Bluff in San Juan County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Co-op Store
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 18, 2016
1. The Co-op Store Marker
Inscription.
The Co-op Store. . The community's co-op store was located in the northeast corner of the fort. This cooperative venture, which provided a means for buying, selling and trading, became very successful. The Navajos and Utes also frequented the store, trading their wool, pelts and woven goods. Near the turn of the century, the log structure was replaced with a two-story building. The upper floor of the new store was used as the community's dance hall. In 1925, a bank robber, alias Fred Starr, used too many sticks of dynamite when attempting to open the safe. That caused the demise of both the co-op and Fred Starr.
The community's co-op store was located in the northeast corner of the fort. This cooperative venture, which provided a means for buying, selling and trading, became very successful. The Navajos and Utes also frequented the store, trading their wool, pelts and woven goods. Near the turn of the century, the log structure was replaced with a two-story building. The upper floor of the new store was used as the community's dance hall. In 1925, a bank robber, alias Fred Starr, used too many sticks of dynamite when attempting to open the safe. That caused the demise of both the co-op and Fred Starr.
Location. 37° 17.035′ N, 109° 33.159′ W. Marker is in Bluff, Utah, in San Juan County. Marker is on the grounds of the Bluff Fort Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 East Black Locust Avenue, Bluff UT 84512, United States of America. Touch for directions.
A replica of the Co-op store, in the background, was completed in 2013 and serves as the Visitors Center and Gift Shop. Admission is free.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 382 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.
