Arch_Report_2017-Rincon_FS.pdf

Archaeological Survey and Historic Building Evaluation of the CAL FIRE Rincon Fire Station, San Diego County, California by

L. Kyle Napton, Ph.D. & E. A. Greathouse, M.A.

Department of Anthropology

California State University, Stanislaus

Prepared for:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

San Diego Unit & Sacramento

July 2017 i

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND HISTORICAL BUILDING EVALUATION OF

THE CAL FIRE RINCON FIRE STATION,

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

by

L. Kyle Napton, Ph.D. and E. A. Greathouse, M.A.

Department of Anthropology

One University Circle

Turlock, CA 95382

July 2017

Prepared for:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

P. O. Box 944246

Sacramento, CA 94244-2460

Boucher Hill USGS 7.5' Quadrangle Two historic buildings, (1) Rincon Fire Station Complex and (2) Pump House/Shed; not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places

Accession Number 2017-04 ii

Contents Abstract/Management Summary

Acknowledgements

Part 1: Project Information

Project Introduction and Description

Regulatory Framework

Scope of Historical Resources Investigations

Background of Directives, Requirements, and Policies Pertaining to Evaluation of the

Historical Significance of Certain Structures at the Rincon Fire Station, San Diego

County, California

Management Summary

Part 2: CHRIS Archaeological Records Search Information

Part 3: California Native American Tribe Consultation Information

Part 4: Prefield Research

Natural Setting

Description of the Project Region

Potential Impacts Affecting the RFS

Cultural Setting

Archaeological Background

Ethnographic Background

Historical Background

Part 5: Training and Experience of Investigators

Part 6: Survey Methods and Procedures Research Design

Research Objectives

Problem Domains

Contributing Data Sources

Potential Impacts

Historical Resources Recordation

Historical Resource Evaluations

Methods of Investigation

Part 7. Direct Field Investigations and Survey Results

Part 8. Evaluation of Significance Basis for Evaluation of Historical Resources

Rincon Fire Station Building Evaluations iii

Evaluation of Two Structures at the Rincon Fire Station in Respect to NRHP and

CRHR Criteria

Part 9. Management Recommendations

Statement of Limiting Conditions

Figure 1: Rincon Fire Station project area exhibited on the Boucher Hill USGS 7.5’

Quadrangle

Figure 2: Rincon Fire Station Existing Site Plan

Figure 3: Proposed New Facilities

Figure 4: Building 1, Station Complex

Figure 5: Building 2, Pump House/Shed

Part 10. Literature Cited

Appendix A: Rincon Fire Station Primary/BSO Records/Rating Sheets

Appendix B: Records Search Information

Abstract/Management Summary

The authors of this report were engaged to conduct archaeological survey and inspect and evaluate two structures presently situated on the CAL FIRE Rincon Fire Station compound, San Diego County, California. The two buildings are identified as the existing station complex office/barracks/kitchen/mess hall and former apparatus garage and, (2) a shed identified as a pump house. This report presents the results of evaluation of these two buildings in reference to the criteria of the National Register of

Historic Places (NRHP) and/or the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), the CAL FIRE Eleven Point Rating Criteria and/or the CAL FIRE 2001 Rating Criteria, pursuant to CAL FIRE policies and directives. The two RFS structures subject to evaluation do not appear to meet any of the criteria of the NRHP, the CRHR or CAL

FIRE, pursuant to the following:

• In reference to Criterion A of the NRHP and Criterion 1 of the CRHR, the buildings do not appear to be associated with historic events that played a key role in the history of the Nation, the State, or the region.

• Under Criterion B of the NRHP and Criterion 2 of the CRHR, the buildings are not known to be associated with persons who played an important role in the history of the Nation, State or region.

• Under Criterion C of the NRHP and Criterion 3 of the CRHR, the buildings reflect or duplicate unremarkable "standard-plan" building designed by the State of

California to meet local needs and specifications determined by the RFS staff and equipment housed at the RFS.

• The RFS buildings do not appear to manifest or be likely to yield important historical or archaeological information that might be recovered through detailed scientific investigation. Therefore, the buildings are considered ineligible for listing under either NRHP Criterion D or CRHR Criterion 4.

The integrity of all RFS structures has been partially or substantially altered, or has deteriorated due to environmental conditions, including but not limited to dry rot, animal intrusion, adverse exposure to the weather, as well as modification, renovation, or replacement of structural elements during maintenance or improvement cycles, or otherwise have been modified over the years to such an extent that their integrity has been severely impaired. Evidence of such alterations is visually displayed by comparison of historic and present-day photographs, maps, and other records. Many of the alterations were patently obvious during on-site inspection. Accordingly, since their integrity has been severely compromised, the two RFS structures are evaluated as ineligible for listing in either the NRHP or the CRHR.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank CAL FIRE Associate State Archaeologist Herb Dallas and CAL FIRE

Deputy Chief Environmental Protection and Archaeology Program Manager, Historic

Preservation Officer and Tribal Liaison Officer Chris Browder, as well as the staff of the

Rincon Fire Center, and the South Coastal Information Center, CSU San Diego, for their assistance in completing this project.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND HISTORICAL BUILDING EVALUATION OF

THE CAL FIRE RINCON FIRE STATION,

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

by

L. Kyle Napton, Ph.D. and E. A. Greathouse, M.A.

One University Circle

Turlock, CA 95382

June 2017

Part 1: Project Information

Project Name: CAL FIRE Rincon Fire Station Archaeological Survey and Historical

Building Evaluation, San Diego County, California

Contract Number: 8CA0311

CAL FIRE Program: Engineering

Project APE: Approximately 2.77 acres

Legal Location: T10S, R1W, Section 22, SBBM&BL

County: San Diego

Name of Quadrangles: USGS 7.5' Boucher Hill, Calif Quadrangle, 1985

Project Introduction and Description

The subject Project involves archaeological survey of the Rincon Fire Station (RFS) grounds and evaluation of two structures within the compound, in the community of

Rincon, San Diego County, California. Two RFS buildings, constructed in 1958 and

1961, are scheduled for replacement by fully modem facilities, including a 12-bed personnel facility, ancillary generator housing and improvements to other equipment and facilities (Figures 1-4). Historical resources investigations at the RFS were undertaken to review pertinent information concerning previous investigations conducted on or adjacent to the RFS compound, survey the station grounds, and evaluate the historical significance of the buildings proposed for demolition. The proposed RFS upgrade will affect or remove two buildings presently located within the

Rincon Fire Station compound at 16971 Highway 76, Pauma Valley, CA, 92061

(Figures 1 and 2).

They are:

(1) The existing station complex: office, barracks and kitchen/mess hall with disused attached engine garage, referred to henceforth as Building 1 (Figure

4). (The attached garage is disused because it is too small to house the current CAL FIRE engines.)

(2) Pump house, marked as "shed" on the CAL FIRE 12/06/12 Rincon Fire

Station Topographic Survey map (Building 2) (Figure 2; Figure 5).

The RFS compound exhibits other features not designated for demolition at this time, but that nonetheless are within the RFS compound. These features include a recently constructed three-bay apparatus building and office (identified as "three bay apparatus and office"), a raised rock garden constructed for decorative purposes or to grow vegetables, a floral garden identified by a sign reading "Rincon Cantina," a metal fire hose drying rack, a sand-filled volleyball court, and a horse shoe pit. Inspection of these features was part of the survey conducted by the authors of this report.

The Rincon Fire Station is situated in northeastern San Diego County, California, near the San Luis Rey River and adjacent to the Rincon Indian Reservation, as depicted on a portion of the Boucher Hill USGS 7.5' quadrangle (Figure 1). Investigations were conducted by the authors of this report prior to implementation of the proposed RFS

Project, pursuant to requests from Chris Browder, Deputy Chief, CAL FIRE

Environmental Office, and Herb Dallas, CAL FIRE Associate State Archaeologist, San

Diego Unit HQ, 2249 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019. Copies of this report and appended record have been transmitted to the South Coastal Information Center, California State University San Diego.

The two buildings proposed for demolition on the RFS property were subject to documentation and evaluation in June 2017 by the authors of this report, both of whom meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Prehistoric and Historic

Archaeology and History. The historical resources investigations reported here were conducted pursuant to and in compliance with the applicable portions of the California

Environmental Quality Act and other regulations (see Regulatory Framework, this report). Prefield and background research conducted in reference to the RFS project disclosed that both prehistoric and historic cultural resources are found in the area surrounding the RFS, but no historic buildings, structures or remains have been formally recorded within the RFS compound (Thornton 1994a).

Regulatory Framework

Historical resources investigations of the proposed RFS project were conducted pursuant to and in compliance with the following statutes, regulations, and CAL FIRE procedures:

• California Environmental Quality Act (PRC 21000 et seq.)

• Requirements of 36 CFR 800.4 (a) - (c), implementing Section 106 of the

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) (P.L. 89-665, 80 Stat.915, as amended, 16 U.S.C. §470, et seq.)

• California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR); Assembly Bill 2881

(Amended Chapter 1075, Public Resources Code; September 1992; Effective

January 1,1998 Ch.1075 §4850 et seq.)

• Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Secretary of the Interior's Professional

Qualifications Standards (36 CFR 61; 48FR44716). (The qualifications of all personnel engaged in cultural resources survey for the subject project meet or exceed the criteria the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Standards for archaeologists.)

• Management Plan for CDF Historic Buildings (Foster and Thornton 2001, Foster et al. 2012)

• A Survey and Historic Significance Evaluation of the CDF Building Inventory

(Thornton 1994a, Volumes 1 and 2)

Scope of Historical Resources Investigations

The historical resources investigations reported here address the following contractual objectives and requirements:

(1) Archaeological Records Check conducted by the staff of the CHRIS South

Coastal Information Center (SCIC SD-00500 dated 5/07/2017).

(2) Complete pre-field research concerning the history of the RFS compound and its vicinity.

(3) Conduct archaeological survey of the RFS compound.

(4) Evaluate the significance of historic structures planned for demolition, and complete the analysis specified on Pages 40-41 of CAL FIRE's Management

Plan for CDF Historic Buildings and Archaeological Sites (Foster and

Thornton 2001; see also Foster et al. 2012).

(5) Prepare a written report for CAL FIRE documenting the information specified above, including Building, Structure Object Records and CAL FIRE Building

Rating Sheets for all buildings evaluated (Appendix A).

Background of Directives, Requirements, and Policies Pertaining to Evaluation of the Historical Significance of Certain Structures at the Rincon Fire Station, San

Diego County, California

It has been proposed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

(a.k.a. CDF, CAL FIRE) that buildings or structures at the Rincon Fire Station (RFS), San Diego County, California, are to be evaluated as eligible or not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and/ or the California Register of

Historic Resources (CRHR). Non-eligible structures may be subject to potential demolition and replacement.

The following statements are among the primary considerations pertaining to the evaluations reported in this document:

(1) None of the buildings that constitute the present CAL FIRE RFS inventory are presently listed on either the NRHP or CRHR.

(2) None of the buildings that constitute the present CAL FIRE RFS have been evaluated in respect to their eligibility or non-eligibility for listing on either the

NRHP or the CRHR register (Thornton 1994a).

(3) Executive Order W-26-92, signed April 8th, 1992 by Governor Pete Wilson, stipulates that "...Inventories pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC)

Section 5024 are to be completed or updated by January 1995, or as soon thereafter as feasible as specified in a Memorandum of Understanding with

State Historic Preservation Office. These inventories are to be of state-owned buildings that are "over 50 years of age."

(4) CAL FIRE (2012) further defines policies pertaining to Historic Buildings: "For the purposes of...CDF Inventory and Management, historic buildings are those that predate 1946 making them old enough to be considered a potential historical resource or a significant heritage resource" (Foster et al. 2012:96, 165-171).

(5) In view of the potential proposed demolition of two RFS structures, CAL FIRE concluded that it was necessary to inspect these structures, prepare appropriate documentation, obtain Photographs of Record, and map the location of each building considered for demolition.

(6) Conduct a cultural resource survey of the RFS compound.

This document has been prepared in response to the above-listed directives, requirements and protocols.

Management Summary

The authors of this report were engaged to conduct archaeological survey and inspect and evaluate two structures presently situated on the CAL FIRE Rincon Fire Station compound, San Diego County, California. The two buildings are identified as (1) the existing station complex office/barracks/kitchen/mess hall and former apparatus garage and, (2) a shed identified as a pump house. This report presents the results of evaluation of these two buildings in reference to the criteria of the National Register of

Historic Places (NRHP) and/ or the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), the CAL FIRE Eleven Point Rating Criteria (Appendix A) and/ or the CAL FIRE 2001

Rating Criteria, pursuant to CAL FIRE policies and directives. The two RPS structures subject to evaluation do not appear to meet any of the criteria of the NRHP, the CRHR or CAL FIRE, pursuant to the following:

• In reference to Criterion A of the NRHP and Criterion 1 of the CRHR, the buildings do not appear to be associated with historic events that played a key role in the history of the Nation, the State, or the region.

• Under Criterion B of the NRHP and Criterion 2 of the CRHR, the buildings are not known to be associated with persons who played an important role in the history of the Nation, State or region.

• Under Criterion C of the NRHP and Criterion 3 of the CRHR, the buildings reflect or duplicate unremarkable "standard-plan" building designed by the State of

California to meet local needs and specifications determined by the RPS staff and equipment housed at the RPS.

• The RPS buildings do not appear to manifest or be likely to yield important historical or archaeological information that might be recovered through detailed scientific investigation. Therefore, the buildings are considered ineligible for listing under either NRHP Criterion D or CRHR Criterion 4.

The integrity of all RPS structures has been partially or substantially altered, or has deteriorated due to environmental conditions, including but not limited to dry rot, animal intrusion, adverse exposure to the weather, as well as modification, renovation, or replacement of structural elements during maintenance or improvement cycles, or otherwise have been modified over the years to such an extent that their integrity has been severely impaired. Evidence of such alterations is visually displayed by comparison of historic and present-day photographs, maps, and other records. Many of the alterations were patently obvious during on-site inspection. Accordingly, since their integrity has been severely compromised, the two RPS structures are evaluated as ineligible for listing in either the NRHP or the CRHR.

Part 2: CHRIS Archaeological Records Search Information

The records of the California Historical Resource Information System for San Diego

County are housed at the South Coastal Information Center (SCIC), California State

University San Diego. Records pertaining to the proposed RFS project were searched by the SCIC staff at the request of the senior author (SCIC File No. SD-00500, Appendix B). The results of the records searches covering the entirety of the proposed

RPS Project and the area adjacent to it are discussed as follows:

(1) No cultural resources investigations have been reported to the Information

Center within the 2.77-acre Project area, nor have any cultural resources been recorded within the RPS compound.

(2) Seven cultural resources investigations have been conducted within a one quarter mile radius of the project area:

SCIC Report

#SD- Author/Date Project

00473 Corum (1977) Caltrans Proposed SR 76 Widening

12462 Gardner (2009) Monitoring SDG&E Pole Replacement

12463 Willis & Potter (2009) Monitoring SDG&E Pole Replacement

13550 Clowery (2010) Wood to Steel Pole Replacement

13675 Rosenberg (2011) Addendum: Wood to Steel Pole

Replacement

13786 Bowden-Renna (2011) One Pole Replacement, Valley Center

14817 Blake (2014) Caltrans Intersection Improvement, SR

76 and Valley Center Road in Pauma Valley

Note: CAL FIRE Associate Archaeologist Herb Dallas informed the authors that he inspected the RPS project area prior to construction of the new office/ three-bay apparatus building in 2009 (Dallas, personal communication, 2017).

(3) Three cultural resources have been recorded within a one-quarter mile radius of the project area. They are located on private land and were not inspected during the subject RPS survey.

Primary #/Trinomial Resource Attributes

P-37-000021/CA-SDI-21 Prehistoric milling feature

P-27-000614/CA-SDI-300/614 Prehistoric pictograph

P-27-025959 /CA-SDI-17259H Historic Foundations, orchard*

*This resource was initially recorded during an additional investigation, the report for which has apparently not been submitted to the SCIC:

Author/Date Project

Laylander and Palette (2004) Caltrans TEA 21 Rural Roadside

Inventory

Part 3: California Native American Tribe Consultation Information

California Native American tribe consultation will be conducted by Herb Dallas, CAL

FIRE Associate State Archaeologist, El Cajon, in reference to the Rincon Fire Station

Project.

Part 4: Prefield Research

Natural Setting

Description of the Project Region

The proposed RFS Project is located in the northern part of San Diego County, California. The county subsumes two major, large geomorphic provinces: the Peninsular

Range Province in eastern San Diego County, and the Coastal Province, bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean (McArthur 1984:19). The latter province, which surrounds the proposed RFS Project, contains most of the lofty mountains in the county, including its highest summit, Hot Springs Mountain (6,533 ft). The elevation of the proposed

Project area is approximately 978 ft NAV29. Vegetation of the province includes species found in most of the five major county-wide communities. These are: Coastal Sage

Scrub, Chaparral, Oak and Pine-Oak Woodlands, Pinyon-Juniper, and Desert Scrub

(McArthur 1984:39). The overstory of the Peninsular Range consists primarily of oak and scattered conifers, with a typical locally dense understory composed of various species of chaparral, a community that covers nearly one million acres. Ground cover is composed of native and introduced grasses and forbs. The region is drained by several prominent streams flowing within the county, including the San Luis Rey River, a watercourse of great historical and economic importance (Beck and Haase 1974). One of the major water reservoirs, Lake Henshaw, was formed in 1923 by completion of a dam on the upper San Luis Rey River (Pryde 1984:113-133). The results of archaeological research conducted prior to completion of several dams in San Diego and Los Angeles counties are discussed by O'Connell et al. (1974).

The San Luis Rey River originates in the Palomar Mountain Range, Cleveland National

Forest, and Santa Rosa Mountains. It is over 69 miles long, but it carries little if any water during most of the year. The river is within the original homeland of the Luiseno people.

Potential Impacts Affecting the RFS

Rural development is one of the more obvious effects resulting from the burgeoning human population throughout California (Chow 1970). Impacts within the RFS compound itself included construction of the CAL FIRE buildings and paving of almost the entirety of the compound area since establishment of the facility in 1958.

Cultural Setting

Archaeological Background

Since this report of investigations deals with the CAL FIRE Rincon Fire Station, comparatively recently constructed, and in view of the fact that it is at best highly unlikely that significant prehistoric archaeological remains might be found during surface inspection of the 2.77-acre RFS compound, we propose to present only a minimal outline of the regional prehistoric archaeology background, following the structure of a general construct offered by William J. Wallace (1955:214-230; 1978:25-

36), which provides at least a basic framework to organize the regional and local prehistoric background of the Project area.

Wallace, and most other authorities since the date of publication of his prehistoric phase synthesis, ignored or give only slight credence to claims of finds related to early inhabitants in southern California. The majority of these finds have not withstood the test of time, or have failed to pass muster when subjected to critical scientific analyses.

Publication dates from as early as 1924 (the Angeles Mesa ("Haverty Man") (Stock

1924), the Scripps Estate remains (Moriarity et al. 1959) and the notorious Laguna

Beach cranium, inexplicably dated by radiocarbon assay at 17,350 years B.P. (UCLA-

1233A) (Berger et al. 1971), but subsequently found to be of modest antiquity, are among the early inhabitant discoveries in southern California.

The long-sought presence of early inhabitants in southern California, particularly in littoral or maritime contexts continues to dog, yet stimulate archaeological endeavors in the region. Two other phenomena related to early inhabitants must be mentioned, one of which is the controversial Calico Hills early inhabitants site, which was championed as an occupation or quarry site dated by uranium series analysis to 200,000 years B.P.

but nonetheless believed to have been frequented by early inhabitants (Leakey et al.

1978:1022- 1023), a view seconded by Carter (1980), Minshall (1976), and Simpson and Schuiling (1970), but regarded with skepticism by other authorities, e.g. Haynes

(1973:305-310). Most of the original proponents of the site's antiquity have passed away or adopted alternative interpretations, while the site, once boasting signs posted along adjacent Interstate 15 proclaiming its antiquity, continues to be excavated sporadically by credulous volunteers. The latest candidate for the presence of early inhabitants in southern California is the Cerutti Mastodon site, dated by uranium-thorium series analysis at 130,000 years B.P. and claimed to include, among associated mastodon bones, six cobbles that exhibit impact marks, presumably the result of having been used by humans to break up the mastodon bones during field butchering (Holen et al. 2017).

Again, it is a find engendering profound skepticism, despite being reported in the respected scholarly journal Nature (Holen et al. 2017). (The find and its interpretation recall for some critics Plato's Allegory of the Cave.) Thus, one turns with some relief to the reasonably well established cultural chronology outlined by Wallace and others, summarized below.

Period I: By ca. 9,000 BCE, according to Wallace (1978:25) cultural remains attributable to human activity become sufficiently uniform (and verified by duplication) to be grouped by "periods." Period I (Hunting) is characterized by leaf-shaped and shouldered projectile points that have been found in several locations, including Lake Mojave in San

Bernardino County and along the San Dieguito River in San Diego County. At the time that prehistoric hunters might have visited Lake Mojave, it was an extensive body of fresh water, the shores of which were attractive to humans and their faunal and avifaunal prey (Campbell and Campbell 1937). Projectile points found along the shoreline include shouldered and leaf-shaped forms, while other types of stone artifacts, including crescents, perforators and scraper planes, used during food processing, are reported. The San Dieguito sites (Warren and True 1961) include the important C. W.

Harris site near Escondido, which produced leaf-shaped projectile points, knives, crescents, flake scrapers, choppers and hammers. Seed grinding implements are apparently absent in the inventory, perhaps significantly so. The San Dieguito sites were occupied ca. 7,080 to 6540 BCE (Warren 1968).

Wallace's Period II (Food Collecting) is well defined in southern California in general, but is poorly understood in the Mojave Desert. Wallace avers that "a changeover from hunting to collecting of seeds is clearly reflected in the archaeological record" for the period between 6000 and 3000 BCE. There are local variants of the wide spread Milling

Stone Horizon which includes sites in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountain region (Treganza and Malmud 1950) and the Sayles site at Cajon Pass (Kowta 1969).

Period III (Diversified Subsistence) begins ca. 3000 BCE, when increased rainfall made human occupation of desert areas more inviting by rejuvenating local flora and fauna.

Some of the major sites occupied during this time-frame include many in the Pinto Basin

(Campbell and Campbell 1935), with characteristic stubbed, shouldered projectile points, scraper planes, and seed grinding implements, such as those found at Cajon

Pass (Kowta 1969; White 1983). The Intermediate and Recent periods in southern

California have been reviewed by Wallace (1955) and Warren (1973). Wallace considered cultures that succeeded the Milling Stone complex as the Intermediate cultures, which may have persisted (as they apparently did at La Jolla) until as late as

AD 1400.

The succeeding phase (the Late Horizon), according to Wallace (1955, 1978) has diagnostic traits which include increased use of the bow and arrow (inferred from the presence of small, carefully flaked stemless points, elaborate mortuary customs, and bedrock mortars and metate slicks used during food acquisition and processing, and the appearance in the San Diego region of Palomar Brownware pottery, ca. AD 1400

(Meighan 1954).

In AD 1769 Spanish explorers reached California and founded Mission San Diego de

Alcalda. The effect of their arrival and settlement in what would become San Diego

County is manifested in many areas. The prehistory of the subject Project area merges into the era of written history in the form of travelers' journals and missionary accounts

(Shipek 1978:610-618). An important aspect of Luiseno occupation of the Valley Center area is the fact that the San Luis Rey River makes its way through the valley in which the proposed Project and the Rincon Reservation are situated. The prehistory of the river valley is the subject of archaeological surveys and research by D. L. True (1954, 1958, 1980). True's report of pictographs in the San Luis River basin is highly pertinent, since one of the pictograph sites lies within a one-quarter mile radius of the RFS Project perimeter. (Other cultural resources found within the Project vicinity are listed in the

Records Check Information, this report.) A comparatively recent summary of San Luis

River basin archaeology has been assembled by Cupples and Hedges (1977), who state:

In general, archaeological work done in the San Luis Rey River basin has resulted in the definition of a regionally distinct early milling culture, the Pauma

Complex, and a major, Late Prehistoric culture, the San Luis Rey Complex, ancestral to the historic Luiseno of the area. It seems evident that the San

Dieguito culture, as represented in its classic form in the San Dieguito River drainage to the south, did not extend into the San Luis Rey drainage. The La

Jolla culture similarly is poorly represented, if at all, but in this respect it should be noted that neither published work nor recorded site data cover the coastal area, now occupied by the City of Oceanside.

Ethnographic Background

The Luiseno tribe would appear to concern us in reference to the RFS Project, since members of the tribe occupy the nearby Pala, Pauma and Rincon Indian Reservations.

Indeed, the Project area is within their former territory (Bean and Shipek 1978:550-563).

Turning to Kroeber (1925:648-688), we find a wealth of material regarding the Luiseno, and since this material is generally available we will reference it but not reiterate it in detail. An important aspect of Luiseno occupation of the Valley Center-Rincon area is the fact that the San Luis Rey River (when it flows) makes its way through the valley in which the proposed Project and the Rincon Reservation are situated. The prehistory of the river valley is the subject of several archaeological reports (Cupples and Hedges

1977; True 1954, 1958, 1980). The Pauma, Pala and Sayles complexes of the San

Diego archaeological subregion are discussed in detail by Moratto (1984:146-153) in his definitive volume California Archaeology.

Historical Background

The first European land explorers of the region were members of the Portola Expedition, who camped along the river during July, 18-19, 1769. Later, Juan Crespi observed in his diary "... we descended to a large and beautiful valley, so green that it seemed to us that it had been planted...at the extreme end of the plain are two large villages." Crespi's brief description provides at least an idea of the importance of Pauma Valley to the indigent population, as well as to the Spanish who eventually occupied it (Bolton 1927).

During the Mission Period Spanish immigrants attempted to plant some of the same crops they had tended in their own country. Their efforts were less successful than they envisioned: crops were planted in the river floodplains after the founding of Mission San

Diego in 1769 and San Luis Rey in 1798. Corn, grapes, wheat, olives, and fruits, such as pears and figs, were introduced with mediocre success, until reliable irrigation systems were constructed.

Following secularization of the missions under Mexico from 1829 through 1835 the

Mission system collapsed. The following period saw the development of numerous ranchos. Of the some 500 grants made in California, 32 were in San Diego County.

They varied in size from 28 acres to Santa Margarita y las Flores, the largest in

California, covering 133,441 acres. Many of the ranchos were self-sufficient, raising staples such as corn, grapes, and fruit, as well as herd animals. A rather unexpected source of income was provided by bee keeping, since honey could survive the long haul to the eastern markets, and indeed to Europe. But the most important commodity, avocados, along with tomatoes, fruit and nut crops, are the major economic crops in

San Diego County. Since 1915 avocados have become the most important single commodity produced in the county (Blick 1984:135-151). The singular importance of avocados and citrus orchards is readily apparent in the immediate vicinity of the RPS

Project: the station is virtually surrounded by citrus orchards, despite the ever-increasing cost of water needed to sustain the producing trees.

The San Luis Rey River flows through Pauma Valley, which is a Native American word for "a place where there is water." The valley has been home to Native Americans for many centuries. Early Spanish maps identify the Valley as a Rancheria. It was first explored in 1795 by a group led by Fra. Juan Mariner, and became part of a Mexican

Land Grant in 1844, when a grant of three square leagues (13,310 acres) was given to

Jose Serrano, a property which he called Rancho Pauma. In 1892 the rancho was included in the Pauma Indian Reservation, and today is home to the Pauma-Yuima

Band of Mission Indians (a.k.a. the Pauma Band of Luisenos).

Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records: The following historic landowners within the vicinity of the RFS in Section 22, T10S, R1W, are referenced in the Bureau of Land Management GLO Records:

Accession Number Name Date

CACAAA 080438 B. & J. Aguilar, and J. A. Serrano 8/29/1871

CACAAA 080913 N. Harris 11/10/1879

CACAAA 080999 P. S. Sparkman 10/30/1890

287348 M. Cabrillas 8/8/1912

The GLO Plat for T10S R1W, dated 1853-1875, references the portion of Section 22 in which the RFS Project is located as immediately south of the boundary of the Pauma

Rancho Mexican land grant. "Kathleen [Blaeme's] Cabin" is shown in the SE1/4 of the

SE1/4 of Section 22, well to the southwest of the Project area.

Rincon: The Rincon vicinity was settled in the 1870s by Phillip Stedman Sparkman, who constructed an adobe home, which also functioned as general store until his untimely death in 1907 (Crawford 2010). He was an avid student of the local Luisenos, and his research was published by the University of California, Berkeley (Sparkman

1908). He also compiled a Grammar and Dictionary of the Luiseno Language, which is housed in the Valley Center Historical Society Archives (Blake 2014:4). The Sparkman adobe complex ruins were incorporated into the grounds of the Rincon Springs Cafe, located at the intersection of SR-76 and Valley Center Road, east of the RFS Project area. The cafe was a popular local restaurant, serving the Pauma Valley residents between 1930 and 1962. The building was abandoned in 1964 and consumed by fire

ca. 1976 (Blake 2014:4). The remains of the building were recorded by Laylander and

Palette (2004) in reference to a California Department of Transportation Rural Roadside

Inventory, which included SR-76 in the vicinity of Rincon (CA-SDI-17259H).

CAL FIRE Contextual History: Thornton (1994b:1) offers the following information regarding the history of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection:

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ([CAL FIRE]) is a state agency responsible for protecting natural resources from fire on land designated by the State Board of Forestry as "State Responsibility Area" (SRA). [CAL FIRE] also manages the State Forest system and has authority over the laws governing forestry practices on private lands...The story of the origin and development of the [CAL FIRE] is a complex and lengthy tale.

Part 5: Training and Experience of Investigators

The RFS historical building investigations were conducted and the report prepared by the authors, L. Kyle Napton, Ph.D. and E. A. Greathouse, M.A., archaeologists under contract to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). They meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interiors' Standards in Prehistoric and Historic

Archaeology and History.

Part 6: Survey Methods and Procedures Research Design

Research designs in historical resources investigations invoke formal, systematic procedures, the purpose of which is to direct and guide the execution of the investigations. Research designs have two principal objectives: 1) to ensure that the results of an investigation will be scientifically valid, and 2) to verify that proposed investigations will be conducted efficiently and cost-effectively. The process of research is controlled and guided by the research design to integrate theory, method, data recovery and interpretation (Binford 1964:425-441; Brim and Spain 1974; Fowler

1982:1-50; Hardesty 1986; Hester et al. 1997; Kowta 1984:417-431; Shafer 1997:21-41;

Watson et al. 1971).

Research Objectives

The principal objective of historical resources assessment of the RFS structures was to ascertain whether any of the identified structures that occur on the RFS are historically significant, and to locate and record these resources, assess their potential significance in terms of their eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and/or the California Register of Historical Resources, and to offer pertinent management recommendations concerning their retention or demolition, Research designs set forth basic research goals, problem domains, and theoretical orientations for organized research, as well as establishing geographical, cultural, and temporal aspects of the proposed research endeavor. Existing data pertaining to a given project region, research goals, proposed test hypotheses, and test implications of proposed hypotheses appropriate to the project may also be considered (see HARD Work Camps

Team and Caltrans Staff 2013; Moratto 1984; Napton 1981).

Research objectives for archaeological investigations in Northern California and the

Sierra Nevada foothills are presented in a regional research design for northeastern

California prepared by Kowta (1984:417-431), a paradigm he characterizes as “a theoretical and methodological framework...used to guide archaeological research and the evaluation of historical resources within the region loosely designated as northeastern California.”

Raven (1984:468), also addressing potential archaeological research in northeastern

California, identified “a suite of topics and directions toward which future research might profitably be aimed.” These topics, appropriate for consideration in the course of further prehistoric and historical archaeological research throughout California, include: 1) establishment of a regional chronology that integrates all locally recognized sequences;

2) establishment of the structure of subsistence and settlement systems; and 3) using existing information and data obtained from comparable projects to test models of anthropological and archaeological theory. Pursuant to the latter proposition, Raven suggests, for example, using regional data to test models of incipient ethnicity and the

"readability" of ethnicity in the archaeological record. (A pioneer study along those lines was conducted in the Central Valley by Bennyhoff [1977].)

Problem Domains

Several problem domains have been identified in reference to research of the prehistoric and historic archaeology of California. Research domains pertinent to both, not necessarily listed in order of priority, include but are not limited to 1) economy and adaptation, 2) social organization, 3) group interaction and extraregional relationships,

4) paleo-demography, 5) paleoenvironment, 6) cultural chronology, 7) settlement systems and patterns, and 8) cultural process (Moratto 1984; Napton 1981). For example, problem domains for primarily prehistoric cultural resources but not excluding historic cultural resources, have been identified in reference to the New Melones Project

(Greenwood and Shoup 1983).

Contributing Data Sources

The principal types of historical resources likely to be discovered in the project region include prehistoric and historical archaeological sites, features and artifacts. Prehistoric archaeological sites manifest evidence of human activity, usually disclosed by the presence, in surface or subsurface contexts, of features, artifacts and ecofacts, often but not invariably occurring on, or in, humanly affected sediment (anthropic deposits).

These deposits, usually darker in color than the surrounding soil, are often rich in calcium, nitrogen and phosphorous deposited as a result of the accumulation of waste, garbage and other culturally created debris. Prehistoric archaeological sites often contain animal bone, shell, charcoal and other refuse, as well as flaked, polished, and ground stone tools, potsherds, and culinary stones (or their counterpart, baked clay objects), as well as burials (inhumations).

Prehistoric archaeological remains include but are not limited to isolated or associated artifacts, such as projectile points, knives, scrapers, awls, hammerstones, lithic debitage, beads, milling implements, potsherds, and culinary stones or baked clay objects; evidence of structural features; e.g., housepits, ceremonial lodges, sweathouses, fish traps; bedrock milling stations, hunting sites, rock art, quarries, trails and isolates; and subsurface remains, including inhumations, caches of artifacts, or buried features.

Historical archaeological remains are important sources of information (Frierman and

Greenwood 1992; Ippolito 2017; Nelson 1968; Noble and Cleek 1997; Renfrew and

Bahn 2016; Rock 1980a, 1980b, 1984; Schuyler 1978; South 1977, 1984; Wilson 1984;

Yamin and Metheny 1996). Historical sites, features, and artifacts likely to be encountered in California include buildings (Heizer and Fenenga 1948), foundations, prospects, mines, and mining equipment or mills, roads, trails, bridges, blacksmith and machine shops, windmills, wells, orchards, fences, corrals, survey monuments, graves, cemeteries, settlements of ethnically affiliated groups, vernacular architecture, and a vast array of other types of remains (HARD Work Camps Team and Caltrans Staff

2013; Orser 2004).

Potential Impacts

Impacts affecting cultural resources within the APE of a proposed project may be manifested as a direct result of the proposed project, or may be indirect (due, for example, to erosion or deposition of soil on areas adjacent to the project), or are cumulative, resulting from aggregation of multiple effects. Potential impacts include clearing of vegetation, blading or otherwise altering construction access roads, trench excavation and conducting other operations that involve removal of vegetation or excavation or disturbance of subsurface strata. Other impacts potentially affecting structures include weathering, renovation, structural modification, and replacement of one or more structural components.

Historical Resources Recordation

Historical resources are recorded on standard forms (DPR 523, current version or facsimile) and on Building, Structure, Object (BSO) forms. Photographs of Record are taken and historic buildings and structures are plotted on appropriate United States

Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles or on other maps, as available. Approved forms are completed in accordance with the standards of

Instructions for Recording Historical Resources issued by the Office of Historic

Preservation, Sacramento in 1995.

Historical Resource Evaluations

Historical resources found at a given project are recorded and their potential scientific or historical significance is assessed or evaluated to the extent permitted by the data obtained during survey or reconnaissance, in reference to whether a given historical resource may be "significant," pursuant to the criteria of the NRHP [36 CFR

60.4(a-d)] and accordingly merits nomination to the NRHP or the CRHR, the criteria of the latter closely paralleling those of the NRHP.

Methods of Investigation

Four principal methods of research and investigation were undertaken in reference to the proposed RFS Project:

(1) The first of these methods was to examine the literature comprising the principal archaeological, ethnographic and historical databases for the region and proposed Project. This literature includes but is not limited to primary references such as Handbook of the Indians of California (Kroeber 1925) and

Handbook of North American Indians (Volume 8) California (Heizer 1978).

Research pertaining to local history conducted before, during, and after field investigations, included numerous sources, notably Chang (1992), and others

(cited in Historical Background, this report).

(2) The second method of investigation is to request a record search from the appropriate CHRIS Information Center, for the area potentially affected by the subject project, including but not limited to the National Register of Historic

Places (Office of Historic Preservation Historic Property Data File), the

California Inventory of Historic Resources (Department of Parks and

Recreation 1976), the California Historical Landmarks (1990), California

Points of Historical Interest file (1992 and updates).

(3) Letters to appropriate California Native American tribes are issued by CAL

FIRE, pursuant to the list provided by the Native American Heritage

Commission for the project area.

(4) The final method of investigation was direct field inspection of the Project area and the buildings and structures under consideration, as identified by

CAL FIRE.

Part 7. Direct Field Investigations and Survey Results

Direct field inspection of the Rincon Fire Station compound and structures that required evaluation was conducted on June 6, 2017. During the inspection the authors referred to documents obtained from the California Historical Resources Information System

(CHRIS) housed at California State University San Diego. Other pertinent historical resources files were consulted prior to and during the course of direct field inspection of buildings within the RFS compound.

The authors of this report met Herb Dallas, Associate CAL FIRE State Archaeologist, Southern Region, at the RFS. Mr. Dallas had obtained a set of plans of the existing fire station and buildings, which he presented to the authors, who were grateful for his assistance, since the maps and other materials were very helpful during the evaluation process (Figure 2). The authors of this report had previously reviewed Thornton's 1994

Rincon Fire Station building status report, which is a 1954 S-5 building list with an accompanying map and photographs (Foster et al. 2012; Thornton 1994).

The authors inspected both Buildings 1 and 2, taking notes on existing conditions and photographing the exterior of each structure. They also surveyed the entire 2.77-acre compound as requested by CAL FIRE. Herb Dallas assisted the authors in their pedestrian survey of the project compound. Archaeological survey of the RFS compound was accomplished by intensive inspection of exposed ground surfaces. This procedure was conducted by the authors and CAL FIRE archaeologist Herb Dallas.

Most of the RFS compound is covered by gravel, pavement, concrete, or introduced and natural vegetation. No evidence of prehistoric or historic archaeological remains was found anywhere within the compound. Geotechnical subsurface borings were also conducted subsequently with negative results. The coring operations were monitored by

CAL FIRE archaeologist Denise Ruzicka (2017).

The two buildings and other facilities that compose the infrastructure of the Rincon Fire

Station display certain common features, such as the following:

(1) The structures are known to have their counterparts at other California fire stations. This is verified by reports prepared by Foster and Thornton (2001) and Thornton (1994a), which also provides a rating system and other means by which buildings and other structures, such as fire lookouts, can be assessed, compared, and evaluated in terms of preserving a selected group of unique or otherwise important buildings or structures located in many CAL

FIRE facilities in California.

(2) The structures at the RFS, like those at other CAL FIRE stations, have been constructed and maintained over a period of time-- the subject RFS buildings were constructed in 1958 and 1961 (Thornton 1994b). Consequently, many

CAL FIRE buildings vary in terms of design and materials employed in their construction.

(3) Neither of the RFS buildings are among those identified for future preservation, based on their age and evaluations presented by Foster and

Thornton (2001). The authors of the present report observed and recorded the two RFS buildings and also inspected the entire surface of the 2.77-acre compound.

(4) The two buildings within the RFS compound have achieved the fifty-year age threshold and thus are potentially eligible for nomination to the National

Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or the California Register of Historic

Resources (CRHR).

(5) It is evident that among the features displayed by the two RFS buildings that they share similar designs and materials displayed at many CAL FIRE facilities (Wilson and Snodgrass 2006). These include cement block and wood frame construction, metal or composition-shingle roofing, concrete pads or foundations, and metal or treated wood exterior siding.

(6) The two buildings at the RFS are essentially utilitarian; that is, they are constructed for personnel or equipment housing, but were not constructed to accommodate the needs of both male and female fire-fighters. Hence by their very nature and purpose the buildings are of basic, standard design and construction. In general they are unremarkable in appearance, design, and use of materials employed in their construction.

Accordingly, because of the general similarity among the RFS structures under consideration it is useful to present a brief discussion of materials that occur repeatedly among CAL FIRE buildings. These materials include, but are not limited to concrete pads and/or foundations, on which are erected cement block or wood frame gable roof rectangular configured single-story buildings, most of which have metal roofs composed of iron, steel or amalgamated materials of various types and ages, such as zinc-aluminum. The most frequent types of materials observed at the RFS are discussed as follows.

Concrete…