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ASHPO works toward historic trail restoration

The estimated cost for the restoration of the aerial cable tramway in Fagatogo would most likely be  $5Million dollars, said David Herdrich, Director of the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (ASHPO) in response to a letter sent by Fagatogo Representative Maugaoali’i Sipa Anoa'i.

 

This follows the approval of a House Resolution calling for the development of a Fagatogo Waking Tour in conjunction with the restoration of the downtown commercial district, followed by a restoration of the aerial cable tramway. 

 

The ASHPO Director noted that an estimate of the cost was first conducted in 1996 by the National Park, however in today’s dollars it's estimated to be more than five million dollars.

 

In response, the ASHPO Director commended the Fagatogo faipule for being a strong advocate of preserving history, and noted the updates since the House Resolution was approved in March, 2010 calling for development of certain historic sites.

 

Herdrich noted that the resolution called for “the development of a walking/hiking path from Sogelau Hill and Maugaoali’i leading to the two reservoirs, through the U.S. Naval Historic District and adjacent areas, to be accomplished in conjunction with the rehabilitation of the downtown Commercial District, and then restoration and marketing of the Aerial Cable Tramway.

 

“Since the resolution was passed we have taken… actions in cooperation with the American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) and the National Park of American Samoa (NPAS).”

 

He stated that in 2010 ASHPO updated the Fagatogo Walking Tour brochure with input from the ASVB, and since that time they have provided copies of the brochures to the ASVB to provide to tourists and to distribute to visitors when cruise ships arrive.  An electronic copy is available on ASHPO’s website at http://ashpo.org/index.php/walkingtour.html.

 

“In order to develop the trail from Sogelau Hill and Maugaoali’i leading to the Matafao and Fagatogo reservoirs it was necessary to conduct archaeological surveys in the mountains above Fagatogo and Utulei.

 

“The purpose of the surveys were to find a good route for the heritage trail and to discover historic sites, in particular any WWII sites that could be included as a part of the heritage trail," he noted.

 

“The American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (ASHPO) funded an archaeological survey in 2010; the final report was entitled, An Archaeological Phase I Inventory Level Survey for the Fagatogo/Utulei Ridge Project Area, Ma’oputasi County, Island of Tutuila, American Samoa.”

 

The ASHPO Director said the survey found numerous WW II era sites, including three concrete anti-aircraft gun emplacements on Utulelei ridge and two concrete anti-aircraft gun emplacements on Togotogo ridge. It was determined that the best route for a heritage trail that would feature the WW II era sites was found to be between the Blunts Point Guns and the aerial cable tramway. However, there was no ready access between the tramway and the historic flag pole site because such a trail would have to go through people’s yards.

 

The best route for a heritage trail to the Matafao reservoir would be a separate trail starting at the Fagatogo reservoir and hydro-electric plant to the Matafao reservoir, and the Fagatogo reservoir and hydro-electric plant were deemed to be historic sites and should be considered as candidates for restoration, says ASHPO.

 

Since the best candidate for a WWII era trail included the Blunts Point site, a second survey was carried out in 2012 in the Blunts Point area on Matautu ridge in order to document the trail route and discover any additional sites along the way. The survey was funded by ASHPO and the final report was entitled, An inventory Level Survey Report for the Blunts Point Complex on Matauta Ridge Ma’oputasi County, Island of Tutuila, American Samoa.

 

According to Herdrich, the results of the survey note that a large number of World War II features were found and documented on the ridges behind and to the side of the Blunts Point guns. “These features included stairways leading up the ridges to concrete pads that were used by the Marines; structures, which included a mess hall, offices, barracks, a munitions bunker, and a generator room.

 

The survey confirmed that this was the best route to reach the WWII features on Utulei and Togotogo ridges.”

 

Based on these survey results the ASHPO, ASVB, and the NPAS (with assistance from a Samoana High School History Class) began a restoration and trail development project in 2012.

 

This cooperative project included wooden block stairs leading to the second WW II era Blunts Point gun being restored. “The second WW II era concrete gun emplacement at Blunts Point that had been flooded for many years was drained and one of the drains for the emplacement was cleaned out. Once the water had been removed, the gun was painted. The heritage trail was developed between the Blunts Point Guns and the tramway."

 

Based in part on the research results from the archaeological surveys, a brochure that features World War II sites on Tutuila was created cooperatively and will be printed this month by the ASVB. The Feleti Barstow Public Library also assisted in this project.

 

An article describing results of the archaeological survey, featuring the Blunts Point and Breakers Point Guns, entitled “Great Guns” was published in the international magazine Natural History in January of 2013. This article will bring attention to the rich World War II history in American Samoa and hopefully attract more tourists. It's available on the ASHPO website at http://ashpo.com/downloads/NHKennedy.pdf

 

Samoa News will report on the second part of this letter in a later edition, explaining the discussion to develop a brochure that features the World War II heritage trail and potential heritage trail from the Fagatogo Reservoir/Hydroelectric Plant to the Matafao Reservoir.