Heceta House: A History and Architectural Survey

The rich history of Heceta Head is reflected in part by the many changes made to the house.

The removal of the exterior shutters was the first alteration. Photographs indicate the shutters survived only ten years, at the most. Whether they were ripped off by strong winds or removed by the keepers remains open to conjecture.

Another early change was carried out for the sake of convenience. Approximately 1916, restroom facilities were added in the rear wings and outdoor "two-holers" were removed, undoubtedly to the great joy of the occupants. A primitive sewer system consisting of a pipe over the bluff also was installed in 1916.

Major changes did not occur again until 1939, which coincided with the year the Coast Guard gained jurisdiction over the Lighthouse Service.

That year, the rear wings were razed and new stoops, steps and wood canopys were built to provide rear entrances to the dwelling. (A drawing of the former wings is on the following page.)

There was substantial concern about the quality of the work, as indicated by the following instructions to the carpenters:

Raze and completely remove existing wings. Patch up opening to match existing finish. Trim [new stoop and steps] to match front porch newels and rails. Obtain rail and newel from single dwelling. Salvage shingles for new roof over door to match main roof.¹

---

¹Blueprints, "Alterations to Keepers' Double Dwelling at Heceta Head," from the Office of Superintendent of Lighthouses, January 17, 1939.

---

Heceta Head Light Station. (click on image for a PDF version)

The restroom fixtures and kitchen sinks in the rear wings also were salvaged. Bathrooms were installed in the second floor storage rooms located under the sloping roof. The lunette windows of the store rooms were replaced by two double hung sash windows. Most likely, the lunettes were removed because the remodeler did not believe they would provide enough light or ventilation for bathrooms.

The kitchen sinks formerly in the wings were relocated along the outer, side wall of each kitchen. One four-over-four window on each side had to be cut down to accommodate the sinks. This is illustrated in the blueprints but, according to the same plans, the other four-over-four window to the right of each sink was to remain intact. However, a 1943 photograph shows that these windows were removed completely, while the window above each sink was indeed reduced.

Note absence of second window on first floor, side wall.

In addition to the sinks, counters, drainboards and cases were installed along the outer, side walls. Perhaps the remodelers could not accommodate all the fixtures without removing one window completely, and the plans were changed accordingly.

The only other major structural change carried out in 1939 was the replacement of exterior, area way doors to the basement by new covers similar to trap doors. There are no drawings or photographs available of the new doors.

The house remained largely unchanged throughout the coming years, despite the fact that Heceta was transformed into a bustling military base during World War II. According to photographs taken during the war, only one change of note occurred since the 1939 remodeling: the spools were removed from the millwork beneath the eaves of the porch roof. However, the spindles remained to decorate the eaves, and the baluster piece was maintained in good condition throughout the war.

The next major remodeling plan was carried out in 1957, which indicates the Coast Guard had no idea that the light tower would be automated and the house vacated just six years later, in 1963.

In one major sweep, the rear entrances built in 1939 were torn down and new, side entrances to the kitchens erected. The present pipe railing, steps, stoops and corrugated plastic siding at the side entrances all date back to 1957.

When the rear entrances were removed, new, rear windows were installed. A pair of single-pane casement windows with wood frames replaced the former sash type windows at each side of the duplex. The kitchen windows near the side entrances also went from sash type to single-pane, casement windows.

As in 1939, the kitchen windows had to be changed to accommodate new fixtures. In 1957, double-sinks were installed below the rear windows, replacing the undoubtedly old-fashioned sinks which had at one time stood in the rear wings. Refrigerators and built-in ovens replaced the cabinets and cases that had lined the east and west walls. Eating counters and built-in ranges were installed against the opposite walls.

The bathrooms were modernized as well. New toilets, tubs and sinks replaced those originally from the rear wings and tile was laid above the tubs.

The one change which compromised the symmetry of the house also was carried out in 1957. An office was added on the west side of the house, in the area which had been the front porch extension. The decorative, "stained glass" window was removed, or walled over, when the room was built.

A note on the blue print reads, "O. in C. Quarter only,"² which indicates an office was needed only in the half occupied by the Coast Guard's commanding officer.

---

²Web Edition Note: Footnote missing from the printed edition.

---

The porch was further altered by the replacement of the railing. The new railing did not feature the decorative baluster piece. Most likely, the spindles above the railing were removed during the same period.

The present, exterior shelters over the basement steps also were erected in 1957, replacing the "trap door" covers built in 1939.

Photograph illustrates changes made in 1957 remodeling: new stoops with corrugated plastic siding were built; office was added at west porch extension; casement window was installed in outer office wall; and baluster piece was removed from porch railing.

The latest spate of remodeling was completed in 1970. That year, Lane Community College leased the building for use as a "weekend campus." A few structural changes had to be made to accommodate groups of students.

The dividing wall between the dining rooms was knocked down to provide space for a lecture room. Additional bathrooms were installed upstairs: the front bedroom on the east half was converted into two separate bathrooms, with two showers and two toilets in each. Access to one bathroom was made possible from the west half by removing a section of wall which had previously divided the duplex. (These changes are illustrated in the following sketches.)

The college's remodeling plans also called for the removal of the built-in range and oven from the kitchen on the west side. These were reinstalled in the east-side kitchen. Two dishwashers were purchased for the students' kitchen as well. (The west-side kitchen is used by caretakers, who have installed their own combination range-oven.)

The college also did some repair and restorative work. For example, the moldings around some of the door frames were in need of replacement and rather than replace them with modern, thin molding, the college had the wide, grooved millwork specially duplicated. Extra molding was ordered for future use.

Linoleum was substituted for badly buckled floorboards in the front entryway on the east side. Additional linoleum was purchased in case the west entryway flooring should buckle as well.

Other changes have occurred which are not specifically mentioned in any remodeling plans. A pair of four-over-four oriel windows in the dormer was replaced by one-over-one windows, probably because matching windows were not available at the time, or were too expensive to duplicate.

Heceta Head Light Station 1979. (click on image for a PDF version)

Heceta Head Light Station 1979. (click on image for a PDF version)

A number of decorative features have disappeared from the exterior. In addition to the removal of the porch baluster piece and spindle-spool millwork, spheres which originally topped each newel post of the front steps are missing. The spindle-spool section below the front sunburst panel is gone, as are the scroll work panels which used to be above each oriel window of the gabled dormer.

The present caretaker has made a number of minor modifications. He installed partitions in the basement in order to create separate rooms and sealed the sliding dining room doors on the west side in order to keep the classroom area open. (The sliding doors on the opposite side already were sealed or removed.) Finally, he removed deteriorating hearth tiles on the fireplace of the west side, cemented the hearth and circled it with a single layer of bricks.