James S. Rouse

Were there one or several factors that led you to locate in Seattle?

We may have talked about this off the tape. At that particular time the NPS was planning to establish the Pacific Northwest Regional Office (8). John Rutter and others were looking for some staff people from various disciplines. They seemed to need somebody of my general qualifications and I was asked if I was interested.

 How did the new Seattle office work with the one in Portland? Were the Portland folks assigned only to Oregon projects?

I recall a gentleman’s name, Ed Arnold. We worked on the master plan at Fort Vancouver. That’s probably the last time I recall Ed having a part in a project. I remember going to his retirement party. I think there was somebody else down there, but can’t think of his name.

Dan Burroughs?

I remember Dan, but I don’t remember much about him, or ever working with him.

They [The Portland Office] were pretty much tied up with planning in the Columbia River Gorge and other cooperative projects. They were involved with the external stuff more than in park planning or operations.

This was in part more of a convenience. Rather than have them move to Seattle, the NPS gave them some studies and other duties. I remember I went to Ed’s retirement party. I was the only one from the regional office that went down to Portland for it.