UNION COUNTY
MOUNT EMILY
Oregon Department of Forestry
1S-38E-32
1S-38E-32
August 1, 1913: "Mt. Emily--the peak of it--is to be made into a lookout station for prevention or discovery of forest fires over a vast area of timberland. J.T. Williamson returned last evening from an inspection trip to Mt. Emily to investigate the feasibility of establishing a lookout at that point during the season of the year when forest fires are timely, and found that an enormous territory could be patroled through field glasses from that point. Directors of the Union-Wallowa Counties Fire Protection association met here today and will act on Mr. Williamson's findings.
With field maps that Mr. Williamson will prepare, the lookout at that point can locate fires by constant watch from various points of vantage on the peak, and not only locate the fires but determine precisely where they are and through a telephone system that will be installed, according to present plans, notify the nearest authorities. It will be necessary to build about three miles of telephone to the proposed lookout and several times each day the lookout will scrutinize practically every township in Union county, parts of Wallowa county and portions of Baker. He will locate any fire that may be originating, warn the authorities or by telephoning learn if smoke that may be visible is from fire that is under control or beyond control and act accordingly. In order to view this enormus district of timberland, it will be necessary to scan the horizon from different points of view but to do this the lookout will only have to move over a territory less than a half mile square.
It is likely that the directors will decide this afternoon to establish the station at once as the present time is exactly the period when fires are dangerous.
All timber owners, meaning thereby anyone owning timber of any size or quantity are required to provide fire patrols and if not provided by the individual the state will do it and assess five cents per acre for this patrol. The Union-Wallowa County association assesses for the first year one-half cent for logged off land and one cent for timberland. Anyone can join the association." (La Grande Observer)
With field maps that Mr. Williamson will prepare, the lookout at that point can locate fires by constant watch from various points of vantage on the peak, and not only locate the fires but determine precisely where they are and through a telephone system that will be installed, according to present plans, notify the nearest authorities. It will be necessary to build about three miles of telephone to the proposed lookout and several times each day the lookout will scrutinize practically every township in Union county, parts of Wallowa county and portions of Baker. He will locate any fire that may be originating, warn the authorities or by telephoning learn if smoke that may be visible is from fire that is under control or beyond control and act accordingly. In order to view this enormus district of timberland, it will be necessary to scan the horizon from different points of view but to do this the lookout will only have to move over a territory less than a half mile square.
It is likely that the directors will decide this afternoon to establish the station at once as the present time is exactly the period when fires are dangerous.
All timber owners, meaning thereby anyone owning timber of any size or quantity are required to provide fire patrols and if not provided by the individual the state will do it and assess five cents per acre for this patrol. The Union-Wallowa County association assesses for the first year one-half cent for logged off land and one cent for timberland. Anyone can join the association." (La Grande Observer)
August 3, 1913: "The directors of the Union-Wallowa County Fire Protection Association met here yesterday to act on the findings of J.T. Williamson, who has returned from a trip to the summit of Mount Emily, which was made to ascertain the feasibility of establishing a lookout station for use of the Fire Protection Association. Mr. Williamson says that practically every township in Union County and large parts of Baker and Wallowa counties can be patrolled from this mountain. The association is expected to act upon his recommendation and place a man on the summit with a powerful telescope, and extend a telephone line to headquarters." (The Morning Oregonian)
August 15, 1913: "Complete scrutiny of a vast area of timberland from the peak of Mt. Emily is now going on as a preventative to forest fires. As a sequence of a trip made to Mt. Emily by J.T. Williamson recently the Union and Wallowa Forest Fire association has put Lowell Williamson on scout duty on Mt. Emily and from that point with a field glass he will daily scan the horizon for signs of forest fires. Within a few days a telephone will be built to the scout headquarters so that the lookout can call any section of the area which he can view from that point and notify authorities when fires are discovered. The whole plan is admitted to be the best there is anywhere in the state for the mountain gives him a very good view of an immense territory in Union, Wallowa and Baker counties with all up-river districts clearly discernible on a bright day. Mr. Williamson will also ride the territory back of the point and post notices but daily there will take place the careful scanning of the two counties and more." (La Grande Observer)
August 17, 1913: "Lowell Williamson, son of J.T. Williamson, a local timber operator, has been selected as lookout man for the Union-Wallowa Forest Fire Association and has taken his station on the top of Mount Emily, where his duty is to daily scan the horizon through his field glasses. This service is recognized by timber experts as being superior to any in the state, as the lofty height gives the lookout man a view practically of all of Union County and a large portion of Wallowa and Baker counties. Telephone communication will be established in a day or so between his headquarters and the association headquarters in La Grande, to where he will report daily or any time a fire might be sighted." (Morning Oregonian)
August 18, 1913: "Lowell Williamson, the fire lookout stationed on Mt. Emily, came down on Sunday to look after business matters." (La Grande Observer)
January 15, 1914: "J.H. Blumenstein was down this week from his place near the summit of Mt. Emily, where he has supervisory charge of the government trail and the lookout station. The snow in that section has attained a depth of about two and a half feet." (La Grande Observer)
July 17, 1914: "The fallen timber has now been cut out of the road and the trail to the top of Mt. Emily. The road ends at what is generally known as the 'bear wallow,' in the Free Use district. From there on for about a mile a new trail was cut out by the Forest Service late last fall. This trail is plainly marked by the official trail blaze with a notch above it. It leads almost to the very top of Mt. Emily.
The lookout station is not on the very top of Mt. Emily, as many people seem to think it is. The Blumenstein cabin serves as lookout headquarters. The fire warden takes observations from the top of Mt. Emily and several other high points. Each of these points has some advantages over the others. Sometimes a smoke or fire must be observed from more than one point in order to tell just what and just where it is." (La Grande Observer)
July 20, 1914: "Lookout John Blumenstein informed J.T. Williamson, manager of the Mount Emily Timber Company here that a small fire had been reported in the company's holdings on Mount Emily, 12 miles north of this city.
While the Valley during the afternoon has been filled with dense clouds of smoke from the burning timber, Mr. Williamson is inclined to scout the idea that the fire is at all serious. No further reports have been had from the lookout as the only means of communication is at his station on the mountain." (The Morning Oregonian)
July 29, 1914: "Only one forest fire is in sight from the lookout here today, one beyond Elgin that seems to be dying out rapidly. Eastern Oregon on the whole is free from fires now. The need of rain to wet down the timber is apparent." (La Grande Observer)
August 18, 1914: "Forest fires have raged here for the last few weeks. From the lookout on Mt. Emily, near here, fires can be seen in many directions, but the week-end has seen one fire of special persistency – located in second growth timber near Hilgard. A force of men varying from 100 to 200 has been kept on the scene for two days, first to gain control and then hold it. At several other points fires have broken out, but fortunately they have been confined to second growth timber." (The Spokesman-Review)
1914: "In order to secure prompt report of fires in the western portion of Union County a telephone line, five miles in length, was constructed to the primary lookout point, Mount Emily, and four miles of line was extended to patrolman's headquarters. The money invested in this piece of improvement work has already been saved several times over by the early suppression of fires which was made possible by this prompt report from the lookout man to headquarters." (Fourth Annual Report of the State Forester - 1915)
April 2, 1915: "The telephone line to Mt. Emily, constructed during 1913, was repaired the early part of the season and was effectively used in advising the central office of fires. This telephone line is about six miles in length and connects with the Home Independent Telephone line." (La Grande Observer)
June 30, 1915: "J.H. Blumenstein will again go to the lookout on Mt. Emily where, with fire finders now being installed he can locate, exactly, a blaze over a vast territory of timberland." (La Grande Observer)
July 2, 1915: "J.H. Blumenstein is down from his summer home on Mt. Emily and reports that he has had a crew of men at work on the new road to the summit that the U.S. Forest Service is constructing up there. The road follows an easy grade and crosses the little creek just below what is known as the Bear Wallow or the camping place of the woodhaulers who haul wood from the reserve. On July 1st Mr. and Mrs. Blumenstein made the first ascent of Mt. Emily with horse and rig as far as known. They were able to get within one quarter of a mile of the point from which a fine view of the valley may be obtained and then walked the rest of the way. On the 25th of June the crew at work on the road was laid off for half a day on account of a bad snowstorm. There was no frost, just cold enough to snow. The snow melted bout as fast as it struck the ground. This road is to be extended later on when more funds for same are available." (La Grande Observer)
August 29, 1915: "Fire that broke out in dense forests about five miles from Hilgard yesterday is not yet under control and more men are needed to fight it. The blaze is two miles from the O.-W. R. & N. tracks at Glover, but at present is not headed toward the right-of-way.
Ten acres has been burned over when the fire was reached by the Union-Wallowa County fire-fighters, after detection by the lookout on the peak of Mount Emily. When believed controlled, it broke out afresh and with renewed energy." (Morning Oregonian)
September 21, 1915: "J.H. Blumenstein, lookout on Mt. Emily, is down today and reports the forests very dry again--nearly as much so as before the rain." (La Grande Observer)
May 6, 1916: "The improvement work in Union county consisted of repairing the Mount Emily look-out station telephone line." "A fire finding instrument was installed on a twenty-eight foot tower on Mount Emily and this was used very effectively in the locating and reporting of fires." (This is from a summary of the 1915 fire season) (La Grande Observer)
June 20, 1916: "Frank (Abe) Perry of Island City will be lookout at the summit of Mt. Emily this year from, whence, with instruments, he will be able to detect and locate incipient fires.
A 40-foot tower will put the observer higher than the average tree-tops. There is at present a small one near the Bluemenstein cabin, but the directors purpose to build the new one higher and locate it on the very summit. Furthermore the telephone line at present runs only to the Bluemenstein cabin but it is proposed to build it to the peak, a distance of two miles and a half." (La Grande Observer)
June 24, 1916: "Ellis Williamson, in the forest fire patrol service, is laid off on account of an accident which occurred yesterday. He was at work constructing a lookout tower on Mt. Emily and a glance of the axe made a gash in the side of his foot. He managed with the assistance of a helper to make his way to town where the wound was stitched together. While being compelled for the time being to navigate on crutches, the young man will likely be ready to report for duty within a few days." (La Grande Observer)
July 17, 1916: "The unusual experience of being right in the clouds was enjoyed by a party of 17 people on the top of Mt. Emily Sunday. They were mostly residents of Fruitdale and they had three conveyances to accommodate the party.
The new lookout station, a tower about 25 or 30 feet in height, is on the very summit. Most of the visitors Sunday went up this tower, but the condition of the atmosphere was such that there was not much long-distance sight-seeing possible." (La Grande Observer)
The new lookout station, a tower about 25 or 30 feet in height, is on the very summit. Most of the visitors Sunday went up this tower, but the condition of the atmosphere was such that there was not much long-distance sight-seeing possible." (La Grande Observer)
July 12, 1917: "The auto and wagon road is now open to the top of Mt. Emily." (La Grande Observer)
July 21, 1917: "Mt. Emily Lookout Station is in charge of J.E. Fulkerson. From this station all the timbered districts of Union County can be seen. The station is equipped with fire finders by which the Section, Township and Range where a fire is located is phoned to La Grande.
People are asked and warned not to burn slashings or stumps without a fire permit. A smoke anywhere in the woods is seen and reported by the Mt. Emily Lookout and the fire wardens are caused to make long expensive trips and frequently find someone burning stumps or slashings. All possible care must be taken to safeguard the forests of the county, which is one of our greatest assets." (La Grande Observer)
June 4, 1921: "According to J.H. Blumenstein and others interested in securing a better road up Mt. Emily, it is possible that the county court will be asked this fall to make the route which is now being cleared and which will give a better grade, a county road.
At present the brush and logs are being cleared out by woodhaulers and farmers. The new route turns off the Fox Hill road above the present road. It goes north from the Hilltop House and follows a small creek to the top, where it joins the present Mt. Emily road. The distance from the Hilltop House to where it joins the present road is about three miles and the new route is over a mile longer but keeps the grade down to about ten per cent." (La Grande Observer)
June 18, 1921: "J. Billings, forest supervisor of Wallowa, R.M. Evans forest supervisor of Baker, and J.C. Kuhn, forest supervisor of Pendleton, spent yesterday in La Grande to make a trip to Mt. Emily to find a suitable spot to establish a lookout station there for all three points to look for fire." (La Grande Observer)
June 20, 1921: "A lookout tower and cabin have been maintained for several years on the mountain by the Union County Fire association. In case the government undertakes to place a lookout on the mountain it is believed that the fire association will discontinue its lookout." (La Grande Observer)
June 21, 1921: "Mt. Emily, situated on the west side of the Grande Ronde valley, may become the lookout station for the old Umatilla forest, the old Minam forest, part of the Wallowa forest, part of the Whitman forest and Wenaha forest, according to a party of forest supervisors who this week end made a trip of inspection to the top of the mountain. From the highest peak of Mt. Emily, a wide ranger of territory can be overseen." (Morning Oregonian)
June 26, 1921: "Following an inspection of the high point of Mount Emily by a party of forest officials, including Supervisor J.C. Kuhns of the Umatilla national forest, Supervisor N.J. Billings of the Wallowa national forest and Supervisor P.M. Evans of the Whitman national forest, announcement was made here that a central lookout station would be established on Mount Emily. The territory that would come under the jurisdiction of the new station would include parts of the following forests: Umatilla, Minam, Wallowa, Whitman and Wenaha forest. If proper instruments can be secured, the station will probably be established this year." (The Oregon Daily Journal)
August 8, 1921: :The lookout maintained by the association on Mt. Emily has been furnished with a pair of high power field glasses this year so that practically the entire county can be watched from there. Besides Russell and the lookout several other fire wardens are constantly employed by the association." (La Grande Observer)
August 15, 1921: "Construction of the new telephone line being built by the forest service from Mt. Emily to the Summit ranger station, connecting with the private telephone system of the service having its exchange at Weston, has begun.
The new line will connect with all the stations in the forest in this part of the state that are under the supervision of the Pendleton office. It is planned to bring the line from Mt. Emily to the local office of the service in the post office building, probably next year and this will give the local office direct connection with all the ranger stations connected to the private exchange. At present it is necessary to use the long distance phone to get to Weston exchange and have the operator there make connections." (La Grande Observer)
August 23, 1921: "Fires starting from a pile of sawdust in which it had been smoldering for several days caused a loss of more than $20,000 when a million feet of lumber was destroyed at a mill fire of the La Grande Box & Lumber company in Ladd's canyon, 14 miles from La Grande.
The mill had closed down several days ago, after cutting the timber that was destroyed, and the machinery had just been moved out of the mill building. At the time the fire spread from the sawdust to the lumber the caretaker was absent at another camp and a high wind, fanning the blaze, made it impossible to save any of the lumber when the fire was discovered.
Discovery of the fire was made by the forest lookout on Mt. Emily, about 30 miles distant, who telephoned to the company's fire warden here.
The loss is partially covered by insurance." (The Morning Oregonian)
September 23, 1921: "An agreement was also reached by the directors at their meeting whereby the association will pay 50 per cent of the cost of building a lookout station on Mount Emily and of a telephone line from the lookout station to this city, the United States forest reserve having agreed to pay the other 50 per cent." (The Morning Oregonian)
May 12, 1922: "In a short time work will begin on the construction of a telephone line from the lookout tower on Mt. Emily to La Grande. The lookout tower is maintained by the federal government in co-operation with the state for the prevention of forest fires. This line will connect La Grande with the entire southern portion of the Umatilla Forest, formally known as the Wenaha Forest.
The line will be completed sometime before the opening of the fire season, about the first of July. At that time the regular lookout service will be arranged." (La Grande Observer)
June 7, 1922: "A meeting is being held today in the office of Floyd Kendall, U.S. forest ranger, in the postoffice building of a telephone line directly from the city limits of La Grande to the top of Mt. Emily where both the forest service and the Union County Fire association will maintain lookouts this summer. The meeting is being attended by members of the board of directors of the Union County Fire association and forest service officials, including J.C. Kuhns, supervisor of the Umatilla national forest, of Pendleton.
The telephone line in use in the past made use of a farmer's line for a portion of the distance and this was not as satisfactory as was desired so the fire association and the federal forest service are cooperating in building a line for their exclusive use. It will be finished by the opening og the fire season, July 1st." (La Grande Observer)
July 1, 1922: "The telephone project between La Grande and the lookout station at Mt. Emily will be finished next week, insuring direct communication with the station during the summer. The work was begun about June 9, and since then a crew of about six men have been working steadily on the nine miles of line.
The lookout will be posted on the mountain either tomorrow or Monday." (La Grande Observer)
July 1922: "Owing to the excellent cooperation between the Union County Fire Association and the Forest Service, a telephone line is being constructed between LaGrande and Mt. Emily. This line will greatly aid in the reporting immediately of fires which are spotted by the lookoutman who will be stationed on Mt. Emily. Mr. Fray Bowers of Joseph, Oregon, is the man who has been selected for this position. R.W.T." (Six Twenty-Six)
August 10, 1922: "Campfire permits are necessary only on national forest lands, according to Forest Ranger Floyd Kendall. These may be secured from any forest service officer and for the campers who wish to build campfires on Mt. Emily, permits may be secured from the forest ranger stationed at the lookout." (La Grande Observer)
April 19, 1923: "L.H. Russell, secretary and treasurer of the association and also district fire warden for the state, called attention to nine miles of new telephone constructed during the past year connected La Grande with the Mt. Emily lookout station. He also reported a permanent lookout man in the person of Harvey Carter, assistant secretary of the La Grande Y.M.C.A., who had been employed for the station." (La Grande Observer)
December 2, 1925: "By authorizing the expenditure of $500, provided the United States forest service and the Union County Fire Patrol association each contributes a like amount, the first steel lookout tower in the state will be built next summer at Mt. Emily in Union county." (Daily Capital Journal)
June 30, 1926: "C.N. Teed arrived here yesterday from Kuna, Idaho. He is in the forest service and will be stationed at Mt. Emily as lookout." (La Grande Evening Observer)
July 21, 1926: "Work started the first of this week on the construction of a lookout tower on the top of Mt. Emily. The tower, which will be 80 feet high and made of steel, will be located on the highest point of Mt. Emily. From the tower practically the entire Mountain range can be seen, including the Wallowa mountains, and the North Powder range clear to Ukiah.
When this lookout tower is completed it will be the highest in Eastern Oregon. It is being built cooperatively by Union county, the state of Oregon and the national forest service.
Plans are to have the tower completed and ready for use in about two weeks." (La Grande Evening
Observer)
September 3, 1926: "Commanding a view of all Union county, and parts of Umatilla, Baker, Wallowa and Grant counties, the new lookout tower that rises from the highest point on the top of Mt. Emily ranks with the finest in Oregon, according to L.H. Russell, county fire warden.
The lookout house is seven feet square, constructed of steel and glass, with no wood used except for the floor. It stands, at an elevation of 6400 feet, on an 82-foot tower of steel. Four concrete posts, 18 inches square at the ground level and 32 inches square four feet below form the foundation. To each post is attached a lightning conductor consisting of 100 feet of steel cable that enters a four foot hole filed with charcoal.
C.N. Teed, of Kuna, Ida., is the lookout man. A fire finder, a lightning conductor and a telephone compose his equipment.
The Mt. Emily tower was built at a cost of $1500, the state, the United States forest service and Union county fire association sharing equally in the expense. A crew sent in by the federal government did the work, which was completed about a month ago." (La Grande Evening Observer)
The lookout house is seven feet square, constructed of steel and glass, with no wood used except for the floor. It stands, at an elevation of 6400 feet, on an 82-foot tower of steel. Four concrete posts, 18 inches square at the ground level and 32 inches square four feet below form the foundation. To each post is attached a lightning conductor consisting of 100 feet of steel cable that enters a four foot hole filed with charcoal.
C.N. Teed, of Kuna, Ida., is the lookout man. A fire finder, a lightning conductor and a telephone compose his equipment.
The Mt. Emily tower was built at a cost of $1500, the state, the United States forest service and Union county fire association sharing equally in the expense. A crew sent in by the federal government did the work, which was completed about a month ago." (La Grande Evening Observer)
June 26, 1928: "Lloyd Woodell of Pleasant Grove has secured a position as lookout at the Mt. Emily station to begin his duties at once and to continue through the season of fire hazard. Lloyd attended a three day training school for such employees at the toll-gate station last week." (La Grande Evening Observer)
September 18, 1928: "Last week Lloyd Woodell of Pleasant Grove completed his registration at the Oregon Institute of Technology at Portland and will enter the school for the year's work as soon as he is relieved from his present duties at the lookout station on Mt. Emily." (La Grande Evening Observer)
January 1929: "Another near tragedy came to light on the Meacham District after the close of fire season. Lloyd Woodell, who was stationed on Mt. Emily as Cooperative Lookout, one day shortly after the opening of the hunting season, was stalking a pine squirrel near the tower with the idea of using it to replenish his larder. He was carrying his 22 rifle across his arm in front of him, as the woodsman often does when expecting a quick shot. Suddenly he heard a loud report and his right arm dropped, numbed and almost paralyzed, to his side. For a split second he did not know what had happened. Then he realized that he had been shot. An instant later he saw a man come out of some bushes and trees about a hundred yards away with a rifle in his hands. When the man saw Lloyd he turned and ran, crashing down the hill at a great pace and not once looking back. It was too far to recognize the fellow or identify him; besides Lloyd had other things to attend to. First he examined the wound which was across his right forearm and quite deep but not serious. He bandaged it tightly to stop the bleeding and then went to examine the tracks of the coward who had shot without knowing at what he aimed and after he had seen that it was a man did not have the nerve nor the manhood to face the issue. Due to the carpet of needles and grasses Lloyd was unable to find any tracks that were plain enough to be of any value. Then as he was feeling weak from loss of blood and from the shock of the high-powered bullet he returned to the cabin.
Lloyd told no one of the affair until some time after the fire season, for as he said, 'My arm got along nicely and I was afraid that you would send me out for medical attention if you heard that I had been shot and I didn't want to lose the time.'
If this shot had been three inches to one side it would have been fatal, as it is Lloyd Woodell will carry the scar to his grave, because someone was criminally careless and shot without having seen the horns.
How long must we be content with a state law that provides a heavier penalty for accidentally shooting an elk or mountain sheep than man? G.J. Tucker (Six Twenty-Six)
July 1936: "A secondary fire danger station was set up in July to gather information on fuel inflammability, wind direction and Velocity. This data was reported three times daily to Kamela where the information was shown on the Fire Danger Board." (Umatilla Buckaroo)
August 1936: "'Why go to the Alps when you have such a wonderful view from Mt Emily?' The 'watchout' tower is situated on the very east edge of the precipice dropping almost perpendicular into the famous Grande Ronde Valley some 3500 feet below. The valley itself looks like a great piece of inlaid congoleum, or what have you, with the green snake line of the Grande Ronde River on the farther side that meanders a little more than 90 miles to get the length of the valley, 18 miles from LaGrande to just above Elgin. Bill Harvey" (Umatilla Buckaroo)
September 1942: "L.C. Morehead, district warden of the Northeast Oregon district, announces the completion of a new lookout house and tower on the summit of Mount Emily. The project differs somewhat from the conventional construction work of this nature. The lookout house has been constructed on top of a thirty-foot tower while the living quarters have been constructed immediately underneath this and inside the tower legs." (The Forest Log)
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