Bandelier Historic Structure Report: CCC Buildings

THE BUILDINGS (continued)

B-30, Fire Lookout

This building (figures 135-137) was constructed in 1941 on land that was then under USFS jurisdiction but has since become part of Bandelier. Hub Chase, Charles Richey, and Regional Forester Saari established the location for the building in July 1940. [172] Lyle Bennett designed the building, basing his work on a Park Service standardized fire lookout, drawing PG-3040. [173]

The building was designed as an "above-ground house type" where the placement of the lookout portion at 8 to 12 feet above the ground would give it a clear view above the surrounding vegetation. The upper story had a catwalk around all four sides and an Osborne Fire Finder mounted in the center of the upper glass-enclosed room. The lower story was a small quarters. The bottom story was constructed of stone and the upper of wood frame. The regional forester had proposed that the work be done by the CCC, because it would be considerably cheaper than by contract. [174] Lightning protectors were installed on the building, complying with the USFS pamphlet "Instructions and Specifications for Protection Against Lightning of Lookout Houses, Towers and Other Structures on Exposed Points." [175] Windows were set in mastic — a sealant with puttylike properties. Outside woodwork was originally treated with linseed oil and creosote with a small amount of pigment added to make the wood look weathered. Copper flashing that trimmed the roof edge prevented the wind from blowing back the composition roof. A second concealed flashing strip laid under the roofing protected the sheathing. A 4-inch strip of mineral surface roofing was pasted over the cap flashing to "improve appearance and retard corrosion of iron nails and copper." [176] The regional forester wanted the building painted, but the NPS officials did not, believing that the wood would fare better with preservative treatment. They did allow that if the woodwork on the building was to be painted, it should be a warm, neutral gray. [177] The woodwork was painted (color unknown) in 1942. The custodian noted that "the fire guard has painted the lookout with a brush in one hand and his binoculars in the other." [178]

Windows were replaced in 1953. The AEC conducted a series of tests in a technical area northeast of headquarters and as a result broke windows in the lookout on January 8 and 22. The AEC replaced the windows. The custodian wrote that he awaited the results of the seismograph reading to determine the strength of the tests. [179] He never printed the results.

In 1956 the building received a slump block addition that contained a kitchen and bathroom. In the early 1980s the monument staff altered the window framing so that it angled from the outer edge of the eaves inward to the wood framing of the upper story. In 1977 new steps and a replacement guardrail were constructed. Other changes to the building have consisted of maintenance. [180] In 1984 the building received new wiring. The building houses all the monument's major communication systems.

Figure 135. Plans for the fire lookout (B-30), 1940 (drawing 315/2140, sheet 1).

Figure 136. In this photograph of the fire lookout (B-30) under construction, the upper windows are plumb. (Photo: Bandelier)

Figure 137. This photograph taken in 1982 shows the change in the angle of the windows and the 1956 addition. (Photo: Harrison for NPS)