NSA Colorado Projects

In cooperation with the staff of the San Juan National Forest and the San Juan Mountain Association, the NSA Trail Maintenance Program has a coordinated a major historic site renovation project on the San Juan National Forest for June 22-28, 2008. Over twenty smokejumpers have indicated an interest in participating in the project with official signup beginning in mid January.

The Glade Guard Station Rehabilitation Project,
Dolores District, San Juan National Forest,
Dolores County, Colorado

The Glade Guard Station site (5DL1792)

The Glade Guard Station site (5DL1792) is located in Dolores County, Colorado at T41N, R16W, in the NW corner of Section 33 (USGS quad The Glade, Co) at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet. The site is in an otherwise undeveloped area of the forest, and access to the site is via Forest Development Road 514. The site is located on the side of a hill overlooking the large open park known as The Glade. It is flanked by an stand of mixed aspen, pine, and oak brush.

The Glade Guard Station was established in 1905 when a small log cabin was constructed as an administrative facility for the Glade District of the Montezuma National Forest (now part of the Mancos-Dolores District of the San Juan National Forest). In 1916 a wood frame residence and a barn was added, and in the 1930’s (primarily 1935-36) a fly camp associated with the Lone Dome CCC camp was set up adjacent to the guard station. During this time modifications were made to the residence and a garage, meat house (later used as a tool shed), and outhouse were constructed. Rockwork culverts and drains were also built at the guard station during that time. Use of the site by the Forest Service changed over time as districts were consolidated and administrative boundaries and needs changed. Later use was primarily as a materials and equipment storage center and short term seasonal housing facility. Use continued into the 1970’s at which time the site was closed down due to diminished need and deteriorating conditions.

The site currently consists of five structures: a Ranger’s Residence (ca.1916), garage (ca. 1935), barn (ca. 1905-1915), woodshed (ca. 1936), and a toilet / outhouse (ca.1936). The original log ranger station structure deteriorated and was removed in the 1950’s, and a log bunkhouse was reportedly burned down in the 1970’s. The site was nominated to the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties was officially listed on 8 August 2001. It is also considered to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and efforts are underway to nominate it for listing there.

Introduction to the Project

The Glade Guard Station project consists of the rehabilitation under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guides of an historic Forest Service administrative site. Once it the work is completed, the site will be furnished for reuse as a recreational rental property to be maintained and operated under a recreation special use permit by a non-profit group (the Jersey Jim Foundation).

Some elements of the site are in poor condition, while others are in moderate to fair condition. A condition assessment was done on the site’s structures in 1998 by Harrison Goodall of Conservation Services (Goodall 1998). Additionally, a deferred maintenance report was done in the summer of 2004 by the engineering staff of the SJNF. These two documents provide a basis for the work that is being proposed. The most urgent need is for restoration work on the sandstone foundation, the replacement of the roof, and scraping and painting of the residence structure.

Residence - Primary Concerns

Foundation & steps: the residence sits on a stonework foundation of native sandstone that was constructed by the CCC. The mortar has flaked in places and several wide cracks have developed. The foundation needs to be repaired and re-pointed.

Roof: Re-roof including replacing wood shingles, sheeting, and weatherproofing material.

Chimney: Re-point.

Exterior: Scrape, prime, and paint.

Windows: Repairs needed to some windows, replace broken glass, and re-glaze.


Residence – Secondary Concerns

Interior: Repair plaster.

Windows: Repair and re-screen window screens.

Doors: Replace side door and screen door. Re-hang interior doors.


Miscellaneous Information:

Airports: Both Durango and Cortez have local airports that receive shuttle flights from Denver, Salt Lake, Albuquerque, etc.

Water: There is no water source at the site, however the forest service can provide a 300 gallon tank of water to the location.

Electricity: The district has 2 portable generators that can be used at the site.

Camping: Volunteers may camp at the site in the area once occupied by the CCC camp. Or at the Bradfield Camp Ground (approximately 14 miles from the site).

Local Outfitters: There are several local outfitters that work in the area – one of our recreation officers is putting together a list that should be available shortly.

GUARD STATION OR RANGER STATION?

Hi Bill,  Sorry I wasn't in to get your call yesterday - had to run off
after our conference call and get snow tires put on my POV. (and Boy! did I
need them this morning!).

Anyway, to your question..... Is the Glade a Guard Station or a Ranger
Station? the answer is both.

The first administrative structure at the site was a small log cabin that
was constructed in 1906 as a Guard Station when the area was part of the
Glade District of the San Juan and Montezuma Forest Reserve (the reserve
was created in 1905 by a proclamation from President T. Roosevelt).

In 1908 the Forest Reserve was divided and became the San Juan N.F.
headquartered in Durango, and the Montezuma N.F. headquartered in Mancos.
The Guard Station location was upgraded in 1916 with the addition of the
frame-construction residence building. The log structure was still present
at this time and was used as the office. The location was at that point the
seasonal administrative center for the Glade Ranger District and was
occupied only from the late spring to the early fall. In the winter the
staff moved back down to Mancos. The location continued to be know as the
"Glade Guard Station" (as it appears that way on the old maps) even though
technically it was serving as a District Ranger Station.

Because the use of the location began as a Guard Station and transitioned
into a Ranger Station, both terms are used for the site - but locally it is
still most commonly referred to at the Glade Guard Station.  The State
Historic Preservation Office certificate including the site in the State
Register of Historic Properties uses "Glade Ranger Station" , but the site
form lists it as "Glade Ranger Station - Guard Station - Cabin". So I guess
you can use either term. Personally I prefer Guard Station to reflect its
original status and the continuing local verbal tradition.

Good Question - thanks for asking!

Elaine

Elaine Sherman
Archaeologist
Dolores Public Lands Office
San Juan Public Lands
29211 St. Hwy.184, Dolores, CO  81323
(970) 882-6833   esherman@fs.fed.us







CURRENT CONDITIONS REVIEW OF RANGER STATION
PROJECT: GLADE GUARD STATION DATE: September 11th, 2007
Forest Service Road 514
Dove Creek vicinity
Dolores County, Colorado

Dolores Public Lands Center
P.O. Box 210
Dolores, Colorado 81323
Attn: Elaine Sherman
(970) 882-7296

REVIEW OF GOODALL ASSESSMENT
The assessment report prepared by Harrison Goodall in 1998 is a thorough examination of the buildings on the site. The assessment of the Ranger Station structure was broken down into 16 individual building components or systems. Much of Goodall's recommendations for these buildings components remain accurate today. However, several of the conditions noted in the report have deteriorated further; notably including the interior plaster, roofing and interior window muntins. Additionally, the exterior walls including the windows and doors have been stained following the mechanical removal of 90% of the lead based paint and the building has been recently sealed and cleaned from the rodent infestation. Beside these treatments, the building appears to stand today as Goodall observed it.

Many of Goodall‘s recommendations for treatment and prioritization of the work needed for preservation of the building also remains valid today. Given the 9-year span between his assessment and this comparative analysis, the building has held up well. However, the Ranger Station is now at a juncture, where some of the highest level 1-year priority tasks outlined in the 1998 report are critical to be completed to stem the exacerbated deterioration of a number of the issues threatening the structure. For purposes of compatibility and consistency with the assessment work of Goodall, the following update and recommendations will be made in an outlined form adopted from Goodall’s CR Manger format.

BUILDING COMPONENT 2007
OBSERVATION OF CONDITION 2007
RECOMMENDATION FOR TREATMENT
4INTERIOR FINISH Needs re-painting after plaster repairs Re-paint after plaster is repaired and settlement is abated with foundation repairs.
4FLOOR SURFACE Suspect asbestos in vinyl tile remains from 1998 investigation. Overlay for encapsulation. Provide crawl space entry through flooring at northwest corner.
4INTERIOR CONDITION Cleaned of rodent evidence from 1998 assessment. Maintain a sealed building envelope. Install propane tank and range. Test fixtures. Seal off entry to water heater closet and restroom for future mitigation.
4INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING PLASTER Hole in ceiling identified in 1998 enlarged. Many wall cracks from settlement. Repair holes loose areas and cracks.
4CHIMNEY Brick in good condition. Mortar missing in top 4-6 courses.
Re-point upper courses matching the existing material.
BUILDING COMPONENT 2007
OBSERVATION OF CONDITION 2007
RECOMMENDATION FOR TREATMENT
4ROOF SURFACE Roof is leaking with some missing and lifting cedar shingles. Flashings are loose and finials missing at ridge. Replace cedar shingle roof. Install ice and water shield moisture barrier and cedar breather material. Repair flashings and replace where missing or severely deteriorated. Flash roof penetration at chimney and flue.
4VEGETATION Some vegetation against foundation. Remove vegetation.
4DOORS Historic front door in good condition, repainted brown. Side entry door in poor condition with failed locking mechanism. Re-paint historic front door. Replace side entry door (32” x 6’-7”) with appropriate solid panel exterior wood door and new locking mechanism. Repair jamb, header and sill as needed and provide weather stripping.
4EXTERIOR FINISH Good condition. Recently scraped and stained. Some lead paint remains. Prepare surface for new oil based primer. Provide one coat of primer and based upon coverage, provide one or two coats of latex based topcoat to match historic cream/white color.
4FOUNDATION SANDSTONE STEM WALLS Limited cracking and settlement of the foundation walls remains as observed in 1998 with no significant evidentiary change. Remove loose mortar and foam in-fill at settlement cracks. Replace with type ‘N’ mortar as follows: 6 Parts masonry sand, 2 parts lime, _ part gray Portland, _ part white Portland.
4PORCH SANDSTONE FLOOR Steps remain settled from 1998 observations Re-set steps at front and side entries using 6-2-2 part mix design.
4PORCH RAILS Bottom rail deteriorated and missing balusters as in 1998. Replace bottom rail and replace balusters. Replace in-kind the missing rails that flank the main step at entry. Use shadow marks and lead anchor points/fasteners for reference.
4SURFACE DRAINAGE Runoff gullies around N,E and W elevations and erosion at south remain from 1998 assessment. Provide swale at south elevation to direct surface and roof runoff away from building footprint.
4EXTERIOR WALL
SHIP LAP WOOD SIDING Siding is in fair condition. Some replacement may have been made. Significant checking and gaps at corner boards where loose nails have popped. Deteriorated wood drip cap at top of foundation wall needs repair and or replacement. Repair siding where deteriorated or loose. Repair wood drip cap at base of wall. Replace severely deteriorated components only where necessary. Set nail head which have popped. Tighten corner boards where loose. Caulk all gaps prior to paint with a 50-year oil based exterior product. The contractor doing this work should refer to PRESERVATION BRIEF #10, Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork.
4WOODEN WINDOWS



One window remains smashed in at the south addition as was noted in 1998. Many of the interior muntins have been severely abraded and need repair. The glazing on all windows should be replaced with a n appropriate linseed oil putty. Broken panes should be replaced. Plywood panels have been installed over all window openings with screws and painted to match the exterior. All windows should be appropriately repaired. The contractor doing this work should refer to PRESERVATION BRIEF #9, The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows. If the plywood protective panels are to remain, removable hardware should be installed to preclude the damage the screws have caused.
4WINDOW / DOOR SCREENS Several of the window screens are missing and several are damaged. Replacement window screens should be made for those missing. Damage should be repaired to the balance of the screens where possible. All screen material should be replaced. The hard ware for the screen installation should match that of the protective panels for simplification of the system





ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS OBSERVED
Two additional items, not remarked upon in Goodall’s report are included below that were observed in the 2007 visit to the site for this evaluation. These components include the crawl space vent openings through the foundation at each elevation, and the timber beam sub-structure supporting the mid-spans of the floor joists in the crawl space. The follow are recommendations for treatment of these components.

BUILDING COMPONENT 2007
OBSERVATION OF CONDITION 2007
RECOMMENDATION FOR TREATMENT
4CRAWL SPACE ACCESS VENTS Crawl space vent covers and framing were in varying states of repair. Several had been inappropriately sealed with spray foam. Several of the screens need replacement. All vents and framing are unpainted and in contact with the soils at grade. Remove all foam sealant. Repair, caulk, paint and replace screens on all vents. Lower the grade below all vents to a minimum 4-inches under the sill of the vent opening. Pre-treat all exposed wood in these locations with boiled linseed oil prior to paint with an alykd oil primer and topcoat.
4SUB-STRUCTURE

Two large timer beams are supporting the mid-spans of the floor joists. The north beam is resting on what appear to be original masonry bearing pads. The south beam is very close to grade. The bearing on this south beam is suspect, with loose shims sitting on top. Properly shim these timber beams tight up against the floor joists. Secure shims in place and reinforce the masonry bearing pads as necessary with concrete or other materials. The crawl space should be cleaned out of loose debris brought in by animals as this materials holds moisture.


SUMMER 2008 PRIORITY TASK OUTLINE
The prioritization of several tasks is included below. The work is not inclusive of all the scope of work as the Volunteer work crew will be limited to a one week period. However, the size of the crew is anticipated to be approximately 12. Therefore, several scopes of work can be accomplished simultaneously by crews of 3 to 4 persons. The following components of the building and associated tasks should be considered for this summer field work:

1. ROOF REPAIRS:
q Demolition of existing shingle sheathing
q Limited repair of sub-sheathing
q Installation of roll out moisture barrier
q Installation of cedar breather
q Installation of flashings around penetrations
q Repointing of upper courses of chimney
q Installation of 5.5 squares of standard width cedar shingle
q Installation of ridge cap and flashings

2. SITE DRAINAGE
q Remove all vegetation around building establishing a 3-foot dry zone
q Lower the grade around perimeter of building to a minimum of 4-inches below the sill height of the crawl space vents
q Contour grade away from building for positive drainage.
q Provide a swale along the south elevation to direct runoff around building


HILDERBRAND REPORT: Glade Guard Station Project June, 2008
On September 22, I visited the project to get a first hand perspective of the station and the work. This is follow up to the project description sent out by Elaine Sherman, The archaeologist working the project to this time. In summary:
a. The Guard station is in a beautiful location on a slight slope of a northern exposure hillside. I would guess about a 7 to 8 percent slope. Location: N 37deg 46.703’ and W 108deg 37.955’. Elevation is 8310’ or so.
b. Distance from paved road 22 miles. Distance to Cortez 22 miles. Total distance from Durango to Glade project is about 94 miles. Road is good forest road and RVs will make the trip with no trouble. Only one major climb up out of the Dolores River Canyon and some rough spots, but not an off-road type of situation. Warrens Subaru will not even break a sweat!
c. The fire crews from the forest will do some clearing and thinning to create a defensible fire zone around the structure. This should be done prior to our project.
d. The structure is about 600 sq ft. with cedar siding on the outside, cedar shake roof, and lathe/plastered interior walls. There are three rooms (main living, bedroom, and kitchen) plus a bathroom and a small addition on the south side of the building.
e. The siding has been painted previously, but is now stained. The paint was sand blasted off a number of years ago and a lot of damage to the siding resulted. There are still pieces of paint that were not removed by the sand blasting and the siding has weathered and has a lot of cracks on east, south, and western exposures. North looks reasonably good.
f. The sheathing for the roof is rough lumber 1x6 to 1x10s. There is no paper under the shake roof and the roof is nailed to the sheathing. The roof is probably a 10 foot rise in 12 feet (a 10 in 12? Pitch).
g. The floor is oak but is covered by tile and linoleum. The tile is likely asbestos containing and will have to be removed by a certified contractor.
h. The restoration is to historical landmark standards, so the restoration must be as close to original as possible.
i. There is a restoration specialist that may be available to consult on aspects of the restoration.
j. The building has shifted on the foundation; however, following discussion with the restoration specialist the current plan is to NOT try to move the building any.
k. The ground surrounding the building needs to be graded to improve drainage away from the building.
l. Foundation has many cracks and openings which need to be repaired.
m. Chimney needs to be tuck pointed
n. A commercial dumpster will be available for refuse.
o. Latrines will be provided and an outfitter is currently being investigated to provide support.
p. Power will be by small generators only. Water will be provided by water buffalo or similar.

I have some photos to send later.
Rich Hilderbrand