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

Rio Grande National Forest is located in south-central Colorado east of the Continental Divide. Portions of the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the east and the San Juan mountains to the west are encompassed by the Forest boundaries. The San Luis Valley, a rich agricultural area, lies between these mountain ranges.

Fourteen forest reserves were established in Colorado during the Theodore Roosevelt administration. In 1908 the Rio Grande National Forest was officially formed from portions of the San Juan National Forest and the Cochetopa Forest Reserve. Since that time the Forest has grown to nearly 2 million acres.

Early Hispanic settlements were centered in the southern San Luis Valley where farming and ranching activities, in addition to the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and the mining activities, established the demand for commercial timber from the surrounding Forest. Even by 1930 the Forest had only five rangers to oversee the extractive activities from approximately 1.2 million acres.

Table 15 lists the administrative sites evaluated in the Forest and Figure 97 shows the relative locations of these sites.

Table 15. Summary of Site Recommendations for Rio Grande National Forest.

Site Name	Const. Date	Site No.	Field Eligibility Recommendations
Alamosa Ranger Station	1908	5CN756	* officially eligible (1993)
Alder Ranger Station	1910	5RN427	* officially eligible (1990)
Beaver Creek Campground Toilet	1930s	5RN518	significant under A, C
Brewery (Creek) Guard Station	ca. 1935	5SH1470	# significant under A, C
Bristol View Work Center	1930s	5HN280	not significant under A, C
Carnero Guard Station Barn	ca. 1930	55H1221	* officially not eligible (1988)
Creede Rangers Station	1939	5ML284	not significant under A, C
Del Norte District Office (Ranger Sta.	1941	5RN472	not significant under A, C
East Bench Administrative Site	1940/1987	5ML285	not significant under A, C
Elwood Line Cabin	1911	5RN417	* officially eligible (1990)
Fitton Guard Station	1906	5RN314	significant under A, C
Monte Vista Supervisor's Residence	1938-1940	5RN516	significant under A, C
Off Cow Camp	1915	5RN315	significant under A, C
Platoro Work Center	1930s	5CN796	not significant under A, C
River Springs Work Center (Ranger Sta.)	1932-1936	5CN794	significant under A, C
Rock Creek Ranger Station	1909	5RN424	* officially eligible (1990)
Saguache Ranger Station	1939-1940	5SH1468	significant under A, C
Seepage Creek Barn Site	1960s	5ML286	not significant under A, C
South Fork Guard Station	1931-ca.1932	5RN517	not significant under A, C
Stone Cellar Guard Station	1931	5SH1220	* officially not eligible (1990)
Stunner Line Cabin	1911	5CN795	significant under C
Upper Saguache Guard Station	1920-1927	5SH1469	not significant under A, 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.

Figure 97. Sites Evaluated in the Rio Grande National Forest. GS=Guard Station; RR=Ranger's Residence; RS=Ranger Station; WC=Work Center. (click on image for a PDF version)

SITE SUMMARY
Figure 98 Beaver Creek Campground Toilet View to the Northeast			Roll 52, Neg. 22 July 1994
5RN518 Beaver Creek Campground Toilet Del Norte Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Toilet	N/A	1930s	CCC	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN518 is significant under criteria A and C. It is the only in situ four-hole toilet of its kind on the Rio Grande National Forest, and it is representative of the role the CCC played in the recreational development of Colorado's National Forests. It exhibits a high degree of hand craftsmanship and retains a great deal of its integrity. Architectural Plans. 1994 NPS Field Sketch.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 99 Brewery Creek Guard Station View to the Southwest			Roll 57, Neg. 23 July 1994
5SH1470 Brewery Creek Guard Station Saquache Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Combination Building	RG28	ca. 1935	USFS	Bungalow
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that the combination building at site 5SH1470 is significant under criteria A and C. It is associated with the development and administration of the Rio Grande National Forest. Though modified to accommodate new use, it retains its identity as a pre-CCC-era USFS administrative building. It is the only example of an M20 type building still within Colorado Forest Service lands. Its site has lost integrity as a rural guard station, and is not significant under criteria A or C. Architectural Plans. Brewery Creek Guard Station (F4316), Improvement Map (5511).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 100 Bristol View Work Center View to the Southwest			Roll 56, Neg. 24 July 1994
5HN280 Bristol View Work Center Creede Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Storage	RG13	1930s	USFS	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5HN280 is not significant under criteria A or C. The site has lost its integrity as a Ranger Station due to the removal or deterioration of its buildings. The site was determined ineligible by the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office in 1988. Architectural Plans. Bristol View Work Center storage building (D4254), Bristol View Guard Station Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 101 Creede Ranger Station View to the Northwest			5ML284 Date Unknown
5ML284 Creede Ranger Station Creede Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Office	RG10/11	1939	CCC F-49-C	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5ML284 is not significant under criteria A or C. Only two of three original buildings remain. These have been heavily modified, and are no longer recognizable as two distinct CCC-era USFS administrative buildings. Determined ineligible by the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office in 1992. Architectural Plans. Creede Ranger Station office (F6168), Creed Ranger Station dwelling (F6958), Creede Ranger Station garage (144), Creede Ranger Station Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 102 Del Norte District Office View to the West Northwest			Roll 53, Neg. 18 July 1994
5RN472 Del Norte District Office Del Norte Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Garage	N/A	1941	unknown	Rustic
Shop	N/A	1941	unknown	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN472 is not significant under criteria A or C. The site has lost integrity as a Ranger Station due to the removal of several buildings. The remaining buildings are not typical of R2 design, nor are they unique within the Rocky Mountain Region. Both buildings have suffered some loss of integrity of materials and design. Architectural Plans. Del Norte Ranger Station garage (F7413), and garage-shop (F7314).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 103 East Bench Administrative Site View to the North and Northeast			Roll 56, Neg. 34 July 1994
5ML285 East Bench Administrative Site Creede Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Garage	RG 12	1940/1987	CCC F-49-C	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5ML285 is not significant under criteria A or C. The only part of the site currently old enough to be considered for the National Register is the garage, which was moved onto the site in 1982 from the nearby Creede Ranger Station. This garage has been heavily modified and has lost all integrity of style as a three-stall CCC-era USFS garage. Architectural Plans. East Bench Administrative Site Site Plan.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 104 Fitton Guard Station Cabin View to the Northwest			Roll 55, Neg. 12 July 1994
5RN314 Fitton Guard Station Del Norte Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	RG21	1906	D.E. Fitton	Rocky Mtn Cabin
Barn	RG22	1906	D.E. Fitton	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN314 is significant under criteria A and C. The site overall is representative of a pre-design era Region 2 USFS guard station, and is the oldest administrative site on the Rio Grande National Forest. The cabin exhibits many characteristics of, and is a well preserved example of, the Rocky Mountain Cabin Style. Architectural Plans. Fitton Guard Station Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 105 Monte Vista Supervisor's Residence View to the Southwest			USFS R2 Files W.O. 406915 May 1941
5RN516 Monte Vista Supervisor's Residence Del Norte District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling 1	RG01	1938-40	CCC F-49-C	Pueblo
Dwelling 2	RG02	1938-40	CCC F-49-C	Pueblo
Garage	RG02.5	1938-40	CCC F-49-C	Pueblo
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN516 is significant under criteria A and C. This site is among the most intact Pueblo Style Forest Service complexes within Colorado, and it is the most representative Supervisor's Residence in the state. Its buildings were built by the CCC and are still highly representative of the Forest Service's interpretation of local architectural tradition. This site is a significant element within the Monte Vista Downtown Historic District. Architectural Plains, Monte Vista Headquarters Supervisor's residence (F6757), Monte Vista Headquarters Assistant Supervisor's residence (F7 153), Monte Vista Headquarters garage (F6715), Improvement Map (F5816;7153).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 106 Off Cow Camp View to the North Northwest			Roll 54, Neg. 35 July 1994
5RN315 Off Cow Camp Del Norte Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Cabin	RG19	1915	Simon Off	Pioneer
Barn	RG20	1915	Simon Off	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site is significant under criteria A and C. The Off Cow Camp site has several elements common to a high altitude seasonal cow camp. Its buildings are in fair condition and are good examples of pioneer construction, The site was previously recommended as being eligible (Spero 1982). Architectural Plans. 1982 Field Sketch, Rio Grande National Forest.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 107 Platoro Work Center View to the South			Roll 52, Neg. 11 July 1994
5CN796 Platoro Work Center Conejos Peak Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Barn	N/A	1930s	unknown	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5CN796 is not significant under criteria A or C. This barn is not uniquely or particularly representative of either pre-design era USFS construction or Pioneer construction in Colorado. It is not typical of a Region 2 administrative site since it contains no other potentially historic buildings or structures. Architectural Plans. Platoro Guard Station Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 108 River Springs Ranger Station View to the Southwest			USFS R2 Files W.O. 355273 August 1937
5CN794 River Springs Work Center Conejos Peak Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	RG05	1936	CCC F-49-C	Rustic
Shop	RG06	1932	unknown	Rustic
Office	RG07	1936	CCC F-49-C	Rustic
Barn	RG08	1932	CCC F-49-C	Rustic
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5CN794 is significant under criteria A and C. The complex is the best preserved representative of a CCC-era Region 2 USFS rural ranger station in Colorado. It was one of the earliest administrative sites on the Rio Grande. Its buildings represent several era's of Region 2 design and construction, as well as that of the CCC. Architectural Plains, Hot Sulphur Springs Rangers dwelling (F5296), River Springs Ranger Station dwelling (F5745), Reder Ranger Station Combination Building (P5317), Eagle Ranger Station barn/garage (F5552), Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 109 Saguache Ranger Station View to the Northeast			W.O. 399511 Photo dated 8/29/1940
5SH1468 Saguache Guard Station Saquache Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	RG23	1939-40	unknown	Pueblo
Office	RG24	1939-40	unknown	Pueblo
Garage	RG25	1939-40	unknown	Pueblo
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5SH1468 is significant under criteria A and C. It is associated with the development and administration of the Rio Grande National Forest, and is the best preserved representative of a Pueblo Style complex, as well as one of the best preserved CCC-era Region 2 urban ranger stations in Colorado. Architectural Plans. Saguache Ranger Station dwelling (F6961), Saguache Ranger Station administrative building (F6639), Saguache Ranger Station garage/storage building (F6715).
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 110 Seepage Creek Site View to the Southwest			Roll 56, Neg. 26 July 1994
5ML286 Seepage Creek Site Creede Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Barn	N/A	1960s	unknown	CCC temporary
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5ML286 is not significant under criteria A or C. The site has few of the characteristics of a Region 2 administrative site, and the barn does not retain integrity of location. materials, design, or association as a CCC temporary building. Architectural Plans. 1994 NPS Field Sketch.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 111 South Fork Guard Station View to the South and Southeast			Roll 53, Neg. 9 July 1994
5RN517 South Fork Guard Station Del Norte Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Office	RG17	1931	unknown	Bungalow
Barn	RG18	ca. 1932	CCC F-49-C	Pioneer
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5RN517 is not significant under criteria A or C. Though associated with the administration and development of the Rio Grande National Forest, this site is not typical of pre CCC-era ranger station designs. It has been altered through the removal or addition of several buildings, significantly diminishing the integrity of the site. The two remaining historical buildings do not retain the integrity of design of a CCC-era Region 2 ranger station. Architectural Plans. South Fork Guard Station combination building (D4444), South Fork Guard Station Improvement Map.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 112 Stunner Line Cabin View to the Southeast			Roll 52, Neg. 14 July 1994
5CN795 Stunner Line Cabin Conejos Peak Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Cabin	N/A	1911	unknown	Rocky Mtn Cabin
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5CN795 is significant under criteria C. The cabin exhibits many characteristics of the Rocky Mountain Cabin Style. The site is associated with the development of telephone communications in Colorado and may also be significant under criteria A as representative of the socio-cultural development of the state. Architectural Plans. 1994 NPS Field Sketch.
SITE SUMMARY
Figure 113 Upper Saguache Guard Station View to the North Northwest			Roll 53, Neg. 27 July 1994
5SH1469 Upper Saguache Guard Station Saguache Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest
Building Name	Bldg. No.	Date	Builder	Style
Dwelling	RG26	1920-27	unknown	Bungalow
Garage	RG27	1920-27	unknown	Bungalow
Statement of Significance. It is recommended that site 5SH1469 is not significant under Criteria A or C. Though associated with the development and administration of the Rio Grande National Forest, this site is not particularly representative of a Ranger Station of any era. Many buildings have been removed. The dwelling has been heavily modified, and no longer retains integrity of design as a pre-CCC-era dwelling. Better examples remain within Colorado. Architectural Plans, Upper Saguache Guard Station Improvement Map (D-5674).

<<< Previous

<<< Contents>>>

Next >>>

colorado-nf/inventory5.htm
Last Updated: 15-Jan-2008