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Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
This has been quite a day. The weather was bitter cold all day with a strong wind out of the northeast. Everyone out there was bundled up and still had to brave the cold.
Messrs. Cordova & Co. started work on time, but they knocked off at about noon as it was considered unsafe to work on the rafters in the wind and cold.
In spite of the weather, Gail Andress showed up on time and spent much of the day digging the trench for the electrical conduit that will carry power to the new Library/Depot. Phil Motz was out there directing the effort with Bob Beal and Morris Swain assisting.
The ditch was dug, the conduit laid, and the ditch covered back up. It is planned that Phil, assisted by Gus Lind, will be stringing the wire through the conduit tomorrow.
Meanwhile, this morning a delivery truck brought more materials, including the corrugated siding for the sides of the Freight House, lumber for trim, and other supplies.
Two San Bernardino County building inspectors were at the construction site early this morning for the "nail/shear" inspection. They checked the construction over carefully and we passed with flying colors.
This project is moving forward rapidly and appearances are it'll continue that way.
Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
All four walls of the second story room of the Depot got framed today.
The Cordova Crew showed up at 7:00 AM. It was a cool 44 degrees on the front porch with a pretty stiff wind out of the northeast. The framers pounded away out there on the roof of the Depot end of the structure.
Mr. Cordova hopes to have the rafters up tomorrow and the plywood sheeting over the rafters by the end of the week. He may call for a "nail-shear" inspection this Wednesday, that being the day of the week inspectors come out here.
Phil Motz went to Mohave Valley with his little trailer today to pick up the conduit and other supplies (including wire) that will be needed to run electricity from our newly constructed Power House to the Library/Depot. Gail Andress is coming on Wednesday to dig the trench for the electrical line. Phil has hopes of having the conduit in place before he leaves one week from today.
Report by Dennis Casebier
The truss truck arrived on schedule at about 7:00 AM. The driver unloaded the ceiling joists and the "boys" were quickly up on the second story floor of the Depot nailing stuff in place. Clear and cool out in the morning. About 36 degrees. No wind.
Phil, Jo Ann and I went up to the work site at just about sunset. Phil reports that by 9:30 AM all of the ceiling joists were all in place and after that the heavy plywood forming the floor was installed as was some kind of parapet around the outer edges at that level. That's about it for progress, but it is important "enabling" progress.
Now, beginning bright and early Monday morning, they can begin framing the second story of the Depot part of the building. That will change the skyline at Goffs for sure.
Report by Dennis Casebier
Wow! With the roof installed yesterday, they can now remove the bracing throughout the Freight House thereby exposing the true size of the rooms. Neat. And these guys are doing a great job.
Tomorrow morning the ceiling joists for the depot are scheduled to arrive at 7:00 AM. Mr. Cordova tells me they plan to get the ceiling joists up tomorrow and also the floor on the second story room. Then they'll frame the upper floor on Monday and hence change the skyline of Goffs. This is exciting stuff.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
The framers showed up at 6:45 AM this morning. The temperature was 32 degrees with very little if any breeze.
I could see out my window they were going to finish the rafters over the Freight House. They had run out of the big 2 X 10 boards for rafter material, but more were delivered late Monday.
It was mostly sunny out today with some filtered light through thin scattered clouds. The forecast is good for the next few days.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
I reviewed progress on the construction site during my morning walk. The men were out there working away... saws buzzing and hammers flying. The hum of a compressor driving the nail guns fills in the background. It appears there were four workers out there to start, with General Contractor Dan Cordova arriving in the late morning.
Dan is increasingly optimistic he'll have the manufactured ceiling joists that go between the two floors of the building on Wednesday. The framers are putting the composite board sheeting on the first floor today after finishing that job on the Freight House.
It rained hard during the night and was 42 degrees out at 9:30 AM. No wind and mostly overcast, but there were patches of blue in the sky and patches of sunlight on the ground. The Hackberrys and New Yorks started off the morning with bright white snow. We hear on the news there was very heavy snow in Mountain Pass on I-15.By early afternoon, most of the snow was gone from the Hackberrys but there's still snow on the Providence Mountains.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
Mr. Cordova and crew worked away until about 1:00 pm today getting the rafters in place on the Freight House section before knocking off for the weekend. Just eye-balling it I'd say they've got about half the rafters and all the joists up.
The crew will be back to continue with the rafters early Monday morning. After that I believe they'll be putting the layer of composition board on top of the rafters.
This place is a beehive of activity. In addition to the contractor's crew we have quite a number of volunteers here right now working on various projects. There is a high level of esprit de corps that moved in as the dominant element of ambience when construction started.
It continues overcast and cool here. No wind.
Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
General Contractor Dan Cordova and a crew of six were here all day today working on the Library/Depot. They took care of a bunch of miscellaneous chores, but the main thrust was to put in the ceiling joists in the Freight House. They got all the ceiling joists in and more than one-third of the rafters.
The day was overcast and cold but not windy. More of the same weather is expected tomorrow when the crew will be back, but hopefully the threatened storm will let them finish out the week before breaking here.
The skyline is changing in Goffs.
Directors Phil Motz and Jo Ann Casebier check construction progress against the plans.
Report by Dennis Casebier
Photo by Chris Ervin
General Contractor Dan Cordova and his crew were back and hard at work by 8:00 AM today. It is their plan to be here the rest of the week.
By the end of this week they plan to have the ceiling joists in place in the Freight House. Also, they may plan to have the rafters completed in the north end of the Freight House and maybe the plywood substitute covering the roof.
As we wind down 2007, the folks at the Goffs Cultural Center
wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2008!
Watch a month's progress compressed into two seconds...
Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
Dan Cordova & Co. showed up a little before 7:00 AM this morning. The wind came up at about the same time and picked up here throughout the morning. It was pretty cool at about 40 degrees at mid-morning.
The framers are out there putting plywood up on the walls. Mr. Cordova hopes to have it completely around the building by the time they leave today, which is likely to be before noon.
The understanding is that there will be a break from construction next week.
More and more it is beginning to feel like a building.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
General contractor Cordova arrived with his crew at about 7:45 AM this morning and went right to work. They were busy framing all day. They got most, if not all, of the first floor walls done.Tomorrow some time, the framed walls will be stood up into place. That's going to be exciting and it should be a real photo op. Mr. Cordova and crew are expected back bright and early tomorrow morning.We are being blessed with ideal weather for this time of year.
Report by Dennis Casebier
It was a productive day today with things little less frantic than yesterday. General contractor Dan Cordova uses his own crew to do the framing. They showed up bright and early this morning (five of them altogether) and commenced working on the Library/Depot.
First, they went around marking out construction lines on the slab poured just yesterday. Then, they spent the rest of the day installing the treated wood (keeps termites away) bottom plate to the bolts that protrude above the concrete. It was music to our ears to hear the saws buzzing away. Tomorrow there is the prospect we'll hear hammers.
Mr. Cordova hopes – if the weather holds – he'll have the entire bottom floor framed by the end of this week. Unlike yesterday, there wasn't much for us locals to do except stand by and gaze on in amazement.
Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
Today was a very busy day for the Goffs Cultural Center with all activities centering around construction of the new Library/Depot.
Craig Merriam's concrete crew came on to the property at 6:00 AM. The four concrete trucks from Mohave Valley began arriving a little before 7:00 AM, staggered at about fifteen minute intervals. This was in addition to the three trucks that poured the footings Friday.
The five men comprising the concrete crew worked frantically handling that amount of mud. But in not much more than a hour and a half the footprint of the slab was filled in and the four trucks had come and gone.
The crew spent much of the rest of the day finishing it off. The result is a really fine-looking slab upon which the Library/Depot will be based.
At mid-afternoon, a huge lumber delivery truck arrived with a heavy load from Palm Springs. The contractors had all left. They had indicated to us where they'd like the lumber placed, so it fell to the Goffs crew to direct the placement of the lumber and assist the driver in the actual unloading.
That required nearly three hours - it was getting dark and a cold breeze had come up before that work was done.
So now there's a massive assortment of lumber out there ready to be made into a building and we understand the contractor will be back tomorrow morning and begin nailing boards together! This is pretty exciting stuff for us MDHCA members at Goffs.
For our part, the following people were present and helping out as they could throughout the day: Gus and Stella Lind, Ron Shepard, John Harrington, Hugh & Carol Brown, Morris & Judy Swain, Jan Sears, Jerry Sears, and Dennis & Jo Ann Casebier.
Report by Dennis Casebier
Jerry Sears is out there continuing his burro bush whapping. He'll soon have all the burro bushes removed in between the creosotes from the Library/Depot site to the caboose, thereby diminishing the threat by wildfire. He's done a lot of work on it and Jan has helped.
Concrete is poured into the stem wall forms.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
Craig Merriam and his three-person concrete crew rolled onto the property at 6:45 AM this morning. Within fifteen minutes the first of three concrete trucks from Mohave Valley arrived. The other two trucks of "mud" showed up at 45 minute intervals.
Pretty soon Gus and Stella and I were out there, joined later by Jo Ann and John Harrington. So there were plenty of supervisors! These three loads were for the footings and it turned out three full loads was not quite enough. The shortage will be made up when the slab is poured.
Craig had hoped to pour the slab tomorrow (Friday) but the forecast is for 14 MPH winds early in the morning, building up to something closer to 20 MPH by the afternoon. Craig says that's too much so the slab will not be poured tomorrow. The next window of opportunity will be Monday.
It was cold this morning - right at 30 degrees. We had ice on the bird water for the first time this season. But there was very little breeze so it was not uncomfortable.
By 9:00 AM, the last of the three concrete trucks were cleaning out.
Around 1:00 PM, I noticed an extra white pickup at the work site. I found general contractor Dan Cordova there. He was pouring over the plans and had detailed questions about measurements and a few other items. I got John Harrington so we could all go over the details together. We had about an hour-long meeting over the details.
General contractor Dan Cordova is a carpenter by trade. His crew will be doing the framing. He had hoped to begin framing on Monday, but now that will have to be delayed. Dan says they'll start framing Tuesday and have the first story done by the end of the week. He said the lumber will arrive Monday and he showed me where he wants it placed.
Craig Merriam's crew is still out there working with the forms and concrete poured this morning.
I went to the pantry and fetched the notebook with all the photos we have of the Depot for show and tell. Everyone was very interested.
Report by Dennis Casebier
We had our first inspection today. Building Inspector Stephen Given was here by 8:30 this morning. I took him out to the work site. Outside temperature was 31 degrees, the coldest we've had this season.
He checked things over and gave his approval on temporary power, foundation reinforcing steel, excavation and forms, slab grade, and ground plumbing.
I called Craig and gave him the green light. If he'd known the inspection would happen this early he would have poured some concrete today. Anyway, he'll be here early tomorrow morning and will be pouring by 7:00 AM. He'll pour footings tomorrow.
Craig had hoped to pour the slab on Friday but looking ahead at the weather he's afraid it is going to be too windy. He'll have his eye on the weather.
Bay window footing forms and steel for the depot slab.
Report and photo by Dennis Casebier
Craig Merriam with his crew arrived here before 7:15 AM. General contractor Dan Cordova was also here this morning. Here's a summary of the work done today;
The "steel" is in place and ready for concrete to be delivered. It looks good. Craig expects to call for about three 10-yard trucks Thursday and maybe five or more on Friday. He'll have the normal crew of three or four here Thursday but maybe even one extra on Friday. Of course Craig will be out here Thursday and Friday. I get the impression all our concrete may be poured this week.
Gus Lind was here all day providing contact backup with Craig and for awhile with Dan Cordova while we had appointments in town.
I'll be interfacing with the building inspector tomorrow. It appears everyone has done their homework so we don't expect any issues.
John E. Masterson from Rinker Materials of Mohave Valley was here this afternoon. He and Craig went over the ground and the approaches the concrete trucks are to use. Gus will is firing up the tractor late this afternoon to smooth out two of the approaches the concrete trucks will have to use.
We are grateful Gus was here today. He was out on the grounds most of the day interfacing with Craig and Dan.
It was cold and windy in Goffs today. Even colder and windier in Bullhead City.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Report and photos by Dennis Casebier
The ditch was dug, the conduit laid, and the ditch covered back up. It is planned that Phil, assisted by Gus Lind, will be stringing the wire through the conduit tomorrow.
