BUXTON MOUNTAIN
Washington County - Oregon Department of Forestry - 3N-4W-14
March/April 1939: "Another project that is on the camp program is the construction of a mile-long road to the summit of Buxton peak where a 100-foot lookout tower and cabin will be constructed. This will supplant the crow's nest that has been maintained on Hoffman lookout for a number of years." (The Forest Log)
1940: A 113-foot tower
Activated: March 9, 1942. Portland Filter Center.
July 8, 1942: "This post was visited June 25, the observer on duty was Thomas Seth. The other observer, Ralph Wood, was home off shift.
The post can see the Portland Airport during clear weather and occasionally planes can be seen taking of and landing.
Improvements consist of a 100 foot tower with 7x7 cab. The tower is not very satisfactory for airplane spotting when the weather is stormy. A 16x18 two-room ground cabin is already winterized satisfactorily. It has a good cook and heating stove. A 14x20 garage is planned to be fixed up for additional quarters for the Fire Guard. A woodshed is planned behind the garage. The lookout has a good wood show but very little was cut.
Due to the presence of logging operations and acute fire hazard, Warden Kyle plans to retain both AWS observers and employ a Fire Guard during the fire season. This station needs this extra manpower and the employment of three persons was approved. It was understood that each person is to work an eight hour shift, and all three were to be used for aircraft spotting as well as fire detection work." (Inspection Report from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector, to James Frankland, USFS)
The post can see the Portland Airport during clear weather and occasionally planes can be seen taking of and landing.
Improvements consist of a 100 foot tower with 7x7 cab. The tower is not very satisfactory for airplane spotting when the weather is stormy. A 16x18 two-room ground cabin is already winterized satisfactorily. It has a good cook and heating stove. A 14x20 garage is planned to be fixed up for additional quarters for the Fire Guard. A woodshed is planned behind the garage. The lookout has a good wood show but very little was cut.
Due to the presence of logging operations and acute fire hazard, Warden Kyle plans to retain both AWS observers and employ a Fire Guard during the fire season. This station needs this extra manpower and the employment of three persons was approved. It was understood that each person is to work an eight hour shift, and all three were to be used for aircraft spotting as well as fire detection work." (Inspection Report from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector, to James Frankland, USFS)
August 22, 1942: "I am advised by Cecil Kyle that there is considerable difficulty in reporting flash messages from the Buxton Lookout - AWS Station. This is due to the fact that the volunteer station at Buxton is on the same line as the Buxton Lookout. And apparently calls to and from these stations are often mixed.
Since the Buxton volunteer station is within about four miles airline from Buxton Lookout, it would appear that since our men on the lookout are on duty at all times, the volunteer station is a duplication; and Kyle would like to see the Buxton volunteer station discontinued.
I know that it has not been your practice to interfere in any way with the maintenance of these volunteer stations; but if you can present the matter to the Army in such a way that the Buxton volunteer station would be discontinued, it would be appreciated." (A letter to W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector from N.W. Oregon FPA)
November 10, 1943: "It is noted in the last two inspection reports of October 28 and November 1 of Buxton O.P. that the estimated amount of sag in the tower guys was 10 inches and 12 inches, respectively.
Our recollection of the Buxton tower is that it is 100 feet high which means that the maximum allowable sag in the tower guys would be not over six inches. Undoubtedly you will wish to check this and eliminate the excessive sag." (Memorandum to the State Forester from James Frankland, USFS Engineering)
1955: A portion of the ground cabin foundation replaced.
1959: A new cabin constructed on the Buxton Lookout tower. A total of $1086.30 expended on labor and materials.
1960: New living quarters and a radio repeater shelter constructed at a cost of $2130.04.
1960: "The new radio repeater on Buxton Lookout is working very satisfactorily. It has increased the field radio coverage immeasurably in Clatsop and Columbia Counties." (Northwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1962: Construction begun on the new 99 foot tower and lookout cabin.
1963: A 99-foot timber tower with a 7x7 cab was completed. The living quarters are in a concrete block ground cabin. The cost of the tower was $1464.00 for materials; $3931.00 for labor; grand total of $5395.00
October 1963: "A sharp-eyed lookout responsible for detection of smokes on rural, as well as forest areas in the Northwest Oregon District put a local forest warden on the spot. It was a Sunday when Marcia Yeater, scanning the surrounding terrain from Buxton lookout, spotted a smoke just beginning its tell-tale ascent near the town of Manning.
A radio call to district headquarters at Forest Grove alerted the assistant district warden. But immediately a third party came on saying, 'I'll take care of this Chris.' Suspicious at the timing and sequence of events the warden in charge asked, 'Did you touch that off?' A strained silence followed, broken finally by a hollow laugh and a weak 'yes, I was burning a little trash beside the house.'
'Nice shooting 518,' the assistant district warden said to the lookout as he signed off the air." (The Forest Log)
A radio call to district headquarters at Forest Grove alerted the assistant district warden. But immediately a third party came on saying, 'I'll take care of this Chris.' Suspicious at the timing and sequence of events the warden in charge asked, 'Did you touch that off?' A strained silence followed, broken finally by a hollow laugh and a weak 'yes, I was burning a little trash beside the house.'
'Nice shooting 518,' the assistant district warden said to the lookout as he signed off the air." (The Forest Log)
Removed