Steel and bush whacking

The concrete crew constructs the form for the stem wall.

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

The concrete crew - four strong - started work a little after six this morning. They are leveling out the ground by hand and have also brought a trailer load of "steel" (various kinds of reinforcing steel). They are determined to be ready for inspection on Wednesday.

At 7:30 AM the temperature was 34 degrees and a bit of a breeze.

A little before noon Jo Ann and I were out at the work site. Craig was talking about trying to get concrete lined up from Rinker of Mohave Valley. He has hopes of getting some delivered later this week.

Jerry and Jan Sears, with assistance from Gus on the tractor, have been working for a week now clearing burro brushes from in between the creosote bushes between the west side of the Library/Depot construction site and the caboose. This is a precaution in case of wildfire from the west.

Director Kaldenberg visits the construction site

Craig Merriam and Russ Kaldenberg consult on progress.

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

MDHCA director, archaeologist, and cultural resources expert Russ Kaldenberg stopped by this afternoon on his way from California to Wyoming. I gave him a tour of the Library building site. Russ had an opportunity to talk with contractors about their construction plans, provide his expertise on their work, plans, concrete needs, scheduling, and other matters. We also discussed historic accuracy regarding the east wall.

It was good Russ got to see the work and progress.

Rained out today

Report by Dennis Casebier

It rained a little here during the night. It is windy and heavy overcast now, but not actually raining. The concrete man, Craig, didn't show up this morning. Apparently it rained more over in the Morongo Basin than here in Goffs and the wind is blowing hard. Anyway, they have decided not to come today but they'll be back to work Monday and Tuesday to be ready for inspection on Wednesday.

Forms and plumbing

The concrete crew continues construction of the forms.

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

Looks like another busy day. Two pickup loads of the concrete workers arrived from Twentynine Palms area at 6:30 am. These boys get up early.

The plumber Tim Henry is here. He'll stub out the sewer line and the water line and fill back in behind himself. I asked him to mark and tag the two places where these stubs will be buried.

The greatest excitement this morning is that the nine volt battery expired in concrete man Craig's laser machine. Everything ground to a halt. They had to stop putting forms in. Craig jumped in his vehicle and sped off to Fenner. No batteries. That's when it occurred to him he might call me. We had one and had them back on line in a jiffy.

They are moving right along with the forms. I would be hard pressed to guess what percentage they have done, but considerable. Craig tells me the job is going to require about 50 yards of concrete.

It is heavy overcast, gloomy, and cool today.

Trenching for the footings

Craig Merriam's concrete crew begins digging trenchs for the footings.

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

Things are hopping at Goffs. The contractors began arriving from Twentynine Palms at 6:30 am.

Presently the graders (whose job is essentially done), concrete man, and trenchers, and General Contractor Dan Cordova are on the ground. Must be ten people out there. I've been out there continuously since 6:45 am. The weather doesn't get nicer.

With Chris on the phone so I could verify my logic, I approved the exact siting of the building. The building is now marked out on the ground and the trencher is going to dig for the footings.

The cement man is expecting a pretty thorough inspection a week from today. The way seems clear for a quick inspection. The concrete man, Craig Merriam, can begin to pour when and if they pass inspection next Wednesday. He plans to pour the entire thing before Christmas. It'll take two pouring days and will be dependent upon weather. Craig has three people here besides himself.

Electrical is being done by Fred of CWS electrical. A/C is in the hands of High Desert Air. The trenching man is Bruce Pendergrass.

New workampers, Jerry and Jan Sears, worked hard whapping burro bushes out west of the Library/Depot site. This effort is designed to expand the perimeter of our fire breaks around our beautiful new building.

By the end of the day, all of the trenching for footings was completed. John Marnell checked the trenches on the ground with John Harrington's model of the Depot and has certified they are correct. The weather is beautiful but I'm hearing there may be heavy weather moving in by this coming weekend.

The pad is done

Camera angle makes it difficult to see pad of dirt built up for base for the Library. This extra elevation will go a long way in keeping water away from the Library.

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

Lehman Excavators completed the pad for the Library about noon today. Nice job. General contractor Dan Cordova will be here tomorrow to inspect the pad and the concrete man will be here to lay out the foundation forms on the pad.

I'm not an expert on pads but I think they did a great job. The people from whom they rented the tractor (out of Bullhead) will come and pick up the tractor in the morning. I had them lift me up in the bucket of the tractor to get the photo of the pad. If the rest of the subcontractors are as good as Lehman Excavators then we'll do very well.

Grading for the Library pad begins

Report by Dennis Casebier

7:00 AM
A big truck pulling a trailer with the tractor on board has arrived. It is out on Lanfair Road and the tractor is being unloaded. Sam and Mike supervising. Something is about to happen. Overnight low in low 30s but not freezing. Looks clear out today.

9:00 AM
It is happening! Those boys are out there moving dirt. Because of the recent rains, the soil is perfect. All us local Goffians are out there standing around ... there is a smile on every face ... there is excitement in the air. There is a sense that something of importance is underway! Like when the Route 66 House came up from Essex and when we started on restoration of the Schoolhouse. We are embarked on something of the greatest importance. Sam mentioned that general contractor Dan Cordova will be out some time today.

12:00 Noon
The pad is coming together nicely. The soil is perfect, thanks to two days of rain. When do we get two days of rain back-to-back coming down slowly enough that it soaks in instead of running off? Must be a good sign. Everything is very positive around here. Everyone can see something is going to happen. That beautiful and distinctive building is going to rise up out of the desert.

Grader arrives

Report by Dennis Casebier

Actual construction work commenced when Sam and Mike Lehman of "Lehman Excavators" out of Joshua Tree started work forming the pad of dirt that the Library/Depot will be built upon. The pad is designed to raise the floor of the Library one foot above "grade" to avoid the potential of water intrusion during a flash flood.

Later in this week the concrete subcontractor will be here putting in forms. Soon cement trucks will be rumbling up and down the hill from Mohave Valley. And, over the next five or six months, our beautiful new library building, constructed in the image of the old (1900-1956) Goffs railway depot, will take shape.

Construction contract signed

Report by Hugh Brown

On behalf of the Association, Director Hugh Brown traveled to Yucca Valley today and signed a contract with General Contractor Dan Cordova to construct the Mojave Desert Archives Library building.

Dan says the grader is in Goffs today to do the necessary watering and will begin work on the pad next week. He also says the concrete crew is lined up right behind the grader.

Library Of Congress Team Visits Goffs

Senior Photograph Conservator, Adrienne Lundgren, and Carol Johnson, Curator of Photography, both from the Library of Congress, were at Goffs 15-16 November 2007 to review collections in the Mojave Desert Archives. While both women are experts in the photographic arena, they were equipped to survey all aspects of the collections. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the importance of the collections and to provide advice on preservation measures needed to take proper care of those collections.

Shannon Raborn, Director for the Las Vegas office of U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) joined us. Senator Reid has served as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the MDHCA. He has a special interest in our work, as he was raised in Searchlight, Nevada. He is author of the popular book, Searchlight: The Camp That Didn't Fail. We had the pleasure of providing him with oral history, photographic, and other assistance while he was doing research for his book.

The product of this survey will be a report, certified by the Library of Congress, on the importance and condition of the collections. That report, in turn, can be used as an authority in applying for preservation grants. The report will also provide details of some types of infrastructure that should be incorporated into the new Library/Depot.

Construction contract awarded

Dan Cordova, General Contractor, Yucca Valley

Report by Chris Ervin

After more than three months of follow-up and review, the MDHCA Board of Directors has determined to award construction of the new Mojave Desert Archives Library to general contractor Dan Cordova of Yucca Valley.

Mr. Cordova comes highly recommended and has shown much enthusiasm for the project. The next step is to seek ratification of the Association's decision from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment in Sacramento.

The Board looks forward to signing the contract and beginning construction of the Library.

Water!

Report by Dennis Casebier

Water! Eagle drilling showed up fairly early this morning and activated the new well. We have water! We let it flow out on the ground for two hours. At the beginning of the two hours it was running a hair over 20 gpm. At the end of the two hours it was still running a hair over 20 gpm (meaning it didn't draw down any) and by that time most traces of drill mud were gone. So we've got water. We now need to get started on the water tanks.

Let There Be Light

Report by Dennis Casebier

Eureka! Southern California Edison came out and energized the 400-amp panel in our new Power House. That part of the job is done; the power is there for the new Library/Depot.

Many hands touched this project; it was genuinely a result of teamwork that pushed it over the goal line. Phil Motz provided the leadership and Ron Shepard and John Harrington were on hand at all times to provide assistance. Others helped.

Also, Phil Motz and Ron Shepard laid a 2" water line between the new Pump House and Power House.

Electrical system for Library installed

Report by Dennis Casebier

Let me say with great admiration and appreciation that a crew under the supervision of Engineer Phil Motz, and consisting also of Ron Shepard and John Harrrington, has installed the heavy wiring that connects the new 400-amp power feed in the Power House to the Pump House that will power the new well.

It is hot, complicated, and heavy work and they have been out there in 100+ degree heat on several days in succession. As of this date, the job is completed and has been approved by the San Bernardino County Department of Building and Safety.

Engineer Motz has been given the highest grades for his work.

General contractor list compiled

Report by Chris Ervin

The MDHCA Board of Directors has determined it prefers to pursue hiring a general contractor to perform the construction of the Library building. To that end, a list of twelve general contractor candidates has been collected and compiled for review and additional follow-up.

Electrical meter/distribution panel delivered

Report by Dennis Casebier

Robert Botich delivered a 400-amp panel and electrical conduit pipe to support the Library/Depot project. Mr. Botich secured a substantial discount on the panel benefitting the Association.

Building permit issued

Report by Chris Ervin

We have a building permit for the Library!

I took half a day off from work this morning to drive the 215-mile round trip from Orange County into Yucca Valley to pick up the permit and corrected plans from building inspector Gary Given at the San Bernardino County Building and Safety.

Trench dug from Power House to Pump House

Report by Dennis Casebier

Gail Andress dug a 100-foot trench from the new Power House to the new Pump House in anticipation of the extension of the new electrical service.

Spring Encampment volunteer efforts

Report by Phil Motz

In anticipation of the Encampment, John Harrington had acquired the 4-inch, 2-inch, and 1-inch conduit for the electrical lines for the Power House and Pump House buildings. Robert Botich dropped off fluorescent fixtures for both buildings and a 100-amp panel for the Pump House.

The fire break west of the library site was established by a crew consisting of John Harrington, Red Brooke, Sharon Holmes, Larry Burkholder, Chris and Leslie Ervin, Kib and Shirley Roby, and Jackie Ridge.

Kib Roby manicured the new well site.

The conduit for the 400-amp incoming electrical service was put in place.

New electrical service planned

Report by Dennis Casebier

Robert Botich, an electrician by trade, traveled from Corona to Goffs and met with Dennis Casebier, Phil Motz, and John Harrington to review Southern California Edison (SCE) electrical specifications and to plan out acquisition of 400-amp meter and circuit panel.

Pump House materials run

From the Mojave Road Report

Dennis Casebier, John Harrington, and Ron Shepard pulled the Big Tex trailer to Bullhead City to procure lumber and other materials for the new Pump House. Construction was commenced today by Ron Shepard and John Reiff.

Power House roofed

From the Mojave Road Report

Ron Shepard and John Reiff put roofing on the new Power House.

Pump House pour

From the Mojave Road Report

John Harrington, John Reiff, Ron Shepard, and Carl Weikel poured the concrete slab for the new Pump House and also a step at the new Power House.

Trench dug from street to Power House

Report by Dennis Casebier

An underground conduit trench was dug with volunteer labor between the Lanfair Road and the new Power House. The incoming new electrical service will be laid under the Blvd. of Dreams.

We con duit

From the Mojave Road Report

Bobby and Tom Smith and Don Johnson were here working on a ditch for the conduit that will carry the new electrical service to the new Power House. Tom also did maintenance on the Greening tractor.