Past Road Scholar Projects 

GE Elfun Group Goes Remote to Historic Lee's Ferry & Marble Canyon - March 2010
A spirited and adventurous group of GE Elfuns recently left a very large and meaningful volunteer motivated mark on these two historic northern Arizona sites.  Arriving early in March these GE Elfun's settled in at the remote Marble Canyon Lodge to begin several days of varied tasks at nearby Lee's Ferry and Lonely Dell Ranch.

Lee's Ferry and Marble Canyon are very small dots on Arizona maps, if they're shown at all.  They are located in a rugged yet picturesque terrain.  These locations have figured prominently in early Arizona history and are now under National Park Service jurisdiction.  Lee's Ferry is located at the beginning of Grand Canyon National Park.  From 1871-1910 it held the distinction of being the only place where travelers could cross safely over the Colorado River by Ferry between Moab, Utah and Needles, California.  Marble Canyon is the stretch of Colorado River canyon that travels from Lee's Ferry to its convergence with the Little Colorado River.  Marble Canyon is also the Western Boundary of the Navajo Nation.

Today the Federal Government maintains the site but at times can use extra hands.  Heeding the call, the GE Elfun's descended upon the area, bringing their skills to help at both Lee's Ferry and Lonely Dell Ranch, which are within view of the statuesque sun-kissed Marble Canyon cliffs. Honoring the government's commitment to maintain the Lee's Ferry buildings as they were constructed, the GE Elfun's substituted silt coating for paint on building walls, first screening rock and adding water to create the silt which was then applied to walls. They also, provided a little of that special GE Elfun extra touch, by doing carpentry and plumbing work in the guesthouse.

Lonely Dell Ranch got some GE Elfun attention in the form of caulking the exterior wooden siding at the Weaver Ranch House, pruning fruit trees in the still-producing orchard that originally provided fruit for early settlers, and doing many varied tasks to preserve and enhance the kitchen at Weaver Ranch.

"This was quite an experience in several respects," said GE Elfun Doug Duffies, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Duffies, a GE Lighting retiree, summed up the trip as follows: "We were in a really remote spot, no doubt. No cell phones, limited access to niceties and we felt away from the mainstream. That was part of its charm. And we also felt excited to be helping preserve history. But maybe the biggest bonus of the week was being amidst the incredible scenery. You've got to be there to believe it. And by lending a hand while there, it made the trip all the more memorable and worthwhile!"

Click here to see more pictures from the 2010 Arizona Trip

Elderhostel project "Working on the Railroad"- October 2008
Elfuns from across the country met under Montana's Big Sky in September for the Elderhostel project "Working on the Railroad".The railroad is a major tourist attraction during the summer in Gold Rush Era territory.
Site of the weeklong Elfun-Elderhostel service adventure was the colorful community of Virginia City (population 141) and nearby Nevada City, which is about one picturesque mile down the railroad track from Virginia City.

Living in historic restored coal miner's cabins, the Elfuns cleaned and winterized Old No. 12, one of only two working steam engines in the country,  They also built an open passenger car that will go into service next summer.

The "sitting car" will be for tourists riding the Grand Virginia City-Nevada City Line, which runs slightly over a mile between mounds of rock and dirt left years ago by miners dredging for gold along a nearby creek. The Elfuns worked on the rail car right up to their hour of departure, including designing and fabricating wooden and metal braces.  Another group polished locomotive brass and generally spiffed up Old Engine No. 12 as it was prepared for its storage barn during the long Montana winter.

The volunteers then worked in the museum, dusting and covering the impressive collection of player pianos and period musical instruments for the winter months.

Another major accomplishment was installing a floor to cover the stones between the tracks inside the engine barn.  In the words of Buzz Hope, "The most challenging part of this besides us old-timers having to bend over and straighten up, or sit down and get up was designing and laying the stringers to which the planking was nailed."

The floor is now installed, it's level enough to have a square dance around the engine, and the GE Elfuns are all mighty proud of their week of camaraderie and accomplishment in this preserved area of what was once the Wild West.

Click here to see more pictures from the 2008 Montana Trip
Photos provided by Wally and Barbara Baker