The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin dismantling the Hinsdale House, north of Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area on Spruce Reach Island, the week of October 26, 2015. The home is in disrepair and the agency is removing it to protect the health and safety of the public. The Hinsdale family built the current home in the late 1940’s, expanding the house and cultivating the garden over several decades. The BLM acquired the property in 1994 and worked with the local community and various partners to decide the fate of the house. The agency ultimately decided in 2013 to remove the house, deeming it too costly to repair the home and bring it up to current building codes. “The house has deteriorated substantially. At this point, the house is beyond repair with dry rot, mold, water damage, asbestos and lead pain, and is a safety and health hazard for visitors to the island,” said Todd Buchholz, Umpqua Field Office Manager. The Hinsdale Garden that surrounds the home contains hundreds of rhododendron, azalea and camellia plants, some 100 years old. The BLM will continue to manage the Hinsdale Garden with its partners as a significant cultural resource, as the garden is potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historical Places. “We are committed to managing the garden to reflect Hinsdale’s original vision, and to eventually develop it in to a day-use site so people can regularly visit the garden,” said Buchholz. “Our partners, such as the Friends of Hinsdale Garden and the American Rhododendron Society, will play a vital role in achieving this vision.” Currently, several species of bats occupy the cedar shake sided home. The BLM’s demolition plan includes several phases to gradually make the home less hospitable to the bats, encouraging them to move to newly constructed bat houses at Spruce Reach Island and Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. The first phase will include removing the cedar shingles by hand to reduce harm to the bats. The BLM will also make every effort to protect the plants growing near the house. Spruce Reach Island will remain closed while the demolition work occurs. The BLM plans to host open days for the public to tour the garden again in spring 2016. For additional information, visit www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/newsroom/index.php or contact the Coos Bay District Office at 541-756-0100.
