CONSTITUTION SHED

A relic of the 1930s, the shed was a rudimentary wooden structure long abandoned on a corner of mountain forest property belonging to the Jones family. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the construction of Mt. Constitution Road through Moran State Park, the shed supported a 1,000-gallon steel reservoir to be used in case of forest fire.

Though humble and decayed, its dignified proportions and strong connection to the site suggested the possibility of restoration and new life for the structure. This new shed would be a small shelter for retreat and refuge, bearing witness to the slow process of restoration in this forest landscape.

To renovate the shed, it was transported to a local Orcas Island workshop, where new boards were milled to match the decayed originals, harvested from Douglas Fir on the site. A new plywood interior was added, with a small bed and writing desk, and the shed was stoutly insulated, with a new triple-glazed window and door.

Once restored, the shed was transported back up the mountain, and reinstalled at the property’s entrance. This off-grid forest shelter now supports volunteers who help implement new forest restoration ecologies while also serving as a private retreat for writers. Standing sentry to a forest in restoration, the shed offers a signal of rebirth and resilience in a long-neglected ecosystem.