Spring Cleaning at Bluff Fort -March 1, 2012

Part of the volunteer group who came to help at Bluff Fort March 1, 2012
LaRue Barton, fort director gives instructions for cleaning.

March 1 was Spring cleaning for Bluff Fort, and nearly 50 volunteers arrived like a lion to get the 14 cabins spiffed up and the chapel, Relief Society building, and grounds ready for a new season.  LaRue Barton, director of the Visitors Center, was exuberant in her appreciation of those who came to help. 

This is What They did:

A lizard in the Relief Society
building was taken outside

LaVerne Tate and Karen Kartchner, clean inside the Relief Society building

LaMar Helquist, one of the permanent volunteers at the fort cleans away winter debris

Shauna Hurst and LaRue Barton move vacumn cleaners using the fort hand carts

Patsy Shumway and Betty Rock from Blanding 2nd ward helped clean the chapel

The Mahon sisters gave rugs and curtains in the Perkins Cabin a good airing 

Heather Meyer, Shauna Hurst learn from Lanell Stringham, how to dust quilts from Barton Cabin

The Fahey's return the fluffed up and dusted feather tick in the Barton Cabin

The Holiday's helped with dusting in the Old Barton Cabin as well

The Bluff Fort is run by volunteers and each year has its own challenges and rewards. With all the new buildings cleaned and windows washed, that challenge has been met.  The “ground breaking” news in 2012 will be the beginning of construction on the Bluff Coop on the north side of the grounds, which expected to begin this month. 

Sandi Laws and her mom, Clyda Palmer dust and clean.
Clyda actually grew up in Bluff, living in the old Kumen
Jones house that is still partially standing on the Bluff
Fort Historic Site.

Rachel Johnson, Candace Lyman, Lawanna Palmer and Patsy Shumway help
clean the Jens Nielson Cabin, in preparation for Spring tourists.

Leslie Nielson is ready to vacumn the Decker cabin, while Beverly Vowell finishes
windows next door.

Naida Black, Betty Shumway, and Karen Dufur cleaned the Jones cabin 

Steve Wilcox,  Kenna Lee, Erma Redd, Bernice Perkins, and helped clean the grounds.

Marsha Black finds out that hand carts can still be pushed and pulled, as part of
the clean-up detail.

Pam Bronson, Fila Harris, and Jackie Redd complete the finishing touches in one of the 14 cabin.

Last year a strong team of couples helped throughout the tourist season.  The Bartons, Harveys, Taylors, and Rowleys will be returning again for part of the summer, but there is still a gaping docent hole, which LaRue is hoping local people will help fill.

“We need couples or two women willing to come for one morning or afternoon each week, LaRue explained. “ They would answer tourists questions, run the cash register, show the video, and if possible, when they are not busy they could work on a quilt or a woven or crocheted rag rug.”  Usually these are local people who work a 5 hr. shift once a week.

In addition, she explained that the fort also needs other couples willing to come for two weeks, or a month to work in the visitor center, and help with whatever needs to be done.  “Sometimes that includes working in the garden, keeping the cabins clean, hoeing weeds, or whatever we are doing.”

For these out of town volunteers, Mrs. Barton has a nice 34 foot travel trailer that will be available for docents to stay in.  ""If you are interested, you need to schedule your two weeks right away, so we can schedule the trailer."

LaRue expressed appreciation for all the help given, as the group met to eat lunch at Twin Rocks

 While working for a couple of weeks or a month, there will be time for seeing the local tourist spots as well.  Contact information is LaRue Barton  435 459 2092    email   larueb@frontiernet.net   .  The phone number at the visitor center is 435 672 9995. 


The end of a great morning of cleaning-- visiting and eating a delicious lunch at the Twin Rocks:

40 plus volunteers showed up to help, also filled the Twin Rocks cafe for lunch

Volunteers enjoyed the sunny pleasantries of good company and good food at Twin Rocks

Nothing like a Navajo burger, or Navajo Tacos at Twin Rocks

Oct. 12 --Historic day for Bluff Co-op groundbreaking

          

  Governor Gary Herbert promised Corrine Roring last Wednesday, that not only would he “polish his dancing shoes” for next year’s promised dedication of the Bluff Co-op, but that he would “start practicing his dancing steps.”

            

Master of Ceremonies and former SJC commissioner, Lynn Stevens, introduced Gov. Herbert, as “Utah’s Most Rural Governor” and complemented him on his efforts to represent and visit rural Utah.  While in San Juan County, on Oct. 12 Herbert, also spoke to students statewide via the Utah Education Network and visited several local schools, Blanding Visitors Center, Edge of the Cedars Museum, and .

            Gov. Herbert reminded the audience of about 100 people at Bluff Fort, that the groundbreaking of the new Bluff Co-op, was a remembrance of those who had come before.  “We are standing on the shoulders of the Hole in the Rock pioneers, whose qualities can still be incorporated today.”  The addition of a replica of the first Co-op promises to be the “Gem of the Fort, and will once again be the hub of what happens here at the Fort.

            The Co-op was one of San Juan County’s first successful businesses, where bartering and trading with Native Americans and pioneers alike made it the center of commerce during the years of the gold rush, and first oil boom in San Juan County.  In fact, Herbert stated, “the Co-op paid a 10% dividend to original investors during the first 5 months of existence, and later paid 25% dividends to investors before the first year ended.”

            The Governor told citizens that the state is looking for ways to expand the economy in rural Utah, saying that Tourism and Travel can help. He thanked local residents for “all you do to raise good families and to run good businesses.”

            Dignitaries who participated in the groundbreaking, and who were introduced by Mr. Stevens included Wilson Martin (Chrm of Utah State History, and Chrm of Four Corners Heritage Council); Shirley Silversmith (Director of Utah Division of Indian Affairs);  President Mike Redd (Blanding LDS Stake); Elder Perry Webb (6^th Quorum of 70’s LDS church area representative); San Juan County commissioners: Kenneth Maryboy, Phil Lyman, and Bruce Adams; Cleal Bradford (Chr of Trail of the Ancients Council, and member of Heritage Council, as well as writer of the original grant of $486,600 to build the new Co-op); Manuel Heart (Ute Tribal Councilman and former Chairman of the Ute Mt. Ute Tribe); and Leigh Von der esch (Director of Travel & Film for Utah).

            In her introductory welcome, Corrinne Roring, on behalf of the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation, thanked those who had worked so hard to make her “distant dream” of 10 years ago, a reality.  “I predict that with the addition of the Bluff Co-op, the Bluff fort complex will become a “must stop and see” destination for all those who pass along Hwy 191. . .This would not have succeeded without you.”  She thanked all those who over the past four years, had helped to raise the matching money to the original grant; and thanked the Bluff Fort volunteers who “perform a labor of love” in keeping the gardens and grounds so clean and beautiful.

   

  She predicted that in 2012 we’ll celebrate the dedication of the Co-op which will be the “Jewel of the Fort” by “ringing the bells,” (as they did in early Bluff when Utah became a state in 1896), and “with a feast, and dancing ‘til midnight – so get your dancing shoes ready.  Bluff will buzz with activity again!”

    

Following the official ground breaking, many 3^rd – 5^th grade students from Bluff Elementary also took turns breaking the soil for the new building.

A delicious lunch with Barbecued meat was prepared by Twin Rocks Cafe and salads, cookies, and drinks prepared by the fort volunteers fed the group.  It was a delightful end to a beautiful day of culmination, ceremony and hope.

About 120 people attended the ground breaking

         Earlier in the morning, Gov. Herbert addressed students statewide. It was the first statewide, live gubernatorial speech geared toward high school students. About 110 schools participated via live Web streaming. Herbert said the digital age and changing job market demand a highly-educated workforce in order to compete. "When you go out to the world to start your careers, you're not just going to be competing with the graduates of Utah State University and Dixie State, you'll be competing with the graduates of the University of Beijing in China," he said. After the speech he fielded questions from students from Orem, Rich County, Murray and Emery County.

Beverly Vowell, Fort Docent and Steve Bronson, Director 

Governor Hubert with Bluff Fort Stalwarts

LaVerne Tate explains the plans for the Bluff Co-op using the scale model