Full Chisel Blog

On a recent visit to Historic Cove Creek Ranch Fort in central/southern Utah I had an opportunity to photograph a fine collection of original pioneer era painted and grained furniture.  I actually made some of the chairs that are also on exhibit.  Also items from the Blacksmith shop and fences around the barnyard.

Said to be the original bellows from the fort, quite sure it is new leather. 

Nozzel reinforced with rawhide, a good application. 

Ladder and Arrow back side chairs with mahogany grained table, not black stripes and edge.

Croch mahogany rope bedstead with cochineal dyed overshot bed spread, log cabin patchwork quilt on blanket roll.

Entrance to the fort, the keystone and plaque were probably carved in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. 

Exterior shot of the Fort, made from local volcanic rock, the fort was built for protection against the local Native American Indians. 

The walls are very thick and there is a chimney for each room a total of 12 smokes. 

Another fine croch mahogany rope bedstead.  The blanket roll should be loose, an extra blanket was wound around it and if needed pulled over the top.  The headboard is called a ‘rolling pin’ headboard because of its shape.  Some say because many are loose that it was used to flatten the straw and feather ticks [mattresses], this is a myth, you want the ticks fluffy not flat! 

Pine blanket chest grained to simulate curly maple. 

Detail of rope holder on blacksmiths bellows. 

Strangest fence I have ever seen, held together with rawhide.  How many critters and farm animals would make a meal of this?  Silly modern interpretation. 

Barn yard. 

Mahogany painted and grained chest of drawers with glove boxes and black painted split column and handles.  The gondola chair is one of the 25 chairs made for the LDS Museum of Church History and Art back in the 1980′s. 

Indigo overshot coverlet on maple grained bedstead. 

A view of the kitchen, the tall clock is suspected by many to be of newer manufacture. 

Another view of the kitchen area including more of the gondola chairs.  All of the rooms have connecting doors to allow movement around the sides of the fort without having to go outside. 

One of the view ports [loophole] around the ramparts on the sides of the fort. 

Pine rope bedstead grained to look like mahogany with maple panels. 

Tripod game table made of pine and grained to look like curly maple. 

Pine side [armless] rocking chair, low construction for working on a spinning wheel. 

Matched side winsor chairs, mahogany with black stripes. 

A pair of pine rope bedsteads grained to imitate curly maple. 

This bedstead is painted to look like quartersawn oak. 

Original ogee shelf clock said to belong to the original residents. 

Ox shoeing stantion, because cows can’t stand on 3 legs like a horse. 

Polychrome wood box, even the utilitarian pieces were painted. 

Last time I saw these copper gutters and downspouts they were bright copper, a few years in the weather put on a nice verdigris patina. 

Nice quilt and some original pioneer clothing. 

Rocking chair said to belong to the original residents, black paint with bronzed stencil work. 

The desk in the telegraph office is pine painted and grained curly maple.  Note the lead acid battery pile under the desk. 

The doors of the fort originally filled with sand for protection of depredations that never happened.  Four Native American braves showed up at the fort, Mr. Hinkley invited them to dinner and there were never any problems.

I recommend a visit but be warned there are some dry cities in Utah, so take along provisions.

Stephen