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Fort Meade,Dakota - Meade County - c1885 - Military Fort Scenes Photographs *Territorial* :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 600.00 USD
Fort Meade,Dakota - Meade County - c1885 - Military Fort Scenes Photographs *Territorial* :
Lot of four stereographs depict a rather quiet life in Fort Meade. Stereographs measure 7”x4”, high to medium contrast—three photos tend to the grays, whereas the photo with soldiers standing at their canons has high contrast, and the focus is sharp on all four. There is some minor wear on the stereo cards. Photographer identified as W. R. Cross. Mautz tells us that Cross was active in Nebraska and South Dakota. The stereo cards place Cross in Hot Springs, S.D. and the photos are part of his Scenic Views of the North Western Railway series, which focused on scenes from Wind Cave, Black Hills, Indian & Bad Lands, and the Chicago North-Western Railway. Mautz places Cross in Meade between 1885 and 88. Photo one is titled “Stone Barracks, Ft. Meade S.D.” In this photo two soldiers are manning canons in front of the stone barracks. No. 14. Photo two is a vista over the fort, simply titled, Ft Meade, S.D. The right stereo view has a minor crease on the upper left. Photo three is of a boardwalk along some lodgings, titled, “Officers’ Quarters, Ft Meade, S. D.” Photo four shows a horse and wagon traveling down a nearly empty road. The title reads, “Bear Butte Pass Near Ft. Meade, S. D.” Fort Meade offered a strategic location for the Black Hills. Established in 1878, the fort offered protection to settlers in the Balck Hills area, especially the gold mining region around Deadwood and Lead City. Particularly important was the relationship between Bear Butte and the Black Hills. Bear Butte was a sacred mountain of the Native Americans. Fort Meade’s military history is very rich, especially for Calvary Units. The 7th Cavalry of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Buffalo soldiers of the 10th Cavalry were located at Ft. Meade.