Zigzag Ranger Station
Encyclopedia
The Zigzag Ranger Station is a Forest Service
compound consisting of twenty rustic
buildings located in Oregon
’s Mount Hood National Forest
. It was built as the administrative headquarters for the Zigzag Ranger District. It is located in the small unincorporated community of Zigzag, Oregon
. Many of the historic buildings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
between 1933 and 1942. Today, the Forest Service still uses the ranger station as the Zigzag Ranger District headquarters. The ranger station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, the Forest Service built district ranger stations at strategic locations within the forest to house full-time employees and provide logistics support to fire patrols and project crews working at remote forest sites. After World War II
, the Forest Service greatly expanded its road network, allowing employees to get to most forest areas within a few hours. As a result, many of the more isolated ranger stations were closed or converted to summer guard station. However, the Zigzag Ranger Station has served as a district headquarters since it was built.
In 1908, the Forest Service established the Oregon National Forest
around Mount Hood in north central Oregon. The first Forest Service building at the Zigzag site was constructed in 1917. Several other buildings were added to the compound in the 1920s. In 1924, a large part of the Oregon National Forest was redesignated as the Mount Hood National Forest; this included the Zigzag Ranger District. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps began doing construction work at the ranger station. Between 1933 and 1942, Civilian Conservation Corps crews built nine ranger station buildings. The Civilian Conservation Corps workers came from nearby Camp Zigzag, and worked under the supervision of Forest Service rangers. All of the buildings constructed during that period were designed by the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Regional Architecture Group, and were built in the Cascadian rustic style.
Today, the ranger station still serves as the administrative headquarters for the Zigzag Ranger District. There are twenty buildings that make up the ranger station complex. Nineteen of those buildings plus one additional structure (a stone masonry wall built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) are historically important. All of the historic buildings are still in use and are in excellent condition. Because the Zigzag Ranger Station is of unique historic value as an early Forest Service ranger station, the compound and surrounding area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 8 April 1986. The historic site covers a total of 125 acre (0.5058575 km²).
With nineteen historic buildings, the Zigzag Ranger Station is a classic Forest Service range station. Nine of the historic buildings were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1942. Their work included a district administrative office, ranger’s residences, a crew bunkhouse
, a fire equipment warehouse
, two warehouses for road and trail equipment, a carpenter shop, a garage
, and a gas house
. The buildings were constructed in the Cascadian rustic architectural style using weatherboard, wood shingles
, native stone, and concrete as the principle building materials. Many of the gables and shutters have the open pine tree logo common to Forest Service structures built during the 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corps also built a random-course stone walls at the ranger station.
plants. James P. Langdon, the Zigzag District Ranger at the time, donated additional trees and shrubs from his private nursery to complement the rhododendrons, including the rare Dawn Redwood.
While not all the original plants survived, Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens still have examples of 50 different types of rhododendron and over 150 other plants. The gardens offer an opportunity to enjoy many trees and shrubs native to the Mount Hood National Forest at one location as well as many non-native plant species. The grounds are open year round for self-guided tours. A garden map that show where to find all 50 rhododendron varieties is available at the Zigzag district office.
surrounded by the Mount Hood National Forest. The elevation at the site is 1460 feet (445 m) above sea level. The forest around the ranger station is made up of Douglas fir, Western red cedar, big leaf maple, vine maple
, red alder
, cascara buckthorn, and Pacific dogwood
.
The Zigzag Ranger Station is located 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Portland, Oregon
in the small unincorporated community of Zigzag
. The ranger station is just off U.S. Highway 26
. The ranger station has facilities on both sides of the highway; however, the office and most of the historic buildings are located on the south side of the highway along with the Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens.
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
compound consisting of twenty rustic
National Park Service Rustic
National Park Service rustic, also colloquially known as Parkitecture, is a style of architecture that arose in the United States National Park System to create buildings that harmonized with their natural environment. Since its founding, the National Park Service consistently has sought to provide...
buildings located in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
’s Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
. It was built as the administrative headquarters for the Zigzag Ranger District. It is located in the small unincorporated community of Zigzag, Oregon
Zigzag, Oregon
Zigzag is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Rhododendron and Welches on U.S. Route 26...
. Many of the historic buildings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
between 1933 and 1942. Today, the Forest Service still uses the ranger station as the Zigzag Ranger District headquarters. The ranger station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
In the early 20th century, the forest road networks were not well developed. To facilitate work in National ForestsUnited States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
, the Forest Service built district ranger stations at strategic locations within the forest to house full-time employees and provide logistics support to fire patrols and project crews working at remote forest sites. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Forest Service greatly expanded its road network, allowing employees to get to most forest areas within a few hours. As a result, many of the more isolated ranger stations were closed or converted to summer guard station. However, the Zigzag Ranger Station has served as a district headquarters since it was built.
In 1908, the Forest Service established the Oregon National Forest
Oregon National Forest
Oregon National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon on July 1, 1908 with from part of Cascade National Forest and all of Bull Run National Forest. On January 21, 1924 the forest was renamed Mount Hood National Forest. -External links:...
around Mount Hood in north central Oregon. The first Forest Service building at the Zigzag site was constructed in 1917. Several other buildings were added to the compound in the 1920s. In 1924, a large part of the Oregon National Forest was redesignated as the Mount Hood National Forest; this included the Zigzag Ranger District. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps began doing construction work at the ranger station. Between 1933 and 1942, Civilian Conservation Corps crews built nine ranger station buildings. The Civilian Conservation Corps workers came from nearby Camp Zigzag, and worked under the supervision of Forest Service rangers. All of the buildings constructed during that period were designed by the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Regional Architecture Group, and were built in the Cascadian rustic style.
Today, the ranger station still serves as the administrative headquarters for the Zigzag Ranger District. There are twenty buildings that make up the ranger station complex. Nineteen of those buildings plus one additional structure (a stone masonry wall built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) are historically important. All of the historic buildings are still in use and are in excellent condition. Because the Zigzag Ranger Station is of unique historic value as an early Forest Service ranger station, the compound and surrounding area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 8 April 1986. The historic site covers a total of 125 acre (0.5058575 km²).
Structures
Bunkhouse
A bunkhouse is a hostel or barracks-like building that historically was used to house working cowboys on ranches in North America. As most cowboys were young single men, the standard bunkhouse was a large open room with narrow beds or cots for each individual and little privacy...
, a fire equipment warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
, two warehouses for road and trail equipment, a carpenter shop, a garage
Garage (house)
A residential garage is part of a home, or an associated building, designed or used for storing a vehicle or vehicles. In some places the term is used synonymously with "carport", though that term normally describes a structure that is not completely enclosed.- British residential garages:Those...
, and a gas house
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
. The buildings were constructed in the Cascadian rustic architectural style using weatherboard, wood shingles
Shake (shingle)
A shake is a basic wooden shingle that is made from split logs. Shakes have traditionally been used for roofing and siding applications around the world. Higher grade shakes are typically used for roofing purposes, while the lower grades are used for siding purposes...
, native stone, and concrete as the principle building materials. Many of the gables and shutters have the open pine tree logo common to Forest Service structures built during the 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corps also built a random-course stone walls at the ranger station.
- The Ranger’s Office is a two-story, rectangular building, 53 feet (16.2 m) across the front and 41 feet (12.5 m) along the sides. It has a gabled roof with a stone chimney and no eaves. There are dormerDormerA dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
s on each side of the roof. The lower half of the office is board-and-batten construction; the upper half is built with horizontal clapboardClapboard (architecture)Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
. The front and back porches have 10-inch-square support posts with curved braces and stone floors.
- The Ranger's Residence is a rectangular frame building with stone foundation and a gabled roof. The gables are filled with vertical boards with open pine tree logo cutouts. The front porch is supported by square posts. Next to the residence is a matching Garage with the same siding and tree logo cutouts. In 2007, the Forest Service replaced the old wood shake roofs on both the residence and garage with new heavy wood shakes.
- The large two-story Bunkhouse also served as a residence for the assistant rangers. Like the office, the bunkhouse has board-and-batten siding on its lower level with horizontal clapboard above. There is an above-ground concrete foundation in the front to make the house level against slightly sloping ground. The front porch is placed off-center. There is also a side porch with an overhanging roof. Both porches are supported by 10-inch-square posts with curved wooden braces.
- Like the office and bunkhouse, the Fire Warehouse is a two-story frame building with board-and-batten siding on its lower half and horizontal clapboard on the upper half. It has a gable roof with four dormers and no eaves. The front porch has 10 inches (254 mm) square posts. There is a garage door entry on the right side of the building. There is also a second-floor side entrance accessed from an outside stairway.
- There are two Road and Trail Warehouse buildings. The first warehouse is a large rectangular frame building with clapboard siding and sliding garage doors. The second warehouse is a frame building with a saltboxSaltboxA saltbox is a building with a long, pitched roof that slopes down to the back, generally a wooden frame house. A saltbox has just one story in the back and two stories in the front...
roof. Both buildings are original, but have been altered over time.
- The Carpenter Shop is a long rectangular building, approximately 80 feet (24.4 m) by 45 feet (13.7 m). The shop has a gabled roof with four dormer windows. The two gabled ends project out, creating slight overhangs. There is vertical siding below the overhang with Forest Service pine tree logo cutouts. The rest of the building has clapboard siding. There are large garage doors lining the front of the building.
- The Gas House is a frame building with shiplapShiplapShiplap is a term used to describe a type of wooden board used commonly in the construction of barns, sheds, outbuildings and inexpensive or seasonal homes. It is either rough-sawn 1" or milled 3/4" pine or similarly inexpensive wood between 3" and 10" wide with a 3/8" - 1/2" rabbet on opposite...
siding and a gable roof. The roof framework is open at the gable ends, and a large projecting overhang shelters the gas pumps and vehicle service area.
Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens
The Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens are located on the grounds of the Zigzag Ranger Station. The gardens were conceived in 1952 as a roadside beautification project. Local nurseries and individual horticulturists donated 100 plants to start the garden. When it was officially dedicated on 24 May 1953, the garden had grown to 235 rhododendronRhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
plants. James P. Langdon, the Zigzag District Ranger at the time, donated additional trees and shrubs from his private nursery to complement the rhododendrons, including the rare Dawn Redwood.
While not all the original plants survived, Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens still have examples of 50 different types of rhododendron and over 150 other plants. The gardens offer an opportunity to enjoy many trees and shrubs native to the Mount Hood National Forest at one location as well as many non-native plant species. The grounds are open year round for self-guided tours. A garden map that show where to find all 50 rhododendron varieties is available at the Zigzag district office.
Location
The Zigzag Ranger Station is in eastern Clackamas County, OregonClackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
surrounded by the Mount Hood National Forest. The elevation at the site is 1460 feet (445 m) above sea level. The forest around the ranger station is made up of Douglas fir, Western red cedar, big leaf maple, vine maple
Vine Maple
Acer circinatum is a species of maple native to western North America, from southwest British Columbia to northern California, always within 300 km of the Pacific Ocean coast....
, red alder
Red Alder
Alnus rubra, the Red alder, is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America.-Description:It is the largest species of alder in North America and one of the largest in the world, reaching heights of 20–35 m. The official tallest red alder stands 32 meters tall in Clatsop County, Oregon...
, cascara buckthorn, and Pacific dogwood
Pacific Dogwood
The Pacific Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii , is a species of dogwood native to western North America from lowlands of southern British Columbia to mountains of southern California. An inland population occurs in central Idaho. Cultivated examples are found as far north as Haida Gwaii...
.
The Zigzag Ranger Station is located 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in the small unincorporated community of Zigzag
Zigzag, Oregon
Zigzag is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Rhododendron and Welches on U.S. Route 26...
. The ranger station is just off U.S. Highway 26
U.S. Route 26 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 26 is a major cross-state state highway, connecting U.S. Route 101 on the Oregon Coast near Seaside with the Idaho state line east of Nyssa. Local highway names include the Sunset Highway No. 47, Mount Hood Highway No. 26, and John Day Highway No...
. The ranger station has facilities on both sides of the highway; however, the office and most of the historic buildings are located on the south side of the highway along with the Wy’East Rhododendron Gardens.