Isabella Ranger Station
Encyclopedia
The Isabella Ranger Station is a complex of 21 buildings in Stony River Township, Minnesota
, near the town of Isabella, Minnesota
. It is located on Minnesota State Highway 1
about one mile east of Isabella. The complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
for its association with New Deal
federal relief construction.
Of the 21 buildings, 11 are listed as contributing properties to the district. These were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
in the mid-1930s and were built of horizontally-laid wood logs, mostly aspen and pine. These buildings consist of dwellings, an office building, storage facilities, and warehouses. Some other buildings on the site were constructed after the CCC built the original complex, and are not considered contributing properties.
The ranger station is nationally significant for its use as an administration center that supported multiple federal land management functions within the Isabella Ranger District of the Superior National Forest
. The rustic architecture
is also significant because it was common to the design of land management administrative buildings within this time period. The historic context of the Superior National Forest began with a recommendation by General C.C. Andrews that all of the public land within Cook County, Minnesota
and Lake County, Minnesota
, totaling around 500000 acres (202,343 ha), should be preserved as a forest reserve. On February 13, 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt
established the Superior National Forest with an area of 1018638 acres (412,228.5 ha). Additional proclamations raised the size of the forest to 2173210 acres (879,467.7 ha). During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps
was formed to provide relief for unemployment, and also to stimulate local economies through federally funded, grassroots development projects. The Isabella guard station served as a facility for crews that were working in an often roadless area within the Superior National Forest. While crews and their assignments changed frequently, CCC Company 701, based in Ely, Minnesota
, and Company 3703, based in Baptism River, Minnesota were confirmed to be involved in the construction of this station.
Other surviving guard stations include the East Bearskin Lake Guard Station, near Gunflint; Crooked Lake Guard Station, near LaCroix; Halfway/North Central Experiment Station; Kekekabic Lake Guard Station; Lac LaCroix Guard Station; Sawbill Lake Guard Station; South Kawishiwi River Pavilion; and Tofte Ranger Station.
Stony River Township, Minnesota
Stony River Township is a township in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 179 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 578.9 square miles , of which 547.7 square miles is land and 31.2 square...
, near the town of Isabella, Minnesota
Isabella, Minnesota
Isabella is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located north of Silver Bay and southeast of Ely on Minnesota Highway 1.Isabella is located within the Superior National Forest....
. It is located on Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 54 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 61 at the unincorporated town of Illgen City in Beaver Bay...
about one mile east of Isabella. The complex 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...
for its association with New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
federal relief construction.
Of the 21 buildings, 11 are listed as contributing properties to the district. These were built 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...
in the mid-1930s and were built of horizontally-laid wood logs, mostly aspen and pine. These buildings consist of dwellings, an office building, storage facilities, and warehouses. Some other buildings on the site were constructed after the CCC built the original complex, and are not considered contributing properties.
The ranger station is nationally significant for its use as an administration center that supported multiple federal land management functions within the Isabella Ranger District of the Superior National Forest
Superior National Forest
Superior National Forest, part of the United States National Forest system, is located in the Arrowhead Region of the state of Minnesota between the Canada – United States border and the north shore of Lake Superior...
. The rustic architecture
Rustic architecture
Rustic architecture is a style of architecture in the United States, used in rural government and private structures and their landscape interior design. It was influenced by the American craftsman style.-Rustic styles and types:...
is also significant because it was common to the design of land management administrative buildings within this time period. The historic context of the Superior National Forest began with a recommendation by General C.C. Andrews that all of the public land within Cook County, Minnesota
Cook County, Minnesota
Northern Minnesota offers extreme winter weather. While the averages are low, the extremes provide more details. A third of the year is below freezing . Of those days, 21 are below zero degrees Fahrenheit .-External links:...
and Lake County, Minnesota
Lake County, Minnesota
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 10,866. Its county seat is Two Harbors. Lake County was founded on February 20, 1855, as Superior County, though its name was changed on March 3, of that year to St. Louis County. On March 1, 1856, St...
, totaling around 500000 acres (202,343 ha), should be preserved as a forest reserve. On February 13, 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
established the Superior National Forest with an area of 1018638 acres (412,228.5 ha). Additional proclamations raised the size of the forest to 2173210 acres (879,467.7 ha). During the Great Depression of the 1930s, 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...
was formed to provide relief for unemployment, and also to stimulate local economies through federally funded, grassroots development projects. The Isabella guard station served as a facility for crews that were working in an often roadless area within the Superior National Forest. While crews and their assignments changed frequently, CCC Company 701, based in Ely, Minnesota
Ely, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...
, and Company 3703, based in Baptism River, Minnesota were confirmed to be involved in the construction of this station.
Other surviving guard stations include the East Bearskin Lake Guard Station, near Gunflint; Crooked Lake Guard Station, near LaCroix; Halfway/North Central Experiment Station; Kekekabic Lake Guard Station; Lac LaCroix Guard Station; Sawbill Lake Guard Station; South Kawishiwi River Pavilion; and Tofte Ranger Station.