Building Progress!

Friday marked a milestone at Fort Walla Walla Museum in the construction of our new Entrance Building. Until now, most of what was accomplished was demolition or 'horizontal work.' Bulldozers and front-end loaders moving earth and gravel around, the digging of utility trenches, and so forth.

We actually worked 'vertically' Friday, with the pouring of the footers and the walls upon which will be built the new structure. Hopefully we'll continue to see progress with a little bit nicer weather and the ironing out of the expected problems. It is a given in construction that young couples building their first home together will put a strain on their new relationship ... in building, "the best laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft agley," as Robbie Burns wrote ... nothing goes easily or according to plan.

Pouring the concrete was interesting ... a giant crane held up a long pipe through which was pumped the concrete directly from the cement truck. Apparently, that allows exisiting trenches to remain undisturbd, security fencing to remain in place, and the job of delivering concrete to specific points is accomplished with ease.