Yesterday we packed up the car and headed to Cove Fort with the kids.
It's a 2 hour drive from our house and we haven't been there in
about 6 years so we decided it would be a fun day trip to take.
It's Spring Break for the kids but we haven't done anything too exciting.
If you don't know about Cove Fort, here's a little synopsis...
Recognizing the necessity of a permanent facility at this strategic midpoint, Brigham Young directed Ira Nathaniel Hinckley to both superintend the LDS Church ranch at Cove Creek and to build a substantial fort at that place. In company with Brigham Young, Ira went to Cove Creek, arriving there on 29 April 1867. Other workmen were called to the site, including Ira's brother, Arza Erastus Hinckley. The building crew occupied Fort Willden during the construction phase of Cove Fort. Between April and November 1867, the primary structure was completed. The walls of the fort form a square which is 100 feet on each side. The walls are comprised mainly of black volcanic rock and dark limestone laid up in lime mortar, and are eighteen feet high. The fort was rededicated in 1992 by President Gordon B. Hinkley
(His Grandfather is Ira Nathaniel Hinkley)
This picture was taken at our first stop out of the car.
This is the original Hinckley cabin that was located in Coalville, UT.
This is the cabin the Hinckley family lived in when the letter arrived from
Brigham Young, calling Ira Hinckley to move his family and build Cove Fort.
Entering the Fort
There are 3 trees in the courtyard area that were the original trees from
when the fort was built. They are braced so they won't fall over -
but oh if these trees could talk!
There are 6 rooms on one side of the fort - and 6 on the other
This is a glimpse inside the kitchen of the original Hinckley cabin
The missionaries gave us a guided tour through all the rooms -
complete with the telegraph office and post office.
This is the huge stove Sister Hinckley would cook on ALL DAY LONG
They said she would feed 25 to 100 people a day - all 3 meals!
Boys bedroom. One of the main chores the boys had in those
days were filling the wood boxes and emptying all the camber pots in the morning.
Bronson didn't think that sounded very fun!
Root cellar in the boys room
This is a picture of Sister Hinckley's rocking chair.
The Hinckley family donated it to Cove Fort when it was dedicated.
Notice how little it was. Sister Hinckley was only 4"10 and Ira
Hinckley was 6 feet tall. Most of the people from this time were shorter
than we are now. I would have loved to live back then because the
furniture looks so comfortable to me! (I am only 5 feet tall myself!)
Another original piece - this clock that has sat on this mantle for
150 years
More tiny furniture
Their "peep hole" to see who was at the front or back doors.
This was the "President's room" where President Brigham Young
would stay when he came to visit. Notice the rounded suit case on the floor.
Brigham Young liked to roll his clothes instead of fold them because they
didn't wrinkle as badly.
A view from on top of the fort.
This was a fun trip and I love to do things like this.
Church History is my favorite thing so anytime we can take advantage
of some of the local sites - we do it!
