DATE: December 6, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Laurel C. Prysiazny, County Librarian
Penny Raven, Chair, Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
SUBJECT: Historic Place - Knapp Cabin
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve designation and placement of Knapp Cabin on the County’s Register of Historic Places; and
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute the certificate for a Historic Place.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with these actions, which will allow the Knapp Cabin to be placed on the County’s List of Historic Places. The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission recommends historic and prehistoric sites and structures that qualify for placement on the Fresno County’s List of Historic Places. Approval by the Board of Supervisors encourages preservation of the County’s history.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose to not approve these actions, which would result in Knapp Cabin not being placed on the County’s Register of Historic Places at this time.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission, with the support of David Humphrey, Acting Superintendent of Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Park, recommends your Board approve the application to add Knapp Cabin to the County’s List of Historic Places.
The Knapp Cabin is a one room, simple, wooden cabin located in the Cedar Grove area, near the south fork of the Kings River, in the Kings Canyon National Park. Although it is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the inclusion of this structure in a local listing may add to local public knowledge and boost area interest for recognition, preservation, and study.
This structure was built as a simple cook or storage cabin for a private camp under a permit in the name of George Knapp. It is built almost entirely of locally available materials in or about 1925 by, or under the direction of, William M. Clingan, the camp director for Mr. Knapp (and a former U.S. Forest Service, District Ranger in the area). The summer camp was for friends and business associates of Mr. Knapp, a businessman from the Santa Barbara area. The cabin is the oldest structure in the Kings Canyon, Cedar Grove area. It is a reminder of the recreational use of this area prior to the area’s inclusion into the Kings Canyon National Park in 1940.
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission reviewed the application during its September 8, 2016 meeting and unanimously voted to recommend that the Knapp Cabin be listed on the Fresno County’s Register of Historic Places.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Historic Place Certificate
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck