Hubbell Trading Post Cultural Landscape Report

STRUCTURES

Within the park boundaries there are 13 historic buildings and numerous historic structures. The buildings include the trading post, Hubbell home, barn, manager's residence, bunkhouse, guest hogan, utility building/chicken house, wareroom extension, sheds, hogan in the lane, school/chapter house, pumphouse/restroom, and root cellar/library. Additional park building numbers have been assigned in the past to features that are referred to as structures in this report and those inconsistencies are identified in the table that follows this discussion.

The majority of the buildings are found within three of the seven character areas identified for this historic landscape while the historic structures are located throughout all of the character areas. The historic structures found within the vernacular landscape include numerous stiles, gates and fences; garden features such as the summerhouse and stone planter bed; irrigation structures including head gates, ditches, siphons, and flumes; irrigation reservoir and sewage lagoon; matanzas; and a tree house. As mentioned above, some of these structures have been assigned park building numbers and while all recorded historic buildings have been included on the List of Classified Structures (LCS) inventory only some of the historic structures are listed.

There have been numerous studies involving the documentation, preservation, interpretation, and management of the buildings and structures that comprise the Hubbell historic site although few of these address these resources as they relate to the site as a whole. [129] The overall approach of the previous historic structures reports and preservation guides has been to retain the site's numerous architectural resources through preservation maintenance actions. The existence of this variety of historic buildings and structures that accurately represent the continuum of use within the Hubbell landscape is essential to maintaining the landscape's special "sense of place" for the visitor and community to experience.

In addition to the historic buildings and structures found within the Hubbell landscape there are several that have been introduced by the National Park Service and are classified as non-historic. These include the park housing units that consist of one modular home and 10 newly constructed houses. All the existing house trailers are in the process of being removed and will be gone by late summer 1996. The maintenance area for the park consists of 2 sea crates used for equipment storage, a prefabricated Bailey building, and a row of storage shelters. Other buildings include two stone masonry fire hose houses in the vicinity of the trading post and two hose houses in the vicinity of the housing area.

VIEWS AND VISTAS

Due to the open and expansive nature of the landscape there are numerous vantage points that offer views into, within, and beyond the park boundaries. The majority of these views are considered desirable by the park visitor and researcher alike although there are a few undesirable views that likely detract somewhat from the "historic scene".

Unfortunately two of the most undesirable views are experienced as one enters the historic site. Immediately upon turning onto the park's entrance road the visitor's eye is drawn to the park employee housing area to the south and the numerous erosion control gabion structures in Pueblo Colorado Wash to the north. The housing development consists of a trailer park immediately adjacent to the entrance road, a newly constructed housing complex, and a maintenance yard further to the south and east. Views into the housing area are open, unscreened, yet highly characteristic of the reservation. Views across the road towards the rock-filled gabion structures are also unscreened however it should be noted that the recent addition of fill material in and over some of the gabions has allowed native plants to become established and subsequently soften any potential visual impacts. It should also be noted that both the housing area and the erosion control features are essential to the operation of the park and the preservation of its resources. While it is unfortunate that they are located along the entrance road they are in fact distanced from the primary core area of the historic landscape. Once the visitor crosses the wood plank bridge and the road changes from asphalt to gravel the views to and beyond the trading post, Hubbell residence, and farm lands are spectacular and a true "sense of place" can be developed. Additional discussions regarding these two particular views are included in the Treatment Recommendations and Development section of this report and recommended treatments are provided.

Litton has identified seven different types of landscape views and although they were originally defined with regard to forest landscapes they are also applicable to the Colorado Plateau and the Hubbell landscape. [130] It has been determined that five of the seven types of landscape views are present within the Hubbell landscape. These include the feature landscape, panoramic landscape, focal landscape, detail landscape, and ephemeral landscape. Refer to Appendix 2 for definitions of these various landscapes.

Views toward and into the trading post and residential complex as well as the barn lot and corral area would constitute a feature landscape. Approximately 500' down the entrance road one gets an excellent view to the west of the trading post complex and views to the south across one of the historic agricultural fields. These views seem to enhance the visitor's expectations as they near the core of area of the historic site. From the parking area the visitor is afforded views to the north, south, and west. Looking north from the trading post one sees Hubbell Hill, a prominent rocky hill upon which many of the members of the Hubbell family have been buried. Views south and west of the trading post reveal more of the terraced agricultural fields and the surrounding open landscape.

As one traverses the boundaries of the park, the views within and out of the Hubbell landscape are not restricted except in the immediate area of the densely vegetated Pueblo Colorado Wash. These panoramic views are found to be spectacular on a daily basis but if one is fortunate to catch them when atmospheric conditions are changing such as dawn or dusk or as a thunderhead is approaching, the ephemeral landscape views are simply unsurpassed within the historic landscape.

In addition to the long range or panoramic views there are numerous close range views and photographic opportunities available as one explores the residential compound and bam lot area. These views include the focal and detailed landscape. The focal landscape is experienced as one travels along the long linear roads that are so characteristic of the Hubbell landscape or views along the numerous headgates that follow the alignments of the irrigation laterals. The detail landscape on the other hand is experienced with respect to immediate foreground distances and a pedestrian pace where minor details are noted such as individual plant materials, fencing or gate details, etc.

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Approximately 14 archeological sites have been located and recorded within the existing park boundary. The condition of these sites varies from poor to good with erosion being the most apparent primary threat. Test excavations and a variety of site stabilization techniques have been utilized on several of the sites to either mitigate impacts from development or to slow the processes of erosion. The archeological sites that have been recorded within the park boundaries and range in date from A.D. 0 through the mid twentieth century. Several of the archeological sites located within the boundaries of the park might easily be located by even the novice visitor as a result of the readily visible surface scatter of artifacts and this should be considered by planners prior to accommodating visitor access to these areas.

Erosion is another factor that results in the easy identification and degradation of the park's archeological sites. The site known as the Wide Reed Ruin has structural features that have been exposed through slumping soil action and illegal pothunting activities. The erosion of site HUTR 10 was slowed in 1984 when the site was backfilled and stabilized using a filter fabric material. Areas of the filter fabric covering the site are presently exposed to ultraviolet radiation as the loose sandy soils have been displaced by the winds that buffet the site.

Existing landscape treatment and management actions are a potential concern with regard to the archeological resources associated with the original Leonard trading post complex. The potential impacts of water infiltration as a result of the recent heavy watering activities in and around the ramada structure and front yard area have not been adequately assessed with regard to these significant and potentially informative sub-surface resources.

BOUNDARIES

As mentioned earlier in this report, the park boundaries include the 160 acres that originally comprised the Hubbell homestead claim. Generally speaking, the northern boundary is defined by the Pueblo Colorado Wash and a belt of floodplain vegetation which is predominantly saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) and Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia), The vegetation along the wash tends to block views both into and out of the property and most likely help to diffuse some of the vehicular noise that emanates from Highway 264. West of the trading post complex the northern boundary dips southward and is defined by a wood post and tightly strung eight strand barbed wire fence line that also serves to define the northern edge of the agricultural fields although judging from the existence of water gates on the eroding slopes of this terrace, the fields extended north of this fence line at some earlier date.

The western boundary of the property is also defined by an 8 strand barbed wire and wood post fence. Vegetation along the fence lines consists of chamisa, four-wing saltbush, snakeweed, Russian thistle, etc. A wide natural arroyo also helps to define the western edge of the park property. The southern boundary is defined by a wood post and 8 strand barbed wire fence line with some shrubby growth on either side. As with the western boundary, the southern fence line marks the limit of the agricultural field. The main irrigation canal runs along the southern side of the fence line and an unimproved secondary dirt road is located just south of the canal. The southern boundary takes a jog to the north as it nears the five acre irrigation reservoir and then continues eastward. The wood post and barbed wire fence line continues to define this boundary. Immediately south of the fence line is a small privately owned five acre fallow field and then south of that is the irrigation reservoir. The eastern boundary is located approximately 88 yards west of Highway 264 and like the others is marked by a wood post and 8 strand barbed wire fence line. There are a few pinyon and juniper trees scattered along portions of this fence line in addition to a recently planted row of Russian olive trees.

SMALL SCALE FEATURES

The small scale features that are presently found within the Hubbell landscape are numerous and varied. While some of these features are contemporary, many more date from the site's early history and have been specifically identified and referenced using historical documentation.

Contemporary small scale features include the wrought iron stile used by park staff in the housing area, wooden barrel trash receptacles, rectangular metal trash receptacles and metal barrel receptacles both types of which are painted brown, ceramic tile ash receptacles, directional and interpretive signage, cattle grates, and picnic tables. The majority of these features are included on the existing condition map for the site.

Historic small scale features found within the historic landscape include a sundial and other garden ornamentation, a rough hewn log trough that is used as a flower planter, wagon wheels used as ornamentation by the Hubbell family, and a grinding wheel. Other small scale features introduced to the site by the Hubbell family include large specimens of petrified wood and minerals, a plaster bas relief plaque that hangs over the main entry to the trading post, irregularly shaped and engraved sandstone signage, small stone benches, numerous farm implements, and wooden matanzas (slaughtering rack).