DOUGLAS COUNTY
WARDS BUTTE
Douglas County Fire Patrol
21S-4W-15
21S-4W-15
September 1, 1933: "It is planned to improve Wards Butte in the north end of the county as a primary lookout point which will serve both Eastern and Western Lane County Fire Patrol associations as well as the Douglas County association." (The Forest Log)
April 26, 1934: "Mr. Southwick is very anxious that they get a lookout on Ward's Butte and Sam promised him that he will get a side camp from the Wendling camp to complete this work. It will require one mile of road, a 40-foot tower and a house. They will have ti fall about 30,000 feet of timber which the owner agrees to let them fall for $30 and the rental of the land will be $10 per year. It will take 1 3/4 miles of telephone line if they go in from the north and approximately five miles of line if they follow the road." (P.S. King Field Report)
June 19, 1934: "A crew from from the side camp is working on a road from the Pacific highway to the top of Ward's butte, eight miles south of Cottage Grove." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
August 1, 1934: "Wards Butte lookout: This point is being developed by the state, as we understand it, from the Walker CCC Camp. Mr. Southwick states, as he understands it, the house is to be placed on the ground and a 66 foot tower with probably a 7 x 7 cage on top put up after the timber is cut. The last two miles of road is being built to this lookout point. I have never been on this point, but it would seem to me that if a 66 foot cage tower is sufficient for visibility that probably a 40 or 50 foot tower under the house would serve almost as well. I should think some one ought to check on this point quite carefully before a final decision is made to put the house on the ground." (To Regional Forester from Forest Supervisor, Umpqua - CCC)
August 17, 1934: "Wards Butte CCC camp has completed a road to the top of the butte, where they are preparing to build a lookout station. The road ends within 100 feet of the butte's top and a switchback trail completes the way." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
August 19, 1934: "George Fisher has taken over the lookout on top of Ward's Butte for the remainder of the fire season." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
July 1, 1936: "A wedding breakfast was served at Brand's Gardens at nine o'clock. The beautiful bride's cake was cut by Mrs. Rose. Following the breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Rose left for Portland on their wedding trip and while in the city visited the former's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lancaster. They returned to Roseburg Tuesday evening. During the summer months they will be at Ward's Butte lookout near Eugene. Mrs. Rose is a graduate of Roseburg high school and is a student at Oregon State college, where Mr. Rose is also attending school. Both will continue their studies at Oregon State this fall." (Roseburg News-Review)
1939: The lookout was listed as a co-op lookout between the Douglas FPA and the Western Lane FPA on the annual report.
September 23, 1942: "Mrs. Floyd Wilson and daughter, Shirley, have returned to the former's station, Wards butte, where she is in charge of the lookout station in the northern part of the county for the Douglas Forest Protective association, following a few days here at their home making preparations for Shirley to attend school." (Roseburg News-Review)
July 1, 1948: "Miss Wanda Harden left yesterday for Ward Butte, where she will remain for the summer months as a forest fire lookout." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
July 25, 1957: "Erwin Goins killed a large rattlesnake at the foot of Ward's Butte lookout tower Sunday. The snake measured 41 1/2 inches and had 11 rattles and a button on it. It is reported to be the second one killed there this season." (The Drain Enterprise)
1958: "Wards Butte had a new type Aluminum roof put on at a cost of $416.37." (Douglas FPA - Oregon Department of Forestry Annual Report - 1958)
October 12, 1962: The lookout destroyed by heavy winds during the Columbus Day storm.
1962: "Of the three lookouts destroyed, Wards Butte was covered by State Restoration Funds. Harness Mtn and Bell Mtn were partially covered by insurance." (Douglas FPA - Oregon Department of Forestry Annual Report - 1962)
1963: The lookout structure destroyed in the Columbus Day storm was rebuilt at a cost of $5,545.00. $4,000.00 of this was from State Restoration fund. (Douglas FPA Annual Report)
1963: A 40-foot timber tower constructed.
1975: The lookout discontinued.
1976: The lookout dismantled and parts salvaged for use in the construction of the new Mt. Scott lookout. (Douglas FPA - Oregon Department of Forestry Annual Report - 1976)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1940 (ANS)
STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 7.0 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COTTAGE GROVE,
ON A HIGH PROMINENT ROCKY LOGGED-OFF BUTTE THAT HAS A LOOKOUT
TOWER IN THE SADDLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOP, AND AN AIRWAY
BEACON ON THE NORTH END.
TO REACH FROM COTTAGE GROVE, GO SOUTHWEST ON U.S. HIGHWAY 99 FOR
6.0 MILES TO DIRT ROAD ON THE LEFT (SOUTH) AT SIGN WARDS BUTTE
L.O., TURN LEFT ON THE WARDS BUTTE LOOKOUT ROAD AND GO UP HILL
2.2 MILES TO END OF TRUCK TRAVEL, ABOUT 150 YARDS BELOW THE
STATION, TAKE TRAIL ABOUT 150 YARDS TO WARDS BUTTE LOOKOUT
TOWER AND THEN GO ABOUT 75 YARDS SOUTHEAST TO STATION AT HIGHEST
PART OF BUTTE.
STATION, STAMPED WARDS 1934, IS SET IN BEDROCK FLUSH WITH THE
GROUND, ABOUT 75 YARDS SOUTHEAST OF WARDS BUTTE LOOKOUT TOWER,
AND 125 YARDS SOUTHEAST OF AIRWAY BEACON.