Utah Saint George Mission - Cove Fort Historic Site: June 2012

Last Friday, June 1st (evening at 7 p.m.) , we missionaries gathered out by the blacksmith's shop for an amazing demonstration of putting a wagon wheel together. Bro. Pratt, who lives up the road about a half mile from the fort, is a real blacksmith/farmer. He has been employed by the church to take care of many such items for our Historical sites around the country. Many other organizations which have events that need wagon wheels, wagons, or anything needing a blacksmith's skills, call on Bro. Pratt. The following pictures shows the sequence that he demonstrated. The rest of the pictures are of some of our 25 couple missionaries who enjoyed hot dogs and smores after the demonstration and pictures of the beautiful evening at the fort. It was a glorious night...warm with NO wind.

Bro. Pratt explains that the iron ring is called the tire.

Measuring device

Measuring the wood wheel

prepareing the fire for the tire

the tire has to be 1/2 in. smaller than the wooden wheel

the tire is in the fire

feeding the fire

preparing lots of water for after the tire is ready to go onto the wheel

the next few pictures are demonstrations of instruments used to build the wheel. This is a measuring device. The children in the background are among Bro. Pratt's 11 grandchildren.

Bro. Pratt is showing how to sculpt a spoke

the next two pictures shows how the spoke is rounded to fit into the fellow part of the wheel

the tire is now the right temp.

the tire is carried over and placed on the wheel

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Tire is so hot that the wooden wheel starts to burn

using a hose to finish the cooling process which helps to adhere the tire to the wheel

Job complete

done

Bro Pratt entertained us by reading from a Blacksmith's book.

Our fellow missionaries

This is the original bellows that Ira Hinkley used in 1867.. it's huge

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Bro. Pratt built this hand cart

the two men working on the wheel are Bro. Pratt's sons. The children in the pictures are Bro. Pratt's grandchildren.

Time to roast the dogs!

The work is wonderful and we are happy to be here! Not by chance but by divine inspiration, we have met many amazing people. We believe that many of our visitors have been prepared to come to Cove Fort to feel of the special spirit that is here. Each day is a new adventure and we love serving. We will never get tired of the amazing spirit of peace and love we feel here.
We have had some wonderful opportunities to share the gospel as well as explore this beautiful country side. Here are some pictures which can only give you a little taste of what we are experiencing.

These where taken on a "P"day trip with the Atwoods, Dye's, and Marrotts trowards the Price area where Elder Atwood grew up. Beautiful canyon area with Native American paintings and amazing views.