Building 98

Last updated
Building 98, Fort D.A. Russell
Building 98 Marfa, Texas.jpg
Building 98
Relief map of Texas.png
Red pog.svg
Building 98, Fort D.A. Russell
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Building 98, Fort D.A. Russell
LocationW. Bonnie St., Marfa, Texas
Coordinates 30°18′11″N104°1′39″W / 30.30306°N 104.02750°W / 30.30306; -104.02750
Area2.3 acres (0.93 ha)
Built1920 (1920)[ contradictory ]
Part of Fort D.A. Russell Historic District (ID06001152 [1] )
NRHP reference No. 04000100 [1]
RTHL No. 13284
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 25, 2004
Designated CPDecember 14, 2006
Designated RTHL2004

Building 98 at Fort D. A. Russell is the historic US army base bachelor officer quarters, officers club, and grand ballroom near Marfa, Texas; it was active from 1911 to 1946. Building 98 is Located at Fort David A. Russell's central fort complex. It is a project of the International Woman's Foundation and it is the home of the World War II German prisoners of war POW murals. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Murals

The murals were painted in the state dining room and in the base library. They encompass over 3,048 square feet of wall space, making them a unique historic national treasure. The murals were completed in 1945 by Hans Jürgen Press and Robert Humpel, both German prisoners of war held at the base. The artist and writer Hans Jürgen Press was a sailplane (glider) pilot based in France during the war, and departed Building 98 in 1945; While there he created two west Texas watercolors of local residents — one performing a Spanish dance and another playing the Spanish guitar. Building 98 stands as a testimony to Marfa's long standing history in the arts. West Texas regionalism has a history in Texas dating back to the cattle drive, of which Marfa had many. [2] [3] [4]

History

In 1911 the United States Cavalry occupied the building[ contradictory ] where it served as the Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ) and as an entertainment center for West Point officers during World War I and the Mexican Revolution. The fort was established to protect local ranches and town citizens during dangerous times along the Texas and Mexico border. Building 98 also faced the main fort parade grounds and was the location of the original Camp Albert's command headquarters. Also housed at Building 98 was the fort officer's mess which had a full-time chef and large dining room. Building 98 also features a World War II ASM-N-2 BAT Glide Bomb cart from the original air base. [2] [3] [4]

In 1949, the historic base was sold to J. Alfred Roosevelt, a grandson of Emlen Roosevelt. The International Woman's Foundation was responsible for placing Fort D. A. Russell on the National Register of Historic Places and for listing the base at the Texas Historical Commission, a long time dream of Roosevelt who had lived at the complex. [2] [3] [4]

The International Woman's Foundation has operated an artist in residency program and Camp Marfa fort museum since 2002. In 2002 Mona Blocker Garcia took on the task of creating the foundation for mature woman artists and healthful aging thus preserving the important history of Fort D. A. Russell to its exact state when the fort closed. The George Sugarman courtyard is a permanent installation highlighted at the Building 98 metal sculpture garden [2] [3] [4]

Renovations

The International Woman's Foundation has been authentically restoring the building to its original integrity and is responsible for Fort D. A. Russell being placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Texas state historical society register of historic places. Major renovations began in 2002 with the complete replacement of the structures roof and outside integrity of the walls. Imphasis on floors, furnishings and ceilings are maintained with original features negating intrusive damages caused from modernization after 1949. The building also had serious damage that occurred after the Great Depression. Today the restored Building 98 museum is open to the public and a guided tour is available. Building 98 is one of Marfa's most important historic places with a rich history that has been brought back to life within its unique complex. Preserving the history of the original army camp for future generations allows Building 98 stand as an important resource to understand and appreciate the significant roles Texas has played during times past. [5]

Art galleries

Building 98 requires an artist in residence to exhibit their works and the foundation provides the Studio 98 galleries as a venue and hosts a reception in the historic officers club. Events are yearly and are published through media agencies by advertisement. Important exhibitions include a major retrospective of the works of Wilhelmina Weber Furlong in the grand ballroom featuring over 75 unseen works of the early American modernist. An exhibit of the private belongings of the artist was displayed including her Victorian easel. The event served as the ten year anniversary gala for the foundation in October 2012 [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marfa, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, United States, between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, at an elevation of 4685 feet. It is the county seat of Presidio County.The city was founded in the early 1880s as a water stop. The population of Marfa peaked in the 1930s and as of the 2020 United States Census the population is 1,788.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Sam Houston</span> US Army post in San Antonio, Texas

Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Representative from Tennessee, Tennessee and Texas governor, and first president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Judd</span> American artist (1928–1994)

Donald Clarence Judd was an American artist associated with minimalism. In his work, Judd sought autonomy and clarity for the constructed object and the space created by it, ultimately achieving a rigorously democratic presentation without compositional hierarchy. He is generally considered the leading international exponent of "minimalism", and its most important theoretician through such writings as "Specific Objects" (1964). Judd voiced his unorthodox perception of minimalism in Arts Yearbook 8, where he says, "The new three dimensional work doesn't constitute a movement, school, or style. The common aspects are too general and too little common to define a movement. The differences are greater than the similarities."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort McIntosh, Texas</span> United States historic place

Fort McIntosh was a U.S. Army base in Laredo, Webb County, Texas, from 1849 to 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Brown</span> United States historic place

Fort Brown was a military post of the United States Army in Cameron County, Texas, during the latter half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Established in 1846, it was the first US Army military outpost of the recently annexed state. Confederate Army troops stationed there saw action during the American Civil War. In the early 20th century, it was garrisoned in relation to military activity over border conflicts with Mexico. Surviving elements of the fort were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort D. A. Russell (Wyoming)</span> Former US Army post in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Fort D. A. Russell, also known as Fort Francis E. Warren, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and Fort David A. Russell, was a post and base of operations for the United States Army, and later the Air Force, located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The fort had been established in 1867 to protect workers for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was named in honor of David Allen Russell, a Civil War general killed at the Battle of Opequon. In 1930, the fort's name was changed to Fort Francis E. Warren. In 1949, it became Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort D. A. Russell (Texas)</span> United States historic place

Fort D. A. Russell is the name of an American military installation near Marfa, Texas, that was active from 1911 to 1946. It is named for David Allen Russell, a Civil War general killed at the Battle of Opequon, September 19, 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Davis National Historic Site</span> National Historic Site of the United States

Fort Davis National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in the unincorporated community of Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas. Located within the Davis Mountains of West Texas, the historic site was established in 1961 to protect one of the best remaining examples of a United States Army fort in the southwestern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Randall</span> United States historic place

Camp Randall was a United States Army base in Madison, Wisconsin, the largest staging point for Wisconsin troops entering the American Civil War. At this camp fresh volunteers received quick training before heading off to join the Union Army. Also located on the grounds were a hospital and briefly a prisoner-of-war camp for captured Confederate soldiers.

Hans Jürgen Press was a German illustrator and writer of children's books. Many of his books contain stories and puzzles in which the reader searches the illustrations for clues to the mystery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Benjamin Harrison</span> Former US Army post in Indianapolis, IN, US 1906-1991

Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis, between 1906 and 1991. It is named for the 23rd United States president, Benjamin Harrison.

The Forts of Texas include a number of historical and operational military installations. For over 200 years, various groups fought over access to or control over the region that is now Texas. Possession of the region was claimed and disputed by the European powers of Spain and France, and the continental countries of Mexico, the United States, the Republic of Texas, and the Confederate States of America. Ownership of specific lands was claimed and disputed by different ethnic groups, including numerous Native American tribes, Mexican residents, Anglo- and African-American settlers, and European immigrants. Access to and control of resources were claimed and disputed by various economic groups, including indigenous hunter/gatherers, farmers, herders, ranchers, colonists, settlers, buffalo hunters, traders, bandits, smugglers, pirates, and revolutionaries. Over the centuries, claims and disputes were enforced by Native American warriors, Spanish conquistadors, French cavaliers, Texas Rangers, local militias, and uniformed regular army regiments of Spain, Mexico, Texas, the United States, and the Confederacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinati Foundation</span> Art Museum in Texas, United States

The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati is a contemporary art museum located in Marfa, Texas, and based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Omaha</span> United States historic place

Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Omaha, Nebraska, the facility is primarily occupied by the Metropolitan Community College. A Navy Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve unit, along with an Army Reserve unit occupy the periphery of the 82.5 acres (33.4 ha) fort. The government deeded all but four parcels of the land to the Metropolitan Community College in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Douglas (Wyoming)</span> United States historic place

Camp Douglas was an internment camp for Prisoners of War (POW) during World War II, located in the city of Douglas, Wyoming, United States. Between January 1943 and February 1946 in the camp housing first Italian and then German prisoners of war in the United States. While there are few remaining structures, the walls of the Officer's Club were painted with murals by three Italian prisoners. These paintings depicting western life and folklore are now registered with the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service on the National Register of Historic Places. The story of this POW camp is an important part of the history of the town of Douglas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilhelmina Weber Furlong</span> German American artist and teacher (1878–1962)

Wilhelmina Weber Furlong was a German American artist and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Apache Historic Park</span> Historic place in Gila County, Arizona

Fort Apache Historic Park is a tribal historic park of the White Mountain Apache, located at the former site of Fort Apache on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The park interprets the rich and troubled history of relations between the Apache and other Native American tribes at the fort, which was converted into a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school after its military use ended. The park, which covers 288 acres (117 ha) of the former fort and school, as well as a nearby military cemetery, form the National Historic Landmark Fort Apache and Theodore Roosevelt School historic district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Davis County Courthouse (Texas)</span> United States historic place

The Jeff Davis County Courthouse is located in the town of Fort Davis, the seat of Jeff Davis County in the U.S. state of Texas. The courthouse was constructed between 1910-1911 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has also designated the building as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 2000 and, along with the surrounding courthouse square, as a State Antiquities Landmark since 2003. The surrounding county and county seat, along with the nearby historic frontier fort at Fort Davis National Historic Site, are named after Jefferson Davis, who served as U.S. war secretary at the time of the establishment of the fort and the town, and who would later become president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Breckinridge Non-Commissioned Officers' Club</span> United States historic place

The Camp Breckinridge Non-Commissioned Officers' Club, at 1116 N. Village Rd. in Morganfield, Kentucky, was built in 1942 for the U.S. Army by contractor Struck Construction. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fort D. A. Russell". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fort D. A. Russell Building 98". Texas Historic Landmark summary listing. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fort D. A. Russell Building 98". The International Woman's Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28.
  5. Executive and founding director of the International Woman's Foundation Mona Blocker Garcia
  6. The Biography of Wilhelmina Weber Furlong: The Treasured Collection of Golden Heart Farm by Clint B. Weber, ISBN   978-0-9851601-0-4