Heceta House: A History and Architectural Survey

After almost a decade of change, the clock is being turned back at Heceta Head. Since 1980, the Forest Service, working in conjunction with Lane Community College and private contractors, has been engaged in a restoration program designed both to stabilize the aging house and to replace many of the elements changed or removed over the years.

Work began with replacement of the sidewalks in front of the house. Next, a $23,000 contract was awarded in 1980 for preparation of working drawings of the entire exterior: development of specifications for reconstruction of the front porch: and submittal of a plan for future renovations. In a joint venture, architectural historian Phillip Dole, historic carpenter Gregg Olson and the architecture and planning firm of Gilland & Peting completed the project.

The same group was chosen to do the actual reconstruction of the porch, an involved job that included demolition of the small office added to the front of the house in 1957; replacement of steps, doors, decking, handrails and posts; and creation of the decorative features that had disappeared.

Using old photographs, Olson developed models of the decorative spools and spindles in his woodshop, selecting those that seemed most accurate. Next he went to work "mass producing" the necessary pieces—he fashioned 144 vertical and 192 horizontal spindles to create the staggered rectangles in the balustrade piece alone.

Replicas of the original doors with their stained-glass insets were made, and copies of the storm doors were hung in place. The porch restoration was completed in 1981, at a cost of $35,000—considerably more than the $26,410 spent in 1893 to build the two keepers' houses and a barn.

The house was starting to resemble its 19th-century self, but still more work needed to be done. Before more projects could be started, however, there were several important questions that needed to be answered.

—Should tight recreational dollars be spent on restoring the house to its original appearance, or should future projects be confined to maintenance?

—Should the hillside behind the lighthouse be shorn of its pine trees to restore the view early Heceta House residents enjoyed? If that were done, what effects would there be on wildlife habitats?

—And what of the visitors to Heceta Head? Did they want improved access to the site from the highway, more parking, additional interpretive services—or did they want things to remain as they were?

To learn the answers to those questions and dozens more, the Forest Service in 1981 appointed an interdisciplinary team to determine the best way to develop and use the site, and to devise a management plan to implement the preferred alternative.

The team contacted all agencies involved in managing the site—Lane Community College, the lease holder: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Oregon Parks and Recreation Division; and the U.S. Coast Guard. To encourage public participation in the planning process, 340 brochures were mailed to interested groups and individuals, news releases were issued and posters were displayed throughout the community.

In general, the 36 respondents favored minimal development due to concern that over-use would lead to damage and deterioration of the house and grounds.

After analyzing the responses, the Forest Service team came up with four alternative plans for future development and use. They were:

1. Maintain and administer at current levels, providing minimal rehabilitation and interpretive services.

2. Restore exterior of house and grounds to their original appearance; improve trails and interpretive signs; and selectively modify vegetation to restore the view of the lighthouse from the residence.

3. Partially rehabilitate the house; provide guided interpretive hikes; improve trails to allow handicapped access to grounds; and selectively trim vegetation.

4. Restore both exterior and interior of house to 1893 appearance; completely thin the hillside of all trees; provide full interpretive services and handicapped facilities; and phase out Lane Community College permit.

Again, other agencies and the public were asked to comment. Forty-two responses were received. Once more, they ran in favor of minimizing development and making changes slowly, carefully and with historical accuracy.

The Forest Service decided on a preferred development plan that combined elements of all four alternatives. Highlights included:

—Rehabilitating the exterior of the house to its 1893 appearance, including addition of a white picket fence and rear wings.

—Removing some trees to provide a view of the lighthouse from the residence.

—Developing an interpretive brochure and cooperating with other agencies to develop interpretive signs and a gazebo at Devil's Elbow State Park.

—Maintaining the existing trail at its current standard, and making no modifications to access road from highway.

—Continuing the Lane Community College permit, which allows limited public access to the inside of the house.

Adoption of the management plan has provided the Forest Service with a "road map" to follow over the coming years. It also has done away with the need to consult the State Historic preservation officer and Historic Advisory Council each time a new project is planned. By presenting a comprehensive restoration program to the state, the Forest Service was able to obtain approval for all future jobs, thereby cutting red tape and shortening the planning process.

Projects already completed under the same management plan include replacement of the entire roof; installation of an electric furnace in place of old oil furnaces; undergrounding of power lines; and the drilling of a new water well. All those improvements were completed in 1982.

The following year, the wire fence surrounding the house was removed and a replica of the original white picket fence put up in its place. Trees were selectively thinned that year to restore the view of the light that had once been enjoyed from the keepers' houses.

In 1984, the remaining sides of the house were renovated with new shingles and siding, and the windows were repaired or replaced to be historically accurate.

Under a five-year restoration schedule, work to be completed includes painting the garage; restoring the concrete walkway and handrail between the house and light tower; developing an interpretive brochure; constructing an interpretive gazebo at Devil's Elbow Park; and preparing detailed drawing for restoration of original, rear wings.

Actual restoration of the rear wings is tentatively planned for 1986-87, but subject to future funding.