Fort Concho was established in 1867, and protected the Texas frontier until it was deactivated in 1889. Over time, the fort was repurposed and integrated into the city of San Angelo, and filled up with unrelated and interfering buildings (including an elementary school on the parade ground). Finally in the 1960s, an concerted effort was made to preserve and protect the historic fort buildings, and eventually return the Fort to its 1870s appearance.
The Fort Concho was registered as a US National Historic Landmark in 1961. The Fort Concho National Register Historic District was created in 1985. Enlisted Men's Barracks No. 5 is listed as a contributing building to the Fort Concho National Register Historic District in San Angelo TX.
From the Fort Concho Historic District Nomination form: (
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CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS
III. Barracks Row
Barracks Row is located along the north side of the Parade Ground. Included within the row were six Enlisted Men's Barracks (E.M.B.s) and the Guard House. The E.M.B.s are numbered 1 through 6 from the west to the east with the guardhouse east of E.M.B. #6. The general plan of a typical E.M.B. consists of a 1-story, rectangular plan, linear dormitory unit with either one or two perpendicular (north) mess halls and kitchen wings. The E.M.B.s were constructed on stone foundations with cut limestone walls and a wood shingled hipped roof, a roof ventilator and internal stone chimneys. The buildings, both the dorm units and the mess hall wings, had symmetrical door and window arrangements. A 9-foot-wide, Territorial style, wood veranda is wrapped around all elevations of the dormitory units, but not around the perpendicular mess halls.
The City of San Angelo and Fort Concho Museum own all the land upon which the barracks and guard house are located. Development plans call for the restoration of E.M.B. #1 and #2, the reconstruction of E.M.B. #3 and #4 along with the guard house, and the continued maintenance of reconstructed E.M.B. #5 and #6. There were four variations from the basic plan.
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E.M.B. #5. and E.M.B. #6:
These buildings were originally built in 1871, and were reconstructed in the 1950's. The reconstructions were specifically listed as part of the original landmark as designated in 1961. They appeared almost identical to E.M.B. #3 and #4. In the 1920s, E.M.B. #5 and #6 were remodeled and used by a National Guard unit. By 1947, they had deteriorated to little more than stone walls. In 1951, they were given to the Fort Concho Museum and reconstructed. Today, they are the only recognizable remnant of the original barracks design. The reconstructions vary slightly from their original appearance. Historically, there was not a veranda around the perpendicular mess hall as there is today. They currently house museum exhibits, interpretive functions as well as sales functions."
An interpretive sign inside EMB #5, which holds an exhibit of barracks life, reads as follows:
"ENLISTED MEN’S QUARTERS
This structure was home to both cavalry and infantry soldiers who spent tours of duty at the post from 1871 - 1889. The building consists of a large company dormitory and 2 smaller rooms, the company office and the First Sergeant’s Quarters. Reveille sounded about 6 a.m., and the men were kept busy throughout the day with work details, drill, and guard duty on the post. Taps sounded around 9 p.m., ending the day. The “pecking order” was established according to rank and length of service in the company. This gave the more experienced soldiers the right to pick which bunk they wanted. The barracks served as a soldier’s home in the company was his family during his five-year enlistment. Free time here was spent polishing brass and leather, chatting with comrades, and playing cards or checkers. It could be a boisterous place when morale was high or a dreary place when morale was low. Regardless, the barracks became the center of life for the enlisted men.
Barracks 5 and 6
Originally completed in 1871, both Barracks 5 and 6 were privately owned after military abandonment in 1889. In the 19 twenties, they functioned as living quarters and stables for Troop G, 112th Cavalry, Texas Army National Guard. The structures eventually fell into ruins. The 1950s, the Fort Concho Museum acquired and reconstructed both Barracks and their Mess Halls.
Private Edward Mazique
Company E, 10th US Cavalry
Born into slavery in 1849, Edward “Sancho” Mazique enlisted in the Army on February 23, 1875. After basic training at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, he transferred to Fort Concho in July 1875. Because of his skills as a carpenter, he was assigned to the Quartermaster Department where he received an extra $10.60 above the $13.00 he made as a private. He also played in the tenth cavalry band under the direction of Lt. Robert Smither. Both assignments excluded him from most field duty. Sancho became friends with Col. Benjamin Grierson’s family and was present when their daughter Edith died in 1878. On February 24, 1880, he was honorably discharged at Fort Concho and eventually made San Angelo his home. Sancho Mazique died in 1951 at the age of 101 and was buried in Fairmount Cemetery."