Friends of Crater Lake National

Greg Hartell Internship for Historic Preservation

OVERVIEW

Eight different construction techniques were identified during the Summer 2008 inventory of stone resources within the park. These include A) random ashlar masonry or “tiled” masonry with a single cut face of the stone exposed for the construction of tree wells, spillways, drains, walkways, some buildings, and newer steps; B) coursed ashlar using rectangular shaped stones with weathered surfaces for features such as culvert headwalls; C) un-coursed or random stone masonry for guard walls, retaining walls, and parapet walls; D) battered, un-coursed stone masonry that is either load bearing or applied as a veneer for buildings; E) monolithic stones for steps, benches, drinking fountains, and curbing; F) dry-laid stone for retaining walls and revetments; G) combinations of these techniques with wood members; and H) new construction using a concrete core faced with stone masonry.

Stone used in the construction of these features was primarily andesite removed from the Watchman flow and collected from other locations within the park such as Garfield Peak, Dutton Cliff, and ditches along roadways. Because stone can no longer be excavated in the park, obtaining stone for use in repair and new construction is problematic. Planning should be coordinated with all maintenance crews to save any stone removed from roadways, ditches, and other locations for use in future projects.

The map on the next page shows the locations of many masonry features found in the park, although it is not comprehensive. The accompanying list on pages 12-15 identifies the features found at each location. Although the content of this manual is predominantly geared toward stone masonry, dry-laid features are also keyed on the map and a short section on dry-laid features can be found toward the end of the manual.