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Show Previous Documentation & Determinations of Eligibility None Determination of Eligibility The Ferron Ranger Station is eligible for listing on the National Register as a District under Criteria A and C with Conservation, Social History, and Architecture as areas of significance. As a former district headquarters, it played a vital part in the early administration of the Manti National Forest. It is also important for its associations with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a key component of the nationally significant New Deal program. Despite some alterations, the compound retains the character-defining features required to illustrate these historic themes and portray its identity as a historic Forest Service administrative site. The period of significance begins with its construction in 1936 and ends in the late 1960s when district staff shifted to a leased office. Five of its 21 buildings are contributing resources: the Dwelling, Bunkhouse, Barn, Garage, and Oil/Gas Shed. The other buildings/structures are non-contributing resources. Important site features that also contribute to the site's historic character include the pasture, corrals, fences, sidewalks, and landscaping. Narrative (see IICommodious Cabins and Handsome Structures" for full citations) In late 1934, the City of Ferron offered the Manti National Forest a parcel of land (in T20S, R7E, S16) for development as a ranger station, noting it was large enough ((for a dwelling, garage, barn, machine sheds and l a large garden." The Forest Supervisor, recognizing the potential to develop a station and a winter CCC camp, 2 asked the Regional Foresterto keep the offer in mind as New Deal funds became available. By deed dated December 28, 1935, the Forest Service took possession of the 4.42-acre site at the southwest corner of State Street and Canyon Road (100 South).3 CCC enrollees, presumably from Ferron Camp F-11, immediately started constructing buildings and, by the summer of 1936, the station had gained an R4 Plan 1 dwelling, an R4 Plan 51B office/storeroom, an R4 Plan 11 barn, an R4 Plan 21 garage/storeroom, and an eqUipment shed. All but the latter, which was covered with corrugated metal, had novelty siding and wood-shingled roofs. They were 4 painted white with light green roofs and Nile green trim and shutters. L. A. Conyers, an engineer with the CCC camp, suggested - and may have implemented - several modifications to the Ferron Ranger Station that were not particularly welcome. He drew up a landscaping plan that in 1936 drew criticism from Harold L. Curtiss, a landscape architect in the Regional Office. Curtiss remarked, ((This plan should be drawn up in the approved form and in accordance with Regional policies and should bear the written approval of the Forest Supervisor." He recommended reducing the amount of lawn and using ((a s naturalistic planting of carefully selected masses of drouth [sic] resistant shrubs." Regional architect George L. Nichols found the new buildings poorly placed on site and noted, ((we must carefully plan our landscaping so that we will get good screening for the buildings.,,6 This led Curtiss to develop a planting plan in 1937, relying on trees and bushes to do just that. Landscaping costs soared to $6,379.94, primarily because the alkaline soil 1 l. W. Petersen, et. al. to The Supervisor, Manti National Forest, November 19, 1934, File: 1/7300 Buildings, Ferron Administrative Site," Ferron Office. 2 J. W. Humphrey to Regional Forester, December 3, 1934, File: 1/7300 Buildings, Ferron Administrative Site," Ferron Office. 3 In 1964, the Forest Service purchased the site for $5.00 to overcome defects in the deed . 4 I/Descriptive Sheet, Improvement Plan, Ferron Ranger Station." 5 Harold l. Curtiss, Memorandum for Operation, May 14, 1936, File: 1/7300 Buildings, Ferron Admin Site," MLNF Eng Office. 6 George l. Nichols, Memorandum for Operation, July 1, 1936, File: 1/7300 Buildings, Ferron Administrative Site," Ferron Office. 2 |
