General Sink at Fort Laramie 1886

General Sink built in 1886 for the soldiers of the post.

NPS

These small walls played an important role for the people living at Fort Laramie. The General Sink was built in 1886 to help protect the fort’s drinking water supply. It was built to hold over four companies or 200 people. It became necessary for the post after the many infections of typhoid fever over the years. Sadly, it did not stop the spread of the disease. Fort Laramie would close just four years later and one of the reasons was due to the lack of control of water born illness.“The hygienic condition of the post is objectionable, putting a manure, awful debris, dirt, and filth into the pond above and immediately contiguous the post is productive of the usual results. The stench is at times almost unendurable, besides a considerable portion of the garrison and all of the stock, drink the water of the Laramie that is contaminated from this source.” Post Surgeon Albert Hudson, 1877.