JACKSON COUNTY
SODA MOUNTAIN
Southwest Oregon District, Oregon Department of Forestry
40S-3E-28
40S-3E-28
May 8, 1933: "I think probably I will go out with Mr. Phipps and look this mountain over and if the expense is not that great it might do to put a short term man there this year about July 15. It will not take much improvement for the first year and the lookout man could live in a tent until we find out whether it is advisable to have a lookout there or not." (P.S. King Field Report)
August 18, 1933: "Mr. Rankin informed Mr. Phipps that the ECW camp would start to work in the near future on the road, telephone line and lookout house on Soda Mountain and requested Mr. Phipps to get a right of way through one section of the Lincoln Logging Company's land." (P.S. King Field Report)
November 1, 1933: "A crew of C.C.C. boys has just completed a new lookout cabin on Soda mountain on the summit of the Siskiyous about six miles south of the Green Springs highway. Soda mountain lies within the protective boundaries of the Jackson county organization and covers much of the southern end of that territory as well as part of Klamath county." (The Forest Log)
June 29, 1934: "On our return from Yreka, we went up to Soda Mountain Lookout and made plans for the protection of the new area. On this lookout all of the new area except about 2 1/2 sections can be seen very plainly and Mr. Kimball has a lookout just east of there looking into this area. Soda Mountain will cover the east side of Jenny Creek, that part of the mountain they are unable to see. I think the Jenny Creek district is very well covered.
Mr. Phipps expects to put a lookout smoke chaser on Soda Mountain in the near future. As that is not a very bad country for fires, I think probably that it will be all that is necessary this year. It is a short distance for the Ashland man to drive up there, and with the lookout system we have this summer it will not be necessary for him to patrol as he has done heretoafter." (P.S. King Field Report)
Mr. Phipps expects to put a lookout smoke chaser on Soda Mountain in the near future. As that is not a very bad country for fires, I think probably that it will be all that is necessary this year. It is a short distance for the Ashland man to drive up there, and with the lookout system we have this summer it will not be necessary for him to patrol as he has done heretoafter." (P.S. King Field Report)
January 1935: "Ira Tungate, who acted as lookout on Soda Mountain in the Jackson county unit during the past summer, died at his home recently following a prolonged illness. Mr. Tungate has been in the employ of the forestry department for a number of years." (The Forest Log)
1950: Painted by Ellwood, Stockton and Bilderback. (Southwest District Annual Report)
1952: Maintenance performed: New stairs. (Southwest District Annual Report)
1956: "Building maintenance: Painted interior." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1958: "Building maintenance: General remodeling, cost $253.83." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1959: An inspection of the tower indicated that the structure needed exterior paint and some putty work around window glass. The catwalk needed replacement and a set of furniture was also needed. The northwest tower leg showed signs of rot and could be re-enforced with a heavy plank or two. Sharp bends must be taken out of the lightning down wires and then properly grounded to guy rods. The roof still had a couple years of life left.
1959: "Building maintenance: Repaired shutters." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1960: "Building maintenance: Repair windows and install furniture." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1961: "Raised cabin 8 feet, remove old legs and footings, pouted new footings for tower, rebuild catwalk. Material purchased for remodeling." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1962: On the north side of the lookout, 34 fir trees were marked for removal. These trees were becoming a hindrance to proper viewing.
1962: "Raise building to 8 feet, build new tower, catwalk, stairway, installed plywood ceiling, new windows, tile floor and paint inside and out." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1963: "Building maintenance: Repaired lightning protection, installed was plugs and a new fire finder. Painted interior." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1964: "Reset firefinder, installed electric stove and refrigerator, dug new garbage pit and installed new outhouse." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1965: "Building maintenance: Built and installed new fire finder stand and painted hand rails and eaves." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1968: The lookout became electrified when a communications site built on the summit.
1992: In the spring Cellular One, a telephone company, installed a tower and equipment building adjoining the lookout structure. The foundation for this building too high, and once the building was completed, the view from the lookout was blocked.
1993: In May the lookout raised four feet. The result, a 9 foot 10 inch tower with a new stair configuration. Under the tower a storage shed built.
February 15, 2015: During the harsh winter season, the wind dislodged a portion of the metal roofing. A temporary tarp has been rigged for protection of the exposed area.