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=9)

Friends of Fort Ontario (http://www.fortontario.com/index2.html)

Don't forget to ask about the furniture paint colors, too.

[rogue]

Another source of information would be Fort Snelling in St. Paul, Minnesota. They portray a frontier garrison post of some size and importance. They have the type of bunk beds mentioned by Mr. Heath (with musket racks built in) and have used 1825 more or less as a date for their impression. Steve Osman of W.K. Osman was the site manager, but has moved on. Contacting the Minnesota Historical Society in Minneapolis would give you the current contact person, and well worth your time to inquire as to their reference for their sleeping accomadations.
Steve Sullivan.

[billmatt04]

I currently work at Ft. Snelling, and I know the measurements for the beds are 3' x 6', meant to sleep two men. I would still call the MNHS and see if you can get in touch with either the current site manager or Kevin Maijala, the program manager.

Best,

[FTrooper]

Also try Fort Mifflin. They have some 1850's-1860's original bunks/cribs. We are trying to get the deminsions to make our 1850's bunks here at Fort McKavett and their director has been quite helpful, but I am sure someone in Deleware can get there alot esaier than a guy in Texas! ;-)

These same bunks are shown in "The Army Called it Home" that Ross noted above.

Most Sincerely,
Chris Fischer
Curator/Interpreter
Fort McKavett State Historic Site
Texas Histiorical Commission.