TABLE MOUNTAIN
Lincoln County - Siuslaw National Forest > Oregon Department of Forestry - 13S-10W-01 & 13S-9W-06
May 14, 1915: "M.S. Durbin, head ranger of the forest service, come to Newport from Tillamook with 11 pack burros. He was on his way to Waldport, where he will load the little donkies with wire and equipment to extend the telephone line from Waldport to Florence and from Waldport to Table Mountain, where a lookout station will be established." (Lincoln County Leader)
1917: "The Association constructed at a cost of $148.36, 4 1/2 miles of new telephone line, commencing in section 19 T12S R9W and connecting with the Government Lookout Station on top of Table mountain in section 36 T12S R10W. By connecting this line the association was able to dispense with the services of one patrolman." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
July 8, 1921: "Six fire finding instruments for as many lookout stations were sent out by the Siuslaw national forest today. The instruments consist of a large map of the lookout district on which is mounted a circle graduated in degrees, and a sighting apparatus. Angle readings are taken by the lookouts and telephoned to headquarters where the fire is located by the intersection method. One of these instruments went out to Table mountain." (The Eugene Daily Guard)
March 30, 1926: "The ranger asked for authority to place a lookout on Table mountain to ascertain the approximate location of the fires, and a man has been sent to that peak, according to word given out at the office of the supervisor.
The ranger telephoned that there appeared to be five or six fires and that a great deal of smoke was coming from them." (The Morning Oregonian)
April 30, 1931: "Pat Kocher was sent out by the forest service to his look-out station on Table mountain Sunday morning. The forests have become unusually dry for this time of year and the fire hazard is great. He will remain on the mountain until the district is visited by more rain." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
September 4, 1931: "The government forest service has been erecting a new lookout tower on the north side of Table mountain the past few days. This will make it possible for the Table mountain lookout man to command a much wider sweep of territory to the north and east and will be a great aid to fire control." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
September 25, 1931: "Henry Osterhoff has just completed the erection of a 60 foot observation tower on Mt. Tabor (Table), 12 miles east of Waldport, for the forest service. He has been on the job about two months." (Siuslaw Oar)
September 25, 1931: "H. L. Kocher came home from Table mountain last Saturday. He has been lookout man for the forest service during the summer." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
May 1932: "A trip to Table Mountain April 12 found snow on the north side of the mountain. The boys who have been building the cabin have had to leave the mountain five times since the first of November because of heavy snow." (The Salt - Forest newsletter)
June 15, 1932: "The forest service put out their lookout men last week for the first time this year in this district. 'Pap' Kocher of Waldport went up to Table mountain look-out, as usual. He has served in this capacity for the past 11 years. This year he has a new look-out tower built on the north side of the mountain during the fall months last year. It is 50 feet high and commands a fine view of the surrounding country." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
February 27, 1933: "H.L. Kocher, residing between Corvallis and Philomath, visited in Waldport a few days the past week. He was here conferring with the forest service officials. He has been for many years lookout man on Table mountain during the fire season. Last fall he was supposed to have retired from this work, but may undertake another season when the time rolls around." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
1957: "Rouged in a temporary road from the logging road to Table Mountain Lookout site."
"We have started to clear out Table Mountain Lookout site for a tower and cabin." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
"We have started to clear out Table Mountain Lookout site for a tower and cabin." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1958: "A 100 foot lookout tower and a 16 x 22 foot ground cabin was constructed on Table Mountain. This tower was dismantled at Little Hebo Lookout station in USFS area, hauled to Table Mountain Lookout and reassembled there. It is a wooden tower and has a 7 x 7 foot observation cabin with a 32" catwalk around it. And, it has a wooden stairway to the top. There are four large guy lines at 70 foot level, and four smaller guy lines at the base of the tower cabin. All necessary material was purchased as needed.
The ground cabin is a 16 x 22 foot one-room cabin, to ve used for living quarters for the lookout person. The cost of the cabin and tower for labor and material was $3572.32. This station will be in use for the 1959 fire season." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1959: "The Table Mountain Lookout tower construction was finished by installing railings, shutters, lightning arrestors and painting the tower and ground cabins." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1960: "At Table Mountain Lookout, built in cupboards were constructed nand installed and the ground cabin was painted on the inside." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1973: The lookout removed.