This photo is of a dining room in the officers quarters of Ft. Harstsuff. Located near Ord Nebraska. Ft. Hartsuff was active between 1874-1881 during the height of Indian warfare on the Plains, the Fort provided protection for both settlers and friendly Indians. Primary duties included providing security for settlers and rounding up outlaws operating in the surrounding area. Fort Hartsuff became the center of the social life of the valley, and through disbursement of supplies, helped to offset the effects of the drought and grasshopper invasions of the early 1870's. The fort's major military engagement came at the Battle of the Blow Out in April of 1876. The action resulted in the death of First Sergeant Dougherty when troops commanded by Lieutenant Heyl routed a band of hostile Sioux. The fort had only one company of infantry stationed there at one time and was considered a good assignment due to the quality of the housing.. The North Loup Valley provided a route for the Sioux raids upon the Pawnee. In 1872 white settlers moved into the valley. Sioux depredations at Sioux Creek in October 1873 and at Pebble Creek in January of 1874 prompted the settlers to request military protection. By 1881 the railroad was extended into the valley, an orderly civilian government had been established and the threat of hostilities was ended. Fort Hartsuff was abandoned on May 1, 1881. Today it is a State Historical Park. I will post a series of photos taken at this site Background Information. http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=14741.0 http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/video/forthartsuff.wmv http://www.forttours.com/pages/forthartsuff.asp http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=74