Archeological Tests at the Hoover Birthplace Cottage (HS-1) and a Shovel-Test Survey along the Route of a New Waterline to the Hoover Library Addition, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, Iowa

The yard around the Hoover Cottage (also known as the Birthplace Cottage) and a portion of the meadow southwest of the cottage were tested by a Midwest Archeological Center crew between July 15 and July 26, 1991. This investigation was initiated in response to proposed construction and associated ground disturbance at the cottage and between the cottage and the Hoover Library expansion. The purpose of this work was simply to determine whether prehistoric or historic archeological resources existed in the proposed construction zones. Test excavations on the north and south sides of the cottage identified scattered archeological resources affiliated with the period from the first decade or so of the village of West Branch's existence to the modern era. A limestone-slab walk and other features of uncertain function and origin were also identified near the surface in the west yard of the cottage. A shovel-test survey of the proposed route for the Hoover Library expansion waterline identified several concentrations of building materials. Surveyor flags were left at these find spots to allow the construction contractor to avoid these locations. Management recommendations included avoidance of the west yard of the cottage and locations where artifacts had been encountered during shovel testing.