Utah Saint George Mission - Cove Fort Historic Site

Cove Fort Days....Aug. 2nd & 3rd. Crazy busy and fun. We've been preparing for these days since May. Dan was "called" to be the coordinator because we were here last year and our new Directors arrived in Jan. of this year. He did a fantastic job. Lots of great missionary helpers who took charge of the different "committees. Attendance was great with 1682 visitors on Fri. and 2280 visitors on Sat. While I was stationed at the Cabin to share the Cove Fort film, I learned after the film that Gordon B. Hinckley's youngest son and his wife and their children and grandchildren were sitting in that room. After the film, I usually ask "if you are familiar with the Hinckley name you may have recognized the last voice on the film to be the voice of Gordon B. Hinckley. I love that voice." No wonder they were all smiling so big. They were the Hinckleys! What an honor to have met them. I asked if they were going to be on the site for a while and could our director meet them? Brother Clark Hinckley said he would love to meet Elder Christensen so...I got a hold of Elder Hale who then called Elder Christensen. Brother Hinckley shared with Elder Christensen how much they enjoyed the visit and how well he felt the missionaries represented the spirit of his ancestors, the Ira Hinckley family. He said that he felt that his father, Gordon B. Hinckley, would be very proud of the way things are presented here at Cove Fort. Quite the compliment.

We had a surprise visit yesterday (Aug.6th) from Brad, Stacey, Janelle Reed. They live close to Salt Lake. Janelle survived a horrible car accident a year and a half ago. She is a walking miracle having under gone several surgeries. She is doing great! It was good to see them. They loved the Fort experience and seemed to feel the spirit as we expressed our testimonies and some faith promoting experiences here.

Some Sister Missionaries from the area came to help out at Cove Fort Days (Director's wife is in the back row [left]

This is the Heritage Pioneer Village. They have authentic pioneer demonstrations and displays.

The Pratt family. They live near by and were featured performers.

The man in the colorful vest is Clive Romney and one of many performers. Sang and played banjo. The man on the far right is Elder Rawlinson who was in charge of securing all the entertainment for the two day. It was a great variety of entertainment.

Dennis Manning providing his blacksmithing skills for the visitors. He is forging a horseshoe.

Andy Watson made most of the 'Utah pottery' displayed in the in the Fort kitchen. He made miniture pots for many families and for some of the missionaries.

This lady is Janice Hummel who displayed hair art. Pretty amazing.

Ferrell Peterson is a wood carver who displayed his work. Most of it not 'period' authentic.

Yes those are real bees. Doug & Bobby Chapman have been coming to Cove Fort Days for the past 13 years with their beekeeping display. Very interesting. (it is unlikely that there were hives of this type in the 1860's, 70's or 80's)

Jeanie Johnson is better known as "The Soap Lady" She has been coming to Cove Fort Days and making lye soap for several years. She hands out little samples to the visitors. They love it!

Frank Thomas is an amazingly gifted area artist who has painted many art pieces for the Church. He has a wonderful picture of Cove Fort in the early days and in the far left/ back you can see part of that painting.

Many kids as well as the adults enjoyed stage coach and wagon rides

the horses were beautiful and so patient...The gentle man on the far left is Elder Taylor who helped direct the teamsters.

This is Clark Hinckley (2nd row- far right) and family. Gordon B. Hinckley's youngest son and family.

Clark Hinckley talking with our Director, Clark Christensen. Brother Hinckley is a tall man...probably got his height from his great-grandfather Ira Hinckley who oversaw the building of this fort and who lived here and cared for all the travelers who stopped here as a way station in the mid 1800's. The cabin was the original cabin located in Coleville, UT 220 miles north east of here. Ira was living in this cabin in 1867 when he received a letter from Brigham Young asking him to come to Cove Creek to over see the building of Cove Fort. He did not hesitate and left right a way to fulfill this assignment. Seven months after the completion of this amazing fort, his family joined him and served thousands of meals and provided logging and safety for thousands of wearing travelers over the course of nearly 23 years. After the railroad came into the region a way station was no longer needed at Cove Creek. These family members were faithful examples of those who followed the call of a prophet of God and were dedicated to service, charity and love for their family and their fellowmen. They were full of faith and followed the teachings and example of the Savior and taught their children a wonderful work ethic and how to follow the Savior. We love Cove Fort and all it stands for. It has an amazing spirit that is recognized and felt by many thousands who come to visit. This site was dedicated by, Gordon B. Hinckley, a prophet of God, on May 21, 1994

One of the wagon rides

many enjoy this part of the Cove Fort experience

this is the Wells Fargo stage coach ...borrowed from the Cedar City Iron County Museum A real favorite!

The sun setting on two long but amazing days of serving our thousands of visitors just as it did over this fort in the 1800's. Our Cove Fort Days guests weren't invited to spend the night but they enjoyed a day of peering back into history, and they enjoyed live entertainment, wagon and stage coach rides, watched how the pioneers made things, quilted, spun, weaved, made soap and pottery, how a blacksmith forged shoes for horses and oxen as well as other iron tools and fasteners. They even enjoyed a 'meal'...but unlike the pioneers they ate free hot dogs, whoo! whoo!

Hello from Cove Fort! Time is narrowing and events and experiences have passed. Love the spirit here and the opportunity to share with our visitors those members and those friends of another faith.
I have seen how they feel the spirit of this beautiful setting and the legacy of this Fort. It is an amazing place...the Hinckley family has set the perfect example of obedience, service, charity, faithfulness and sacrifice. They served thousands of travelers in the spirit of love and devotion to the call of a prophet of the Lord, Brigham Young. This was a way station for those weary travelers in the mid 1800's but is also a way station today for travelers...a spiritual way station where they can take in the beauty, calmness, and be spiritually fed as we have opportunity to share our testimonies and invite them to learn of the Savior and experience the spirit of the Hinckley family as they lived a righteous life so long ago.

We have had opportunities to take in the beauty of the surrounding areas. Some of which I have already shared. We recently visited the Arches/Moab in east-central UTAH. Also we just had visits from our Aaron & Cami family and Jo & Eric this past weekend. And yesterday received great news that Ashley gave birth to our 23rd grandchild. Justin and Ashley are proud parents of Hudson Rocket Hale weighing-in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 " long with lots of dark hair. We are so proud of all of them!!! Welcome Hudson, can't wait to see you in 2 months.

Following is the visual portion of the events!