JOSEPHINE COUNTY
KING MOUNTAIN
Umpqua National Forest >State
33S-5W-24
33S-5W-24
April 10, 1930: "Plans for the protection of the ten and one-half million acres of forest land coming under the jurisdiction of the state forester are well under way for the season of 1930, according to an Associated Press dispatch from Salem, Ore.
As part of the program two new lookout houses are to be constructed. One will be on Onion Springs mountain east of Glendale. Twelve miles of new telephone lines have just been completed to connect this new lookout with the district warden's office." (La Grande Evening Observer)
As part of the program two new lookout houses are to be constructed. One will be on Onion Springs mountain east of Glendale. Twelve miles of new telephone lines have just been completed to connect this new lookout with the district warden's office." (La Grande Evening Observer)
April 11, 1930: "Two new lookout houses are to be constructed. One on Onion Springs Mountain, east of Glendale, between Cow Creek and Grave Creek. Twelve miles of new telephone line has just been completed to connect this new lookout with the district warden's office." (Roseburg News Review)
May 1, 1930: "One of the principal improvements that have already been undertaken this year is the establishment of a lookout tower and cabin on Onion Springs mountain which is located on the intersecting boundaries of Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties about ten miles east of Wolf creek. The work is being conducted cooperatively by the three counties above mentioned. Eleven miles of telephone line have already been completed in order to connect the lookout with the district wardens through the Rogue River central. As soon as the roads in that vicinity are in shape so that no trouble will be encountered in getting loaded trucks over them, the material for the tower and cabin will be hauled and the work completed. It is expected to construct a 40-foot tower, using mostly timbers in its construction. The cabin will be about 14 by 16 and of good permanent construction. This new lookout will be a decided help in the detection in southern Douglas and practically the entire state area in Jackson and Josephine counties." (The Forest Log)
May 22, 1930: “The United States Forest Service is erecting a look out station on Flag Point the highest point on Onion Springs Mountain, which is near the head of Quines Creek about 12 miles from Glendale. This lookout will be of much assistance in detecting fires within the reserve.” (The Glendale Log)
May 22, 1930: “The United States Forest Service is erecting a look out station on Flag Point the highest point on Onion Springs Mountain, which is near the head of Quines Creek about 12 miles from Glendale. This lookout will be of much assistance in detecting fires within the reserve.” (The Glendale Log)
May 27, 1930: " 'One of the major improvements that will greatly assist in forest protection work, is the construction of a 40-foot lookout tower and cabin at Onion Springs Mountain,' declared state forester F.A. Elliott. 'This tower will enable scouts to survey practically the entire area of Josephine and Jackson counties and part of Douglas.' " (Ashland Daily Tidings)
June 1, 1930: "A report recently received from District Warden Phipps, of Jackson county, is to the effect that the lookout tower and cabin on the summit of Onion Springs mountain has been completed. The tower is 40 feet high, and with the exception of the lookout platform, is constructed of timbers cut from the adjacent timber. The flooring of the platform as well as the cabin itself, is constructed of lumber. The new observation point is in the nature of a cooperative lookout, being constructed jointly by Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties. Eleven miles of telephone line have been constructed to connect it with with the district warden's headquarters through the Rogue River central." (The Forest Log)
August 15, 1930: "Lightning shook hands too promiscuously around the top of a mountain Thursday evening, so the lookout went down the mountain and helped fight fires for awhile, preferring actualities to possibilities, according to a report made by a state forest official Friday.
Three more fires, added to four earlier ones, were started Thursday on King Mountain by the lightning storm in the evening, Fire Warden A.L. McCarty stated Friday. Four men left early Friday to stamp out the last traces of the fires there. A light shower at 6 p.m. Thursday is believed to have smothered out some of the flames." (Grants Pass Daily Courier)
December 1, 1930: "Work was started the first of last month on a telephone line from the summit of Onion Springs mountain down Coyote creek to connect at Wolf creek. This will give the lookout direct connections with both Grants Pass and Roseburg. A line has already been constructed to connect with the Medford central through Rogue river. Onion springs was first used as a cooperative lookout last year. Improvements consist of a cabin and a 40-foot lookout tower." (The Forest Log)
December 4, 1930: “The name of Onion Spring mountain, at the head of Quines Creek, has been changed to Kings Butte. A telephone line was completed the last of the week to a Lookout Station, there.” (The Glendale Log)
December 4, 1930: “The name of Onion Spring mountain, at the head of Quines Creek, has been changed to Kings Butte. A telephone line was completed the last of the week to a Lookout Station, there.” (The Glendale Log)
December 5, 1930: "The name of Onion Spring mountain, that is located at the head of Quines creek was officially changed, recently, to King's butte, after Porter King assistant state forester.
A central lookout station for this community is built on this mountain, to which a telephone line was completed last week." (Roseburg News-Review)
June 15, 1931: "Onion Springs mountain is no more, that is, officially speaking. King mountain will replace it on the maps hereafter. The change in name was made recently by forestry officials primarily to avoid confusion, as there are other mountains and peaks that are also designated by the name of the plebian vegetable.
With the location of a new fire patrol lookout station atop this mountain it was decided by Fred Southwick, Roseburg; L. McCarthy, Grants Pass, and Dwight Phipps, Medford, rangers and chiefs of the three districts directly served by the station to rename the peak King mountain in honor of Porter S. King, of Salem, now assistant state forester in charge of protection, who has been actively associated with forestry work and fire prevention for more than 20 years.
King mountain is 10 miles in a southeasterly direction from Glendale and near the convergence of Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties. The headwaters of Quines creek, tributary of Cow creek, drains the north slope. Graves creek, drain the south slopes. The mountain is 5242 feet high and the lookout tower is 40 feet high making the lookout station a mile high.
Roy Edwards of Rogue River for several years past lookout at Battle mountain is now acting in like capacity at the new King mountain station. He and Mrs. Edwards live in a small cabin built at the base of the lookout tower. Water is available from a spring about a quarter mile from the top of the mountain. Provisions and supplies are packed up a three mile trail from the end of a road on Coyote creek.
A telephone line to Glendale and two other lines serving this station are used by Edwards to report his observations." (Roseburg News Review)
July 1, 1932: "The mile high lookout station on King mountain was placed in service June 15th with Roy Edwards in charge. This will be the second season Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are spending atop one of the highest peaks in this district. King mountain was formerly known as Onion Springs and is located about 10 miles southeast of Glendale." (Roseburg News-Review)
May 1936: "A 54-foot tower of the new type will be built on King mountain as soon as a road can be broken through for transportation of materials. It is not expected the tower will be built this year." (The Forest Log)
July, 1936: A 54-foot Type CT-2 tower with a standard 1936 14 x 14 cab was started by members of CCC Camp P-211. The construction required 533 man days of labor and a total cost of $1331.77. (Investment Record - Structural Improvements - ECW)
1936: "The road to King Mountain was also extended part way the side of King Mountain where a new lookout tower will be built during the coming season." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1937: 'Proposed project for the upcoming season is the building of a lookout station on King Mountain." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1938: "New 50 foot timber tower with 14 x 14 cabin built by the CCC at T33 R2W 36." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
March 17, 1939: Construction of the tower completed. (Investment Record - Structural Improvements - ECW)
Activated: October 10, 1942: Deactivated: October 16, 1943. Roseburg Filter Center
August 8, 1942: "The improvements which we have listed for King Mountain observation post are as follows: 12x12 ground house and an 8x8 cabin on a 72 foot tower. The cabin is reported to be in poor shape. The post is accessible by road. This station needs suitable sleeping and storage facilities, it is recommended by the office to build a 16x18 garage-sized building, completely sealed and floored for sleeping and storage accommodations. Shake and pole woodshed will also be needed." (Memorandum to the State Forester from James Frankland, USFS Engineering)
October 16, 1943: The Army de-activated this AWS post effective 1800 hours.
1942: "King Mountain - USFS garage and woodshed converted to house for the winter. AWS total cost $532.00." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1950: Painted by Ellwood. (Southwest District Annual Report)
1952: Maintenance performed: Repair windows. (Southwest District Annual Report)
January 23, 1953: "The state forestry department Thursday was completing appraisal of its loss resulting from high winds and heavy rains earlier in the week.
A 52-foot lookout tower on King mountain, 15 miles east of Glendale, was blown down and demolished. Officials said it would cost $4000 to replace the tower." (The Oregonian)
February 1953: "The 52-foot lookout tower on King mountain, about 15 miles east of Glendale in the northern end of the Southwestern Oregon State unit, was blown down recently by high winds that blew in gusts from 60 to 100 miles per hour. The tower, which was constructed by the Wimer CCC camp about 15 years ago, was a total loss." (The Forest Log)
1955: Wood cook stove installed, cost $49.44. (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1957: "Building maintenance: Old residence removed." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1957: 33.34 acres of BLM land was acquired for the Gap Filler Annex along with easement rights across several mining claims.
1958: The unmanned radar site was activated. Improvements included the Gap Filler building and other required structures, also a 4,000 gallon underground fuel storage tank.
1958: The unmanned radar site was activated. Improvements included the Gap Filler building and other required structures, also a 4,000 gallon underground fuel storage tank.
1965: On may 13th the Air Force declared the site to be excess property and in September the site was transferred to BLM.
1958: "Building maintenance: installed gas range." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1959: "Building maintenance: Repaired roof and lightning protection." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1960: "Building maintenance: Install gas heating supply line and repair trap door counterweights." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1961: "Building maintenance: Repaired roof, fireproofed and new garbage pit dug." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1962: "Building Maintenance: New roof and painted building." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1964: "Wired cab for electricity and built a fence around the spring." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1965: "Building Maintenance: Repaired roof and painted exterior." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
Removed