Friday, October 23, 2009

Woodwork for the Town of Bernalillo Martha Liebert Public Library

In the first week in September the YCC program made a donation to the Town of Bernalillo Martha Liebert Public Library. A new sign and seven new bookshelves were handcrafted by Jonathon Griego (Crew Member), Devin Larranaga (Crew Member), Ivan Perez (Journeyman), Adrian Casillas (Crew Leader), Vince Gnodle (Crew Leader), and Rick Catanach (Foreman). The new shelves were made as an addition to the Southwest Reading Room.







Thursday, October 22, 2009

Acoma Fieldtrip

Recently the YCC crew took a field trip to Acoma Pueblo. Acoma Pueblo is a Registered National Historical Landmark (only pueblo to become that) that also has another Regisered National Historical Landmark located on it, San Esteban del Rey Mission. Its located on top of a 367-foot sandstone bluff in a valley studded with sacred, towering monoliths. It is also one of the few ancient pueblos that is still inhabited with people. They also have no running water or electricity. Water is hauled up to the top of the bluff and generators are used if neccessary. Our group payed for a permit to photograph and created a video collage of the pictures we took. The only things we were not able to get photographs of, because we were not allowed were the graveyard and inside the massive and magnificent Mission. On the way back from Acoma we made a detour to the Ice Caves, which is a collapsed remanent of a volcano. We stopped there an had some lunch, and took a few pictures while we were there.



Acoma Pueblo




Ice Caves


Monday, April 20, 2009

Adobe Workshop

We will be teaching an adobe workshop in June at Coronado State Park. Here's a flyer with all the information...



Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Town of Bernalillo/Adobe Residence

The Town owns a 1920’s adobe residence that is situated behind Town Hall. We will be working on its restoration, but right now we are doing demolition work. Here is a video of us bringing down the roof of a trailer that was attached to the home.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The New Mexico Wine Museum in Bernalillo – Adobe/Earthen Building




Here is a before and after picture of the project we just completed. In a few months it will open as The New Mexico Wine Museum.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Molino – L.B. Putney Flour Mill – Adobe/Earthen Building




These are pictures of the project we are working on right now. It’s called the Molino.

The Molino is located in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Its construction date was sometime between 1900 and 1910. Although the Molino is not situated among similar structures, it is one of a suite of earthen buildings built around that time in Bernalillo and is representative of its time period in the town. It is one of three remaining adobe flour mills in the entire state of New Mexico. It was owned and operated by L.B. Putney, a mercantilist who made his way from Kansas to New Mexico via the Santa Fe Trail. Putney opened a mercantile store fronting the Main Street of Bernalillo and the mill was located to its East, backing on the railroad. During that time, the Molino operated as the "L.B. Putney Flour Mill" and milled flour, coffee, salt, and sugar. It operated for approximately 20-25 years as part of the L.B. Putney complex until 1939 when the Putney family suffered financial reverses and declared bankruptcy.

The building has been stabilized to prevent any further deterioration and the site has been cleaned up. Our plans are to start making all the adobes that will be necessary to restore the building. The video shows us sifting dirt that we will use to make the adobes that will be needed to restore the building.