DESCHUTES COUNTY
TUMALO BUTTE
Oregon State Board of Forestry
17S-11E-14
17S-11E-14
1935: " A cabin and fire finder are needed on Hatchery Peak. Also, a two mile telephone line from said cabin to Shevlin Park." (Deschutes – Jefferson FPA Annual Report 1935)
July 16, 1937: "The Black Butte protective association and the state forest service are putting up a new lookout station near Bend and the Tumalo fish hatchery. Earl Updyke has been chosen as lookout to fill the position." (The Bend Bulletin)
1938: " Needs at Tumalo Butte include: one fire finder – priority 1, one 40’ tower and 14x14 cabin – priority 2, one moderate shelter for automobile – priority 2, and a grounded telephone system from Sisters, approximately 18 miles." (Black Butte Fire Association Annual Reports)
May 11, 1939: "State Fire Warden L.B. Smith and Aaron Gabriel are building a lookout tower in the back yard at the warden's residence here and will move it when completed to Tumalo butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 26, 1940: "Fred Bembrey, lookout fireman for the state fire association, who has been on Tumalo butte through the fire season, closed the lookout and came down last week. The recent rains made fire weather favorable." (The Bend Bulletin)
1940: The lookout was staffed for 150 days and reported to the Sisters Station by telephone communications.
1952: "Salvaged Foley Butte lookout cabin installed at Tumalo lookout. Lookout cabin and ground cabin painted." (Central Oregon District Annual Report)
July 10, 1954: " Fire, apparently ignited by a carelessly flipped cigarette, crackled over about a quarter of acre of grass land about a mile and a half north of Shevlin Park Wednesday before being doused by fire fighters from the Tumalo lookout." (The Bend Bulletin)
1954: "Needed: A standard 14 x 14 lookout replacement for Tumalo lookout. Present facilities are sub-standard and barely usable." (Central Oregon District Annual Report)
1955: "The lookout is again spotting aircraft for the Air Defense filter center, The lookout radios the local forestry office which in turn telephones the report to the filter center in Portland until the center in Bend is completed."
1956: "Major building project this year was the construction of a lookout at Tumalo Butte. This included a 20-foot aluminum covered laminated tower with standard 14' x 14' lookout house. The building is complete except for interior furniture, floor coverings, and painting. When complete, structure will provide garage-tool room on first floor, housing facilities on the second floor, and detection service on the third floor. Lookout will be completed and put in use in 1957. Almost all of the structural lumber for this job was donated to the District by Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company." "1 gate, railroad iron construction, donated by Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Co., erected in cement footings on Tumalo L.O. road." "A new 3 story type lookout with aluminum siding has been constructed on Tumalo Butte. All construction was donated by Brook Scanlon Lbr. Co. which cut the cost of the lookout to about half. About $1300.00 has been spent on the lookout so far. The lookout is complete except for minor finish work and painting. The warden stationed at Tumalo Butte will paint the lookout this coming summer." (Central Oregon District Annual Report)
1957: In April the lookout construction was completed. The work consisted of finishing the interior, installing the butane range and heater, painting the exterior, clean up and using the TD-9 Cat from Prineville to clear brush and level the ground around the lookout.
September 7, 1957: "The Oregon State Board of Forestry has completed a new lookout house on Tumalo Butte, overlooking Shevlin Park.
It is a three-story structure, with a garage for a jeep tanker at ground level. Sleeping quarters are on the second story and the lookout cabin on the third level.
The lookout building was constructed by regular state personnel under the supervision of Don Trusheim, Central Oregon Fire District carpenter. Brooks-Scanlon, Inc., contributed the lumber, to help keep costs down.
John and Olive Allen have been on Tumalo Butte seasonally since 1951. He serves as fire warden and keeps a sharp lookout on the Tumalo Park area.
Mrs. Allen is the state lookout and reports that she enjoys her new tower, with its gas cook stove and heater." (The Bend Bulletin)
It is a three-story structure, with a garage for a jeep tanker at ground level. Sleeping quarters are on the second story and the lookout cabin on the third level.
The lookout building was constructed by regular state personnel under the supervision of Don Trusheim, Central Oregon Fire District carpenter. Brooks-Scanlon, Inc., contributed the lumber, to help keep costs down.
John and Olive Allen have been on Tumalo Butte seasonally since 1951. He serves as fire warden and keeps a sharp lookout on the Tumalo Park area.
Mrs. Allen is the state lookout and reports that she enjoys her new tower, with its gas cook stove and heater." (The Bend Bulletin)
1958: The lookout exterior received a fresh coat of paint.
1959: The old ground house was converted to a garage.
1960: The exterior received a new coat of sage green paint.
1961: Replaced door and window broken by vandals, varnished upper cabin and repaired the lower outside stairs.
October 27, 1961: "State police are investigating a reported break and entry at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Allen, Bear Creek Road.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen reported that miscellaneous household furniture, appliances, linens and carpenter tools were taken from their home while they were away. They had spent the summer at the Tumalo Butte Lookout, working for the Sisters district of the State Forestry Department." (The Bend Bulletin)
1962: Railings, catwalk and stairs were painted.
June 25, 1962: On Monday, the lookout reported what would become the Cinder Butte fire at 3:30 PM.
1965: The stairway was repaired. This station had a busy fire season calling in nineteen first reports.
1966: The lookout was wired for electricity for a cost of $172.32. The gas appliances were moved to Foley Butte when the new electric appliances were installed. An AC radio was installed to replace the old battery powered one. A new garbage pit was dug.
Removed