Conduct Historic Preservation Field School to Assess and Stabilize the Lost Horse Mill, Joshua Tree National Park
Project ID: P17AC01127
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Vermont and State Agriculture College
Fiscal Year: 2017
Initial Funding: $195,327
Total Funding: $280,948
Project Type: Education
Project Disciplines: Cultural
National Park: Joshua Tree National Park
Principal Investigator: Porter, Doug
Agreement Technical Representative: Skeirik, Randy
Abstract: The Lost Horse Mill, in the Lost Horse Mining Historic District, consists primarily of a rock crusher that deposited crushed ore into a bin directly supplying a ten-stamp mill, and during its periods of operation (1893-1908 and 1930-36) processed ore extracted from the Lost Horse Mine. Originally constructed in the 1890s, the mill is built of heavy timber and retains most of the original machinery, including a steam-powered winch, a Fraser-Chalmers rock crusher, a Hoyt engine, and two 5-stamp batteries. The mill and accompanying mine site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mill and ore bin have not been recently assessed, though deformation of the frame has resulted in withdrawal of horizontal and vertical frame elements from their housings, and it is clear that the frame requires repair.
The School of Engineering at the UVM will participate with NPS staff in a collaborative program of research, documentation, assessment, training, and pilot treatment at the Lost Horse Mill in Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR). To preserve cultural resources, enhance interpretive opportunities, and improve visitor safety, the UVM will assess current conditions, propose repairs, and evaluate repair options in the pilot treatment of the mill site. UVM will assemble a specialized team to conduct the condition assessment and propose treatment strategies for the mine structures. Pilot repair will be addressed using a field school format that will result in training of students and others in the repair techniques to be implemented.
This project will be conducted in two stages. In Stage 1, UVM will conduct an assessment of the ore bin and stamp mill. The assessment will include structural evaluation, wood assessment (including species identification, in situ grading, and characterization of the surviving structural section in key elements) to determine surviving capacity, and recommendations for repair. Stage 1, will involve volunteers who work with the park’s Cultural Resources Branch-Historic Structure Preservation Program. There are currently six volunteers who monitor historic structures for the park’s Cultural Resources. These volunteers will receive firsthand experience in conducting condition assessments and structural evaluations under the direction of qualified professionals. In Stage 2, repairs will be addressed using a field school format to train field school participants in the repair techniques to be implemented. UVM students, NPS staff, and practicing professionals will be directly involved in all portions of the work including field assessment, organization of site-collected data, data analysis, and the implementation of pilot treatments and repairs. Expected deliverables include: an assessment report that includes a description of the mill structure and current conditions, results of the wood assessment, and a range of treatment options and/or recommendations; and a final report that describes the project results along with project documentation. The park’s Digital Media Team will document both Stage 1 and Stage 2 and create a series of social media posts and NPS website content that will disseminate both the results of this project and historic preservation philosophies to the public.