X. Construction of Government Buildings
and Landscaping in Crater Lake National Park
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K. Important Additions to Headquarters
Complex in 1932
1. Administration Building
The new administration building was to be
a permanent structure built to the established standards of a rough
stone first story with rustic superstructure. It was to be 100 feet long
and 40 feet wide of native stone to blend with other buildings in the
Government Camp area. The lower floor would include a large room for the
clerical department, measuring 42 by 15 feet, with a northern exposure.
Also on the main floor would be space for the offices of the
superintendent, assistant superintendent, timekeeper, and information
department, and for a conference room. The main entrance would lead into
a public lobby, with a fireplace and veneered walls. Corridors would
lead off to the right and left to offices. The upper floor of the
1-1/2-story building was to have six offices and two storage rooms. It
was hoped the building could be occupied by the next year.
[43]
During construction of this building, some
difficulty was experienced in getting a good distribution of color in
the rockwork, but the hardest task was to keep out the unnatural shapes,
such as were caused by trimming rocks around the windows or when fitting
rocks together. The only way to avoid masons resorting to the trimming
was either to have an inspector constantly on the job or else make
detailed drawings showing each rock, both of which were expensive
solutions. Rather than use thin flat slabs for window sills, rocks
similar to those in the rest of the building were used. The
specifications called for split shakes on the roof, such as were used on
the Ranger Dormitory. Francis Lange, the Emergency Conservation Work
landscape architect, and the superintendent felt that sawed shakes of
greater thickness and with more surface exposed to the weather would
look better with the heavy rock walls and that the slightly increased
cost would be offset by decreased maintenance. Use of these shakes
proved impracticable due to lack of funds, but it was possible to get
enough shingles to put under the shakes so that somewhat the same effect
was achieved. Every fifth course a double shingle was placed under the
shakes giving a heavier line that did much to relieve the monotony of
the vast expanse of roof. The superintendent hoped that in the future
all new buildings in the park would have the thick sawed shakes
specified for the roofs, and that as reroofing was necessary on older
buildings, the same would be used.
[44]
Illustration 47. Ranger dormitory and grading
activities for new headquarters building, Munson Valley. Courtesy Crater
Lake National Park.
