JACKSON COUNTY
BUCK ROCK
South West Oregon Fire Patrol
33S-1W-15
33S-1W-15
June 30, 1930: "The first forest fire of the season of any consequence in the Crater National Forest, which itself did not amount to much as it was discovered and put under control too quickly, burned over an extent of 2 1/2 acres in brush and old growth timber along Trail Creek on the Oliver ranch yesterday afternoon.
The fire is classed as man caused in origin by the Crater national forest officials. It was discovered at 12 noon by the Buck Rock forest lookout, and was put under control and extinguished by the Trail firemen of the forest, by last evening.
There had been eight very minor fires in the forest this season prior to yesterday." (Medford Mail Tribune)
The fire is classed as man caused in origin by the Crater national forest officials. It was discovered at 12 noon by the Buck Rock forest lookout, and was put under control and extinguished by the Trail firemen of the forest, by last evening.
There had been eight very minor fires in the forest this season prior to yesterday." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1938 & 1939: Inventories indicate an old style lookout house with cupola, in poor condition, needing replaced.
April 24, 1939: "Mr. and Mrs. Walt Sherrid have moved to the lookout station on Buck Rock." (Medford Mail Tribune)
June 11, 1940: "With high temperatures increasing fire hazards sharply, the state forest patrol here posted two more lookouts today, one at Buck Rock above trail." (Medford Mail Tribune)
September 27, 1942: "Bill Thompson, lookout at the Buck Rock station of the State Forest department, was troubled with insomnia Friday night and as a result Clarence Van Hoose, whose farm is in the Reese Creek district, 13 miles from the lookout station, still has his home although his barn is a heap of ashes.
According to A.D. McReynolds, district warden for the forest department, Thompson arose about 1:30 a.m. Saturday and as lookout are continually doing, gazed out over the vast domain visible in the moonlight from his lofty station. Far below, he noted a blaze. Stepping to the telephone he notified the forest patrol office and a pumper was quickly dispatched to the scene and succeeded in saving the other buildings on the Van Hoose farm.
The fire is believed to have started spontaneously from hammered hay which was being placed in the barn. Loss was said by McReynolds to approximate $750 on the barn, $100 worth of hay and $200 on the hay chopper which was near the blaze and was destroyed." (Medford Mail Tribune)
March 20, 1943: "In compliance with the Army's request to furnish estimates of activation costs and other pertinent information on Buck Rock observation post.
Improvements consist of a 14x14 cupola ground house. Additional improvements needed are a 12x16 sleeping and living quarters building and woodshed. The post is accessible by 4 miles of trail which necessitates packing material for building and supplies." (a letter to C.O., Portland Air Defense Region from James Frankland, USFS, Asst. Regional Forester)
Improvements consist of a 14x14 cupola ground house. Additional improvements needed are a 12x16 sleeping and living quarters building and woodshed. The post is accessible by 4 miles of trail which necessitates packing material for building and supplies." (a letter to C.O., Portland Air Defense Region from James Frankland, USFS, Asst. Regional Forester)
July 6, 1945: "State police officers are today investigating vandalism of the Buck Rock lookout station near Trail, which was entered sometime between Sunday and Thursday. Police and State Forest Patrol headquarters reported the telephone had been wrecked, a fire-finder and map destroyed, radio torn out, windows broken and several articles missing.
The lookout, Melvin Anhorn, 16, route 3, Medford, discovered the act when he returned to his station Thursday. Anhorn had been bitten by a rattle snake Sunday and had come to Medford for aid and it was upon his return to duty that the vandalism was discovered. Because the telephone and radio had been damaged beyond use, Anhorn had to walk out a considerable distance to telephone forest headquarters." (Medford Mail Tribune)
The lookout, Melvin Anhorn, 16, route 3, Medford, discovered the act when he returned to his station Thursday. Anhorn had been bitten by a rattle snake Sunday and had come to Medford for aid and it was upon his return to duty that the vandalism was discovered. Because the telephone and radio had been damaged beyond use, Anhorn had to walk out a considerable distance to telephone forest headquarters." (Medford Mail Tribune)
June 10, 1951: "Scottie Parrick of Trail will be a government lookout on Buck Rock this summer and plans to go there about June 11." (Medford Mail Tribune)
June 5, 1952: "Scottie Parrick of Trail plans to leave June 5 for his Forest Service post at Buck Rock. He recently attended the three day Forest Service indoctrination school." (Medford Mail Tribune)
July 23, 1954: "Agnes Warrior, daughter of Mrs. Lloyd Oliver is stationed on the Buck Rock Lookout for the summer." (Medford Mail Tribune)
June 8, 1955: "Miss Agnes Warrior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Oliver, Trail, will be the lookout at Buck Rock for the summer season." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1955: Cost of repairs on roof and windows, $183.57. (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1956: "Building maintenance: Painted interior." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1957: "Building maintenance: Windows replaced." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1958: "Building maintenance: Window and misc. repairs." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
June 13, 1960: "Roscoe Smith, Ashland, took the post at Buck Rock today, the southwest district office of the department reported." (Medford Mail Tribune)
August 8, 1960: "A bear attempting to break into the Buck Rock lookout Friday night killed the dog guarding the station and did considerable damage.
Away from his post overnight, Rosco Smith, lookout, returned to find his 9-month-old registered German short haired dog dead. The dog had been chained near the door to keep intruders out. Standing approximately 2 1/2 feet tall and weighing about 55 pounds, the dog had been killed by one bite from the bear. Signs showed where the bear had tried to drag the dog away but was stopped by the chain.
In the attempt to enter the building, the bear ripped the door casing, chewed up a 2 x 4 board at the window and dug a 1 1/2-foot hole next to the building besides doing other damage.
The building, locked and with a stout door, was not entered. A paw mark on the door measured six inches across.
Smith, who has hunted cougars and bears, had been training his dog for hunting. He said he had never seen a bear attack a guarded place and damage it to this extent.
The Buck Rock lookout is open only during the summer months and is maintained by the state board of forestry. Smith lives in Ashland during the winter.
Buck Rock lookout is located above Oliver Springs at Trail and is one of two lookouts in the district to be rebuilt this fall, according to state forestry officials.
Smith said he will attempt to kill the bear before it can destroy other property." (Medford Mail Tribune)
Away from his post overnight, Rosco Smith, lookout, returned to find his 9-month-old registered German short haired dog dead. The dog had been chained near the door to keep intruders out. Standing approximately 2 1/2 feet tall and weighing about 55 pounds, the dog had been killed by one bite from the bear. Signs showed where the bear had tried to drag the dog away but was stopped by the chain.
In the attempt to enter the building, the bear ripped the door casing, chewed up a 2 x 4 board at the window and dug a 1 1/2-foot hole next to the building besides doing other damage.
The building, locked and with a stout door, was not entered. A paw mark on the door measured six inches across.
Smith, who has hunted cougars and bears, had been training his dog for hunting. He said he had never seen a bear attack a guarded place and damage it to this extent.
The Buck Rock lookout is open only during the summer months and is maintained by the state board of forestry. Smith lives in Ashland during the winter.
Buck Rock lookout is located above Oliver Springs at Trail and is one of two lookouts in the district to be rebuilt this fall, according to state forestry officials.
Smith said he will attempt to kill the bear before it can destroy other property." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1960: "Bought material for new lookout, cost $1610.51." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1961: "Completion of new construction, raze old building, salvage materials and install new firnuture. Total cost of construction $2594.79." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1962: "Building maintenance: New fire finder stand." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1963: "Building maintenance: Installed gas light." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1964: "Installed new outhouse and painted the interior and exterior of the lookout." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1965: "Building maintenance: Replaced broken windows and installed new map." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
Removed
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US ENGINEERS 1964
STATION BUCK ROCK JCS IS LOCATED NEAR THE ABANDONED LOOKOUT TOWER ON
THE SUMMIT OF BUCK ROCK, A TIMBERED, ROCKY MOUNTAIN WITH SCATTERED
TREES NEAR THE TOP, AIRLINE APPROXIMATELY 6-1/2 MILES NORTH OF SHADY
COVE AND 4 MILES NORTH OF TRAIL.
TO REACH STATION BUCK ROCK JCS FROM THE POST OFFICE AT SHADY COVE GO
NORTH ON STATE HIGHWAY 62 FOR 2.1 MILES TO A HIGHWAY JUNCTION. TURN
LEFT ONTO STATE HIGHWAY 227 AND GO NORTHWEST 4.2 MILES TO A SIDE ROAD
ON THE RIGHT. TURN RIGHT ONTO TRAIL CREEK ROAD AND GO NORTHEAST 1.5
MILES TO A FORK. TAKE THE RIGHT FORK AS PER SIGN BUCK ROCK
L. O. 3-1/2 AND GO SOUTHEAST 2.7 MILES TO A FORK. TAKE THE
RIGHT FORK AS PER SIGN BUCK ROCK L. O. 1 AND GO 0.5 MILE TO A
SIDE ROAD ON THE RIGHT. TURN RIGHT AS PER SIGN BUCK ROCK L. O.
1/2 AND GO ON A GRADED ROAD 0.15 MILE TO A FORK. TAKE THE LEFT
FORK AND, USING A TRUCK WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE, GO UPHILL 0.5 MILE TO
A TURN-AROUND. PACK UP A STEEP, BRUSHED-OVER ROAD ABOUT 200 YARDS
TO THE HIGHEST POINT, THE BUCK ROCK LOOKOUT AND THE STATION SITE.
BUCK ROCK (USE) IS A U.S. ENGINEERS DISK STAMPED BUCK ROCK 1964
PORTLAND DISTRICT SET IN THE TOP OF AN IRREGULAR CONCRETE SLAB
FLUSH WITH THE GROUND AND IS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE CENTER OF THE
LOOKOUT TOWER.