UNION COUNTY
SPOUT SPRINGS
Umatilla National Forest
3N-38E-10
3N-38E-10
1920's: The lookout consisted of a 30-foot pole platform with a tent camp.
August 1926: "Superintendent of Construction J.M. Mann assisted at the short-term men's training course held at Tollgate Ranger Station the last three days of June, and it is alleged that all the while he kept insisting that the bunch should go to Spout Springs Mountain, only four miles away. So, on the last afternoon, after all the other work was completed, cars were rustled and everybody went. Lo and behold, when they reached the summit they found a 50-foot lookout tower all framed and ready to raise. The bunch was turned over to Foreman Tom Hinote, and the tower was hoisted in the air and anchored in less than two hours time. It has been openly hinted that Ranger Baker, Hinote, and Mann had planned all this in advance; but they don't admit anything excepting each one claims, 'I built a nice tower,' M.I. Cooley" (Six Twenty-Six)
1943: “Upon inspection it was learned that the Spout (Springs) tower had decayed to the point where it was no longer safe for use. Shortly after plans were made to test the timbers in all the old towers.”
1943: “Spout Springs tower was occupied by Mrs. Elsie Ralph who had two horses and one cow at the lookout. When the time came to leave the lookout in the fall the horses had already left and as Mrs. Ralph did not have a car to move her belongings she, being of pioneer spirit, decided to pack out on the cow. She proceeded to strap a pack saddle on Bossie and loaded up. When asked how the cow performed Elsie calmly stated that Bossie only tried to sit down.”
1944: “The old Spout Springs tower was condemned and razed. Borings were taken in the tower legs at Bone Springs and Lookout Mountain. The former was considered to be good for three or four years but Lookout Mt. Was recommended for replacement next year.” (This date is questionable)
From the Umatilla National Forest files, courtesy Rex Kamstra
1943: “Spout Springs tower was occupied by Mrs. Elsie Ralph who had two horses and one cow at the lookout. When the time came to leave the lookout in the fall the horses had already left and as Mrs. Ralph did not have a car to move her belongings she, being of pioneer spirit, decided to pack out on the cow. She proceeded to strap a pack saddle on Bossie and loaded up. When asked how the cow performed Elsie calmly stated that Bossie only tried to sit down.”
1944: “The old Spout Springs tower was condemned and razed. Borings were taken in the tower legs at Bone Springs and Lookout Mountain. The former was considered to be good for three or four years but Lookout Mt. Was recommended for replacement next year.” (This date is questionable)
From the Umatilla National Forest files, courtesy Rex Kamstra
June 16, 1946: "During the war, it was impossible to keep some of the buildings and lookout towers in the best of repair and the heavy snows of last winter didn't help matters much.
Work planned for the summer includes replacing a wooden lookout tower at Spout Springs." (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
Work planned for the summer includes replacing a wooden lookout tower at Spout Springs." (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
July 16, 1946: "Construction of the new forest lookout tower at Spout Springs will probably get underway late in the summer, according to W.W. Ward, forest supervisor of the Walla Walla district. Some of the materials are already on hand and the bulk of it will be shipped soon.
The tower will involve a new type of construction using ring connected creosoted timbers, Ward said.
The structure will be 83 feet high with a 14 x 14 lookout house at the top." (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
October 1, 1946: "Preliminary construction work for the new forest service lookout tower at Spout Springs will probably get started within the next week or two, officials in the Walla Walla forest office said Monday.
Surveying for the tower will come first and officials plan to move equipment and materials to the scene as soon as possible. The concrete base will be constructed this fall but actual construction of the tower will probably not be started before next spring because of early snows in that region." (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
February 23, 1947: "Plans have been completed for construction of a new forest lookout tower at Spout Springs and this will get underway probably as soon as snow conditions permit. The tower will involve using ring connected creosoted timber. The structure will be 83 feet high with a 14 x 14 lookout house at the top." (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
September 16, 1947: "The old tower at Spout Springs was toppled over last year." (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
September 5, 1948: "Headman at Spout is John Sullivan, Walla Walla, former Whitman student and now attending University of Washington." (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
1948: A 83-foot treated timber tower with an L-4 cab was completed.
July 20, 1950: "Lightning Tuesday night caused the first forest fire of the season on the Walla Walla district of the Umatilla national forest, Ranger Homer Oft reported.
The blaze, a quarter mile east of Spout Springs, was discovered by Dean McKenzie, lookout man. The fire, covering three snags, was put out by McKenzie at about 8:30 p.m." (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
September 4, 1950: "A smoldering fire, caused by lightning about 10 days ago was discovered Sunday near Grant springs, eight miles southeast of Tollgate, Homer Oft, district ranger, reported.
Two travelers saw the fire in a log. Dean McKenzie, Spout Springs lookout man, put out the blaze." (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
1990: The tower was destroyed when a tree fell across the guy cables.