This past week I've been at Tumacácori National Historical Park in the upper Santa Cruz River Valley of southern Arizona. The Spanish mission was founded in 1691, and is the oldest mission in Arizona. A dozen or so NPS historic parks managers gathered there to get the latest word on "treatment development in response to cyclic deficiencies for cultural resources," in non-federalese that's "taking care of important old places". Our own Lisa Sasser, Tom McGrath, and I, and several others lead by Blaze Davi were their instructors. They were a good bunch, all with their hearts in the right place as they struggle with federal cutbacks and handouts that seem to prevent rather than promote effective preservation. Just last month the Tumacácori site expanded its acreage by over 800% with the addition of a neighboring 20th century horse ranch to bring the historic walled gardens, orchards and fields stretching over to the river, within the parks care. Of course, there is no funding to increase staff or maintenance budgets. One morning David lamented that he had his two adobe masons cutting grass rather that working on the mission buildings.
David Yubeta, MD (Mudd Dudd), the parks facility manager and long-time mud mason there at the site, showed us how to make adobes, and how all the modern scientific treatments of the adobe mission buildings during the last three decades, including epoxy, custom latex paint, acrylic resin, and other scientifically sanctioned and academically approved goop, has caused more damage than good. David is shifting treatments back to traditional methods and materials, such as mud and water adobes, cactus juice and lime plaster, sweat and blood hard work, heart and spirit inspiration.
Then I spent a few days in Tucson with family and friends, including Simon Herbert, preservation trades educator of Belmont Technical and Arkansas Preservation Trades fame. Simon and I cruised out to the airport in his restored 1945 International pickup truck to clamber around in the WW2 B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft, which flew in one morning. This was the first time I'd seen these aircraft close up. In the war effort my dad was a test pilot for these planes as they came off the production lines at Offit Air Field in Omaha. He told harrowing tales of failing parts. On one flight they had to bolt the tail section back on in order to get enough control of the plane to land it. After that the flight crew was careful to take their tool boxes and bags of spare bolts on each flight. The test pilots were relieve when they let the Nebraskan and Iowan farm women on the aircraft production lines (Rosey the Riveter) because the quality of the aircraft improved so much. Then Simon and I made it out through the dessert reservation to the San Xavier del Bac mission site--truly amazing plaster and paint decoration.
The expanse of the desert lands, harsh sun; and heights of the mission domes and surrounding mountains opened new insights of mind/hand/heart connections I'm currently working to understand, which I'm hoping to report on soon.
Best quotes from the trip:
"This spiritual side of our work cannot be mandated, we must find it in ourselves and inspire others to find it too." -- David Yubeta.
"...respect the integrity of the original work by keeping your own self out of the work." -- Mexican preservation specialist up on the scaffolding at San Xavier.
John by hammer and hand great works do stand by pen and thought best words are wrought
John Leeke, Preservation Consultant Historic HomeWorks 26 Higgins St. Portland, ME 04103 207 773-2306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.HistoricHomeWorks.com
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