A History of the Architecture of the USDA Forest Service

Cover

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Cover illustration: Rendering of a ranger dwelling by W. Ellis Groben, 1938.

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Dedication and Acknowledgements

Chapter 1—Eras

1905-1917: From the Ground Up, or the Predesign Phase
1917-1933: From Above
1933-1938: Groben Dictates
1934-1946: Civilian Conservation Corps to the End of World War II
1946-Present: The Modern Period

Chapter 2—Building Types

Administrative Buildings
     Lookouts
Recreation Buildings
     Timberline Lodge: A Legacy From the WPA
     Visitor Centers
Research Buildings

Chapter 3—People: Leaders and Implementers

The Forest Service Architects
     W. Ellis Groben
     Clyde P. Fickes
     William Irving "Tim" Turner
     Linn Argile Forrest
     Keplar B. Johnson
     Harry W. Coughlan and Arthur F. Anderson
     A.P. "Benny" DiBenedetto, FAIA
     William Turner
     Harry Kevich
     Joseph J. Mastrandrea
     Bob LeCain
     Wes Wilkison
     John R. Grosvenor
     Bob Sandusky
     James A. Calvery
     Wilden Moffett
     Dave Faulk
     William A. Speer, Jr.
     Jo Ann Simpson

Appendixes

A. Plan 1-D from DuBois Improvement Circular (1917) (PDF format)
B. Control of Vandalism—An Architectural Design Approach

Figures

Bibliography

1-1. Alta Ranger Station, Bitterroot National Forest, Region 1, built in 1899

1-2. Wapiti Ranger Station, Shoshone National Forest (1908)

1-3. Cayton Ranger Station. Region 2 (1910)

1-4. Log shack used as a temporary camp near Silers Bald, Wayah Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina (1916)

1-5. Martin Creek Ranger Station, Santa Rosa Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Region 4 (Nevada) (1912)

1-6. Rangers on the Sierra National Forest construct the Jerseydale Ranger Station in the early 1900's

1-7. Supervisor's Office, Bridge Station, Sierra National Forest, Region 5 (1912)

1-8. Falls Ranger Station, Region 1 (1911)

1-9. Boathouse, Priest Lake Ranger Station, Region 1 (1911)

1-10. The classically inspired 1D dwelling, Region 5 (1917)

1-11. Plans for ranger dwelling, Glade Ranger Station, Region 2

1-12. Residence, Ninemile Ranger Station, Lolo National Forest (1931)

1-13. Office, Ninemile Ranger Station, Lolo National Forest (1931)

1-14. Ranger residence, Cabin Lake Ranger Station, Deschutes National Forest, Region 6 (1923)

1-15. Pelki Ranger Station, Region 1 (1925)

1-16. Twin Lakes Ranger Station, Region 1 (1924)

1-17. Boise Assay Office remodeled as the Supervisor's Office, Boise National Forest, Region 4 (1933)

1-18. Groben provided guidance to help architects avoid using rooms as passageways

1-19. Groben's diagram on building orientation

1-20. Sandpoint Ranger Station in Region 1 was praised by Groben for its uniformity of style

1-21. Estes Park Ranger Station, Region 2

1-22. Residence, Huerfano Ranger Station, San Isabel National Forest, Region 2

1-23. Four-room house. Sublimity Forest Community, Region 7

1-24. Building elevation, dwelling no. 1, Pagosa Springs Ranger Station

1-25. Log Ranger Station Office, Region 9

1-26. Fenn Ranger Station, Nezperce National Forest, Region 1

1-27. Delores Ranger Station, San Juan National Forest, Region 2 (1933-1938)

1-28. Land's End Shelterhouse, Grand Mesa National Forest, Region 2 (1937)

1-29. Crown King Ranger Station Office, Prescott National Forest, Region 3 (1936)

1-30. Gold Beach Ranger Station Office and residence, Siskiyou National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

1-31. Headquarters Building, Chippewa National Forest, Region 9

1-32. Residence, Gallop Ranger Station, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

1-33. The distinctive pine tree logo was a common element in most of the buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps

1-34. Warren Guard Station, Payette National Forest, Region 4 (1934)

1-35. Bly Ranger Station Office, Fremont National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

1-36. Crown King Ranger Station barn and shop, Prescott National Forest, Region 3 (1936)

1-37. Mt. Magazine Lodge, Ozark National Forest, Region 8 (1939)

1-38. Blanchard Springs Mill, Ozark National Forest, Region 8 (1938)

1-39. Standard ranger office and quarters, Region 3, designed in the Spanish style

1-40. Standard ranger office and quarters, Region 3, designed in the bungalow style

1-41. Trapper Creek Job Corps Center, Bitterroot National Forest, Region 1 (1965)

2-1. Blue Ridge Ranger Station Office and warehouse, Blairsville, Georgia

2-2. Groveland Ranger District Office, Groveland California, Region 5 (1991)

2-3. Region 4 Office, Ogden, Utah (1933)

2-4. Entrance detail, Region 4 Office

2-5. Ranger Residence, Pestigo Ranger Station, Nicolet National Forest, Region 9 (1936)

2-6. Bunk house, Region 1

2-7. Thirty-person crew house, Region 6

2-8. White Oaks Fire Station, Los Padres National Forest, Region 5 (1967)

2-9. Concept for Job Corps dormitories

2-10. Concept for Job Corps kitchen and messhall

2-11. CCC Central Repair Shop, Region 6

2-12. Three-horse barn, Region 6

2-13. Western yellow pine beds, McCloud Nursery, Shasta National Forest, California (1914)

2-14. Administration Building, Savenac Nursery, Region 1

2-15. Cold Storage Building, Placerville Nursery, Region 5 (1980)

2-16. Minarets Ranger District Office. Sierra National Forest, California

2-17. Brush Creek Office, Grand Mesa National Forest, Region 2 (1936)

2-18. Office Building, Region 4

2-19. Magdalena-Augustine District Office, Cibola National Forest, Region 3 (1938)

2-20. Quilcene Office, Olympic National Forest, Region 6 (1968)

2-21. Quinault Ranger Station, Olympic National Forest, Region 6 (1974)

2-22. Big Sur Multiagency Office, Los Padres National Forest, Region 5 (1989)

2-23. Hebo District Office, Siuslaw National Forest, Region 6 (1972)

2-24. Black Hills National Forest Supervisor's Office, Custer, South Dakota, Region 2 (1980)

2-25. Plumas National Forest Supervisor's Office, Quincy, California. Region 5 (1962)

2-26. Sawtooth National Recreation Area Ranger Office. Ketcham, Idaho, Region 4 (1978)

2-27. Pecos Ranger Station, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Region 3 (1994)

2-28. Supervisor's Office, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Region 4 (1966)

2-29. Mount Rogers Ranger Office, Jefferson National Forest, Region 8

2-30. Tuskegee Ranger Office, National Forests of Alabama, Region 8

2-31. Sanpete District Office, Manti-LaSal National Forest, Region 4 (1994)

2-32. Entrance detail, Sanpete District Office, Manti-LaSal National Forest, Region 4 (1994)

2-33. Lost River District Office, Challis National Forest, Region 4 (1983)

2-34. Wise River Ranger Office, Beaverhead National Forest, Region 1 (1982)

2-35. Box Elder Job Corps Center office, Region 2 (1974)

2-36. Catalina Ranger Office, Caribbean National Forest, Region 8 (1980)

2-37. Saguache Ranger District Office, Rio Grande National Forest, Region 2 (1985)

2-38. Bienville Ranger Office, Bienville National Forest, Mississippi, Region 8 (1980)

2-39. Ketchikan Ranger District and Misty Fiords National Monument Administrative Offices, Ketchikan, Alaska, Region 10 (1986)

2-40. Black Rock Crew Quarters, Sequoia National Forest, Region 5 (1969)

2-41. Dalton Barracks, Angeles National Forest, Region 5 (1974)

2-42. West Yellowstone barracks, Gallatin National Forest, Region 1 (1972)

2-43. Ten-person barracks, Tyrrell Work Center, Bighorn National Forest, Region 2

2-44. Philipsburg Ranger Station residence

2-45. Three-room dwelling. Region 4

2-46. Four-room dwelling, Region 4

2-47. Residences, Avery Ranger Station, Panhandle National Forest, Region 1 (1982)

2-48. Ranger district capitan dwelling, Lincoln National Forest, Region 3 (1938)

2-49. Residence, Bailey Ranger Station, Pike National Forest, Region 2 (1937)

2-50. Supervisor's residence, Clear Creek Ranger Station, Arapaho National Forest, Region 2 (1939)

2-51. Nurseryman's residence, Monument Nursery, Pike National Forest, Region 2 (1939)

2-52. Concrete-block residence, Angeles National Forest, Region 5 (1960)

2-53. Pole building in snow country, Sequoia National Forest, Region 5 (1970)

2-54. Dwelling, South Park Ranger District, Pike-San Isabel National Forest, Region 2 (1975)

2-55. Petersburg apartment complex, Tongass-Stikine Area. Region 10 (1998)

2-56. Cochetopa Warehouse, Salida Work Center, San Isabel National Forest, Region 2 (1938)

2-57. Warehouse and shop. North Bend Ranger Station, Snoqualmie National Forest, Region 6 (1937)

2-58. Shop and barn, Anita Moqui Ranger Station, Kaibab National Forest, Region 3

2-59. Big Sur Warehouse, Los Padres National Forest, Region 5, (1992)

2-60. Mule Creek boat dock and monorail, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Region 5

2-61. McCall Smokejumper Training Base, Payette National Forest, Region 4 (1987)

2-62. West Yellowstone Fire Control Center, Montana, Region 1 (1965)

2-63. Air Center, Redmond, Oregon

2-64. Lookout tree on Bull Hill, Lassen National Forest, California (1912)

2-65. Signal Peak Lookout, Sierra National Forest, Region 5 (1910)

2-66. Leon Peak Lookout (photo taken August 1993)

2-67. LaCumbre Peak Lookout, Los Padres National Forest, Region 5 (1945)

2-68. Antelope Peak Lookout, Plumas National Forest (1974)

2-69. Bald Mountain Lookout, Sierra National Forest, Region 5 (1910)

2-70. Blue Mountain Lookout, Modoc National Forest, Region 5 (1930)

2-71. Hayes Lookout, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina

2-72. Blue Point Lookout, Cascade Ranger District, Boise National Forest, Region 4 (1920)

2-73. Sketch of an early Region 6 lookout

2-74. Wayah Bald Observation Tower, North Carolina (1938)

2-75. First substantial toilet building. Mt. Hood National Forest, Region 6 (1916)

2-76. Double latrine design from Region 5 Campground Improvement Manual (1933)

2-77. Design for a registry booth from the Region 6 Recreation Handbook (1935)

2-78. Design for a comfort station from the Eastern Region's Recreation Handbook (1933)

2-79. Comfort station with separate multiple toilets, Region 6 (1936)

2-80. Combination toilet and registration building, Rogue River National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

2-81. Toilet building and bathhouse, Kaniksu National Forest, Region 1 (1936)

2-82. Toilet building, White Mountain National Forest, Region 7 (1936)

2-83. Toilet building, Chelan National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

2-84. Seedhouse Campground toilet, Routt National Forest, Region 2 (1935)

2-85. Region 4 standard two-unit comfort station (1934)

2-86. Two-hole vault, southern California, Region 5

2-87. Mountaintop vault structure, Region 5

2-88. Flush toilet, San Bernardino National Forest, Region 5 (1960)

2-89. Flush toilet, Plumas National Forest, Region 5 (1960)

2-90. Combination flush toilet, Region 6

2-91. Modern flush toilet, Region 8 (1980)

2-92. Portage Glacier restroom, Chugach National Forest, Region 10 (1962)

2-93. Mono Hot Springs bathhouse, Sierra National Forest, Region 5 (1963)

2-94. Change pavilion, June Lake, Inyo National Forest, Region 5 (1964)

2-95. Amphitheater with rear-projection building, Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, Region 5 (1964)

2-96. Standard Region 4 campground shelter (1934)

2-97. Picnic shelter, Cibola National Forest, Region 3 (1936)

2-98. Interior detail of picnic shelter, Cibola National Forest, Region 3 (1936)

2-99. Picnic shelter, Snoqualmie National Forest, Region 6 (1936)

2-100. Picnic shelter, Longdale Recreation Area, George Washington National Forest, Region 8

2-101. Messhall, Organization Camp, Wyoming National Forest, Region 4

2-102. Bath house and pavilion, Region 8

2-103. Rendering of proposed Timberline Lodge by Linn Forrest (1935)

2-104. Tim Turner poses with Timberline Lodge workers in 1937

2-105. Exterior view of Timberline Lodge

2-106. Carved panel detail from Timberline Lodge door

2-107. Doorway, Timberline Lodge

2-108. The first Forest Service visitor center at Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska (1961)

2-109. Stream Profile Chamber, South Lake Tahoe, California, Region 5

2-110. Stream Profile Chamber, entrance detail

2-111. Scale model of Stream Profile Chamber

2-112. Interior views of remodeled Stream Profile Chamber

2-113. Conceptual model of Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, Region 5 (1963)

2-114. First (and only) building at Lake Tahoe Visitor Center (1964)

2-115. Ely Visitor Center, Ely, Minnesota. Region 9 (1963)

2-116. Sabino Canyon. Coronado National Forest, Region 3 (1963)

2-117. Original Cradle of Forestry. Pisgah National Forest, Region 8 (1964)

2-118. Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center, Gila National Forest, Region 3 (1965)

2-119. West Yellowstone Visitor Center. Montana, Region 1 (1966)

2-120. Red Canyon Overlook Visitor Center, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Region 4 (1966)

2-121. Big Lake Visitor Center, Apache National Forest, Region 3 (1966)

2-122. Brasstown Bald, highest point in Georgia. Region 8 (1967)

2-123. Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, Siuslaw National Forest, Region 6 (1967)

2-124. Deck and view from Cape Perpetua Visitor Center

2-125. Pactola Visitor Center, Black Hills National Forest, Region 2 (1969)

2-126. Blanchard Cavern Visitor Center, Region 8 (1969)

2-127. Lava Lands Visitor Center, Deschutes National Forest, Region 6 (1975)

2-128. Rebuilt Cradle of Forestry Visitor Center, Pisgah National Forest, Region 8 (1984)

2-129. Chilao Visitor Center, Angeles National Forest, Region 5 (1980)

2-130. Mono Lake Visitor Center, Inyo National Forest, Region 5 (1990)

2-131. Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake, Region 6 (1986)

2-132. Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Coldwater Ridge (1993)

2-133. North Kaibab Visitor Center, Kaibab National Forest, Region 3 (1991)

2-134. National Grasslands Visitor Center, Wall Administrative Site, Nebraska National Forest, Region 2 (1991)

2-135. Burgess Junction Visitor Center, Bighorn National Forest, Region 2 (1992)

2-136. El Portal Visitor Center, Caribbean National Forest, Region 8 (1996)

2-137. Prehistoric Prairies Discovery Center, Crawford, Nebraska, Region 2 (1998)

2-138. Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, Angeles National Forest, Region 5 (1996)

2-139. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin: original building

2-140. Office and laboratory, Irons Fork Experimental Forest, Mena, Arkansas, Region 8

2-141. Office and laboratory, Institute of Forest Genetics PSW, Placerville, California (1938)

2-142. Priest River Experimental Forest, Priest River, Idaho (1939)

2-143. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin: new building constructed under WPA program (1932)

2-144. Equipment Development Center, San Dimas, California (1970)

2-145. Silviculture Research Laboratory, Bend, Oregon (1963)

2-146. Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon (1963)

2-147. A Hillside Duplex of Wood

2-148. Tubular Home of Wood

2-149. A Round House of Wood

2-150. Combined office, laboratory, and bachelor's quarters, Roscommon, Michigan (1934)

2-151. Greenhouse, San Juaquin Range PSW, O'Neals, California (1936)

2-152. Northern Institute of Forest Genetics Reinlander, Wisconsin (1960)

2-153. Headwaters Forest Research Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota (1960)

2-154. Northern Forest Fire Laboratory, Missoula, Montana (1961)

2-155. Shelterbelt Laboratory, Bottineau, North Dakota (1962)

2-156. Forest Hydrology Laboratory, Wenatchee, Washington (1963)

2-157. Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina (1963)

2-158. Moscow Laboratory, Moscow, Idaho (1963)

2-159. Silviculture Laboratory, Sewanee, Tennessee (1966)

2-160. Provo Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Station, Provo, Utah (1969)

2-161. Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Arcata, California (1971)7

2-162. Corvallis Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon (1978)

2-163. Fresno Laboratory, Region 5 (1985)

3-1. Architects' Gathering, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1986

3-2. Architects' Gathering, Denver, Colorado, 1997

3-3. Rendering of the Tropical Forestry Building, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, by Ellis Groben (1939)

3-4. Drawing by Ellis Groben to commemorate the retirement of Evan Kelley (1944)

3-5. Drawing by Ellis Groben to commemorate the 80th birthday of Gifford Pinchot, former Chief of the Forest Service (1945)

3-6. Poster drawn by Ellis Groben to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Forest Service (1955)

3-7. Residence building designed by Tim Turner

3-8. Firehouse designed by Linn Forrest, Region 6 (1942)

3-9. Design for Tahoe National Forest Supervisor's Office, Region 5 (c. 1937-42)

3-10. Range and Wildlife Habitat Laboratory, LaGrande, Oregon—1973 Industrial Research Laboratory of the Year design award winner

3-11. Redfish Lake Visitor Center, Region 4, central Idaho (1964)

3-12. Pleasant Grove District Office, Uinta National Forest, Region 4 (1963)

3-13. Job Corps pole building (framing)

3-14. Job Corps pole building (completed)

3-15. Region 5 architectural staff receiving certificates of merit from the Chief of the Forest Service for their work in developing the design concepts for Job Corps programs

3-16. Cover for a guide to basic design schemes for Forest Service offices

3-17. Region 6 Architects Gathering (1990)

3-18. Mastrandrea's quick sketch of an observation shelter at Cape Perpetua (1974)

3-19. Sula Ranger Station Barracks, Bitterroot National Forest, Region 1 (1974)

3-20. Powell Ranger Station Office, Clearwater National Forest, Region 1 (1975)

3-21. Aspen Barracks, White River National Forest, Region 2 (1980)

3-22. Mammoth Visitor Center, Inyo National Forest, Region 5 (1966)

3-23. Sawyers Bar Barracks, Klamath National Forest, Region 5 (1990)

3-24. Quincy Ranger District Office, Plumas National Forest, Region 5 (1988)

3-25. Overlook, Oh! Ridge Campground, Inyo National Forest (1972)

3-26. Amphitheater Building, Shasta Lake Campground, Shasta Trinity National Forest, Region 5 (1966)

3-27. Spruce Knob Observation Tower, the highest point in West Virginia, Monongahela National Forest, Region 9 (1968)

3-28. Seneca Rocks Visitor Center, Monongahela National Forest, Region 9 (1972)

3-29. Galena Overlook, Sawtooth National Forest, Region 4

3-30. Holy Cross Ranger District Office, White River National Forest, Region 2 (1992)

3-31. Pactola Ranger District Office, Black Hills National Forest, Region 2 (1994)

3-32. Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Center, Chattahooche National Forest, Region 8 (1988)

3-33. Womble Office Building, Ouachita National Forest, Region 8

3-34. Toketee Office, Umpqua National Forest, Region 6 (1994)

3-35. Entrance detail, Toketee Office

3-36. Sullivan Lake Office, Colville National Forest, Region 6 (1991)

3-37. Interior view of Sullivan Lake Office