Pipe Spring
Cultures at a Crossroads
An Administrative History of Pipe Spring National Monument
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PART XII:
THE HERR ADMINISTRATION

Introduction

This chapter deals with events occurring in and around Pipe Spring National Monument while it was under the administration of Superintendent William M. ("Bill") Herr, beginning with his arrival on April 8, 1979, and ending soon after his transfer to Golden Spike National Historic Site in mid-January 1989. (Some events associated with the very early administration of one of Herr's successors, Gary M. Hasty, are also mentioned.) A decline in the spring flow at the monument, first noticed in the 1970s, continued throughout the 1980s. The decline led to a two-year study by the Park Service's Water Resources Division. During the 1980s, developments on the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation in 1980 and in Moccasin in 1987 threatened to upset the delicate balance over water use that existed between the Park Service, the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, and the Mormon community of Moccasin. Considerable rehabilitation work was accomplished during this period to the fort and west cabin, as well as to tunnel spring.

International events continued to impact the monument to some degree, as the Arab-Israeli conflict had in 1973-1974. When Bill Herr arrived at Pipe Spring, President Jimmy Carter was still in office. During 1979 and 1980, gasoline prices were high, in large part due to critical events in Iran. On November 4, 1979, a hostage crisis took place in Iran, when 53 Americans were held captive for 444 days by Ayatollah Khomeini's Revolutionary Council, an act triggered by the U.S. admitting the recently deposed Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi into the country for medical treatment. President Carter froze Iranian assets in the United States and announced the country would go to war to protect oil supply routes in the Persian Gulf. Formal relations with Iran were broken on April 7, 1980, followed by economic sanctions against Iran. The hostage crisis dominated U.S. foreign policy for over a year. It led in mid-November 1979 to the implementation of emergency building temperature restrictions at the monument and other park units. (Fortunately, just one month prior to the hostage crisis, a number of changes had been made to the two permanent residences to make them more energy efficient. See "Permanent Residences" section.) Carter's failure to win release of the hostages helped Ronald Reagan win the 1980 presidential election. The hostages were freed on Inaugural Day, January 20, 1981. As part of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran, trade restrictions were lifted and the U.S. energy crisis gradually eased.

President Reagan served for two terms. Former Vice-president George Bush succeeded him in 1988. [2259] The budget-cutting policies of Reagan and Bush led to a curtailment of assistance to Native Americans, leaving some reservations with few opportunities for economic improvement. That is why, some have argued, that the Kaibab Paiute Tribe showed interest in a late 1989 business proposal to locate hazardous waster incinerators on the reservation, a plan that would have put the area at risk for an environmental disaster.

Within the Park Service a number of administrative changes took place between 1979 and 1989. There would be four Secretaries of the Interior during this period: Cecil D. Andrus, James D. Watt, William C. Clark, and Donald Paul Hodel. In 1979 William J. Whalen was National Park Service director, followed in May 1980 by Russell E. Dickenson. William Penn Mott succeeded Dickenson in May 1985 and served in the post until April 1989. In the Rocky Mountain Region, L. Lorraine Mintzmyer succeeded Regional Director Glen T. Bean on April 6, 1980, and held the position until early October 1991. Superintendent Bob Heyder left Zion National Park in 1979. Zion was successively overseen by Superintendent John O. Lancaster (1979-1981), and two Acting Superintendents, Russell C. Alderson and Malcolm S. Nicholson (1981). Superintendent Harold L. ("Harry") Grafe took over Zion in October 1981 and remained in the position for 10 years. As far as Region, Zion, and Pipe Spring administrations go, the 1980s were a period of relative stability for the monument, with Mintzmyer, Grafe, and Herr providing a rare degree of continuity.

During the 1980s, Herr worked with a number of different tribal chairs. Tribal Chairman Bill Tom represented the Tribe until 1982 when Dolores ("Dee") Savala was elected tribal chair. Gloria Bulletts succeeded Savala in 1983. Both women were subsequently re-elected as tribal chairs later in the decade. Alberta Fuller was elected tribal chair in October 1989. A complete chronology of tribal chairs for the decade has yet to be compiled. What is notable about the decade is that tribal government shifted from being headed by Kaibab Paiute men to being led by Kaibab Paiute women, although men continued to serve on the Council and in other tribal government positions.

Federal Legislation and Federal Water Rights

Two important pieces of legislation were passed in the late 1970s that impacted the management of many park units during the 1980s, particularly those in the West. At about the same time these laws were passed, the federal government took action regarding water rights on lands that it administered. The following two sub-sections briefly describe those events.

The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978) and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (1979)

The U.S. Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) on August 11, 1978 (P. L. 95-341; 92 Stat. 469). The act declared "the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religious of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites." [2260]

The Rocky Mountain Region was directed to appoint a key person to serve as liaison between park units, the Rocky Mountain Region, and the Washington office on AIRFA. During the summer of 1979, Regional Coordinator Emma Plume was appointed to serve in that position. Donald Standing Elk and Cecil Lewis worked with Plume after her appointment to develop and implement an operational plan to carry out the AIRFA mandate. A regional committee was appointed to contact each Tribal Council and to inform them of the Park Service's intentions in respect to the act. Zion National Park was asked to appoint a coordinator to work with the committee. Bill Herr was chosen to be the coordinator for Zion, Pipe Spring, and Cedar Breaks. In notifying Regional Director Bean of Herr's appointment, Zion Superintendent Lancaster wrote, "Although some may exist, we are not aware of any religious sites within any of the three areas." [2261]

In addition to AIRFA legislation, Congress passed the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) in 1979 (P. L. 96-95 Stat. 712). This law defined archeological resources as any material remains of past human life or activities that are of archeological interest and at least 100 years old; required federal permits for excavation or removal and set penalties for violators; provided for preservation and custody of excavated materials, records, and data; provided for confidentiality of archeological site locations; and encouraged cooperation with other parties to improve protection of archeological resources. In September 1980, as part of its response to AIRFA and ARPA, the Park Service's Office of Management Policy drafted a "Native American Relationships Policy," covering the headings of philosophy; legislation; explanation of terms; access and use within park sites; Native American traditional activities; planning and resources management; and research and interpretation. [2262] This was a time when establishing close communication and good relations with Indian neighbors became increasingly important among federal agencies.

Federal Water Rights: the Solicitor's Opinion

On June 6, 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a directive to expeditiously identify, establish, and quantify federal water rights. On June 26, 1979, Department of the Interior Solicitor C. Martz issued Opinion No. M-36914, which was a comprehensive analysis of the nature and extent of federal rights to use water on lands administered by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Land Management. It defined and characterized the reserved water rights those agencies may assert under various statutes, executive orders, and Secretarial orders. It also discussed other forms of water rights assertable by federal agencies, including rights initiated by application of water to beneficial use for congressionally authorized or mandated purposes. This right has become commonly know as the federal non-reserved water right. To address concerns raised subsequent to the original opinion, Solicitor Martz issued a supplement on January 16, 1981. [2263]

Monument Administration

General

Superintendent Bill Herr arrived at the monument on April 9, 1979, with his wife Jan and their two children. Herr had a B.A. in biological sciences and had worked as a park naturalist in Petrified Forest National Park, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Zion National Park, and (most recently) Theodore Roosevelt National Park. His past acquaintance with many of the staff at Zion was helpful since Zion continued to oversee the administration of Pipe Spring National Monument. Zion Superintendent Bob Heyder and retired Superintendent Bernard Tracy met with Herr during his first few months at Pipe Spring to familiarize him with operations. Herr was an avid amateur astronomer and enjoyed teaching astronomy programs to school classes in the area. When Haley's Comet shot past the earth on March 19, 1985, Herr's family all rolled out of bed at 4:15 a.m. to witness the sight.

Williams M. Herr and his wife Jan
141. Williams M. ("Bill") Herr and his wife Jan at Pipe Spring, undated
(Pipe Spring National Monument).

Herr made what appears to be his first official visit to Tribal Chairman Bill Tom on May 23, 1979. Their conversation centered on maintenance issues pertaining to the visitor center. In late October, Herr and Tom met again to discuss the paving of the visitor center parking lot, maintenance issues, and the monument's use of the tribal dump. The Tribe had never paved the parking area since the dedication of the visitor center in May 1973. On July 29, 1980, Hurricane Sand and Gravel, under contract to the Tribe, began paving the area. Work was completed August 1. "Better late than never," quipped Herr in his monthly report at the seven-year delay. [2264] Documentation during the decade indicates that Maintenance Mechanic Doug Dewitz interacted considerably more with tribal members on a personal basis than did Superintendent Herr, who preferred rubbing elbows with the people of Fredonia and Kanab.

During the 1980s, four permanent staff were on duty at Pipe Spring: a superintendent, a maintenance person (Dale Scheier until April 18, 1981, succeeded by Doug Dewitz), and two park technicians. [2265] One technician headed the interpretative program (Fred Banks) and the other performed the monument's clerical work (Nora Heaton, followed by Jeff Frank, Jewell Harter, and Marlene Frederick/Coombs). The monument hired its first seasonal museum curator in 1988, Zula Brinkerhoff. For names of staff who are known to have worked at the monument and a chronological listing of personnel changes, see Appendix IX, "Personnel." [2266]

Air quality continued to be monitored at the monument during the 1980s. Early in his tenure, Herr faced a noise problem caused by low-flying B-52 bombers, reportedly flying at an altitude of 500 feet. The problem was solved, for the time being, after he contacted officials at Nellis Air Force Base (near Las Vegas, Nevada) and explained to them the Congressional mandate to protect the monument.

In May 1982, a Regional Performance Evaluation Team visited the monument to inspect facilities and evaluate operations. Its report praised the monument's living history program while commending Herr for his effective management of the area. It noted that the Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA) provided substantial financial support, remarking that the monument had "become dependent on it in order to maintain basic operations." [2267] Among the team's recommendations pertaining to resource management and visitor protection were that a study be made to determine specific needs for security and fire protection; to not plant trees in straight lines, but to stagger or scatter plantings "to preserve the natural scene;" and to limit use of irrigation water in response to declining spring flow. With regard to maintenance, the team recommended that the park request additional staffing and funding for its maintenance operations. Among recommendations for interpretation were that the monument get some cattle (it had none at the time); replace the "inappropriate" draft horse with "a couple of non-pedigreed range horses;" revamp the waysides "to accurately reflect the Pipe Spring story;" and complete paperwork requesting a furnishings plan for the fort. [2268]

In July 1985, Herr proposed to Park Service officials that all grounds within the historic site be declassified as historic except for a very small area encompassing the historic buildings, ponds, corrals, and Whitmore-McIntyre dugout. Having to maintain the monument's entire 40 acres according to the strict guidelines of the 1966 Historic Preservation Act exceeded the monument's resources. Herr garnered the support of Zion and region officials for this proposal, which was later approved. In October Herr made a formal proposal to the Tribe that a cooperating agreement be executed that would allow monument staff to take over the upkeep of the grounds around the visitor center and nearby tribal picnic area, but it appears that no such agreement was reached. [2269]

Pipe Spring National Monument officially entered the computer age in November 1986 when a Data Point 1800 computer was delivered from Zion National Park. Zion staff (Pat Fesler, John Tordoff, and Teresa Everard in particular) paid frequent visits to Pipe Spring to provide training to monument staff and to help with computer problems over the next several years.

As mentioned in Part XI, Mel Heaton resigned from the monument in 1979 to go into business for himself. During the 1980s, he privately organized annual Honeymoon Trail wagon treks to St. George. The wagon treks continued to pass across the reservation and through Pipe Spring National Monument until 1987. [2270] According to Herr's annual report, that year the Kaibab Paiute Tribe asked Heaton to pay an amount he thought was excessive to drive across the reservation. Consequently, Heaton decided to start the trek about four miles southwest of Pipe Spring, thus bypassing the reservation and monument.

On July 25, 1987, the Kaibab Paiute Tribe and Pipe Spring National Monument sponsored a special event to celebrate the "Take Pride in America" program. Participants dressed in native costume. Entertainment included traditional Kaibab Paiute songs and dances as well as demonstrations of traditional Indian crafts. Activities took place in a recreated traditional Paiute village. [2271] (The event appears to have taken place on monument grounds.) Indian craft demonstrations were also featured during the summer of 1988.

Elva Drye and Gail Bulletts
142. Elva Drye (left) and Gail Bulletts (right) demonstrate their beadwork skills at Pipe Spring, summer 1988
(Photograph by Fred Banks, Pipe Spring National Monument).

In mid-June 1988, an operations evaluation was conducted at Pipe Spring. The evaluation team was noticeably more critical in its appraisal of the interpretive program than in prior years. Comments included the following:

The monument has high potential, which is not being met by its present operation. It could be a model representation of a past landscape, with additional emphasis placed on wider interpretive themes through a more vigorous interpretive program. The efforts of the maintenance division at recreating an historic scene could be brought to life for the visitor. The monument could become a 40-acre slice of Arizona Strip history, instead of just a fortified home set in an overgrazed, ill-kept pasture, offering only a cliché living history program. [2272]

In addition to other recommendations to improve the program, the team recommended additional seasonal supervisory staff. The recommendation by evaluation team member Bill Swift that monument staff "reexamine interpretive themes" apparently incensed Herr who responded,

Quite frankly, Mr. Swift is ignorant of the scope of interpretive themes we have tried over the years. After all, between the current staff involved in interpretation, there is over 27 years of experience at PISP [Pipe Spring]. The existing program has evolved out of season after season of trial and error, finding out what has/has not worked with our public. Our existing programs are very well recved... [2273]

(For more information about the monument's interpretive program in the 1980s, see "Interpretation" and "The VIP Program" sections.) The evaluation team also reported that a lack of restroom and hand-washing facilities in the fort created health and safety problems for interpreters who often had to abstain from drinking to reduce their need to use the restrooms, which were located some distance away from the fort in the visitor center. Fort guides also cooked in the kitchen and the lack of hot water for hand washing meant food preparation did not meet Department of Public Health standards. The team recommended installing a restroom facility with hot water near the fort. This advice was never carried out, but the team's concerns may explain why cookie baking was later dropped from fort demonstrations, much to the dismay of repeat visitors! The evaluation team praised the work of Doug Dewitz, while acknowledging the maintenance division's need for additional help. They also reported, "In addition to his assigned duties, he seems to be the most active link that the NPS has with the Tribal Council and has initiated a good relations project with the local communities in growing and marketing the pumpkins [grown at the monument]." [2274] The team was the first bold enough to assess in print, "Historic landscape no longer exists." (See "Landscape Changes" section.) It recommended research be undertaken to determine what the historic landscape looked like and what should be presented to the public. [2275]

In mid-November 1988, Herr accepted an offer of the superintendency of Golden Spike National Historic Site from Zion Superintendent Grafe. [2276] The transfer was made official on December 1. He entered on duty at Golden Spike January 15, 1989. The fifth permanent person to administer Pipe Spring National Monument, he worked there just under 10 years, the longest tenure after that of Leonard Heaton. Fred Banks also left Pipe Spring during 1989, transferring to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. After Herr's departure, John W. Hiscock served as acting superintendent for just under four months, followed by a permanent appointee, Gary M. Hasty. (Hiscock returned to the monument as superintendent in June 1994 and has served in that position up to the present time.)

During his first year on the job, Hasty was faced with a major environmental issue. In October 1989, just after the election of Tribal Chair Alberta Fuller, the Kaibab Paiute Tribe entered into negotiations with Waste-Tech Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Amoco Oil Company. Waste-Tech sought the Tribe's approval to locate two 50,000-ton hazardous waste incinerators on the reservation, south of Pipe Spring National Monument. [2277] Incinerated waste products (mainly oil refinery waste) were also to be buried on the reservation. The incinerators would have generated a payroll of $3 million annually and employed 150 people. As area tourism failed to bring in the expected revenue and since federal aid to Indian programs declined during the 1980s, some influential members of the Kaibab Paiute Tribe thought Waste-Tech's proposal was worthy of consideration. The Tribe and local communities were deeply divided on the issue, however, and Park Service relations with the Tribe were also temporarily strained. [2278] On October 6, 1990, after a year of negotiations with Waste-Tech, the Tribe voted to sign a contract with the firm. (On the very day the Tribe voted on the issue, Gloria Bulletts-Benson was elected to a three-year term as tribal chair, assuming her duties on October 11.) The vote to sign the contract set off loud outcries from environmental groups, citizen groups in Fredonia and Kanab, and even out-voted members of the Tribe. Tribal member Vivienne Jake organized a group called the "Paiute Earthkeepers" to oppose the incinerators. [2279] Both out of concern for the environment and for area groundwater sources, the Park Service also opposed the plan. Waste-Tech then began preparation of the required Environmental Impact Statement. Early in 1991, the Tribe ceased its negotiations with Waste-Tech, and the incinerators were never constructed on the reservation. Details of this important story must be left for a future history of monument events during the 1990s. [2280]

Operating Budget and Entrance Fees

The monument's approved operating budget rose from $124,200 for fiscal year 1979 to $189,600 for fiscal year 1988. This represents an increase of approximately 65 percent over a 10-year period. Entrance fee collection more than doubled during this period, from $5,271 in 1979 to $13,262 in 1988. Separate operating funds were allocated for the VIP program, ranging from $700 in 1980 (the earliest year reported) to $2,400 in 1988. [2281] Annual donations from the Zion Natural History Association were also important to the monument. (See Appendix VIII, "Monument's Administrative Budget" and "Zion Natural History Association" section.)

Public Relations

During his administration, Bill Herr kept in close touch with local schools and service clubs, offering off-site programs on various topics. He reports no specifics about his interactions with tribal officials, other than summarily reporting that "close working relationships are maintained" in his annual reports. Not long after his arrival to the area, Herr became a member of the Kanab Lion's Club and the Kanab Chamber of Commerce. In 1982 he resigned from the Lion's Club and joined the Kanab Kiwanis Club, preferring their morning weekly meetings to the Lion's Club evening ones. He attended meetings of these organizations very regularly and was twice elected vice-president of the Kiwanis Club. In the early 1980s, Herr was a member of the Citizens Contract Negotiating Team, which worked with the Fredonia Board of Education and Teachers Association. In November 1984, Herr was elected to the non-partisan Fredonia-Moccasin Board of Education. In either late 1985 or early 1986, Herr was elected president of the Fredonia School Board. He was an elected member of the Coconino County Academic Decathlon Board of Directors in late 1986. Herr appears to have thoroughly enjoyed his involvement with the communities of Fredonia and Kanab. [2282] He accepted a part in the Fredonia Civic Play in 1985, but was later forced to set aside his thespian urges when he learned the Superintendents' Conference was scheduled the week of the play's performances.

In 1981 Herr completed the Native American Concerns Training at the Albright Training Center. Aside from the expected interaction monument staff had with the Tribe in connection with leasing space in their building, reports suggest some instances of mutual aid during the decade. When two fires broke out near Kaibab Village in 1982, three monument staff responded to the call for assistance. When Molly, one of the monument's draft horses, died just before spring planting time in 1982, the Tribe not only used its equipment to dig a hole just outside the monument to bury the horse's remains, but later sent over a tractor to till up the demonstration garden, a job formerly performed by horse-drawn plow. (The monument abandoned the plow after Molly's death.) When a six-inch water main broke on the monument in 1983, the Tribe lent the monument their backhoe. On the other hand, when the monument completed enlarging its maintenance building in 1987, it gave the 1974 metal storage unit to the Tribe.

There are no reports by Herr of any serious public relations problems during the 1980s. After Herr's departure and the arrival of Gary Hasty in February 1989, communication appears to have increased between the Tribe and monument staff. As relations improved, Hasty reported, one segment of the local community complained that "we were giving the area back to the Indians." [2283] Monument managers and staff often found themselves walking a very fine line between the sometimes-opposing interests of the Tribe and local non-Indian communities.

Herr was not the only staff involved with local communities. In conjunction with Fredonia's celebration of its centennial, Park Technician Fred Banks made arrangements for the exhibit, "300 Years of German Emigration to America, 1683- 1983," to be shown at the Fredonia library the last two weeks of January 1985. About 250 people saw the display. In 1985 Banks oversaw the preparation of an exhibit on Pipe Spring National Monument for the Northern Coconino County Fair. It won "Best of Show" award and first place in the educational exhibit division.

News releases of special events were sent out as needed. During 1986, the monument appeared on television three times, filmed twice by two different television stations from Phoenix and once by a Salt Lake City station. Salt Lake City's station did a special on the monument's Memorial Day weekend activities that year. In 1987 two television crews visited Pipe Spring for filming, one from Salt Lake City and one from Phoenix.

Tribal Developments and Tribal-Monument Relations

Development activity on the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation, begun during the late 1960s, continued into the 1980s. Fifteen new houses were constructed in 1980, a development known as Juniper Estates, located about 2.5 miles northeast of the monument. Park Service officials viewed development of recreational facilities and water resources by the Tribe as having a direct effect on the monument, as such activities had potential to adversely affect the flow of the historic springs. [2284] The Tribe drilled a new well near the monument's well in 1980. In 1981 the Tribe laid a water line from its new well that was independent of the system constructed in 1973 by the Park Service. As the new pipeline was being laid, a tribal agent indicated to monument personnel that the Tribe might discontinue using the Park Service's water system entirely. [2285] The Tribe's new well provided water for the Tribe's gym (the multi-purpose center), tribal office building, and Juniper Estates and Kaibab housing complexes. The Tribe's water system appears to have been out of operation in 1983. In January 1984, Herr submitted notification to Tribal Chair Dolores Savala that water use by the Tribe far exceeded the amount of water the Park Service was required to provide per year. [2286] The original 1972 water agreement between the Park Service and the Tribe provided that the Tribe be billed for use of water in excess of 7,884,000 gallons. In 1983 the Tribe's use of water from the Park Service system totaled 16,734,120 gallons, most of which went to Juniper Estates (13,243,500 gallons). Herr informed the Tribe with his notification that the Park Service wished to terminate furnishing water to Juniper Estates as of January 20, 1984, while adding,

This in no manner will decrease our obligation of the seven million gallons per year but is necessary at this time to limit equipment failure due to over use. As always, we stand ready to provide a water supply source in case of an emergency.

At this time we are not considering billing the tribe for the excess of water delivered during 1983. [2287]

It appears that the Park Service chose to not bill the Tribe for the excess water used in 1983, perhaps to "soften the blow" of their intention to turn off the tap, so to speak, to Juniper Estates. This seems to have hastened the Tribe's efforts to get their water system back into operation. By April, the Tribe was still being provided water from the Park Service well, but Herr notified Regional Director Mintzmyer that, while the Tribe had had some problems with broken pipes and valves, its pump was installed and "ready to go." [2288]

Employment of the Kaibab Paiute at Pipe Spring

Once the Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) program ended in the mid-1970s, the Tribe had no government-sponsored youth training program until 1985. The Tribe's NYC program had provided the monument with many young Indian workers during the early 1970s. The Tribe was unable to get funds for a Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) program until the fall of 1981, just a year before the program was terminated. This may explain why there were noticeably fewer Indians working at the monument during the early 1980s than in prior years. Official monument reports attest to the fact that Herr and his staff tried to interest tribal members in working at the monument in the early 1980s, but had little success. [2289] When a seasonal laborer position opened at the monument in spring 1982, Herr actively recruited among the Tribe and three of its members applied. Sam David Tom was hired for the position. Another Kaibab Paiute man, Ralph Castro, was hired as a seasonal laborer in 1983.

During the early 1980s, fort guides and CETA workers were mostly non-Indian. [2290] Seasonal Park Aid Lori Jake was one of the few Kaibab Paiute guides in the fort during that period. She had worked as a park aid/interpreter in the fort since at least 1975. On September 28, 1981, her husband, Merle Jake, was killed in a logging accident on the Kaibab Plateau. Most of the monument's staff attended the October 3 funeral held in Fredonia. She did not return to the monument in 1982. In March 1983, Herr sought to rehire Lori Jake as a park aid. She first agreed, then changed her mind. Beginning in 1985, the employment situation changed and Indian youth were once again involved in the monument's interpretive program. The Indian Development District of Arizona (IDDA) and another tribal program, whose initials are "TGB," enabled the Tribe to once again place a significant number of Kaibab Paiute as seasonal monument workers, primarily as guides. [2291] At least on one occasion in 1987, a Zion personnel specialist and Fred Banks met with prospective employees from the Tribe to explain the work and encourage their application.

Water System

Until June 1980, the Phoenix Indian Health Service did the testing for the monument's water system, testing the water for organic, inorganic, and radiological factors. In July 1980, Herr struck an agreement with Kaibab National Forest for its certified water plant operator to monitor and maintain Pipe Spring's water facilities. The monument's water was tested regularly. A tri-annual inorganic water test was performed as well as biweekly bacteriological testing. Also during 1980, the line-shaft water pump on the monument's well (built in 1973) was replaced with a submersible type pump. In 1980 a two-inch PVC high pressure water line by the fort broke, creating a minor flood. No shutoff valves were shown on current drawings of the water system so staff had to close the main valve at the storage tank. Later someone remembered a buried valve in a field. It was located, dug up, and closed, solving the problem. The valve was then marked on water system drawings for future reference. Two days later a four-inch PVC line broke in the same area, requiring repair. The monument's 500,000-gallon water storage tank, located on the reservation near the Park Service well, was re-covered in 1980 with one foot of sand and surrounded by a corrugated steel fence to keep the sand from eroding away.

During 1981, there were several major breaks in the high pressure water line behind the visitor center, which led to some rerouting of the lines. The fire hydrant was relocated at the end of the line instead of being "dog-legged" 20 feet to the east. [2292] An attempt was made to reinstall the large water meter behind the visitor center. Several broken pipes later, the meter, meter box, and 20 feet of six-inch main were replaced. In 1982 A new six-inch water main was installed to the residential and utility areas. This enhanced fire protection and increased water pressure to the areas. [2293] Regional Archeologist Adrienne Anderson was on site during trenching to provide Section 106 clearance for the project.

In order to make "as maintained" utility drawings more accurate, Denver Service Center Engineer Ron Oney visited the monument twice in 1984 to help survey and put in place new markers.

Decline in Spring Flow and Area Water Studies

Beginning in the late 1970s, a decline in the combined spring flow was observed at Pipe Spring. In 1980 alone there was a decrease of 2.1 gallons per minute (gpm). The decrease since 1977 was 7.2 gpm. [2294] Again in 1981, a decrease of 1.4 gpm was reported. The total flow was 27.6 gpm that year. In 1982 the flow decreased for the fifth year in a row to 25.67 gpm. [2295] Average flow for 1983 was 22.69 gpm; for 1984, 21.27 gpm. The latter figure represents a 59 percent decrease in flow over an eight-year period, since 1977.

During the week of September 10, 1984, officials from the Water Resources Division (WRD) in Fort Collins, Colorado, made a tour of Zion, Cedar Breaks, and Pipe Spring. Accompanying Chief Stanley L. Ponce and Hydrologist William B. Reed (both, Water Rights Branch), were Superintendent Harry Grafe, Assistant Superintendent Jim Brady, and others. The men met with Herr and reviewed the monument's springs and water system. At that time, they offered region and monument personnel assistance in developing a study to determine the reason for the decreasing flow. [2296] In December 1984, the monument initiated paperwork to request the study. [2297] At the request of Chief Ponce, Reed initiated research on the status of water rights at Pipe Spring in late 1984 and prepared the scope of work for the Pipe Spring study in 1985. [2298] No spring flow measurement was reported in Herr's annual report for 1985. In 1986 the monthly average measurement was 18.33 gpm, again indicating a reduction in flow.

In February 1986, local Moccasin rancher Grant Heaton reported to monument staff that there was no water in his cattle ponds, which were supplied by tunnel spring. He asked the monument to check tunnel spring for problems. The following month, local ranchers Landell and Fred Heaton also stopped by to express their concern over lack of water flowing to their cattle ponds from tunnel spring. Fred believed that the greatest drop in water level was observed after the Park Service's well was installed on the reservation in 1973. [2299] During March, Doug Dewitz pumped out the tunnel spring manhole, which was nearly filled to the top. The intakes were cleared of roots and outflow improved.

In March 1986, two men from the Water Resources Division visited the monument to informally assess the spring flow problem. [2300] A WRD team installed gauges and recording instruments in August 1986. That October the team installed measuring devices on the spring in Moccasin and on one of the Tribe's wells, in attempt to measure the outflow of those water sources. A two-year study was then begun by the division to try to determine the reasons for the decreasing spring flow. [2301] A slight increase in the flow was recorded for 1987, to 18.86 gpm. In 1988 the spring flow measurements showed a slight decrease, to 18.50 gpm.

Owen R. Williams and Donald C. Barrett prepared the report on the Water Resources Division's two-year study and submitted it to Chief Ponce on September 2, 1986. Referred to as a "scoping report," it is entitled, "An Evaluation of the Decline in Spring Flow at Pipe Spring National Monument." The report provided an analysis of water rights, described the management situation, and provided physical data gathered during the study period. Water monitoring continued beyond the study. The study indicated that the observed decline in spring flow,

...is real and likely to be the result of man-caused changes in the delivery of ground water to the collective springs at the monument, as opposed to natural variations in precipitation. Further, at the present rate of decline it is anticipated that spring flow will cease by the mid-1990s...

A suitable course of action for management is unclear at this time due to the lack of certain data. Therefore a set of alternatives for the correction of this deficiency was developed and is presented with a recommended alternative identified. [2302]

The report recommended that two courses of action be taken: 1) that additional long-term data be collected on ground water from a) the NPS-tribal well, b) an observation well in the Navajo aquifer near the Sevier fault, c) Moccasin Spring, and d) Pipe Spring; and 2) that alternate water sources be sought to substitute for the tribal and village wells in the Navajo Sandstone aquifer adjacent to the Sevier fault. In August 1986, Hydrologists Donald Barrett and Richard ("Rick") Inglis returned to the Pipe Spring area to install hydrologic data loggers at two locations to monitor ground water level, spring discharge, and precipitation. One logger was installed in an unused Kaibab Paiute tribal well (culinary well no. 1) located about two miles north of Pipe Spring; another logger was installed at Moccasin Spring, just west of Moccasin. Equipment was installed and operating on August 21. Barrett and Inglis planned to analyze the collected data semiannually the first year and prepare a summary report on an annual basis until the monitoring project was terminated. [2303] Hydrologist Alice E. Johns made the first visit to service monitoring equipment and to collect data in January 1987. At that time she also obtained information about the springs at Pipe Spring so that the Water Services Branch could prepare plans for the installation of flow measuring devices on those springs. [2304]


Tunnel Spring Rehabilitation

Preliminary investigations of tunnel spring by monument staff took place in early October 1987. [2305] A rockslide 10 feet from the entrance of the tunnel posed difficulties for workers, and safety hazards within the saturated tunnel were also very real. There was additional tunnel blockage at a depth of 30-40 feet. Funds in the amount of $15,000 were allotted to rehabilitate tunnel spring in December 1987. [2306] One of the purposes of the work was to facilitate better monitoring of the combined spring flow at the monument. The contract was awarded to Grace Company in September 1988. Rehabilitation work began about September 26 and consisted of replacing the distribution pipeline to the monument's south boundary and installing a new collection system. The job was completed by November 1, 1988. In addition to monument staff, Bill Rust, Water Resources Division, and Superintendent Grafe oversaw the work. The WRD provided instructions for installation of a monitoring device as rehabilitation of tunnel spring progressed. [2307]

Water Developments in Moccasin

In 1987, one year after the Water Resources Division completed its initial water study in the Pipe Spring area and as monitoring of area springs continued, monument staff learned that the village of Moccasin was taking action to further develop its own water resources. The earliest news of this activity came in September when former Superintendent Bernard Tracy, resident of Moccasin, reported to Doug Dewitz that the Moccasin Water Board (of which Tracy was a member) was considering building a water tank, to be filled by a new well that was soon to be drilled. Funding was being sought by the board to develop this municipal water system. Dewitz learned from the Arizona State Water Resources Department that rancher Owen Johnson had filed for a well in Section 31 or 32 in August of that year. [2308] It was thought at the time the new well was owned by David Johnson. Of course, any water developments in Moccasin threatened the Tribe's historic one-third ownership of Moccasin Spring (which tribal members still referred to by the old name of "Sand Spring"), as it was believed at that time that drilling into the local aquifer could reduce the spring flow. [2309] Dewitz learned that September that the Tribe was considering protesting further development of Moccasin Spring. [2310]

Monument staff feared such development might also impact Pipe Spring. Dewitz urged the Water Resources Division to send someone to the area to better ascertain and appraise the Moccasin situation. [2311] Moccasin Spring was still being monitored by the WRD. Hydrologist Rick Inglis revisited the area in mid-October 1987. Inglis installed monitoring equipment at the main spring and tunnel spring and replaced equipment at the culinary well field (the Park Service's well north of Pipe Spring). While in the area, Inglis noticed a new, private well being pumped near the southern edge of Moccasin, about three miles northwest of the monument (the well believed to have been David Johnson's). He also learned that residents were contemplating further development of wells to provide water for a municipal water system. [2312] While it was unknown if such activity in Moccasin would impact the flow of water at Pipe Spring, consideration was given at the WRD to lodging a formal protest on the grounds that further development of Moccasin Spring might be detrimental to the monument's water source. In response to the concern by monument staff that such action jeopardize good relations between the Park Service and Moccasin residents, WRD staff assured Dewitz that no protest action would be taken without Superintendent Herr's prior knowledge and consent.

But the new well in Moccasin wasn't the only water problem that surfaced that fall. In late October 1987, Dewitz learned that one of the cattlemen legitimately using Pipe Spring water (via tunnel spring) sought permission to double the length of the existing pipeline. (The source for this information, a Soil Conservation Service official in Fredonia, did not identify the person who sought permission.) Dewitz was also told that rancher McKay Heaton had applied for federal aid to construct the extension. The existing line was 18,000 feet. Probably as directed by Herr, Dewitz sent a memorandum on the matter to Zion officials and to the Water Resources Division in Ft. Collins, stating,

At this time we feel we must address the following:
— Our definitive water rights
— Our water requirements for the monument for the next 20-50 years
— Any further development of demand on the Pipe Spring water source
— Any grants of federal aid to any one desiring to appropriate water, especially from Pipe Spring

Our question in this matter is: if we allow the cattlemen to expend time and money to further the development of Pipe Spring water to be used for stock watering purposes and then shortly thereafter curtail the amount they are currently utilizing [as] per the 1/3 water agreement, will we be liable for any professed loss of earning potential by the cattlemen? [2313]

By December 1987, staff of the Water Resources Division were busy trying to track down data that would shed some light on the situation, mostly communicating with the Arizona Department of Water Resources. It was apparent to division staff that the specific water rights of the three parties using water from Pipe Spring (the NPS, the Tribe, and cattlemen) needed to be determined in order to ensure that further depletion of the springs would not result from upstream ground water diversions.

Water Issues, 1988-1989

The 1984-1986 water study, developments in Moccasin, and annual water use billings to the Tribe led to attempts in 1988 by monument staff to account for all water use from Pipe Spring sources. In the spring of 1988, several meters were installed to monitor water use. (Two connections were still unmetered, one to the watering trough and one to the chicken coop; use was estimated for these.) Even then, there appeared to be no accounting for 30-40 percent of water use. Doug Dewitz was charged with solving the mystery. He spoke with Tribal Housing Director Steve Turner who showed him a valve south of the visitor center, near the site of the old Indian pond. (This was where the Tribe's one-third share had been pumped prior to the water agreement of 1972 and construction of the 1973 Park Service well.) Apparently, at the time of Dewitz's inspection, three stock tanks on the reservation were being continuously supplied with water by this valve. At the time, monument staff appeared not to have even been aware of the valve to the Indian pond. Turner and Dewitz determined the flow to the three stock tanks was 4.48 gallons per minute (gpm), nearly five times the amount agreed upon in the 1972 water agreement, which was one gpm. Dewitz then calculated that Pipe Spring was supplying 5,011.2 gallons per day or 1,829,088 gallons per year over and above the amount agreed to in 1972. Dewitz informed Herr that the valve to the Indian pond would be dug up and have a meter installed on it right away so that the flow could be reduced to the amount originally agreed to. [2314] There appears to have been no fault on the Tribe's part in this matter, but rather Pipe Spring managers had never installed a measuring device to monitor how much water was going to the Tribe's stock tanks. The 1988 discovery suggests that the Tribe may have continued to utilize as much Pipe Spring water after the 1972 agreement as it had before the new well was constructed! [2315]

On May 16, 1988, the Park Service made a request to the Kaibab Paiute Tribe to drill three monitoring wells on the reservation. A meeting was held at Pipe Spring on July 19, 1988, to open discussions about the area's water table levels and to address tribal concerns about the Park Service request to drill new monitoring wells. Hydrologist Rick Inglis and Acting Chief William ("Bill") Werrell (Water Operations Branch) represented the Water Resources Division at the meeting, which was also attended by Bill Herr, Doug Dewitz, Ken Esplin (BIA, Cedar City), Kaibab Paiute Tribal Manager Frederick Cedar Face, Tribal Vice-chairman Tony R. Gutierrez, and Steve Turner (Department of Public Works, Tribe). Three proposed drilling sites were tentatively agreed upon at this meeting. Esplin advised the Park Service that drilling must be preceded by an archeological survey, at Park Service expense. The Tribe asked to receive copies of all existing and future monitoring data. [2316] Ultimately, only one new monitoring well was drilled. In October, under a cooperative agreement with the Tribe, the Park Service drilled a test monitoring well immediately west of the Sevier fault about one-quarter mile north of the monument. The other two observation wells used in the study were an existing well drilled by the Tribe in 1971 and the Park Service well drilled in 1972.

The Water Resources Division continued to monitor area springs and wells for one year before it began evaluating the data collected. A preliminary technical report was submitted in the summer of 1989 for review and comment. The final report, "Water Resources Data of the Pipe Spring National Monument Area, Arizona, 1977-1989," prepared by Rick Inglis, was not completed until October 1990. In June 1989, the WRD's Acting Chief Milton Jackson recommended to Regional Director Mintzmyer that a more intensive water study be undertaken. [2317] The goal was to gather flow rates on the underground aquifer that was thought to be the source of water at Pipe Spring.

Visitor Services Operated by the Kaibab Paiute Tribe

Snack Bar

As mentioned in Part XI, during the summer of 1979 the snack bar was open for only a few weeks. In 1980 the Tribe decided to have one of its members operate the business. It was in operation during the summers of 1980, 1981, and 1982 with no problems reported. No mention was made of the snack bar in the annual reports for 1983. It was closed the entire summer of 1984. No report on the status of the business was made in 1985. The snack bar was open again during the summer of 1986 and, for the first time, remained open until December 1. The same person ran the snack bar in 1987, but pulled out near the end of the year. This operator also ran the campground (see below). The snack bar remained vacant in 1988 and 1989. By the end of 1989, the Zion Natural History Association was making plans to operate it for the 1990 season. The ZNHA began serving its "frontier lunches" to visitors in August 1990.

Gift Shop

During the summers of 1980 and 1981, the gift shop was operated again by Doug Higgins. Some visitor complaints were received about the type of merchandise sold, mostly Mexican, including what one complainant described as "funny" looking onyx pipes (used for smoking marijuana). Probably at Herr's urging, Higgins began to upgrade his Native American crafts section in 1981. In 1982 Herr reported he was still carrying a large number of goods made in Mexico and Asia while also selling some authentic Native American wares. Higgins continued to run the shop for another two years then chose not to renew his lease after the 1984 travel season. The shop was closed during the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons. [2318] During those years, the ZNHA expressed growing interest in leasing the shop as its sales outlet. (Up to then, it operated out of the visitor center area.) In March 1988, ZNHA Executive Director Jamie Gentry made a proposal to the Kaibab Paiute Tribal Council that the association operate its sales outlet from the Tribe's gift shop space, offering $300 a month user fee. In the proposal, Gentry stated, "We do... feel that this project could open up a retail outlet for the hand crafts available from the Tribe." [2319] Approval was received from the Tribe for the arrangement. On August 2, 1988, the ZNHA began moving into the Tribe's gift shop space and soon after opened up for business. It proved to be a profitable move. Sales in 1989 increased over 400 percent from ZNHA sales of 1988, totaling $95,000 their first year in operation. [2320]

Campground

The Tribe's campground was in operation during the 1980s, but appears to have done little business. In late July 1979 it was reported, "The Tribe is doing nothing with the campground; it is overgrown with weeds.... Many visitors inquire about where they may camp." [2321] In 1984 Herr reported that the campground was open all year but that the Tribe kept no host at the site. Fees were collected at the tribal office building on the honor system. In 1986 the operator of the snack bar also ran the campground, but only until the end of the year.

Building Maintenance Issues

By the end of the 1980s, the Park Service's concern about inadequate visitor center maintenance by the Tribe led to a July 13, 1989, inspection by Contracting Officer Representative Leslie J. Powell, Rocky Mountain Region. A deadline of October 31, 1989, was set for the Tribe to correct problems identified by Powell. As the deadline arrived, Superintendent Hasty reported that aside from repairs to a water fountain and air conditioner, little corrective action had been taken. In addition, Hasty reported, during the prior three months several verbal complaints had been received from visitors regarding the appearance of the building, its upkeep, maintenance, and condition of the grounds, sidewalks, and parking lot. Hasty stated,

In general, the rundown condition of this building is conveying a very poor image of the National Park Service, which is uncalled for and needs to be corrected without any further delay. If the Tribe is unable to maintain this building, it should be turned over to the NPS. [2322]

Powell notified Tribal Manager Cecil Scott of the Tribe's responsibility to address deficiencies and extended the deadline for repairs to November 9. Failure to do so, Powell warned, would result in the matter being turned over to the Government Services Administration contracting officer for resolution. [2323] Although repairs were not completed by the deadline, Scott assured Powell in phone conversations and correspondence that the newly-elected Tribal Council would see that repairs were completed and building well-maintained, acknowledging the failure of the prior tribal administration to do so. [2324]

Comprehensive Employment Training Act, Job Training Partnership Act, and Student Conservation Association Programs

The monument benefited from workers provided to it under two government-sponsored programs during the 1980s, the government-sponsored programs initiated as part of the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). The Student Conservation Association (SCA) also provided a small number of monument workers. The numbers and names of participants in these programs are listed by year in Appendix IX, "Personnel."

Comprehensive Employment Training Act Program

On April 26, 1979, Superintendent Herr and Park Technician Fred Banks traveled to Fredonia High School to talk with its principal and Jim Cox about the CETA program. In August a representative from the State Labor Commission visited the monument to check a report that the Park Service was violating the Child Labor Law by employing girls younger than 16 in the fort's cooking demonstrations. It was decided that the law did not apply to them as their activities were not commercial, but only a part of the living history program. The CETA work season at Pipe Spring began June 2 and ended August 9. On August 9, 1979, as a parting gift, the CETA girls prepared breakfast for staff in the fort before opening time. At the end of the summer the monument was given permission to extend the working hours of CETA employees until school began from four to five days per week. Some CETA workers continued to work weekends until the end of December.

During early August 1980, CETA officials from its Coconino County office in Flagstaff and CETA Coordinator Clint Long, Fredonia High School, paid a visit to the monument to observe its program. Mohave County CETA Coordinator Barbara Valanzano visited Pipe Spring in mid-September. (Herr was drawing monument workers through the programs of both counties.) Getting a jump on things, Herr made arrangements with CETA officials of Coconino County to use students from Fredonia for the following year. He also received permission to recruit an out-of-school person under the CETA program as a museum assistant and tour guide for the winter season.

Herr learned in early 1981 that one of the ways President Ronald Reagan intended to cut government expenses was to freeze the CETA program in 1981 and cancel it entirely in 1982. Herr soon after reported at squad meeting, "If this happens, the monument's interpretive program will revert to hourly tours of the fort only; the living history program will have to be abandoned." [2325] The CETA program was in fact ended after the 1982 season, but was replaced by another youth employment program, the Job Training Partnership Act.

Job Training Partnership Act

Beginning in 1984, the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) provided workers to the monument. [2326] Coordinators in both Coconino and Mohave counties administered this program locally, like the CETA program. As first the Neighborhood Youth Corps, then the Comprehensive Employment Training Act had done in prior years, the JTPA allowed the monument sufficient youth to maintain its interpretive program, as well as some help to the maintenance division. JTPA workers helped install irrigation pipes to water the monument's trees in 1985.

Student Conservation Association

Beginning in 1980, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) provided the monument with one worker per summer season. In 1985 a second worker was hired through this program, Lulu Chye, a woman with a hearing disability.

The VIP Program

Volunteers in the Parks (VIPs) continued to play an important role in the monument's interpretive programs during the 1980s. Until his resignation on March 12, 1979, Maintenance Foreman Mel Heaton had always organized branding demonstrations. The staff had to learn how to organize the event, and managed - with the indispensable help of VIPs - to pull a demonstration together for Memorial Day that year. Thanks to the program, VIPs gave a branding demonstration on May 28, 1979, Memorial Day. A blacksmith also worked on site that day with his forge. [2327] "Both activities were popular with the visitors, with a few exceptions to the branding," Herr reported. [2328] Another event was held in September on Labor Day, this time documented by photographer Dick Frear of the Washington office, who came expressly for the purpose.

During the 1980s, male VIPs continued to offer branding and blacksmithing demonstrations. Memorial Day weekends often featured both events, with additional blacksmithing demonstrations offered during the summer, sometimes as many as six. Owen and David Johnson were often involved in the branding demonstrations, along with others whose names were unreported. One of the most frequent VIPs to demonstrate blacksmithing was John Cram, Fredonia High School welding teacher. He worked often enough that he left his anvil, forge, and vise on site. Keith Hepworth also demonstrated blacksmithing. Beginning in 1981, in addition to these types of demonstrations, two VIPs worked full-time as interpreters in the fort, one for 10 weeks in the summer, and the other for three months during the winter.

VIPs staffed a booth featuring Pipe Spring National Monument at the Northern Coconino County Fair for several years. VIPs also provided dance demonstrations for special events. Female VIPs continued to assist with domestic arts demonstrations, guide tours, and help with special events, such as decorating the fort for the "Christmas in July" program. (See "Interpretation" section.) Some women who began their work for the monument as VIPs were later hired as seasonal park aids, such as Yvonne Heaton.

Special funds were annually allocated for the VIP program. (See Appendix VIII, "Monument's Administrative Budget.") By 1989 VIPs could be compensated five dollars a day for meals and a stipend for transportation. Seasonal housing was sometimes provided, paid for by the benefiting account. For a count of VIPs involved in the monument's interpretive programs over the years, see Appendix IX, "Personnel."

Zion Natural History Association

Just as important to the monument's educational programs as its volunteers, the Zion Natural History Association provided critical financial support for a variety of projects between 1979 and 1989. In December 1979, the ZNHA approved funds for an interpretive publication about Pipe Spring in 1980. The author chosen was David Lavender, who completed the first draft by the end of the year. The text and photo work was sent out by the end of 1982 to various publishers for price quotes. Difficulties at the publisher's delayed publication until 1984. That summer, Lavender's booklet, The History of Arizona's Pipe Spring National Monument, finally arrived at the monument and was made available for sale to visitors. The publication replaced the only leaflet available up to that time, a reprint of Robert Olsen's 1965 article, "Pipe Spring, Arizona, and Thereabouts," published in The Journal of Arizona History. (Recently revised, Lavender's booklet is still sold to monument visitors.) Gift shop sales by the ZNHA rose dramatically after they began leasing the Tribe's gift shop in late 1988. (See "Gift Shop" section.) Much of its gift shop profits that year went in fiscal year 1990 to fund a full-time position, a ranch worker who worked as a cowboy interpreter. It also helped fund an orientation video for the visitor center.

As in earlier years, the association continued contributing financially to the monument's interpretive programs, library, and museum. Its annual contributions during the 1979-1988 period ranged from $859 to $5,280. (See Appendix VIII, "Monument's Administrative Budget.")

Interpretation

On-site Programs

As mentioned in the preceding sections, the interpretive program remained heavily reliant on seasonal staff and workers during the 1980s. During this period, a new special event was created at Pipe Spring, called "Christmas in July." In 1981, the event was held from July 27 through August 1. During that week, VIPs and staff festively decorated the house in order to give visitors a feel for what the fort might have looked like during the holiday season in the 1870-1890 period. [2329] The event featured Christmas carol singing, decorating Christmas trees, making gifts, and holiday baking on the old wood-burning stove. In 1984 the monument received a loom from the LBJ Ranch National Historic Site in Texas. It was set up for visitor use in the visitor center.

The practice of plowing the demonstration gardens with horse-drawn plow was abandoned about 1982 and garden tractors were purchased and used for that purpose. While the death of horse "Molly" that year played a role in the change, a shortage of workers may have also been a factor, rather than any desire to dispense with the living history program. Unlike the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the Neighborhood Youth Corps program provided an equal number of boys and girls (with the boys turned over to Mel Heaton and the girls assigned to act as guides), most government-funded youth that worked at Pipe Spring after 1976 were female. Even some of the males recruited in the 1980s chose to work as guides. During the decade, the maintenance division never had more than two summer youth workers assigned under the CETA program. That is probably why it became commonplace for the monument to hire two or three seasonal laborers each year, and why the more labor-intensive, "authentic" way of tilling the gardens was phased out.

There were other changes in the interpretive program during the 1980s, but they were more gradual. Soon after Superintendent Herr's arrival, the emphasis began to slowly shift away from the broader history of Mormon migration to Utah and the West and move more toward telling the story of Church's Southern Utah Mission (also called Dixie Mission or Cotton Mission) and ranching life on the Arizona Strip. Some Park Service officials, Herr among them, were no longer comfortable with the story told on the Harpers Ferry Center-designed waysides installed along visitor walkways in 1975. During the summer of 1980, Fred Banks refurbished the panels but no textual changes were made. Herr reported Banks' work at a September squad meeting held in Zion. That led to the following discussion, as reported in the meeting minutes:

They [the panels] really look nice. However, as Superintendent Herr pointed out, the story told at Pipe Spring is the story of the Mormon migration to Utah rather than the story of Pipe Spring National Monument. Mr. Jackson explained that years ago we were instructed that Pipe Spring would be the Park Service area in Southern Utah where the story of the Mormon migration to Utah would be told, and the exhibits were made to that effect at Harpers Ferry. Nevertheless, Region may wish to change the exhibits to perhaps tell the more appropriate story of Utah's Dixie Mission. [2330]

Of course, in the minds of many Mormon visitors, one could not tell the story of Utah's Southern Utah Mission without telling the larger story of the Mormon's migration to the West. The Park Service's shift away from the content of the "old" Pipe Spring story led to some public relations problems (particularly among the local Mormon residents) which have yet to be resolved. In the minds of many, it had always been a monument to Mormon pioneers, even if the enabling legislation delicately neglected to mention that fact. It is important to note that until the 1980s, monument staff as well as visitors (Mormon and non-Mormon alike) seemed happy with the way the site was being interpreted. Herr encouraged Fred Banks to work on ideas for changing wayside exhibits while shifting the focus of the Pipe Spring story to be more region specific. There was consideration given in the early 1980s to sending the old wayside exhibits, once replaced, to Salt Lake City's "This is the Place" State Park. Its area manager had once expressed that they would be appropriate there. [2331]

Throughout the 1980s, Banks was responsible for preparing the monument's "Annual Statement for Interpretation and Visitor Services." [2332] A comparison of statements made under the "Themes and Objectives" headings in the report hints of the change in interpretive emphasis over time. In 1982, for example, interpretive themes were described as follows:

The Interpretive Program will provide the visitor with opportunities to understand Pipe Spring's role in the Mormon pioneer effort and the subsequent westward expansion and settlement. The period of the 1870s and 1880s provides the greatest insight into the early life of this portion of the Mormon culture.... The program will also introduce the visitor to man's historic and prehistoric use of the Strip and encourage him to consider how this relates to our land use ethic today. [2333]

The objectives of the interpretive program in 1982 were,

To foster public understanding and appreciation of life in and around the Mormon settlement at Pipe Spring, of the significance of the settlement in western American history, and of the management policies that protect the natural and historic resources and promote their safe and non-consumptive public use. [2334]

By 1988, although still prepared by Fred Banks, the description of interpretive themes is quite different. It also omits the word "Mormon:" "The primary theme is human activity at a pioneer ranching settlement in an arid land and the secondary theme is Native American influence on the pioneer culture." [2335] The monument's objectives in 1988 were,

To foster public understanding and appreciation of a pioneer ranching life on a last frontier; to promote the significance of the settlement westward in westward expansion; to advance management policies that protect the natural and historical resources; and to instill safe and non-consumptive public use. [2336]

Dramatic changes would not take place until Herr's successor arrived. Yet the shift in interpretive focus was clearly evident by the late 1980s and some concrete steps were taken to implement the change. For most of the decade, however, the living history program continued at the monument, albeit reduced in scale. Branding and blacksmithing demonstrations continued during the summer months, as did some of the domestic arts demonstrations. On June 15, 1984, monument staff experimented with an evening music program, which consisted of organ playing and singing. They also tried offering several quilting seminars. Herr's reports suggest that at least on some July 4 holidays during the 1980s, the monument held an ice cream social of sorts, complete with homemade ice cream. It seems that from 1986-1988, the event included a traditional dance demonstration by a group of cloggers led by Rhea McCormick, all working as VIPs.

During fiscal year 1986, Herr tried to work out a plan with regional office archeologists and historical architects to re-excavate the Whitmore-McIntyre dugout so the site could be of greater interpretive value. The dugout was the site's earliest structure dating to the Mormon settlement period. Herr, like former site managers Leonard Heaton and Bernard Tracy, wanted to see the structure's remains exposed. Soon after the site was excavated in 1959, it had been backfilled. Ever since the late 1950s, archeologists in particular convincingly argued that exposing its remains would lead to their rapid deterioration. (See Part IX, "Monument Administration, 1959" section for details.) The site had been interpreted by means of a wayside exhibit for many years. While Herr's reports suggest he may have faced less opposition in the mid-1980s, the site was not reopened.

In January 1987, Assistant Chief Naturalist Jay Schuler from Badlands National Park visited Pipe Spring and drafted a new wayside exhibit plan for the monument. He returned to finalize the plan in August, which was completed in 1988. Harpers Ferry Center constructed new wayside exhibit panels and audio stations, received at the monument in late 1988. Herr was still in charge but the new exhibits were not installed until after his departure.

In 1989 both Bill Herr and Fred Banks transferred to other park units. Herr's successor, Gary M. Hasty, saw an opportunity to implement "new ideas, methods, and directions" for the monument. His tenure will not be covered in this report, but suffice to say the controversy over what story was to be told at Pipe Spring was far from over. Prior to his arrival, Hasty claimed,

"It was possible for a visitor to enter the area, receive a history of the Mormon Church, learn of the people that have lived there, their genealogy, and depart without seeing an NPS uniformed person, not [even] knowing that this was a unit of the NPS system or why the area was set aside". [2337]

After Hasty's arrival, formal guided tours were once-again presented by uniformed Park Service personnel, much as they had been before Ray Geerdes initiated the monument's "living ranch" phase in the late 1960s. Over the winter of 1989-1990, under Hasty's administration, the old waysides were removed and new waysides were installed along the main walkways. The new exhibits interpreted both the natural and human history of the area, returning the interpretive program - according to Hasty - to the "original intent and themes" that accompanied the monument's original creation. [2338]

Soon after the waysides exhibits were changed, Hasty received a number of complaints from local white residents, many of whom were probably descendants of families that settled in the area in the Church's initial period of southern colonization. These descendants witnessed what seemed to them to be a radical shift in interpretation away from the history they knew and revered. [2339] Hasty would bear the brunt of local disappointment and bitterness over interpretive changes at Pipe Spring, even though, as these changes were made, Park Service officials believed the new interpretive program returned to the original intent and purpose for which the monument was created.

Off-site Programs

In late December 1979 and early January 1980, Herr contacted the science teachers at area high schools regarding offering Park Service history and astronomy programs. (Herr gave the astronomy programs and Banks, the history ones.) Three to four off-site interpretive programs were given each year from 1980 to 1983, and eight in 1984. Herr reported several were offered from 1986 to 1988.

Visitation

Due to international events mentioned in the introduction, high gas prices in 1979- 1981 resulted in a reduction in travel to Pipe Spring in 1979 and 1980, which totaled 26,139 and 26,901, respectively. In spite of high gas prices, visitation increased 17 percent in 1981 to 31,379. Gas prices began to drop in 1982 and, after 1983, visitation steadily rose each year to reach a high of 44,521 in 1989. It is worth noting that in 1989 Herr's successor, Gary Hasty, discovered an error in Herr's methods of calculating visitation figures for the proceeding several years. The figures reported were in fact 10 percent higher than they should have been, but no changes were made in the official records. [2340] (See Appendix VI, "Visitation," for annual figures.)

The Dons Club once again brought three busloads of senior citizens on September 7, 1979. The group made several other visits to Pipe Spring in the 1980s. Herr reported in 1980 that 40-50 percent of visitors that year were foreigners. [2341] The Sons of Utah Pioneers brought a group of 415 in 1983. (The group held its annual convention in Kanab that year.) In January 1984, the Utah State Historical Society brought 76 of its members to Pipe Spring. The Albright Training Center continued to bring its trainees to the monument from time to time to study the monument's operations.

During 1980, official visitors to Pipe Spring included Regional Director Lorraine Mintzmyer in June and Zion Superintendent John Lancaster in September. In late October that year, Governor Bruce Babbitt and former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall visited the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, after which the two made an unscheduled stop at Pipe Spring. Lancaster paid another visit to the monument in 1981, as did Regional Historian Mike Schene. Archeologist Ann Johnson was at Pipe Spring to provide Section 106 clearance for several projects in 1982. During the 1980s, Historical Architects Rodd L. Wheaton and Richard J. ("Rick") Cronenberger (both regional office) visited Pipe Spring to review planned projects for the fort and to oversee or inspect work. Mintzmyer reportedly revisited on July 30, 1984. That year Marc Sagan, director of Harpers Ferry Center, visited in September and Von del Chamberlain, director of the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, in November. [2342] In July 1986, Regional Interpreter Bill Sontag paid a visit to Pipe Spring to observe and critique the monument's educational program.

Other staff from the regional office, Zion, and other park units made visits to the monument during the 1980s. [2343] Former Superintendent Bernard Tracy, then residing in Moccasin, also dropped in from time to time to chat with Herr.

Historic Buildings

The Fort

As mentioned in the previous chapter, the fort's parlor and kitchen floors, removed in late 1976, had still not been replaced by the time Herr arrived in April 1979, nor had the moisture problem along the north wall been addressed. Regional Historical Architect Rodd Wheaton and Regional Historian John Albright visited the monument on May 18, 1979, to make plans for the upcoming stabilization work to be performed that summer. At the end of August, Historical Architect Rick Borjes and Bill Slimmer (both regional office) met with Herr for a pre-bid conference on the planned stabilization. Herr reported in late September that the spring flow was up to 500 gallons per day again, causing standing water under the floor area. In spite of 27 inquiries, by the end of September no bids had been received on the stabilization job. The closing date was extended another month, to no avail. No contract was awarded in 1979, and the regional office set about revising the proposal to re-advertise the job.

working on fort's underground drainage system
143. Work in progress on the fort's underground drainage system along the north wall, June 1980
(Pipe Spring National Monument).

Finally on April 3, 1980, a contract for $80,700 was awarded to Hall Brothers of Hurricane, Utah. [2344] A pre-construction meeting was held in Herr's office on April 14. The contractor moved equipment on site that week. In addition to Rick Borjes, John Conron and Dave Muths attended this meeting, along with Keith and Milt Hall and Zion officials. [2345] Work began in the fort on May 5 and was completed on September 5. Former Superintendent Bernard Tracy supervised the project. Work under the contract required removal of all cement mortar, repointing the joints with soft lime mortar, and replacing or refacing seriously deteriorated sandstone. In addition, an underground drainage system was installed to divert the flow of water from underground fissures. (This also required removal of an earlier drainage system installed by Leonard Heaton in the winter of 1947-1948.) The new drainage system contract required that 1) the fill areas adjacent to the north, east, and west walls be excavated to the bottom of the footings; 2) bentonite waterproofing be installed along the foundation; 3) new six-inch drain tile be installed along the north, west, and east walls; 4) two new four-foot round concrete drainage basins be placed at the northwest and northeast corners of the fort, about one foot below the drain tile; and 5) two new eight-inch PVC drain/sewer pipes be installed along an existing line to the spring pool. [2346]

The final inspection and close-out was made on September 5, 1980, by Rodd Wheaton, Rick Borjes, and John Conron, along with Chief of Maintenance DeVor Pollack and Administrative Officer Dave Crocker from Zion. [2347]

During 1981, Conron and Muths made a study to determine the color of paint originally used on the fort. The study determined that the fort's exterior woodwork, except for doors and doorways, was originally unpainted. The earliest paints applied were by former Custodian Leonard Heaton, referred to in the report as the "green/red/cream" phase, with later phases being an "all white" scheme. [2348] The study found that the subdued colors used on room interiors were most likely similar to those originally used. As the original exterior woodwork was deteriorating, it was decided that it needed to be either painted or treated with preservative. [2349] While the Conron and Muths study recommended the green/red/cream phase be used (considered "historic" even though it originated under Heaton), the decision was made to retain the white color scheme.

In the summer of 1982, the fort's catwalk was rebuilt. [2350] Railings and balusters on the balconies were replaced as needed and others were stripped and repainted white. During late summer 1983, the fort was reroofed. The old cedar shakes and felt underlayment were stripped off, replaced with red cedar shingles. Factory assembled ridge caps were installed at the ridges. [2351] Gutters were replaced and rain barrels installed to collect the water. In addition, a major regrouting project on the fort walls, begun June 25, 1983, was completed September 30. [2352] In late November that year, work began on replastering the ceilings and walls. These projects were done under contract, overseen by Rick Cronenberger. Replastering work was completed in the spring of 1984. (Intrusion and fire alarms were also rehabilitated about this time.) That year the regrouting of the fort's courtyard was also completed. In 1987 the fort's southeast chimney was completely rebuilt.

The East and West Cabins

Little work on the east and west cabins was reported by Herr during his tenure. Termites were discovered in 1983 and exterminated that same year. In 1986 Herr reported that the exterior walls of the east cabin were repointed. At that time the walls of the west cabin were still held together with Portland cement mortar.

No other major work on the cabins was done until six months after Herr's departure, during the summer of 1989. Rehabilitation work was originally planned for both the west and east cabins, but west cabin work used all the available funds, thus no work was done on the east cabin. [2353] From late June through August, the Bryce Canyon preservation assistance team assisted Pipe Spring staff with rehabilitation work on the bunkhouse. Rick Cronenberger and Building and Utilities Foreman Michael Lee (Bryce Canyon) provided technical oversight for the project. [2354] Historical Archeologist Bill Hunt (Midwest Region) excavated the east room of the west cabin. Hunt advised the monument that an archeological survey was needed around both cabins. Work on the west cabin included replacing the bentonite roof with built in drainage and peeling of existing split log sheathing, relaying of the back stone wall and installation of drainage, and repointing of stone masonry, interior and exterior. [2355] Termites were also discovered and exterminated. Except for repointing, most of the work on the bunkhouse was completed just before a severe rain and hailstorm hit the area on August 18, 1989. Monument buildings were unharmed, although demonstration gardens were devastated by the storm. [2356]

The funding for the rehabilitation work ran out before repointing could be done on the west cabin. The bunkhouse remained closed to the public for the remainder of the year and into 1990, awaiting funding to pay for repointing the cabin's stone walls. Funding in the amount of $20,300 was provided to complete the rehabilitation work in fiscal year 1990 but it was ultimately diverted to pay for an archeological investigation in and around both east and west cabins.

Landscape Changes

During Herr's administration, a large number of additional trees were planted and monument grounds were landscaped, mostly as a result of the Park Service's decision to retain the residential and utility area within the monument. While most of the new trees were planted to screen those areas, some were planted to screen the Tribe's newest housing development, located east of the monument on a hill visible from the fort. Referring to himself jokingly as "Johnny Appleseed," Herr reported in 1981 that his pet projects were planting trees and putting in irrigation lines. [2357] Herr claimed during a 1996 interview to have planted "...somewhat over 200 trees, and installed water irrigation to every one of them." [2358] According to his annual reports, between 1980 and 1983, Herr directed the planting of 223 shade trees (to shade and screen the residential and utility areas), 24 fruit trees, and 70 evergreen bushes (to "insulate" around the foundations of the residences), a total of 317 trees and bushes. It appears that another 20 fruit trees for Pipe Spring were included in a larger order made by Capitol Reef National Monument in early 1985. (Expected delivery date was early 1986.) Fruit trees were planted primarily to replace diseased, dead, or missing trees in the orchard. [2359] Herr recalled planting cottonless cottonwoods and Carolina and Lombardy poplars as shade trees. "There is not one inch of the place that hasn't been plowed, dug, shoveled, flooded," said Herr in the 1996 interview. [2360] Describing himself half-jokingly as a "frustrated landscape architect," Herr reported that he "built an island paradise" at Pipe Spring. [2361] It was during his tenure that the ditch system of irrigation was changed to underground pipe. During the early 1980s (particularly 1981, 1982, and 1985), irrigation pipe was laid to new trees for individual watering via bubblers to reduce water consumption. Herr remarked, "We used a lot of water after we put those irrigation pipes in." [2362] Archeologist Ann Johnson surveyed areas to be heavily planted and provided Section 106 clearance during this period.

In the spring of 1983, Herr sought regional office approval to plant five-gallon Lombardy poplars west of the fort, amidst the aging elms. "We envision that as the poplars grow over the next few years that we will trim back the elms. No wholesale removal [of the elms] is contemplated or desired," he explained to Regional Historical Architect Rodd Wheaton. [2363] This plan was never carried out, and a few old elms still survive west of the fort. Abruptly, tree planting ceased after 1983, either because of Park Service concern over the declining spring flow at the monument or because the monument's plans called for no more trees.

Mature Lombardy poplars screening residence no. 9
144. Mature Lombardy poplars screening residence no. 9, planted under Bill Herr's direction in the early 1980s
(Photograph by author, taken April 1996, Pipe Spring National Monument).

Fruit trees cultivated at Pipe Spring in 1985 included apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, and cherries. Garden crops included beans, corn, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and grapes. One concord grape plant was reported to be "original to the time period interpreted" and was maintained on an individual arbor. [2364] Oddly, by the 1980s, management documents make no mention of former Area Manager Ray Geerdes' native grass restoration project, initiated in 1968. [2365]

In 1985 monument staff borrowed a dump truck from Zion and hauled nine loads of manure and treated sludge from Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim to rebuild the soil in the monument's gardens and orchards. They learned at this time that Grand Canyon had a surplus front-end loader, which Pipe Spring was able to acquire from them for use at the monument. The following year, the monument's 10 modern redwood benches were replaced with what Herr described as "old-fashioned style park benches." In 1985 the monument purchased a new Bollens garden tractor to speed plowing in the gardens. The monument received another three truckloads of manure for the gardens from the Zion Trail Rides corral in October 1986, delivered by a Zion maintenance crew. The monument purchased a new John Deere tractor in 1987, along with a variety of attachments, for grounds-keeping work.

A copy of the 1988 Operation Evaluation Report for the monument includes both landscape evaluation comments and monument responses to those comments. The evaluators observed, "Historic landscape no longer exists. Area is impacted with invader grasses, suckers on new starts from several tree species, and weeds. Area look generally unkept. No domestic livestock in historic area (except for chickens, geese, and ducks)." [2366] The park responded that there were two horses on site at the time and argued that grounds were "natural," not "unkept." The same evaluators recommended that monument staff,

Work to eliminate all unwanted new growth plants. Research to determine historic landscape. Determine through CRMP [Cultural Resource Management Plan] just what the NPS should present to the public. Work toward that goal. General cleanup and removal of unwanted plant materials.... Restoration of historic landscape when Cultural Resources Management Plan is approved. [2367]

The park responded that a very active program of removing unwanted vegetation had been underway for two years and that revegetation went hand-in-hand with removal of unwanted plants. The park asked, "What historical landscape do we want? Bare ground, belly-high-to-a-horse grass, or something in between? One is not desirable, the other impossible to bring back." With regard to resources management, the evaluators urged the park to make every effort "to maintain the area as close as possible to the setting of the historic period being preserved." [2368]

Planning and Development

A number of plans were prepared during the 1980s to provide management guidance at Pipe Spring. Plans included a Collection Preservation Guide (July 1980), Statement for Management (November 1981), Water Resource Management Plan (Draft, 1982), Basic Operations Declaration (January 1982), Development Concept Plan for the Residential and Maintenance Area (July 1982), Safety Plan (1985), Cultural Resources Management Plan (last draft, 1987); and Wayside Exhibit Plan (1988). [2369]

On a Friday in August 1979, the seven-layer paper roof on the old maintenance building was removed. No protective covering was put on it that day. As luck would have it, the next few days it rained steadily, soaking power tools and supplies before they could be covered with plastic. Belatedly, plastic was put on the roof to prevent further water damage before the new roofing could be installed.

There had long been discussion about removing the monument's residential area and maintenance yard to a nearby location on the reservation. The monument's approved 1978 master plan expressly called for such a change. The developed area was seen as visually intrusive on a landscape viewed by its administrators as historic. While from the north, staff residences and the utility area were partially screened from view by vegetation in the warmer months, the area was painfully visible the rest of the year. It was especially visible looking toward the monument from the south by those driving along State Highway 389. In May 1979, a draft Assessment of Alternatives and Residential Analysis was completed for Pipe Spring. Only two alternatives for action were considered feasible: provide more vegetative screening for the developed areas or relocate them in a small cove located about one-half mile north of the monument. By early 1982 the study had evolved into a Development Concept Plan, this time recommending leaving the residential and utility areas in situ and screening with more vegetation. As Herr greatly enjoyed planting trees, this posed no problem for him.

In the spring of 1979, a Zion work crew excavated a hole and installed a 1,000-gallon gas storage tank to replace the 500-gallon above ground tank that served the monument. A new gas pump was installed and put into operation. Archeologist Ronald E. ("Ron") Everhart from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area oversaw Section 106 clearance on the project. [2370] It was originally planned to put the tank under part of the residential parking area. A flagstone flooring was encountered about six inches below the asphalt, so a new site for the tank was chosen 20 feet further north. [2371] (This flagstone was almost certainly the old floor of the monument's garage that burned to the ground in 1951.

Heaton later surrounded the floor with four-foot high cinder block walls on three sides as a place to park the government truck. The stone floor was presumably covered over during the construction of the residential parking area about 1960.) No cultural material was found in the site chosen for the tank.

During August 1980, an old, underground storage facility was filled in for safety reasons. Originally built in 1942 for fuel storage, it was later used for paint storage. Also that year a block wall "fence" was erected along the west side of the utility yard to help prevent erosion and to delineate the edge of the service area. Approximately 400 new fence posts were installed around the grazing pasture and around the monument boundary. New gates were installed in the branding corral below the east cabin.

In the fall of 1986, major rehabilitation work began on the monument's maintenance building, thanks to an unexpected fiscal year-end funding windfall from the regional office. All siding and windows were removed and replaced with new materials. A new roof was installed, including new joists. Work began on October 19; exterior work was completed on November 2, with most other work finished by the end of the year. [2372] The work doubled the size of the building and created a proper collection storage room. A new septic tank and leach field were also completed for the building. During December 1986, the monument's old museum storage trailer was surplused to the Kaibab Paiute Tribe for storage at their maintenance yard. No longer needed at the monument, two metal sheds were relocated from the monument's utility area to Zion National Park.


Roads, Walks, and Nature Trail

On April 30, 1979, the Zion Roads and Trails Crew began construction of a new soil cement walkway from the visitor center to the fort, built a wheelchair path around the ponds, and cleaned up the maintenance area. Work by the crew continued through late June. In late September, the road crew returned to chip seal the monument's utility road and residential parking area and to build a new 50-foot section of road from the culvert-bridge to the monument's east boundary gate. During 1982, additional work was done to the soil cement walkway in order to make the walk to all audio stations and wayside exhibits accessible to the handicapped. [2373] The project involved completing the last 500 feet of walk with soil cement. In October 1987, a contractor (Norris-Brown) removed about 300 feet of sidewalk and laid new walks within the monument to make them more handicap-accessible.

In 1980 the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Utah Highway Department improved signage along Highway 389 at Herr's request. The monument's nature trail suffered from erosional damage by the early 1980s. In 1981, thanks to pick and shovel work by Doug Dewitz along with the installation of juniper water bars across the trail, the trail was put back into good shape.

Museum Collection

In June 1979, Herr and Scheier picked up a United Order chair from a resident of Kanab, presumably donated. It was quickly dubbed "Adeline's Throne," after Seasonal Park Aid Adeline Johnson, who supervised the CETA girls working as interpreters in the fort.

In 1980 the storage trailer was still in use. In June 1980, two heavy steel shelving units were purchased for storing larger museum items. In July the monument acquired five new storage cabinets to use for museum storage. This helped to reduce conditions of overcrowding. Diana Pardue and Doris Fanelli, staff from the Division of Museum Services, Harpers Ferry Center, gathered data in March 1980 for a Collection Preservation Guide for the monument. Completed in July 1980, the monument received the report in the early fall. The report identified the monument's need for a better storage facility and better storage methods, as well as identified the need for a furnishing plan. Concern about environmental factors in the historic buildings (unmonitored humidity and temperatures, unsafe light levels) was expressed by the authors, as well as for security of collections displayed in the east and west cabins, where visitors browsed unattended by staff. Rodents remained a big problem in the buildings. The report recommended that fire alarm and mechanical intrusion systems be installed in all buildings and that certain practices be put into effect to enhance day-time security. [2374] As Herr did not agree with some aspects of the plan, it is unknown how many of the report's recommendations were put into effect.

During 1981, Fred Banks attended a curatorial methods class at Yellowstone National Park, learning new skills applied to his care of the monument's collection. He continued to attend other collection management-related trainings about every other year until 1989. Two replica pieces of fort furnishings were made for display purposes by maintenance staff that year, a dry sink and a cutting board. The accessioned originals were kept in storage. In late 1982, the monument acquired new kerosene lamps to replace the electric lights then in use in the fort. During 1983, Regional Curator Ed Jahns visited the monument to assist Banks address collection issues.

In January 1986, Banks picked up two wagons from Golden Spike National Historic Site which were surplus to their needs. From time to time, Banks also made small purchases of artifacts for the fort's displays.

As mentioned under the earlier "Planning and Development" section, the monument's maintenance building was rebuilt in 1987. Doubled in size, it included within it a proper collection storage room. During that year, Regional Curator Al Bohnert visited the monument to look over the collection and go over curatorial problems with Banks. In December Bohnert called to tell Herr there was $7,000 available for the monument to hire a seasonal museum curator. In late March 1988, Zula Brinkerhoff was hired for the position.

Natural History

In late June 1979, two representatives from the Arizona Commission of Agricultural and Horticulture visited the monument in relation to their gypsy moth program. They left five traps with Park Technician Dale Scheier to place around the monument. The Audubon Annual Christmas Bird Count was held on December 22, 1979, with five volunteers counting 28 species.

In 1980 well-known Arizona birder Gale Monson submitted a proposal for studying the migration of birds through Pipe Spring. While the Zion Natural History Association agreed to fund the study, no report has been located and the project may never have been carried out.


Archeological and Historical Research

In early 1980, $20,000 was allotted for what was called a "Historic Resource Study" of Pipe Spring National Monument. The description of work, however, actually called for four studies: a resource study, structure report, administrative history, and analysis of current furnishings in the fort to determine their historic appropriateness. In addition, the project was originally to be funded over a two-year period, but received funding for only one year. The amount budgeted ended up being woefully inadequate for the amount of work called for, particularly after it was decided that a Denver Service Center (DSC) historian would do the work (DSC had a 40 percent overhead). Historian A. Berle Clemensen was assigned to work on the project. No task directive was prepared for the project, so Clemensen spoke with monument staff about their needs. They informed him they needed a structure report and analysis of current furnishings for the fort. He told them he lacked the expertise to analyze the fort's furnishings but that he would include a section on any furnishings descriptions he found from individuals connected with Pipe Spring in the 1870s-1880s. According to Clemensen, he soon after notified Regional Historian John Albright of his conversations with monument personnel and described the direction the project was taking. Albright consented to the type of study Clemensen proposed to do. Regional Architect Rodd Wheaton was also informed of his plans and made no objections.

The product of Clemensen's research was the report, "Historic Structures Report, History Data Section, Pipe Spring National Monument, Arizona," with the first draft completed in December 1980. Monument staff reviewed and commented on the draft in March 1981. [2375] The Regional Historic Preservation Team commented in May, advising that the report's "Furnishings Overview" section be deleted entirely on the basis that Clemensen lacked the expertise to write such a section. In addition, it was felt the report did not fulfill the requirements "as perceived" by the Regional Historic Preservation Team, stated Associate Regional Director Richard A. Strait. [2376] Clemensen responded to everyone's comments in a memorandum transmitted to region through Assistant Manger Robert J. Shelley, Midwest/Rocky Mountain Team, DSC. Shelley advised Strait's office that Clemensen's report fulfilled the needs of the park and met the requirements of the NPS standards applicable at the time he wrote the report. [2377] The author revised the draft to address monument comments and resubmitted it in 1982, but the report never satisfied the regional office. Consequently, it was never published, but even in draft form contains much useful historical and architectural data.

In September 1984, NPS Historian Susan A. Tenney completed a National Register of Historic Places nomination for Pipe Spring National Monument. The National Register accepted the documentation on August 25, 1986. [2378]

Other than Park Service archeologists surveying specific areas to provide Section 106 clearance for projects, the only other archeological investigation was carried out at the monument in 1990 when a survey was completed around the east and west cabins (see "The East and West Cabins" section).

Permanent Residences

Improvements were made to the two permanent residences in October 1979, primarily for the purposes of reducing consumption of electricity. Six-inch insulation was installed beneath the flooring of residences, a storm window was installed on the large picture windows, and new florescent lighting ceiling fixtures were installed. Due to the Iran hostage crisis, restrictions on energy use were put in place on November 15, 1979. Heavy duty Woodsman stoves were installed in the residences in early December, replacing the Franklin stoves.

New countertops and stainless steel sinks were installed in the kitchens of the residences in May 1980. Exteriors of both houses were repainted in 1981. That year solar hot water heaters were installed in the permanent residences and solar reflecting screens were installed on south facing windows of the two residences and the mobile home. The screens reduced heat and glare from the sun during summer months; they were removed in the fall.

In 1983 a centralized TV-FM antenna system was installed to handle the needs of the two permanent residences and one seasonal residence. This permitted the elimination of roof antennae and improved reception. Also that year the two permanent residences were rewired and reroofed.During 1984, the solar panels were reinstalled on the two residences and their bathrooms were remodeled. Work on the kitchens and floors took place in 1985. Radon gas tests were completed on the permanent residences in 1987; both read in the approved area. New concrete driveways were poured for the two residences in September 1987.


Seasonal Residence

A new 14 x 60-foot mobile home was delivered to the monument on April 27, 1979, and was located in the residential area. In the fall of that year, the trailer was unoccupied. Superintendent Lancaster thought it detracted from the area's aesthetic values and threatened that if it wasn't going to be used, he wanted it returned to Zion. The monument managed to retain it, offering it for use to seasonal employees and VIPs. For a time, Administrative Clerk Jeff Frank also lived in it. It was usually referred to in the 1980s as the "dormitory trailer."

During July 1988, a foundation and sewer line were constructed for a new modular home. The new modular was moved in on August 23 and was hooked up to sewer and water connections in early September. That winter the modular home was used successively by several VIP couples. In addition to the new home, the seasonal trailer remained on site.


Solid Waste Disposal

By the 1980s the monument was no longer using the Tribe's dump for its solid wastes but took it to Fredonia, Arizona, for disposal.

Ponds, Fish, Fowl, and Farm Animals

The Fort Ponds

During the summer of 1979, Herr reported a leakage problem with the stone walls of the fort pond. A maintenance expert from the regional office inspected the ponds in August and promised to send product information on a material that would stop the leaks. (There are no reports that a sealant was applied.) At year's end, the pond was still seeping water at the bottom of its walls. The seepage problem continued through the summer of 1980. No repair work could be done over the growing season as the two ponds served as the reservoir for the monument's irrigation water. In 1981 the pond was drained and cleaned out, walls grouted, bentonite berms put in around the wall-pond interface and, as Herr reported, "prayers said." The result, he stated at year's end, was that it seemed to leak even worse than before the work! [2379] While underwater cement sealed the leaks where they were located, water would just come out elsewhere on the wall. The worst leakage problem seems to have been in the "lower" (presumably west) pond. In May 1982, another section of wall was built up around the existing outer wall where leaks were located. This held the water back and raised the level of the ponds back up to past levels. [2380]

Fish

The only mention made of pond fish was in January 1988 when Herr reported a shipment of goldfish requested by him had come in to one of the local businesses. No details were provided.

Fowl

Throughout the 1980s, the monument continued to have ducks, geese, and chickens as part of the historic scene. As in the past, fowl were obtained from a variety of sources. In March 1980, Fred Banks picked up five ducks and three geese from Burton Rust of Glendale, Utah. Ducks and geese were also obtained from Cedar City, although the exact source is unknown. Newly-hatched ducklings and their mothers were placed immediately in cages for protection. (Even older ones were locked up until the garden crops grew tall enough for them to hide in.) In July that year, Herr reported 14 ducks were lost to a predator, thought to be dogs rather than coyotes. In 1981 one or more vandals turned over the duck cages and released the 17 little ducklings. In 1983 Herr picked up 19 ducks donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hans of Rockville, Utah. In March 1984, visitors and staff witnessed a coyote dashing across the horse pasture and capturing a goose for its dinner. That left a count of seven geese and 24 ducks, down from the monument high of 10 geese and 36 ducks, Herr reported. [2381] In 1986 someone from Kaibab National Forest delivered three ducks for the fort ponds. While Herr does not specifically mention chickens in any of his reports, he does once mention buying a large quantity of chicken feed, and they were in fact still kept. Two of the monument's chickens were killed under rather bizarre conditions on August 18, 1989, when they were struck and killed by hail during a particularly severe storm.

monument geese
145. Live monument geese were plucked to make goose down pillows, 1980
(Pipe Spring National Monument).

Farm Animals

In March 1982, the draft horse named Molly died, apparently of natural causes. [2382] Tribal maintenance worker Steve Turner used the Tribe's tractor to dig a grave for the remains just outside the west boundary on a burn site. Herr wryly reported, "She was duly planted with no ceremony to mark the occasion on March 18 before noon." [2383] In addition to Molly's old wagon partner Mick, Zion National Park often wintered two patrol horses at the monument, named Rabbit and Copper. Grand Canyon National Park wintered two of its horses at Pipe Spring as well, named Blazer and Alex. Blazer arrived with health problems and died at the monument in January 1985. A backhoe was borrowed from Zion, a hole dug next to Molly, and the horse buried there. With his usual tongue-in-cheek, Herr reported, "Suitable epitaphs were spoken. Markers will be erected this next summer with guests [Regional Director] Lorraine Mintzmyer and [NPS Director] Russ Dickenson to eulogize the departed." [2384] In late 1986, the monument acquired a new saddle horse named "Coco." In March 1988, one of Zion's horses, Rabbit, became ill with colic and was subsequently "put down" at the monument by a Zion ranger. The horse was buried alongside Molly and Blazer in what by then could rightly be described as a horse graveyard.

During Leonard Heaton's era of administration, he actively worked to rid the monument of all cats that wandered in, often killing them. By contrast, when a "stray, well-mannered, domestic cat" found its way to Pipe Spring in 1981, it was quickly escorted to the fort and given the assignment of mice and rat control! [2385] The cat was named "Loretta." Herr was far less inclined to welcome dogs that wandered into the area, however, shooting them when he got the chance. [2386] The problem was that, at least on one occasion, a dog shot and killed by Herr belonged to a Kaibab Paiute neighbor, which did nothing to enhance his relations with the Tribe.

Fire Protection

The first reported fire to occur since the monument fire of July 1951 took place in June 1980 when a fired consumed between three and four acres of grassland at the monument's west boundary. Due to quick action by monument staff, Forest Service personnel, tribal members, and others, the fire affected only about one-eighth acre inside the monument. A few dozen fence posts required replacement. A Health, Life, and Safety Report that year emphasized the monument's lack of a fire protection system within 700 feet of the housing and utility areas. It is not known when this deficiency was addressed. Fire training for staff was offered from time to time at Zion National Park. A new hose box was obtained in 1982. An operations evaluation in 1988 emphasized the monument's vulnerability to wildfires and encouraged more frequent fire trainings of staff, improvement of firebreaks, more frequent equipment checks, and an updating of the monument's Fire Management Plan.

As in times past, monument staff responded to area fires on the reservation and in Moccasin. On July 5, 1982, Bill Herr, Doug Dewitz, and Seasonal Laborer Sam Tom assisted fighting two fires that occurred near Kaibab Village. One of the fires got large enough to require aerial tanker drops. [2387] The Kaibab Paiute Tribe acquired a new fire truck and fire house in December 1982. Dewitz spent several hours in Kaibab going over the use of equipment with members of the Tribe that month. Dewitz and Tom responded to another call to put out a grass fire in Moccasin on July 11, 1988.


Radio Communication

In the spring of 1980, a 35-watt, General Electric (G.E.) base station was loaned to the monument by Zion so the monument could have radio contact with Zion and Cedar Breaks. The system was installed on April 2. In 1983 the monument's old Motorola hand-sets were replaced with new G. E. units and a new G.E. base station was installed. In 1984 another G.E. controller unit was installed in the maintenance mechanic's office.


Accidents, Thefts, and Law Enforcement

Very few law enforcement incidents occurred in the 1980s. In the early 1980s, the monument had a problem with people occasionally climbing over the fence to gain entry after closing hours. Only one theft was reported. On the night of July 27, 1984, a 250-pound anvil belonging to VIP blacksmith John Cram was stolen from the monument. Tribal Policeman Dan Bulletts investigated on July 27 and submitted a report to authorities. Zion Ranger Ken Armstrong also investigated the theft. The value was estimated at $500-700 and Cram filed a tort claim.

In 1985 Herr reported an attempted abduction that took place on July 18 of a young Indian girl on the Moccasin road, just north of the monument. Officers responded and investigated the report. [2388]



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