FORT CHADBOURNE, 17 Aug 2001, Coke County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
27 August 2001
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The Observer/Enterprise, 17 Aug 2001, Robert Lee, TX

FORT NEARS COMPLETION OF STABILIZATION PROJECT

Though almost complete, the Fort Chadbourne stabilization project 
is still in need of $60,000 in funds and/or donated material to
finish the last details of the much needed project.

"We've been able to do things - like reposition walls and replace
mortar - that the stone masons thought close to impossible," said
Garland Richards, owner of Chadbourne Ranch and chairman of the
Foundation board.  "The only work still to be done involves roofing
and flooring, and the materials - shingles, ceiling/floor joist, 
framing - are what we need to purchase or have donated.

Fort Chadbourne Foundatin received a $374,000 grant from the Dodge
Jones Foundation of Abilene in December 2000.  The grant was 
designated for only the labor involved in the structural 
stabilization of Fort Chadbourne's historic buildings, the first 
phase of a four - phase plan.  The three additional phases include
a visitor's center/museum, reconstruction of up to four of the
buildings at Fort Chadbourne, and the establishment of an endowment.

"Knowing tht another rock cannot fall from the fort's buildings is 
one of the most exciting elements of Fort Chadbourne right now,"
explains Richards.  "This project has far exceeded my expectations,
yet we still have a hurdle in front of us before it's finished.

A fundraising dance has been slated for Saturday, Sep. 22 at 9 pm.
Jody Nix will perform on the parade grounds at Fort Chadbourne.
For more information on the dance, call 743-2555.  Tickets go on
sale Sept. 1.

Fort Chadbourne Foundation is the administrative function of Fort
Chadbourne, one of eight historic forts on the Texas Forts Trail.
Opened to the public since 1999, Fort Chadbourne was built as a
frontier fort in 1852.  Family - owned since the 1870's, the Fort
is located eleven miles northeast of Bronte on U.S. Highway 277.  
Fort Chadbourne has an extensive historical artifact collection - 
over 18,000 artificts have been catalogued, including an Indian
artifact collection, with many items estimated to be from 6,000 -
9,000 years old.

Permission granted by Observer/Enterprise for publication in the
Coke County TXGenWeb Archives