Cove Fort P.1

Old Cove Fort, Millard County, Utah. Interior showing well and front gates. Note bell overhead. Photo by A.M. Watson. Writers' Project Collection. (Neg. & 1 copy) Cove Fort was constructed as a travelers way station and refuge from the Indians. Brigham Young directed the building which was paid for from Church funds. The fort was completed April 12, 1867. Ira M. Hinckley was the builder of the fort and he maintained it as a hostelry and residence until 1877. A deep well inside the enclosure furnished water. One of the twelve original rooms was a telegraph station. The walls which were 18 feet high surrounded land 100 feet square. The old Cove Fort was used as a station for the overland stage route. In this capacity many sacks of mail and loads of gold bullion were protected inside its walls.