Volunteer for HistoriCorps' Ft. Piute project
Connect with history and nature while learning valuable masonry skills
By Amy Eller
Volunteering for HistoriCorps' Ft. Piute project is the perfect excuse to connect with history and nature while learning valuable masonry skills.
During the weeks of April 1st-5th and April 8th-12th, the HistoriCorps team will venture into the Mojave National Preserve in California to stabilize the masonry walls at Fort Piute, a small but historically important fort that linked California, Arizona, and Nevada by military presence from 1859-1868. Today, only the masonry walls of the fort remain, but compared to many of the small garrisons of this era, the site still retains the same "edge-of-the-frontier" feel as it did over 150 years ago.
Volunteers will stabilize masonry walls using earthen mortars mined on-site, learning how to find, evaluate, and mix earthen mortars, and repoint historic stone walls.
The project is designed to optimize learning opportunities and will be supervised by Terry Alexander, a master mason with over 40 years of experience. Camping, tools, safety equipment, and meals will be provided by HistoriCorps, but transportation to and from the project is the responsibility of the participant.
HistoriCorps saves and sustains historic places for public benefit through partnerships that foster public involvement, engage volunteers and provide training and education. Since 2009, HistoriCorps has worked in twelve states to preserve over one hundred historic buildings and structures, none of which would have been possible without the generous contribution of over 24,000 volunteer hours — all from volunteers like you!
Read more and register on HistoriCorps’ website: www.historicorps.org. For more information, please contact Amy Eller, at aeller@historicorps.org or 303-893-4260 ext 225. We look forward to hearing from you!
About the Author
Amy Eller is a HistoriCorps Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator.
