PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Planning and Development

Plans for a new utility building to replace the combination barn/garage destroyed in the July 1951 fire were prepared later that year. In March and April 1952, Heaton obtained building materials, excavated for the new building, and completed the forms for the foundation. The new building was sited on the spot where the barn/garage had been. The foundation was poured in May, the frame erected in June, and celotex siding added in July. The roof was shingled and windows added in August. Heaton also laid a water line to the new structure. Heaton's sons helped him with much of the construction work. Heaton continued finish work on the building into the fall and winter. (On New Year's Day 1953, he spray-painted the utility building using an electrolux vacuum cleaner! "Did a pretty good job," he observed. [1595]) When completed, it provided much-needed storage space for equipment, supplies, and records that had previously been kept in the fort, residence, and other places. "This is a building that has been needed at the monument for 26 years," Heaton stated in September 1952 when much of the construction had been completed. [1596] (The building has also been referred to as a garage and workshop.) That month Heaton also did some repair work to the old CCC cellar as deteriorated boards were allowing water to seep into the underground structure. Additional repairs were made in May 1953 where sections of the cellar walls were caving in.

Planning for a proposed self-guided nature trail continued in the early 1950s. In August 1952 Zion's Park Naturalist Merrill Walker visited Pipe Spring to investigate the proposed trail at the monument. On April 23, 1953, Naturalist Natt Dodge also scoped out the area northwest of the fort to the Powell monument and to the Indian petroglyphs. Dodge later reported that he was in favor of the trail route proposed by Heaton, but that it would require "considerable pick-and-shovel work" to construct. [1597] In mid-May Heaton had his sons cut some trail stakes and a week later marked the proposed nature trail in back of the fort that Dodge recommended. He wrote a memorandum to Superintendent Franke in late May describing the trail route:

Beginning at the spring west of the fort, then up the hill back of the fort, through the cactus beds, to the old rock quarry, then west to the high point in the monument, [then] drop off under the ledges on west to the Indian writings (outside the monument boundary), then back along the hillside to another rock quarry and follow the old road to the west cabin, and back to the fort, being a little over [a] one-fourth mile trail. [1598]

Heaton calculated that he had $100 left in his trails and walks account and asked headquarters if he could have his seasonal laborer begin work on the trail. At the June staff meeting, however, Heaton was told his accounts were too low to permit constructing the trail that year. In late August 1953, Chief Naturalist Raymond Gregg (Washington office), traveled to the monument to discuss development of the nature trail and other planned developments. "With a few more visits from [the] Washington office, we may get more done here at the place," Heaton wrote in his journal. [1599]

On October 2, 1953, on one of Heaton's day's off and when Edna Heaton was in charge of the monument, a large cadre of Park Service historical architects visited the monument. The men included Charles W. Anderson and George W. Norgard (Region IV); Robert E. Smith (Region I); Charles R. Siglor, Ken Saunders, and Lyle Bennett (Region III); Charles S. Gross (Blue Ridge Parkway); and Dick Sutton (Washington office). Heaton raised a now-familiar lament in his journal that night: "I wish these fellows would let a man know when they are around and expect to visit an area." [1600] One positive outcome of the men's visit was that during their visit Edna had told them they were having continual trouble with the light plant. This must have been reported to the regional office, for Zion officials soon called and said they would attempt to get another plant for the monument.

In April 1954 Superintendent Franke and Architect Glen Hendricks of the regional office visited the monument to assess signage needs and to discuss future developments. They returned in late May to select a site for the new generator house. In June Heaton began excavating the foundation for the concrete power house. Zion maintenance men Harry E. Brockmeier and Ward Axtel brought a cement mixer out to the monument for the building's foundation and stayed to help with construction. Heaton hired Darrell L. Heaton to work on construction as well. The foundation was poured on June 18. Trenches were dug for underground cable and a hole was excavated to hold a 500 gallon gasoline fuel tank. The house was roofed by June 28 and work completed on June 29, 1954, except for installation of the doors and underground cable, which had not yet arrived. Heaton finished up much of the work except for the wiring, which was done by an electrician in July. The new Witte diesel power plant 7.5 KVA was delivered and installed on August 9. An electrician wired the power, plant, utility building, and residence later that month and the plant was put into use on August 27. Heaton reported the new plant was a great improvement over the old Kohler light plant that had to be started and stopped several times a day. The expense of purchasing the new light plant, constructing the generator house, and paying the electrician, Heaton later reported, "just about broke the monument for 1955 funds." [1601] Run continuously, operating expenses for the plant ran $1.48 per day. [1602] Franke soon requested Heaton turn off the generator at night, which resulted in a considerable fuel savings, from 8.14 gallons per day to 6.4 gallons per day.

In late August 1955, newly appointed Regional Director Hugh Miller and Assistant Superintendent Art Thomas spent an hour at the monument going over its problems with Heaton and discussing development plants. Some of the projects discussed were getting a comfort station and residence, better signage, repairs to the fort, museum improvements, and the need for a full-time ranger or historian. Heaton was grateful for Miller's visit and confident the new regional director would be an advocate for the monument: "Was glad to have Miller call in as it will help the people in the region know my problems," Heaton later wrote in his journal. [1603] At the end of 1955, Franke reported to the director that the pit toilets at Pipe Spring needed to be replaced. These had been in continuous use since the 1930s. "Where the money is coming from is uncertain, but health demands will not tolerate the old toilets serving another season," wrote Franke. [1604] They continued to be used until April 1957.