Administering the National Forests of Colorado: An Assessment of the Architectural and Cultural Significance of Historical Administrative Properties (Routt National Forest)

Administering the National Forests of Colorado:
An Assessment of the Architectural and Cultural Significance of Historical Administrative Properties

INVENTORY AND RESULTS OF EVALUATION
Routt National Forest

The Routt National Forest, initially created by President Theodore Roosevelt as the Park Range Forest Reserve in 1905, was established to manage range lands and for watershed protection for stockmen and farmers using this area. In 1908 the name Routt replaced Park Range, in honor of the first elected governor of the State. Headquarters for the Reserve was in Kremmling until 1907 when it was moved to Steamboat Springs, the same year the Reserve was substantially enlarged. Over 100,000 acres of agricultural lands were eliminated from the Reserve in 1910 by proclamation of President Taft. By 1948 the Forest totaled over a million acres.

Lumbermen were the least supportive of the Reserve. Demand from both local communities and the railroads made illegal timber cutting worth the risk. Cattle were first grazed on the Reserve under permit in 1906. At that time no sheep grazing was permitted south of the Wyoming State line. By 1907 sheep men were being permitted grazing privileges in the high country on the Routt, mostly because cattlemen didn't use that portion of the forest. By the late 1920s fifty percent of the sheep grazing on the Routt were from Colorado. Many of the original homesteads failed during the early 1930s and were bought by sheep grazers.

During the summer of 1906, Paul Reddington from Washington headquarters, spent a summer on the Forest. Among several recommendations made in a report of his observations, he noted that more ranger station construction was needed for adequate administration of the Forest. At least a dozen ranger and guard stations were built between 1906 and 1915, nearly equal to the number of administrative buildings constructed during the CCC period.

Table 16 lists the administrative sites evaluated in the Forest and Figure 114 shows the relative location of these sites.

Table 16. Summary of Site Recommendations for Routt National Forest.

Site Name	Const. Date	Site No.	Field Eligibility Recommendations
California Park Guard (Ranger) Station	1932-1954	5RT668	not significant under A or C
Grizzley Creek Guard Station	1920	5JA544	# officially eligible (1983)
Hahn's Peak District Office	1939	5RT619	* not eligible (1989)
Hahn's Peak Fire Lookout	1942	5RT1179	significant under A, C
Hog Park Guard Station	1910-1925	5JA561	officially eligible (1992)
Lynx Pass Guard Station	1934	5RT398	* officially not eligible (1992)
Mad Creek Ranger Station	1907-1979	5RT1177	# significant under A, B and C
Michigan River Guard Station	1938-1940	5JA942	# significant under A, C
Middle Park (Kremmling) Ranger Station	1914-1937	5GA1891	not significant under A or C
North Park Ranger District Office	1935-1936	5JA768	* officially eligible (1991)
North Park Ranger District Ranger's Res.	1936	5JA767	* officially eligible (1991)
Parkview Lookout	1915-1916	5GA1353	significant under A, C
Ptarmigan Ranch	1960s	5GA1892	not significant under A or C
Pyramid Guard Station (Ranger Station)	1934-1936	5RB2882	significant under A, C
Seedhouse Campground Toilet	1935	5RT462	officially eligible (1985)
Seedhouse Guard Station	1934-1936	5RT1178	not significant under A or C
Steamboat Springs Ranger's Residence	1936	5RT778	* officially not eligible
Steamboat Springs Site II	1950s	5RT1180	not significant under A or C
Summit Creek Guard Station	1912	5RT431	not significant under A or C†

* Not examined as part of this project. Status determination by State of Colorado.

# Individual building(s) recommended as eligible. Property as a whole is not recommended as eligible.

† 1992 survey recommended eligibility under A and C, State of Colorado concurred; now re-recommended not significant in this study.

Figure 114. Figure 97. Sites Evaluated in the Routt National Forest. GS=Guard Station; LO=Fire Lookout. (click on image for a PDF version)

SITE SUMMARY
Figure 115 California Park G.S. with Prefab Sections Under Tarps for Remodeling			Routt National Forest files Steamboat Springs, Colorado Photo by J.L. Sundberg, 1954
5RT668 California Park Guard (Ranger) Station Bears Ears Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Crewhouse	3511	1932-38	Unknown	Bungalow
(Addition)		1954	John Sundberg	CCC Temporary
Barn	3505	1941	Unknown	Vernacular
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RT668 is not significant under Criteria A or C. Though associated with the Routt and White River National Forests, this site is not particularly distinctive in its association, and is not typical of a pre-CCC-era site layout. Unsympathetic additions have obscured the crewhouse, and the barn is undistinguished in its design and construction. Architectural Plans. One room frame house (A 3; C4142), California Park Guard Station Improvement Map, (F5368).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 116 Grizzley Creek Guard Station View to the Southwest			Roll 12, Neg. 4 July 1993
5JA544 Grizzley Creek Guard Station North Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	N/A	1920	George McClanahan	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. Site 5JA544 was officially determined significant under Criterion A in 1983. It is recommended that the dwelling at site 5JA544 is also significant under Criterion C. The building, with rare full dovetail notching, is a well-preserved and highly crafted example of ranger-built, pre-design-era Forest Service architecture, which was highly reflective of the pioneer construction techniques of its builders. The site, however, has lost its log barn, which is essential to a ranger station's integrity. A more intact pre-design-era site can be seen at Hog Park (5JA561). Architectural Plans. Grizzley Creek Guard Station Improvement Plan (C5366).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 117 Hahn's Peak Fire Lookout View to the Northwest			Roll 9 Neg. 17 July 1993
5RT1179 Hahn's Peak Fire Lookout Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Lookout	N/A	1942	CCC	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RT1179 is significant under Criteria A and C. The Lookout was utilized by the USFS for fire suppression and is representative of the Forest Service's early mission of protection and conservation. It is architecturally representative of the era when many lookouts like Hahn's Peak were rebuilt by the CCC. It is the best of two known extant cupola/cabin type lookouts remaining in Colorado's National Forests, and the only one on the Routt. Architectural Plans. Hahn's Peak Lookout Improvement Map (D7452), 1993 NPS Field Sketch.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 118 Hog Park Guard Station View to the South			Roll 15, Neg. 36 July 1993
5JA561 Hog Park Guard Station North Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Log House	N/A	1910-12	Unknown	Pioneer
Store House	N/A	1910-12	Unknown	Pioneer
Toilet	N/A	ca. 1925	Unknown	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5JA561 is significant under Criteria A and C. It is the oldest standing station on the Routt National Forest. The site is intact and highly representative of a pre-design era ranger station. Its buildings are well preserved and reflective of the pioneer construction techniques of its builders. Architectural Plans. Hog Park Guard Station Plot Plans (D5371), 1991 Field Sketches, Routt National Forest.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 119 South Michigan (River) Ranger Station			Routt National Forest files Steamboat Springs, Colorado Photo # 365825, taken July 1938
5JA942 Michigan River Guard Station North Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	3524	1914	Unknown	Pioneer
(Addition)		1937	ERA	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that the dwelling at site 5JA942 is significant under Criteria A and C. It is associated with the development of the Routt National Forest. It is also architecturally significant as a well preserved example of both pre-design era Forest Service construction, which was highly reflective of pioneer traditions, and the more refined construction techniques off the CCC era. The site, however, has lost its log barn, toilet and oil shed, which were an integral part of this ranger station's integrity. Architectural Plans. Michigan Creek Dwelling (F6368). Michigan Creek Guard Station Improvement Plan (C5366).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 120 Mad Creek Guard Station View to the North			USFS R2 Files Roll 9, Neg. 9 July 1993
5RT1177 Mad Creek Guard Station Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Barn	3513	ca. 1907	Js. Ratliff	Pioneer
Bunkhouse	3511	1960-79	Unknown	Modern
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that the barn at site 5RT1177 is significant under Criteria A and C. It was probably built and owned by James H. Ratliff, the first Routt Forest Supervisor. It is associated with the development of the Routt National Forest and is a unique example of a two-story pre-design era Forest Service barn that contains both log and frame construction. Architectural Plans. 1985 Field Sketches, Routt National Forest.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 121 Kremmling Ranger Station From the Southwest Side			USFS R2 Files Temporary # 1874 December 1940
5GA1891 Middle Park (Kremmling) Ranger Station Middle Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Office	3551	1938-40	Unknown	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5GA1891 is not significant under Criteria A or C. Though associated with the development of the Arapaho and Routt National Forests extensive new construction has significantly altered the integrity of design, feeling, and materials of both site and buildings. The site is no longer representative of a CCC-era ranger station. Better examples exist in Colorado. Architectural Plans. Kremmling Dwelling (F6958), Crested Butte Combination Building (F6604), Tensleep Barn/Garage (F5491), Kremmling Site Development Plan.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 122 Parkview Fire Lookout View to the North			Roll 13, Neg. 7 July 1993
5GA1353 Parkview Fire Lookout North Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Lookout	N/A	1915-16	Unknown	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5GA1353 is significant under Criteria A and C. The Lookout was utilized by the USFS for fire suppression and is representative of the Forest Service's early mission of protection and conservation, It is architecturally representative of the era when construction of lookouts was executed primarily by rangers without standardized designs, and built predominantly of materials available on site. It is only known extant observation cabin type lookout remaining in Colorado's National Forests. Architectural Plans. 1993 NPS Field Sketch.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 123 Ptarmigan Ranch Lodge View to the Southwest			Roll 15, Neg. 4 July 1993
5GA1892 Ptarmigan Ranch Middle Park Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Lodge	3547	1960s	Mr. Leonard	Modern Ranch
Cabin	3548	1960s	Cook family?	None
Cabin	3549	1960s	Cook family?	None
Cabin	3550	1960s	Cook family?	None
Garage	N/A	1960s	Anderson?	None
Stable	N/A	1960s	Anderson?	None
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5GA1892 is not significant under Criteria A or C. The site was acquired by the Forest Service in 1978. Forest Service use of the site as a crew quarters and animal pasture is not significant to the development and administration of the Routt National Forest. The vernacular buildings are not distinctive in their type, period, or method of construction; they have lost integrity of association. Architectural Plans. Ptarmigan Ranch Improvements Site Plan.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 124 Pyramid Guard Station Dwelling View to the South			Roll 11, Neg. 3 July 1993
5RB2882 Pyramid Guard Station (Ranger Station) Yampa Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	3528	1934	CCC F-38-C	Rustic
Office	3501	1934-35	CCC F-38-C	Rustic
Barn	3534	1935	CCC F-38-C	Rustic
Blacksmith Shop	3569	1936	CCC F-38-C	Rustic
Statement of Significance. Site 5RB2882 was officially determined eligible under Criteria A and C in 1992. The site is associated with the development and administration of the White River and Routt National Forests, and with the CCC. The station's buildings represent the evolution of Forest Service architectural design and evolution from a Bungalow Style to a Rustic Style. The buildings have some of the best CCC construction seen in Colorado's Forest Service administrative design. Architectural Plans. Pyramid Ranger Station Dwelling Plan, Pyramid Guard Station Site Improvement Plan (E5855).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 125 Seedhouse Campground Toilet View to the Northeast			Roll 12, Neg. 23 July 1993
5RT462 Seedhouse Campground Toilet Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Toilet	3513	ca. 1935	CCC	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN462 is significant under Criteria A and C. It is the last known four-hole log toilet of its kind of the Routt National Forest, and is representative of the role the CCC played in the recreational development of Colorado's National Forests. It retains its integrity despite replacement of some logs. Architectural Plans. 1985 Field Sketches, Routt National Forest.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 126 Seedhouse Ranger Station used for summer quarters			Routt National Forest Files Steamboat Springs, Colorado Photo # 345801, Summer 1936
5RT1178 Seedhouse Guard Station Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Barn/Garage	3513	1936	Unknown	Bungalow
Dwelling	3520	1934	Unknown	Bungalow
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RT1178 is not significant under Criteria A or C. Though the site contains enough elements to be recognizable as a pre-CCC or early CCC-era administrative site, many better examples exist in Colorado. Architectural Plans. Seedhouse Garage and Barn (F4817). Dwelling (A-2). Seedhouse Site Survey Plat.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 127 Storage Garage 3509 View to the Southeast			BW Roll 12, Neg. 36 7/26/1993
5RT1180 Steamboat Springs II Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Storage Garage	3509	1950s	Unknown	CCC Temporary
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RT1180 is not significant under Criteria A or C. The site has few of the characteristics of a Region 2 administrative site, and the storage garage does not retain integrity of location, design or association as a CCC temporary building. Architectural Plans, Routt National Forest Improvement Map Steamboat Springs, Site No, 2.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 128 The Month of Birds and Roses at Summit Creek Ranger Station			Routt National Forest files Steamboat Springs, Colorado Photo taken in about 1915
5RT431 Summit Creek Guard Station Hahn's Peak Ranger District Routt National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	3521	ca. 1912	Unknown	Pioneer
Garage	3568	ca. 1921	Unknown	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. Site 5RT431 was officially determined eligible under Criteria A and C in 1992. It has been re-evaluated as non-significant due to modifications and the documented existence of several more representative examples of pre-design era administrative sites in Colorado. Architectural Plans. Summit Creek Guard Station Improvement Map, 1993 NPS Field Sketch.

<<< Previous

<<< Contents>>>

Next >>>

colorado-nf/inventory6.htm
Last Updated: 15-Jan-2008