Description of Historic Place

The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin is located in a clearing, surrounded by coniferous forest along the North Boundary Trail in Jasper National Park of Canada. It is a modest, single-storey log cabin with a gable roof. It has a log-framed open porch. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin is associated with the National Park program that constructed a series of outposts for the use of boundary patrols of the Warden Service, to control poaching and visitor activities. It is also linked to historic travel routes and to the intersection of important trails through the park.

Architectural Value
The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin is a good example of a patrol cabin whose design follows the Standard Plan of 1918 of the National Parks Branch and is function-oriented with rustic character. Its quality craftsmanship and use of natural building materials respects the rustic architectural imagery practiced within National Parks.

Environmental Value
The relationship of the Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin to the clearing, the adjacent shed, and the surrounding forest reinforces the character of its natural mountain park setting. It also contributes to the character of its natural setting through its form and materials. The cabin is a destination point and familiar landmark for travelers through Jasper National Park of Canada.

Source: The Middle Forks Patrol Cabin, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement, 97-85.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character defining elements of the Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin should be respected.

Its function-oriented standard plan, rustic character and good quality craftsmanship and materials such as: its simple massing consisting of a rectangular plan, single-storey structure with a gable roof; its log-framed open porch with trussed-purlin supports and posts at the gable end; its good quality construction; and, its walls constructed of peeled logs horizontally laid and saddle-notched at the corners.

The manner in which the Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin reinforces the character of its mountain park setting and is a familiar landmark within Jasper National Park of Canada as evidenced in: its relationship to the clearing, the adjacent shed, and the surrounding forest; and, its location on the North Boundary Trail as a destination point for travelers.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin was constructed in 1930. The design follows the Standard Plan of 1918 by the National Parks Branch. The original use continues. Alterations have included roof replacement with metal roofing. Parks Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Case File No. 97-85.

Reasons for Designation
The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin was designated Recognized because of its environmental significance as well as its architectural design and historical associations.

The Warden Patrol Cabin is sited in a clearing surrounded by coniferous forest. It contributes to the character of its natural setting through its form and materials. The cabin is a destination point for travelers along the North Boundary Trail.

The cabin's functional plan, craftsmanship and materials respect the long-standing prescription for a rustic architectural imagery within National Parks.

Historically, the Warden Patrol Cabin is associated with the park program of constructing a series of outposts for use by boundary patrols of the Warden Service, to control poaching and visitor activities. It is also linked to historic travel routes and to the intersection of important trails through the park.

Character Defining Elements
The Middle Forks Warden Patrol Cabin's heritage value resides in its form, early materials, construction techniques and setting.

The Warden Patrol Cabin exhibits simple massing, with its modest single storey, its rectangular plan and its gabled roof. The log-framed open porch, with posts for purlin supports at the gable end, contributes to the rustic log-framed character. The four windows and the door are made of simple wood components, with their placement in the buiding determined by function. The window shutters are functional features. The building's simplicity of form and massing should be respected in future developments.

The cabin is of good quality construction. Its walls are made of peeled 8" -10" logs, horizontally laid and saddle notched at the corners. The peeled logs and simple door and window trim create a simple, rustic character which should be preserved by repairing in kind, with emphasis on maximum retention of original material. The logs' brown stain finish reflects a functional approach to maintenance, which should not be altered without first assessing the impact on patina and performance. The roof, probably wood shingles or roll roofing originally, is now covered with metal roofing. Wood shingles would have contributed to the rustic character of the building. When replacement is required, consideration should be given to the appropriateness of the choice of covering. The concrete foundation incorporates log support for the front deck, which contributes to the rustic character of the building.

The multi-paned wood sash windows appear to be original, as does the plank door. The fine-scale detail of the windows and doors contributes to the rustic character and should be retained.

The interior has exposed natural-finish roof decking, log purlins and log walls, which contributes to the rustic character of the building. The white-painted plank floors may originally have been unfinished. Future developments should be designed to be compatible with the rustic character of the building.

The relationship of the cabin to the clearing, the adjacent shed, and the surrounding forest is an important feature of the setting. The surrounding ground plane is most appropriately maintained as simple grassed meadow