Security system wired

Report by Dennis Casebier

Dave Mongrain of Alarm Team arrived yesterday and began installing the wire necessary for the security system for the interior of the Library/Depot. He spent the night and finished up that part of the installation by early this afternoon. He'll be back when the drywall is in place to install the security system hardware.

Ready to go

Report by Dennis Casebier
Photos by Dennis Casebier and Roger Mitchell

Today, the "A" Team, consisting of Phil Motz (in charge), Gail Andress, Gus & Stella Lind, and Morris Swain assembled on the west side of the Library/Depot with all the materials in hand to install the septic system that will support the new facility.

At the controls of the Jack & June Greening Tractor, Gail Andress did the digging, with shovel accompaniment provided by the Linds and Morris Swain.

With the big hole dug, Gail lowered the new 1,000 gallon septic tank into the hole.

Meanwhile, the crew had the sewer line ready to connect from the building.

Gail then dug the ditch for the 50-foot leach line and dumped the required amount of leach rock in the bottom. The leach line was laid on the rock and more rock placed on top of that -- according to code.

The job will be finished tomorrow by laying newspaper on top of the rock on top of the leach line. Then the whole thing will be covered with dirt.

While the leach line was being laid the new septic tank was filled with water. Next thing you know, we'll be almost "ready to go," so to speak.

Tanks, a lot

Report and photos by Dennis Casebier

We are experiencing beautiful weather. Our high temperature today was over 80 degrees with only a breeze. Things have been pretty quiet around the construction site for the past several days, until today.

Rudy of C & R Tanks of Tulare, CA arrived at about 10:00 AM with our truck load of tanks. We led him in through the service entrance and up to the job site. He nosed his big rig out towards the Stotts Stamp Mill gate and then backed in along side the pad constructed by Gail Andress where the two 5,000 gallon tanks are to go.


The straps were removed from the three round tanks, they were rolled off, shifted into position, and set down. The whole process took no more than 30 minutes. We positioned the big tanks so their fill holes and drains line up with about six feet between them. This will facilitate getting them all hooked up to the water system.


For the fourth tank, the 1,000 gallon septic tank, a different procedure was used. Gus and Morris put straps around the tank then lifted it off the truck with the Greening Tractor. The tank was then moved over near the spot where it is to be buried.


The total delivery was of two 5,000 gallon water tanks for fire fighting purposes, one 2,500 gallon tank for potable water, and one 1,000 gallon sepic tank.

The roof is complete

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

The wind came back before dawn this morning. The temperature on front porch at 6:15 AM was a hair below 40 degrees. It must have gotten a little colder during the night because we had a thin sheet of ice on the bird water.

The roofers came back a little before 10:00 AM and they a re out there in the cold wind now on the tall ladders trying to get roofing on the top of the depot. That roof is steeper than the roof on the Freight House.

And now, here in the early afternoon, the roofing is on the second story of the Depot. The wind is still blowing and it's cool out even though it's bright and sunny. The roofers are still working on the details, but basically, the roof is on and completed.

Combo inspection

Report by Dennis Casebier

The temperature on the front porch was about 40 degrees at 6:15 AM. That's the good news. The bad news is that it was blowing a gale out there again. We had a one-day respite, yesterday.

The inspectors - Steve Given and Gary Given - showed up earlier than expected. John Harrington and I went out and stayed with them in the cold wind for the better part of two hours. Fortunately Dan Cordova, who fully intended to be here while the inspectors were here, showed up after the first hour or so. They did a pretty thorough inspection and found a few things that needed attention. In the end they signed off on the "combo" inspection. The next step will be insulation and then onward to drywall.

This was Gary Given's last inspection visit to our site due to his impending retirement. We reflected over the development that has taken place here over the past 18 years and he expressed himself proud of what has been accomplished.

In the midst of the inspection, the roofers arrived (to my amazement considering the wind storm), and began to work.

I didn't get to go off on my "morning" walk until about 5:00 PM this afternoon. By the time I got northward up to where I normally stop, the wind had quit. I did an about face and headed back down the hill. As I approached the fence line I thought sure I heard the sound of a nail gun. So I cut through the creosote bushes down to the construction site. By the time I got there it was nearly dark.

Sure enough, the roofers were up there putting the finishing touches on the east roof of the Freight House. I stopped and visited with them a bit and then came on home. It is heartening to see Americans working hard. And they are doing a good job, too. There are so many these days that want everything for nothing. They said they'll be back tomorrow to finish the roof over the depot. They wanted to know if I liked the way it looked. Of course we do. They, like every other one of the subcontractors hired by Dan Cordova have done excellent work.

Roofers on a catwalk

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

It has been a nice, but busy day. The low was just below freezing overnight, enough to put a little ice on the bird water. But generally speaking the weather was nice all day.

The roofers showed up at about 10:00 AM. They come late and work late. For example, here it is 5:30 PM and I can look out my window across the street and they are still there. They are working on the high roof over the two story Depot. They don't have a lift so they are using ladders. It gives me the willies just to watch them. But they are getting the roof covered.

Tomorrow we are scheduled for what is called a "combo" inspection by the Department of Building and Safety of San Bernardino County. This includes an inspection of the electrical and a bunch of other stuff all at the same time. So, in the life of a construction project, this is exciting stuff.

Also the telecom guy is going to be here in the neighborhood on other business tomorrow, so we'll be chatting with him about phone lines for the new building.

John Harrington arrived back from his extended trip to Michigan and Florida. He'll be here until about the 17th of March when he plans to leave indefinitely. Hopefully he'll come back someday. It has been a joy to have him here. And he did a lot of good work. Highlights in his accomplishments are painting almost all the buildings and the construction of the Library/Depot model that so many have enjoyed seeing in the Schoolhouse and the top of this page.

West side Freight House roofing finished

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

The wind blew all night and was blowing some when we got up this morning, but it wasn't real cold at 39 degrees on the front porch. I figured not much work would get done, but then along about mid-morning, things began to happen.

First the roofers showed up. Three guys altogether. Then the wind slacked off. They've been working steadily out there ever since. It appears they'll get the roof on the west side of the Freight House done today. They are hopeful of finishing the whole roofing job by Wednesday. They have not started on the roof over the two-story part. But Mr. Cordova told me they plan to have a different crew out here tomorrow to do that portion and likely they'll finish it tomorrow.

I went over to the job site again at 3:00 PM and saw the roofers had finished the roofing on the west side of the Freight House. They were up on the tall ladders working on the west edge of the roof over the two-story part. I expect they are serious about getting that done tomorrow. The roof on the east side of the Freight House isn't completed yet, but it will be easy compared to the roof over the two-story part.