Cove Fort, State Routes 4 & 161, Kanosh

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,14-COVFO,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Built "by pioneers as protection against Indian depredations, this is the only well preserved original settler's fort in the state. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: Charles Willden Ira N. Hinckley (for LDS Church-Mormons) W. H. Kesler Otto Kesler Alice T. Kesler (Estate of Otto Kesler) 2. Date of erection: November, 3. Architect: None U. Builder, suppliers, etc.: Ira N. Hinckley, Builder; Workmen: Hans Hanson, Horace Owens, James Owens, Albert Shales, Nathan Baldwin, Christian Hanson, Allen Russell, Dorus and Orange Warner. 5. Original plan and construction: In April, Mormon Church official Wilford Woodruff visited the fort in company with Brigham Young. He described the new fort as follows: COVE FORT HABS No.

U-57 (Page 2) "The fort is a very substantial building. I think it is the "best in the territory. It is built of volcanic rock laid in with mortar. Each of the four walls is 100 feet long on the outside and l8 feet high from the foundation. On .the east side is a gateway 1^ feet wide, with a substantial arch 6 feet deep and 3 inches thick set inside. Above this prepar- ations are being made for a lookout and tele- graph office. On the west side is a gateway feet with projections inside 10 1/2 feet wide and 10 feet high. The fort contains 12 rooms, six on the north side and six on the south side, 10 of which are l6 x lk feet and two are l6 x 17 feet, and 9 feet h inches high. There is a chimney to each room, 3 feet wide and 2 feet thick. The chimneys are 6 feet above the top of the wall.

The rooms are well lighted and have five paneled doors. The roof is covered with good shaved pine shingles. The entire building contains perch of rock, and bushels of lime and cost up to the present time, B. Historical Events and Persons Associated with the Building In i860, Charles Willden and his son Elliot visited a site on Cove Creek with intention to settle there. The follow- ing year they moved their families there, and constructed two houses, one dugout, and a stock corral. The place became known thereafter as Willden's Port. In the LDS (Mormon) Church bought the property and sent Ira N. Hinckley to erect a fort there as protection against the Indians, (The Blackhawk War of as well as to serve a mail route and travellers.

Hinckley moved his family there and completed the new fort in the spring of He maintained the fort for 10 years, but no battles ever occurred there nor did the settlers ever have to flee to it for protection. The stage lines of Gilsmore and Salisbury stopped there twice daily, as well as freight wagons carrying goods to and from Hevada and California. After 9 the Hinckley family main- tained the fort until they abandoned it. In December, W. H. Kesler leased the fort from the Mormon Church. It had been abandoned for 18 months; the north side was completely burned out and stray animals had used the south side for shelter. The interior was rebuilt and in April 190U Mr. Kesler moved his family from Beaver. In Kesler bought the property from the Mormon Church.

The north side living quarters were restored in and the fort was again used as an overnight stopping place for tourists. The ownership passed on to the oldest son, Otto Kesler, and after his death to his estate. COVE FORT HABS No. U-5T ('Page 3) C. Sources of Inofrmation: # 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Utah Historical Society Subject Yile "Cove Fort", Utah Historical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah. 2.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,14-COVFO,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Alter, J. Cecil, Utah, The Storied Domain Volume I, The American Historical Society Inc., Chicago and New York, Beckwith, Frank. Millard and Nearby, Art City Publishing Co., Springville, Utah, Daughters of Utah Pioneers , Milestones of Millarcl, 100 Years of History of Millard County, Art City Publishing Co., Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Monuments to Courage, A History of Beaver County, Beaver Press, Salt Lake Tribune, March 3, Cove Fort, A. R. Mortenson. * Salt Lake Tribune, August 27, Prepared by John L. Giusti July 23, PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural interest: Early Mormon fort to pro- tect settlers and travelers from Indians. 2. Condition of fabric: Excellent - South range original, North range restored after destruction by fire. B.

Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: Within a square enclosure 100 feet by 100 feet a one-story range of six bays along the south side faces a similar range on the north side. 2. Foundations: Volcanic rock, 4' deep and h' vide. 3. .Wall construction, finish, and color: Black volcanic COVE FORT , HABS U--57 (Page, kl rock-rub"ble. Outside wall battered. Cut red sandstone entrance arch. 25 gun portholes. k. Structural system, framing: Masonry walls. Native lumber roof framing sawn at site. 5. Catwalks and flagpole: Of wood construction. Deck of rough sawn boards. 6. Chimneys: Six on each side, one for each room (12 in all). Cut red sandstone. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: k panel doors in deep paneled openings with wood lintels (l for each room).

Large double gate at east and small single door at west built up of diagonal boards originally filled with sand. 7" thick. b. Windows and shutters: Double hung, six-over-nine, splayed paneled interior openings in south range. One-over-one in north range, restored in 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Single slope. Wood shingles. b. Eaves: Plain. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: Two ranges of single room apartments face each other across a courtyard, protected by east and west walls. All apartments are interconnected. The center two apartments in the south range were combined into a single large meeting room. The southeast room was used at one time as a telegraph office. 2. Flooring: Broad board flooring. 3. Wall and ceiling finish: Plastered. k.

Doorways and doors: if panel doors in paneled frame. 5. Decorative features and trim: Simple wood mantels in each room. 6. Notable hardware: Original strap hinges on west stockade door. 7. Lighting, type of fixtures: Fluorescent - not original. COVE FORT , HABS No, U-57 (Page 5) 8, Heating: Identical fireplaces in each room. D. Site and Surroundings: 1. Orientation: Faces east on Utah highway #h. 2, Landscaping and walks, enclosures: Honey locust trees inside fort and in front of fort planted Concrete walks now run along fronts of ranges. Prepared by Paul Goeldner, AIA Supervisory Architect Utah Project July 15, PART III.

PROJECT INFORMATION This record is part of a Utah Survey conducted in the summers of and under Joint sponsorship of the Historic American Buildings Survey of the Office of Archeology and Historic Preser- vation of the National Park Service and the Utah Heritage Founda- tion. Field work, historic research and record drawings were done under the direction of Project Supervisor Paul Goeldner, AIA (Texas Tech University) assisted hy Project Historian John L. Giusti, AIA (University of Utah). Photographs were made by P. Kent Fairbanks of Salt Lake City. Student Assistant Architects on the team were Robert M. Swanson and Charles W. Barrow, (University of Texas) and Kenneth L. Lambert and Keith Sorenson, (University of Utah).- Stu- dent Assistant Architects were Keith Sorenson, Charles D.

Harker and Robert Schriever, (University of Utah), and Donald G. Prycer (Texas A. & M. University).