LANE COUNTY
HUCKLEBERRY MOUNTAIN
Willamette National Forest
20S-4E-10
20S-4E-10
1912: A lookout tree established.
September 1, 1914: "Another blaze was reported Friday afternoon on Huckleberry mountain between North Fork and Salmon creek and about 25 miles east of Oakridge. The blaze was first detected from the lookout at North Fork ranger station by Fire Guard Charles Paddock, who left at once with two men for the scene of the fire, which without doubt was started by the electrical storm of Wednesday evening as it is in a very rugged country not reached by trails by trails and never penetrated by hunters." (Morning Register)
June 27, 1917: "J.C. Kuhns, of the government forest service, who was in from Oakridge Wednesday, reports that the forest force is engaged in building trails and telephone lines. A trail is being constructed to the top of Huckleberry mountain, where a fire lookout station is being erected. A telephone line is also being erected to the new lookout station on Huckleberry." (The Eugene Guard)
July 11, 1920: "Gerald Van Valzah returned Thursday from Tacoma, Wash., where he had been visiting with an uncle. He left Friday morning for Oakridge, and will be located in a lookout station on Huckleberry mountain for the rest of the summer." (Morning Register)
July 15, 1920: "Two heliographs for use on the high lookout points on Waldo and Huckleberry mountains in the Cascade national forest east of this city have been ordered by N.F. Macduff, supervisor of the forest. They will be used in lieu of telephones.
Messages are flashed by mirrors from one mountain to the other and they can be used even when the atmosphere is smoky or foggy if the sun's rays fall directly upon the mirror." (The Oregonian)
August 5, 1920: "Robert Van Valzah, fire warden at Huckleberry mountain, is attending American Legion convention at Astoria. His brother, Gerald, is attending his duties in his absence." (Morning Register)
September 17, 1921: "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Flock and family were in the city yesterday on a business trip from their home at Oakridge. During the past summer, Mrs. Flock was forest fire lookout at the Huckleberry Mountain tower which has an elevation of 6500 feet, she being one of the few women employed in this service in the Northwest." (Morning Register)
May 31, 1922: "Mrs. Lina Flock, of Oakridge, Huckleberry mountain, north of Oakridge. Her children lived with her at the station." (The Eugene Guard)
September 25, 1923: "Randall Jones, a University of Oregon student, who has been acting as forest lookout on top of Huckleberry mountain during the summer, has returned to Eugene and is preparing to re-enter the University." (Morning Register)
August 18, 1924: "Mr. Macduff took a party to a mountain lookout to demonstrate the efficiency of the fire protective system of the district and to give a view of the Cascade area. He told of two blasts, from which the smoke went to Huckleberry mountain lookout. Within five minutes the foreman of a crew 10 miles away reported that the lookout on the mountain had located a fire." (The Eugene Guard)
June 25, 1927: "Two Eugeneans, Charles Lord and Robert S. Stewart, are leaving to enter the government forest service at McKenzie bridge in the Cascade forest. Both will attend the fire-prevention meetings now being held.
Mr. Lords will be employed as a lookout, probably at Huckleberry mountain, and Mr. Stewart will be a patrolman, going on duty July 1." (The Eugene Guard)
September 16, 1927: "Charles Lord, lookout on Huckleberry mountain in the Cascade national forest this summer, is visiting with his parents in the College Crest district. He has been stationed in the forest about three months." (Morning Register)
March 15, 1928: "Records of weather conditions will be taken by lookouts on Huckleberry mountain in the Cascade national forest this summer in cooperation with the United States weather bureau, it was announced yesterday at the forest office. The peak is 5500 feet high.
In the Cascade forest records are kept of weather conditions at the Eugene office and at Oakridge in addition to the Huckleberry mountain station. These observations assist the weather bureau in making forecasts and also warn forest officials of lightning and other fire hazards." (Morning Register)
October 9, 1928: "The last lookout on duty in the Cascade national forest has been driven from his post by snow and sleet and the fire season is believed to be over for this year, according to Nelson F. Macduff, forest supervisor, who has just returned from a tour of the forest.
The lookout on Huckleberry mountain stayed on duty until Thursday, when snow and sleet fell. Then he was relieved, as so much rain and snow had fallen that fire danger was practically nil." (Morning Oregonian)
June 6, 1931: "Emergency lookouts for the weekend were stationed at Castle Rock and Huckleberry mountain, and other protective forces were advised to be on guard." (The Eugene Guard)
July 29, 1932: "Mrs. Don Brown left Wednesday for Huckleberry mountain where she will spend the summer with Mr. Brown, who is stationed there." (The Eugene Guard)
July 9, 1933: "Knute Turnquist left Saturday for Huckleberry mountain where he will serve as look-out fireman for the forest service." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
September 20, 1935: "Knute Turnquist went to Huckleberry mountain where he will serve as lookout fireman for the forest service. He was called in last week, but due to the prevailing hot weather he was sent back until it rains again." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
July 4, 1936: "Knute Turnquist left Wednesday for Huckleberry mountain where he will serve as look-out fireman for the forest service. He is the first lookout to be sent out in this district." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
October 7, 1938: "Willamette national forest will be fitted with two new lookout cabins within the next few days, one at Crescent mountain in the Cascadia district and another on Huckleberry mountain in the Oakridge district, it was learned here Thursday from H.G. White, Willamette construction superintendent.
Both buildings replace antiquated structures on the same sites. The Crescent lookout is virtually completed now and it is predicted CCC men will finish the Huckleberry mountain station within ten days.
The lookouts are the same size as those being replaced but are built on a new improved design, Mr. White said. Glass on all sides of the lookout ground floors eliminate the necessity of mounting fire-finding equipment above the buildings. Both stations are of the non-tower type." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
July 8, 1940: "Knute Turnquist has been sent to the Huckleberry look-out station where he will spend the summer, working for the forest service." (The Eugene Guard)
September 15, 1938: "Lookout cabins at three stations in the Willamette national forest are nearing completion, it was announced Thursday at headquarters office here."
One of the three being replaced is Huckleberry mountain near Oakridge. (The Eugene Register-Guard)
October 7, 1938: "Willamette national forest will be fitted with two new lookout cabins within the next few days, one at Crescent mountain in the Cascadia district and another on Huckleberry mountain in the Oakridge district, it was learned here Thursday from H.G. White, Willamette construction superintendent.
Both buildings replace antiquated structures on the same sites. The Crescent lookout is virtually completed now and it is predicted CCC men will finish the Huckleberry mountain station within ten days.
The lookouts are the same size as those being replaced but are built on a new improved design, Mr. White said. Glass on all sides of the lookout ground floors eliminate the necessity of mounting fire-finding equipment above the buildings. Both stations are of the non-tower type." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
1939: A L-4 model 1936 lookout cabin erected by the CCC first staffed.
1992: A roof restoration was performed by volunteers.
DESIGNATION - HUCKLEBERRY LOOKOUT HOUSE
PID - PC0792
STATE/COUNTY- OR/LANE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - HUCKLEBERRY MTN (1997)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1953 (CTH)
THE STATION IS A SMALL HOUSE ABOUT 10 FEET HIGH AND ABOUT 15
FEET SQUARE. IT IS LOCATED ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF HUCKLEBERRY MTN.
PID - PC0792
STATE/COUNTY- OR/LANE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - HUCKLEBERRY MTN (1997)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1953 (CTH)
THE STATION IS A SMALL HOUSE ABOUT 10 FEET HIGH AND ABOUT 15
FEET SQUARE. IT IS LOCATED ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF HUCKLEBERRY MTN.