Hubbell Trading Post Cultural Landscape Report

In an effort to document some of the various treatment actions that have been undertaken at Hubbell Trading Post following its designation as a National Historic Site and its management by the National Park Service, archived records and files from both the park and the Southwest Regional Office were examined. These records were obtained from the Federal Records Center, Denver, Colorado; the National Archives and Records Administration, Denver, Colorado; the Southwest Regional Office, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Ganado, Arizona. Files reviewed for information included general park correspondence, maintenance and construction, and resource management files. However, the most pertinent were the park's Triple X Compliance log and associated files from the Southwest Regional Office. These included actions undertaken from January 1986 through May 1993. It should be noted that the limited number of entries for 1992 and 1993 are more likely to reveal a lack of documentation and paper processing than a reduction in the treatment actions that were undertaken within the park.

The following information was located in a review of the park's general maintenance and construction files located at the Federal Records Center in Denver, Colorado:

A variety of other park related files including the Triple X compliance files, other miscellaneous memorandums and letters were examined at the Federal Records Center and revealed:

Some of the treatment actions have included erosion control activities undertaken in and adjacent to the Pueblo Colorado Wash, the installation of speed breaks, and the planting of a vegetable garden in 1986 and many years since; the stabilization and repair of the stone wall enclosing the Hubbell residence, resurfacing of the parking area (constructed in 1983), placement of soil fill over tree roots in Visitor Center area, and erosion control activities and excavation of the Sand Dune archeological site in 1987. In 1988 the matanza adjacent to the Hubbell residence was stabilized, the wooden door on the 2nd floor of the Hubbell barn was repositioned, and the gate post between the post and the Hubbell residence was replaced in kind. A preservation maintenance project for the corral gates was undertaken in 1989 along with the rehabilitation of the wooden gate between the barn and the annex building, and the replacement of copper screening on the Hubbell residence porch and the meat room.

In 1990 the historic root cellar was rehabilitated to serve as the park's library, an apricot tree was planted in the courtyard of the Hubbell residence and a juniper tree was planted near the bell tower south of the residence "to restore the historic landscape" and replace old tree. Also during this year two of the large elm trees in front of the Visitor Center building were removed and the flagstone apron outside of the eastern entrance to the trading post was removed and replaced at a higher elevation to eliminate the original step up into the building. The hand railing at the entrance to the Visitor Center was added in 1991, numerous historic cottonwoods determined to be in declining health were removed along the entry drive and housing area, and the soil roof of the barn was removed and replaced.

In January of 1994 a design was completed for modifying the access to the Visitor Contact and Administration Office, improving its safety and making it accessible with regard to UFAS and ADAAG policies. Although this design has been reviewed and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office has concurred that it will constitute a No Adverse Effect with regard to the historic resources, installation has not been completed.