PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Historic Buildings

The Fort

Only routine maintenance was performed on the fort from 1970 until 1976. In July 1974, Historical Architect Rodd L. Wheaton made his first visit to Pipe Spring to inspect the historic buildings. After a tour with Joe Bolander, Wheaton inspected the fort and associated cabins. His later report commented on a host of problems linked to damp penetration of the fort's exterior walls due to seepage, particularly the rear (north) wall. He agreed with Bernard Tracy that the wall needed to be trenched at the exterior, infilled with gravel, and waterproofed. Wheaton observed that past repairs to the exterior had been made with concrete mortar, incompatible both in appearance and chemically with the original lime mortar. He advised that as concrete mortar deteriorated, it be replaced with matching lime mortar. Although the existing wood shake roof was sound, Wheaton recommended that when it needed replacing, wood shingles be used; shakes were not historically appropriate. Regarding the fort interior, he made recommendations regarding the removal of deteriorated plaster and other repairs. Wheaton evaluated the condition of the east and west cabins as "excellent." In his discussions with Tracy, Wheaton learned the monument lacked a historic resource study, historic structure report, and historic furnishings report. [2205]

In early 1976, the List of Classified Structures survey of historic buildings was completed at Pipe Spring by Lance R. Williams and Lance J. Olivieri.

Excessive water seepage at the northwest corner of the fort had long been a concern to monument administrators and historical architects but the problem appeared to worsen over the summer of 1976. In May 1976, the historic architecture consulting firm of Conron and Muths was engaged to research the problem and make recommendations for treatment. [2206] Rodd Wheaton was the project supervisor and contracting officer's representative.

On November 15-16, 1976, an emergency stabilization conference was held between Thomas B. Muths, Rodd Wheaton, Bob Heyder, and Bernard Tracy at Pipe Spring. A work crew from Zion was put at their disposal. A decision was made to immediately remove the floors of the parlor and kitchen in order to expose the floor joist system and ground beneath. This increased the rate of evaporation of excess water beneath the floors. In attempting to remove the plaster from the interior face of the north wall to expose the original rock wall, workers discovered a layer of concrete. It was quickly learned from speaking with former Custodian Leonard Heaton that the north wall had a two-inch layer of concrete beneath a thin layer of plaster. Enough of the hard concrete was chipped off to expose the rock wall and mortar joints for inspection. The rock was discovered to be soft and 100 percent water saturated; exposed mortar was in a totally plastic state, Muths later reported. While there was a critical need for exterior work to be performed along the north wall, no funds were available for the work. Meanwhile, an attempt was made to develop drainage inside the fort that would permit free flow of water from the back wall through the building and out its south side. [2207] The fort's parlor and kitchen were closed to the public while Tracy awaited direction and funding to correct the problem.

During 1977, the seepage along the fort's northwest wall subsided, possibly aided by a drought that year. Conron and Muth's report on the problem was received in November 1977 (Masonry Stabilization Project, Phase I). [2208] During 1978, Conron and Muth prepared construction documents to correct the seepage problem (Phase II). They completed this work in either late 1978 or early 1979. Their report was reviewed by Tracy and Heyder in March 1979 and by Rocky Mountain Region staff in May. Repairs of existing damage and preservation work had to await funding. Work was programmed for fiscal year 1979, expected to cost $98,000. A government contract was advertised by the Park Service in August 1979 for the fort restoration work, but was not awarded. (Reports suggest no qualified contractor bid.) Stabilization work would not be undertaken until 1980. The fort's parlor and kitchen continued to be closed to the public during 1977, 1978, 1979, and much of 1980.

The East and West Cabins

The monument flood of August 23, 1971, caused water damage to the west cabin (see "Floods" section). During the storm, water flooded through the walls and into the structure. While no reports of repairs have been located, it is presumed repairs were carried out. For the rest of the decade the cabins received only routine maintenance.