CACHE MOUNTAIN
Deschutes County - Deschutes National Forest
April 28, 1931: "The line to the top of Cache mountain, designated as a secondary lookout point, will take off from the Santiam highway near the base of Black butte, at the Suttle lake junction. This project will cost $500, it is estimated." (The Bend Bulletin)
May 1, 1931: " Fearful that the presence of more than 10,000,000 feet of wind toppled timber will constitute a grave fire hazard when the needles become dry as tender, officials of the Deschutes national forest are taking steps to protect the Metolius river country this coming summer and, according to plans, two extra lookouts will be placed on duty. One of the lookouts will be on Cache mountain, a 5500 foot high peak looking into the devastated area from the south." (The Bend Bulletin)
May 1, 1931: " Cache and Circle lakes and other bodies of water in the high Santiam area are still covered by ice and the summit country is deeply covered in places by drifted snow, according to information from Leslie Colvill, Deschutes national forest official, who this week visited the Santiam region. Colvill found it possible to drive into the old toll station, on the Santiam road. In the summit country he found the trail made by a group of skiers who crossed the Cascades from the west.
Colvill made the trip to the mountain to determine the feasibility of placing a lookout on Cache mountain, a 5500 foot high peak, this summer. The peak has been approved as a lookout point and according to plans, will be approached by a road up the old trail, from the northeast side.
The view from Cache mountain, overlooking the Metolius and Santiam areas and in the shadow of Mount Washington." (The Bend Bulletin)
May 27, 1931: "The Deschutes forest service has completed the new spur from Allingham to Cache mountain, where a fireman-lookout will be on duty this summer. The crew that handled this job is now at work on the Allingham-Allendale section of the Sisters-Indian reservation line." (The Bend Bulletin)
1931: A lookout will be on duty by the middle of the week, the second week of July.
July 21, 1931: "Additional funds allocated by the district office to the Deschutes national forest for the protection of areas covered with timber toppled over by the high winds of April have made it possible to place a lookout-fireman on Cache mountain and employ two patrolmen. Wilbur Costello has the Cache mountain station." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 7, 1932: "In early June, Ranger McReynolds is supervising the work on five miles of telephone line being constructed and if the weather continues, brush removed from the lookout site, to improve visibility, will be burned." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 16, 1932: "Up on Cache mountain, Lyle Anderson spots a smoke and telephones to the central platting office in Bend a reading. Within two minutes from the time the first wisp of smoke appears above the trees the central dispatcher in Bend has a triangulation which tells him nearly exactly the place where the smoke has been sighted." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 13, 1932: " Before work can be started on a 20 foot tower to be erected for the Cache Mountain lookout in the Sisters district, a road must be constructed to the top. Work on this road will be under way in about two weeks." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 3, 1932: "Roads are also being built to the summits of Cache mountain, Pistol butte and a number of other fireman-lookout points." (The Bend Bulletin)
October 26, 1932: "Cache mountain, located in the Sisters district. Location of a 20 foot tower, to be used in fire spotting work." (The Bend Bulletin)
1933: A 20-foot round pole tower with a 14x14 L-4 hip-roof cab was constructed at a cost of $910.84. Also the same year a 12x 20 wood frame garage was built.
July 23, 1936: "Due to the hot weather and low humidity it has been necessary to put one more lookout fireman on duty in the Sisters district of the Deschutes national forest. Emil Johnson was sent to the Cache mountain station, Thursday." (The Bend Bulletin)
May 19, 1937: "The Cache mountain lookout fireman has not been sent out, a mistake having been made in a previous announcement. The road to the lookout station is being cleared of snow." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 2, 1937: "Crews of forest service employes are working this week maintaining the telephone line to Cache mountain." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 16, 1937: "Lookout Phillip Gould was placed on Cache mountain Sunday. This is the third lookout up to date." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 17, 1937: "Phillip Gould, Cache mountain lookout is leaving soon for the U. of O." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 3, 1938: "Bill Baty of Bend is lookout fireman on Cache mountain, replacing Paul Talonen who has been transferred to Suttle lake as fire guard." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 8, 1939: "Robert Hudson and Chelsea Brown are maintaining telephone line to Cache mountain lookout this week." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 28, 1940: "Torey Newton, lookout fireman on Cache mountain, went to Molalla, Monday to attend the funeral of Mrs. N. Kent, the mother of a friend." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 26, 1940: "Torrey Newton closed the Cache mountain lookout Saturday and will go to Corvallis this week where he will re-enter Oregon State college." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 13, 1941: "Harry Stroebe, Cache mountain lookout has returned to his home in Wisconsin. He was an exchange forestry student, and has been here several months." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 5, 1945: "Madame Dore, French instructor and member of the Madras school staff, will man the lookout station on Cache mountain, at an elevation of 5,500 feet. Madame Dore, former staff member of the University of Idaho is nationally known for her work in French teaching." (The Bend Bulletin)
1957: This station reported one fire during the 1957 season.
September 2, 1967: "More than 1,085 men were fighting the giant blaze Friday night. A total of 3,000 were on firelines somewhere. Frear estimated the timber losses of the Airstrip fire alone at more than $300,000.
The fire has destroyed several popular recreation areas, including Cayuse campground near Big Lake and the Cash Mountain lookout post.
The Sand Mountain Lookout was emptied. The summer home area around Hoodoo Bowl and ski lodge were saved." (The Oregonian)