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. The building 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: (
visit link)
CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS
I. Officer’s Row
. . .
School House/Chapel:
The School House/Chapel was completed in 1872. This single-story, rectangular plan, cut limestone structure rests on a stone foundation, and is covered by a wood shingle, gable roof. The four-bay, single pile building has a double entrance on the principle elevation with two, 4-panel doors with a three light transom. There are a total of eight, 9-over-9, double-hung sash windows, four on the north elevation and four on the south. The School House/Chapel was erected on the foundation of a second duplex (similar to O.Q. #7) that was never completed. This building is the eastern most structure of Officers 1 Row and completes the row. The School House/Chapel is located at the corner of East Avenue D and Burgess Street, and is used as a part of the Fort Concho Museum educational program."
An interpretive sign inside reads as follows:
"SCHOOLHOUSE & CHAPEL
Construction of the Schoolhouse/Chapel began in 1878, and it was occupied by February 1879. It would be the last major building erected at the post. The structure was originally designed the new officers’ quarters. Lacking enough funds to complete the living quarters, but having completed the basement and foundation for a kitchen, construction was redirected to create a much-needed school and church for the soldiers and post families. Before the completion of a proper building, classes and religious services had been conducted in almost any space available: a tent, hospital ward, the chaplain’s personal quarters, enlisted men’s mess hall and even the unlikely location of the Post Trader’s barroom. After the post was abandoned, the building served as a civilian school and then later as a home. It became part of the Fort Concho Museum in 1946, and several restoration efforts brought it to its current appearance.
Rev. George W. Dunbar
Post Chaplain USA
The Reverend George board Dunbar served as Post chaplain at Fort Concho when the Schoolhouse/Chapel was built. The former Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Janesville, Wisconsin, arrived at Fort Concho on October 21, 1876. In the summer of 1879, Reverend Dunbar suffered heat exhaustion. His illness kept him for performing his duties as chaplain, and in June 1880, he requested a leave of absence. Although he recovered, Reverend Dunbar never returned to Fort Concho. He later transferred to Fort Yates, Dakota territory. From there he served at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, and the military fort on Alcatraz Island before he retired in 1897.
FORT CONCHO CHAPLAINS
Thaddeus McFalls 1868-1869
Norman Badger 1871-1876
George Dunbar 1876-1880
Francis Weaver 1880-1882"