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