HITW News

An old familiar sound returned today to the Hole In The Wall. Returning from the garage, a freshly tuned log splitter sprang to life on the first pull. The "ole" log splitter has proved it's worth through the many years. Made in America and sold by Montgomery Wards, I purchased it used in 1983 (25 years ago), it has split hundreds of cords of wood for both our home and for resale through our business. Most recent it has been moved to the HITW where it has been used the past four years, the carburetor held onto the block by wire, duct tape and an occasional block of wood. Today, it had a re-newed life and ran like a young machine once again, even those "old rounds" of wood we have been avoiding the past several years are now in the burn pile, split and ready for Labor Day, along with a fresh load of of slabs from the "Woodman".


We now have a new visitor in residence at the HITW, it appears he likes to live under the piles of lumber and was observed this morning while visiting the Bear. He was running from the direction of the Wolf Den or perhaps the Buffalo Wallow, however I did get a good look at him when he popped out from underneath the 2"x 8"s and sat on the support dunnage. A sure sign that winter is nearing. Although his back and head was still brown, his belly and chest was solid white, perhaps our little Ermine will stick around and work on the mouse population.


This afternoon, the Department Heads of Engineering, Architectural Design, Sanitation, and Parks and Recreation held an emergency meeting and reached a consensus regarding Phase 6 of the HITW construction project. I was unanimously adopted that Phase 6 will be moved ahead on the priority list and fully implemented this construction season. In review of the history and in discussing the project with the original designer who can attest to the weight and construction and taking into consideration the crew of five that had to move the completed project to the existing site, it was agreed by all those in attendance that the "Duck House" will be retired. Moving this structure to a new location would be very difficult, especially to the new designated area. The existing building will be preserved at it's present location, the basement filled with sand through the existing portals and once completed, those portals will be sealed off. All existing plumbing and associated air systems will be removed and incorporated on the new facility. In the future, it will be utilized as a storage unit for lawn chairs, hand tools, garden tools, and etc. as well as an registration office for the HITW.

Architectural Department will design a new facility and construction will commence and conclude in the September / October time frame to avoid the "rush to get completed" next spring syndrome. Parks and the Sanitation Department have agreed on the new site and all permits and environmental impact statements have been completed. Engineering Department has surveyed the site and concerned that it will potentially be very difficult to bring in equipment to dig the foundation. Permits have been granted for removing a limited amount of "new growth" foliage, however the same permits is very restrictive in the destruction of any other natural floral and fauna. Soil samples were taken, the site appears to drain very well with a good sand and gravel base covered with with topsoil. It is estimated that the new basement (5' x 5' and a depth of 6' could be completed in a 10.5 hours with a crew of three. Priorities remain that Phase 2 (cabins) construction be completed prior first freeze so other labor sources will need to be organized and assigned the task of hand digging the basement. The original basement was dug in three hours, however it was only dug to a depth of four feet. The new site is above the flood zone. All material removed from the site will be used to build a barrier to prohibit any run off from reaching the basement from the descending slopes. A good site, private, with ample landscaping opportunities.

That is all.