Jerome

Jerome owes its existence mainly to two ore bodies that formed about 1.75 billion years ago along a ring fault in the caldera of an undersea volcano.Tectonic plates movements and other geologic processes eventually exposed the tip of one of the ore bodies and pushed the other close to the surface. In the late 19th century, the United Verde Mine, developed by William Clark, extracted ore bearing copper, gold, silver. The United Verde Extension Mine developed the other huge deposit. In total, the copper deposits discovered in the vicinity were among the richest ever found.

The population peaked in 1930 at 4,932 and today 464 persons live in homes clinging to the steep mountain side.

There are many small parking lots in town, some pay, others free.

We scored a free spot

You will get  good workout visiting Jerome

There are many unique arts and craft stores to visit.

The kaleidoscope shop is a must see. Kaleidoscopes of all descriptions and prices

A piece of art. $8,000

Rod checking out this one of a kind three seater.

Buildings slipping down the mountain was a common problem.

The Bartlett Hotel became unstable in the 1930s and was abandoned. 

Now it is just a money pit 

Can you hit the throne

Yard art.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

We visited Embry-Riddle's Prescott Valley campus. The University's main campus is in Florida. Embry is a private university that offers degrees in all area of aviation. One in every four pilots are said to be an Embry-Riddle graduate. We were invited to tour their new robotics lab, 3D printing lab and their Air Traffic Control Laboratory.

The Robotics Lab

Upper division robotic students form teams and design and create a robotic machine

The student in the foreground is a member of a five student team creating a robotic drink mixer.

Each student receives $300 to complete the project. 

Drink mixer, work in progress

The teams proposal for their drink mixer

This team is building an agricultural robot to weed, water, fertilize crops

The 3D printing lab is an important hub as many student projects require 3D printed parts. There are a dozen or more various types of 3D printers here. 

The students who run the lab

Jane is holding a bearing that was printed in one pass. 

In the Air Traffic Control Laboratory students are sharping their skills for a career in air traffic control. Air traffic controller is the 7th highest paying job in the US

The students in the foreground are air traffic controllers and they are directing the pilots on the computers in the rear. 

A simulated air traffic control tower

Air traffic controller directing several air craft

Jaw Dropping Sculpture

 Today we visited Bronzesmith in Prescott Valley, AZ. This foundry turn artist's creations into bronze art. 

Kathy was our 

Two Ravens by Preston Singletary  $16,000

Nanabah by Ed Yazzie  $3,400

Ascendance by William Daggett   $7,400

Maxi Moose by Chris Deverill  $2,100

The foundry uses the lost wax method of casting bronze

First a silicon mold is made from the original art

The inside of the mold is coated with wax

The finished hollow wax copy of the original has red wax channels added through which the molten bronze will flow. Next the piece is coated in a slurry that dries to a hard high temperature mold.

Dave is working on part of a limb for the large sculpture below

Dave is also an artist who created the military theme sculptures above.

Here the cast bronze pieces wait for clean up. 

Complex pieces are cast in pieces and then assembled here. 

The bronze is polished

All evidence of the channels that carried the molten bronze are removed

This is the back side of the pieces below

Total whimsy

The final step is creating the patina. Carl’s wide variety of patina finishes have made him a well-known patina artist. Heat and different chemicals are used to create the different patinas. Carl was hired by Bronzesmth right out of high school 29 years ago. He has also become known for his own sculpting and patina paintings.

Carl uses this smaller guide that shows him how the artist wants their piece

finished.

Another amazing day on the road with great Friends