The Columbine Ranger Station residence is an element of a National Register thematic group entitled "Depression-Era USDA Forest Service Administrative Complexes in Arizona" The station is significant for its association with the expansion of Forest Service administration from custodial superintendence to active resource management. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it reflects the role of the Forest Service in relieving unemployment during the Depression. It is also significant because it embodies the use of standard plan architecture developed by Forest Service architects and represents a distinctive Forest Service design style {Cameron and Spoerl COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE V (Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No. AZ-160-A {Page 2) PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A.
Physical History 1. Date of erection: Circa (USDA Forest Service, Coronado N. F. cultural resources files). The Columbine Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located about five miles south of the station. The camp was first occupied in the summer of and it is likely that camp enrollees built the residence in the following summer. During a past roof replacement project, was found inscribed in the roofing material (Cameron and Spoerl 2. Architect: USDA Forest Service, Region 3 3. Original and subsequent owners: The Columbine residence has been the property of the USDA Forest Service, since its construction (USDA Forest Service, Coronado N. F. Lands files). When constructed, it was a seasonal ranger headquarters for the Mt. Graham Ranger District of the Crook National Forest. The Mt.
Graham Ranger District became part of the Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest when the Crook was disestablished about 4. Builder, contractor, supplier: USDA Forest Service; Civilian Conservation Corps 5. Original plans and construction: Constructed according to Plan A-5, a standard plan for a seasonal Ranger Station. The original plans are not available on the Coronado. The residence is a four-room rectangular bungalow, one story in height. The foundation is poured concrete, the frame is nailed wood, and the roof is a side-gable type of medium pitch. Exterior walls are lapped siding, and the roof is green metal. There is a dormer on the northeast pitch of the roof.
Twelve-light double-hung sash windows are present on the northeast, northwest and southwest elevations; eight-light double-hung sash windows are present on the southeast and southwest elevations. There are also six-light fixed sash windows under the gables and in the dormer, a two-light sliding sash window on the northwest elevation, and a large picture window with flanking COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE (Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No. AZ-160-A {Page 3) sliding sashes on the northwest elevation. The main entry is a panel door with six lights, the side entry is a panel door with a two-light double-hung sash window. 6. Alterations and additions: The kitchen extension on the southwest side was originally a side porch, as shown in a photo (Photograph A-10).
The wood shingle roof was replaced with a metal roof in The sliding sash window in the bathroom is a post-Depression alteration. B. Historical Context: A recreation plan (USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest) describes the Columbine Ranger Station as consisting of the residence and garage. It was the summer headquarters for the Mt. Graham District Ranger. The Columbine Guard Cabin was described as "adjacent" to the Ranger Station, but administratively was considered a separate site. Following various buildings were built in the vicinity, supporting the more active management role assumed by the Forest Service. Some were constructed in place, others were moved to the station from locations such as the Columbine CCC camp.
The guard cabin lost its distinct administrative identity during the period, as buildings were added in the vicinity of both sites. Currently, the Columbine Work Station includes seven other major buildings: three residences, two storage sheds, a fuel storage building and a shower building. Two latrines are also present. The Mt.
Graham Ranger District is usually said to have been incorporated into the Coronado National Forest when the Crook National Forest was disestablished in or (Wilson Tucker However, the recreation plan cited above is titled as a report for the "Coronado National Forest, Crook Addition." It appears that the Forest Service had administratively realigned the Forests during the with Congressional recognition of the transfers occurring COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE (Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No. AZ-160-A (Page k) in the but existing files are silent on the details.
Little else is known about the history of the station or its buildings, as individual building historical records were never prepared or have been lost, and no comprehensive administrative history of the station has been compiled. PART II, ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: While essentially a vernacular building of simple construction, the residence displays several elements of Forest Service architectural design. Native materials, gabled roofs and multi-paned windows were widely employed by the Forest Service during the Depression. Wood structural members, siding, and roofs were believed to be responsive to and appropriate for forested environments.
Gabled roofs were common, and were adapted to the prevailing precipitation conditions; pitch was adjusted to total precipitation and snow loads. Multi-paned windows decorated as well as illuminated the Region's buildings, and had the incidental effect of recalling the Nation's historic roots by reflecting an element of Georgian architecture. 2. Condition of fabric: Remaining original fabric consists of structural members, siding, interior finish and windows. The original roofing has been replaced. A side porch on the southeast elevation has been enclosed. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: 37 x 30 feet 2. Foundation: Poured concrete, with crawl space 3. Walls: Lapped siding COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE (Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No.
AZ-160-A (Page 5) ty. Structural systems, framing: Wood frame construction of 2 x 6 inch members 5. Porches t stoops, balconies, bulkheads: Full porch on northeast front. Poured concrete surface, roof formed by extension of main gable and carried on 8 x 8 inch posts. Side entry has poured concrete steps on a poured concrete slab. 6. Chimneys: Brick, offset to right on exterior of southwest elevation. Brick, centered on southwest elevation below ridgeline. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Panel door with six lights on northeast front, panel door with two-light double-hung sash on southeast side. b. Windows and shutters: Four twelve-light double-hung sash on northeast front. One six-light fixed sash flanked by wood louvers in dormer on northeast front.
Four twelve-light double-hung, one two-light sliding sash, and one six-light fixed sash on northwest side. The fixed-sash window is under the gable. Four twelve-light double-hung sash windows on southwest rear. Two eight-light double-hung sash, one six-light fixed sash and one picture window flanked by sliding sash windows on southeast end. The six-light window is offset to the left under the gable. The picture window is in the projecting kitchen extension. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: End-gable with metal b. Cornice, eaves: Eaves with exposed rafters, northeast front and southwest rear. Brackets under gables. c. Dormers, cupolas, towers: Centered dormer with gable roof on northeast front COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE (Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No. AZ-160-A (Page 6) C.
Description of interior: 1. Floor plan: Rectangular, with projecting kitchen at south corner 2. Stairways: None 3. Flooring: 4-inch tongue-and-groove 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Plywood, with inch battens 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Panel doors to bedrooms, bathroom and closet b. Windows: Flush frames 6. Decorative features and trim: None 7- Hardware: Plain round knobs on exterior and interior doors. Full mortise hinges on exterior and interior doors. Round wood pulls on kitchen drawers and hall storage drawers. Butterfly hinges with floral pattern on kitchen cabinets. Spring latches on cabinets. 8. Mechanical equipment: a. Heating, air conditioning/, ventilation: Fireplace, gas stove b. Lighting: Incandescent c. Plumbing: Recent double sink with chrome fixtures.
Recent toilet, sink and tub/shower combination in bathroom. d. Other equipment: None 9- Original furnishings: None COLUMBINE RANGER STATION, RESIDENCE {Columbine Work Station, Residence) HABS No. AZ-160-A (Page 7) D. Site: 1. General setting: The Columbine Ranger Station is located on the crest of the Pinaleno Mountains near Soldier Creek in an area of dense pine forest, with a meadow adjacent to the northwest. The Swift Trail, Arizona Highway is a gravel road running to the north of the site. There are no other developments visible from the site. 2. Historic landscape design: There is no formal landscape design.
The existing administrative site layout conforms to Forest Service design principles in a general way, by placing the service buildings to the rear of the site, but does not show the clear separation into office, residential and service areas that characterizes many other administrative sites. 3. Outbuildings: The existing landscape includes ten other major and minor buildings. A garage/barn is located close by to the south and is the other element of the original Columbine Ranger Station. Also in the vicinity are three other cabins, two storage buildings, a fuel storage building, a shower house, and two latrines. None of the latter are located within the National Register boundary for the Columbine Work Station. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A.
Architectural drawings: None in Coronado N. F. files B. Historic views: Cultural resource files, Coronado National Forest Supervisor's Office C. Interviews: Walter Friauf, telephone conversation, D.
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