Historic Resource Study, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, 1984
X. Construction of Government Buildings and Landscaping in Crater Lake National Park
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.
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