PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Monument Administration (continued)

Personnel

117. Joe Bolander, undated (Pipe Spring National Monument).

Information on Hugh Bozarth's departure from Pipe Spring in 1967 and his temporary replacement, Jim Harter, was provided in the earlier "Monument Administration" section. Two new employees entered on duty at Pipe Spring in 1968, Ray Geerdes (late April) and Allen Malmquist (May). For more information on these two men, see the "Monument Administration" section. Malmquist was converted to an intermittent appointment in November that year. He returned to work as seasonal historian in 1969 and 1970. Tony Heaton began working as a seasonal historian during the spring weekends of 1970.

Joe Bolander, hired as an ungraded laborer in late 1963 (referred to as "caretaker"), initially commuted to work daily from his home in Orderville, Utah. In June 1964 he asked if a trailer site could be designated for his use so that he could park his trailer there and live on site during the week. As there were still water and sewer connections at Jim McKown's old trailer site, he was given permission to put his trailer there. Bolander worked for a number of years doing maintenance and repair work around the monument, assisted at times by Ray Mose. Bolander was a natural born storyteller who loved recounting the monument's history to visitors. Probably shortly after Bob Olsen's departure (the fall of 1966), he began giving guided tours out of necessity. In April 1968 Regional Director Kowski took a fort tour guided by Bolander. Kowski was well pleased with the experience. Bolander was promoted from laborer to park guide, subject to furlough, on November 17, 1968. In March 1970 Bolander attended a course in oral communications for park technicians at Mather Training Center. He continued working at the monument through January 1976.

Park Historian Bob Olsen was remarried on July 7, 1964, in Salt Lake City. He and his wife Lauri were honored by the ladies of the Moccasin community at an open house given at Pipe Spring on August 14. The couple's first child (a son) was born in Salt Lake City on February 23, 1966. From mid-March through April 1966, Olsen spent six weeks at an interpretive methods course at Mather Training Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Olsen took a promotional transfer to Whitman Mission National Historic Site in Walla Walla, Washington, in September 1966. A going-away picnic was held for the Olsen family on September 17. The family left Pipe Spring monument on September 23, 1966, with Olsen reporting for duty in Walla Walla on September 26.

Mel Heaton was hired as seasonal laborer in the fall of 1967 and continued working at the monument until May 1979. Mel was the son of former monument laborer and guide Kelly Heaton and Nora Heaton, who would also later work at the monument. From the start, Geerdes was aware that Mel Heaton was interested in becoming a park guide at the monument. (See "Monument Administration" section for specific references to work Heaton performed or oversaw at Pipe Spring.) Heaton attended various Park Service training courses in 1969 and 1970, including classes on law enforcement, modern welding, and environmental maintenance. At some point in 1969 Heaton's title was changed to "foreman."

Ray Mose continued as seasonal laborer at the monument through 1967. Joe Bolander and Mel Heaton worked in 1968 as caretaker and seasonal laborer, respectively. Shortly before Bolander was promoted to park guide, Doyle C. Winder was given a temporary appointment as laborer in early November 1968. During the summers of 1969 and 1970, David Johnson was working at the monument as an intermittent laborer. Alfred Drye was also hired as an intermittent laborer in 1970.

Bozarth and Bolander served as park guides until the following spring of 1967 when Paul C. Heaton of Fredonia was hired, first as a seasonal part-time park historian, then during the summer as a full-time employee. Heaton worked again for the monument during the 1968-1970 travel seasons.

As mentioned earlier, Konda Button of Fredonia was hired as clerk receptionist under the OEO's Operation Mainstream program in October 1969. Under this program, she had to be given four hours of remedial education per week along with one hour of counseling. Button received training at Zion and Bryce Canyon, as well as at the Flagstaff NYC office. She took a course in general business at Fredonia High School and received instruction on the history of Southern Utah and Mormon settlements under Geerdes' tutelage. Geerdes intended to hire her when her year of Operation Mainstream expired the following October. [1975]