Hubbell Trading Post Administrative History

Building Roster

Figure 27. Guest Hogan. This building, HB-6, seen just to the right of the gazebo (which still exists), was built during the 1930s and 1940s as a monument to J. L. Hubbell. NPS photo, HUTR Neg. 32.

Guest Hogan

HB-6: The Guest Hogan, situated to the north of the main house, was built for the family by Emilio Limas as a memorial to J. L. Hubbell. Although the year 1934 is carved into the stone above the door, dated photographs indicate that the structure was probably not completed until the mid-1940s. The hogan is of coursed sandstone, the floors of flagstone, with a traditional hogan roof of vigas projecting radially, the vigas covered with boards, the boards covered with red asphalt shingles. There is a massive central fireplace of petrified wood, stone, and pottery and stone artifacts. The door was carved by Dorothy Hubbell (another example of her carving is stored with the Curator, a rendering of the Conveyance of the Gods, which was the symbol of the Hubbell motor touring business of the 1930s).

It was common practice for trading posts to have guest hogans for customers who had trekked in long distances to do business. [16] The notion has been put forward that since Lorenzo Hubbell was noted for his hospitality, a guest hogan is a fitting memorial to him.

Figure 28. The Guest Hogan as rendered by Ethel Trimmer, SWRO. The door was carved by Dorothy Hubbell.

Figure 29. The massive fireplace in the Guest Hogan, as rendered by Ethel Trimmer, SWRO. The fireplace is made of petrified wood, stone, and pottery and stone artifacts.

The hogan is not being used for anything at the present time and is awaiting interior refurbishing. The structure has been the subject of stabilizing by the NPS. The walls were spreading, due apparently to a poor---or nonexistent?---footing. The hogan has served as site headquarters and it has been used to house visiting NPS employees. Ned Danson would stay there when he visited the trading post. [17] The most favored plan for the future use of the hogan that it should remain a guest hogan, to be used by NPS employees who have work in the area, or else to be maintained by SPMA and rented to visitors on a nightly basis (it was so rented by the Hubbells, so that idea is nothing new). [18]