£sCs7*7-' NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018 (Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service FEB 2 3 1993 National Register of Historic Places NATION^ Registration Form BtGlSTER This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name Kanawha State Forest—Historic District other names/site number 2. Location street & number County T?mih<=> 4?/43 ? T 6 mi T south of Charleston D not for publication City or town Tminrtenda 1 «=»___________________________________ _ 0 vicinity State West Virginia code county Kanawha code W-Q39zip code 25314 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this E?f nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property SI meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant D nattMally KI statewide CH^caNy. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) slgnafireof certifying official/Title Date State of Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification roar I hereby certify that the property is: Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Bentered in the National Register. D See continuation sheet. X D determined eligible for the National Register D See continuation sheet. D determined not eligible for the National Register. D removed from the National Register. D other, (explain:) _______ _ Kanawha State Forest Kanawha/ West Virginia Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) D private D building(s) Contributing Noncontributing D public-local < Ixl district 2 5 buildings E public-State D site D public-Federal D structure sites D object 6 3 structures objects 8 8 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously listed (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) in the National Register N/A N/A 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Recreation & Culture Recreation & Culture Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Rustic Vernacular foundation _ Sandstone walls Log roof Asphalt shingle other Wood windows (in buildings)/ sandstone chimneys/ concrete (dam)/ sandstone Narrative Description floor in shelters. (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) NFS Form 10-«OO« OM0 Appro** No. 1024-0018 (MS) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Kanawha State Forest Historic District, Kanawha County, WV Section number 7 Page 2 Narrative Description The architectural character of buildings and structures in the Kanawha State Forest Historic District does not conform to any particular architectural style and may best be described as "Rustic Vernacular" architecture. These structures, placed in the Davis Creek valley surrounded by steep, forested mountainsides, are typical of those built by enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in many parts of the country during the depression years before World War II. The District consists of four picnic shelters, administration building (existing res­ idence for the Forest Superintendent), powder house, foot bridge and dam. Other manmade elements in the District include roads, toilets, playgrounds, picnic tables, and hiking trails. Manmade elements are skillfully blended with natural features such as creeks and hollows, open fields, forest land and mountains. This blend of manmade and natural elements reflects Franklin D. Roosevelt's "one with nature" philosophy. Wood structural members were made from dead and/or down blighted chestnut trees. Foundations, chimneys, steps and shelter floors were made from locally quarried and worked sandstone. Stonework was laid in coursed ashlar pattern with convex tooled joints. Original wood shingle roofs were supported by king type trusses made from round log members nailed or fastened with wooden pins. The trusses, in turn, are resting on large log columns strengthened by diagonal knee braces. Shelter railings are either stacked logs between columns, or have open log pickets fitted between top and bottom rails. The first recreational area in the District consists of the Foot Bridge site, the Dam, and Shelters #1 and #2. A comfort station, of sympathetic design, is part of the group. This building was not an original CCC unit but was built early in the 1940's. Picnic Shelters #1 and #2 are sited on a hillside bench overlooking the Foot Bridge site. The Foot Bridge, part of the original trail system, spanned Davis Creek about 100 feet downstream of the Dam and small lake. Less than one-half mile above the lake, on the south side of Davis Creek, in a small clearing, is the Superintendent's Residence. Across a small stream, known as Pheasant Run, from the residence is the Forest Office, a non-conforming building, constructed in the late 1950's. A few hundred feet south-west of these two buildings is the original Powder House and two non-conforming service buildings. Approximately four miles from the first two District areas are the picnic/recreation areas known as the Log Town Hollow Picnic Area and the Davis Creek Picnic Area where Shelters #4 and #5 are located. Also in these areas are three non-conforming shelters and a non-conforming comfort station. NPS ftxm 10-900-v QMS Afpnfr* No. /024-OOT« United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Kanawha State Forest Historic District, Kanawha County Section number 7 page 3 Except for asphalt shingle replacement for wood shingles on the roofs and the addition of electricity in Shelters #4 and #5, the Picnic Shelters are in original condition. The Powder House and Superintendent's House have asphalt shingle roofs; the foot bridge is gone except for its stone abutments and weir gates have been removed from the dam. These seem to be the only changes in those structures. The rustic architecture of the Kanawha State Forest exhibits fine craftsmanship and sensitivity to its environment. The structures are built of natural materials, have low silhouettes, good horizontal lines, and were carefully proportioned. Architectural Description Shelter No. 1; One of four remaining original 1938-1941 picnic shelters, this building is three bays wide and one bay deep. It's foundation and steps are fashioned from native sandstone laid in coursed ashlar style. The building has an open braced frame structure made with over-sized chestnut logs. The asphalt shingle covered roof is supported by trusses and the rear center bay consists of a stone chimney flanked on each side by a coursed log wall with fully notched corners. Railings consist of vertical log pickets between horizontal top and bottom log railings. The shelter is 34' x 26' wide a 14' gable ridge height. (C.) Shelter No. 2; This original shelter is located on the same woodland bench as No. 1. It is three bays wide and three bays deep and is constructed in a similar manner as No. 1, with coursed ashlar sandstone foundation and chestnut structural members. Shelter 2 also has a fireplace and chimney. Railings are both open, as in Shelter 1, or made with stacked logs between columns. The shelter measures 39'-6" wide x 23'-6" deep with a 14' gable height. (C.) Comfort Station; Noted on the graphic map as non-conforming building #1> this toilet building is located near the road and accessible to the first two shelters. The building has wood siding and asphalt shingle roof and is designed in a manner sympathetic with other Forest buildings. It does not have a negative impact on the original structures.(N.C.) Davis Creek Foot Bridge; The foot bridge was part of the original trail system which tied the various recreation areas together. It consisted of two log beams with a wood board floor and braced handrails, all supported by standstone buttresses. The wood structure was declared unsafe during the summer of 1992 and dismantled. The Davis Creek Dam; The dam