BABER MOUNTAIN (BUTTE)
Lincoln County - Oregon Department of Forestry - 11S-9W-16
1936: "The Association expended in labor, equipment and supplies $703.77 constructing two lookout stations, one on Baber Mountain.
Mr. W.J. Southwell, was used part time as lookout on Baber Mountain" (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
Mr. W.J. Southwell, was used part time as lookout on Baber Mountain" (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
September 21, 1937: "Due to the cool and foggy weather the fire patrolman stationed on Mount Babor has left for the rest of the year." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
August 9, 1938: "A road being built by CCC boys is being made into the lookout station at Mount Babour. It will be over a mile in length. It takes off from the top of the Deer Creek road. George Chambers is stationed at the lookout this summer." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
1938: "Tent floor for Baber Mountain Lookout, cost 6.00. Labor done by CCC." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1939: "Purchased 10 acres for Baber Mountain Lookout site for $77.69." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
March 29, 1940: "Two new forest fire protection units are due for completion this spring with construction to start soon on a lookout tower and ranger cabin on Baker mountain near Eddyville.
A lookout has been maintained previously on Baker mountain but no permanent headquarters have been constructed. The entire area has been connected by a telephone circuit with the Toledo headquarters." (Corvallis Gazette-Times) (Baker = Baber)
July 12, 1940: "On July 1 Edward Richter took over the job of patrolman on the new fire patrol site located on Mount Baber, the site is nearly completed. The road work was done by CCC labor. A tower and cabin will soon be started. The lookout is high on the south side of Eddyville and gives a view of a large section of east central Lincoln county." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
August 6, 1940: "CCC boys are busy improving the telephone line to the fire look out on Mount Babuer. The system is being improved by a metallic line instead of the old ground type. The new line will have two wires instead of one." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
November 6, 1940: "A new lookout station was constructed on Baber mountain that commands a view of much of eastern Lincoln county from its peak and may now be reached by a forest road passably to cars in dry weather." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
1940: "The CCC crew constructed one 40 foot tower with 14 x 14 cabin on top, wood construction and concrete foundation, at Baber Mountain Lookout. T!!S R(W Sec 18." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
July 22, 1941: "Chester Sparks is the fire patrolman stationed at the Mount Baber lookout this year. He went to work there last week. There has not been a fire here as yet." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
December 17, 1941: "This community observed blackouts several days last week. The lookout on Mount Baber is manned day and night with volunteers from the community." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
January 22, 1942: "The lookout on Mount Baber which has been closed because the telephone line was down because of the ice storm of several weeks ago will again be opened and observers will be there 24 hours a day." (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
Activated: March 9, 1942. Eugene Filter Center.
June 24, 1942: "This post was visited June 10. A young college couple, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Bannister, took over this post on May 26.
Improvements consist of a 14x14 Aladdin cabin on a 40 foot tower. There is no garage or woodshed. A 16x18 garage and a woodshed should be constructed as soon as possible. The garage should be sealed in, floored and ample windows installed for occupancy as living quarters for the winter. In the summer it can be used as sleeping quarters for the observer off duty.
The road to the post was impassable during my visit due to recent heavy rains. An emergency fire crew camp was being fixed for occupancy at the highway terminus of this road and is expected to be in this vicinity all summer. The crew will be used to some extent to improve the road so it can be used next winter in servicing the post.
The road leading to the post was badly rutted on the slope near the top. About 3/4 mile of road, from top on down, needs grading and drainage. Graveling would help but it was considered too expensive to gravel with AWS funds, and therefore disapproved." (Inspection Report from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector, to James Frankland, USFS)
Improvements consist of a 14x14 Aladdin cabin on a 40 foot tower. There is no garage or woodshed. A 16x18 garage and a woodshed should be constructed as soon as possible. The garage should be sealed in, floored and ample windows installed for occupancy as living quarters for the winter. In the summer it can be used as sleeping quarters for the observer off duty.
The road to the post was impassable during my visit due to recent heavy rains. An emergency fire crew camp was being fixed for occupancy at the highway terminus of this road and is expected to be in this vicinity all summer. The crew will be used to some extent to improve the road so it can be used next winter in servicing the post.
The road leading to the post was badly rutted on the slope near the top. About 3/4 mile of road, from top on down, needs grading and drainage. Graveling would help but it was considered too expensive to gravel with AWS funds, and therefore disapproved." (Inspection Report from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector, to James Frankland, USFS)
1942: "We constructed one lookout ground cabin 18 x 20 on Baber Mountain." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1943: A woodshed constructed. (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1954: Lightning arrestor installed on the Baber Mountain Lookout. (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1955: "Repaired and painted inside the cabin at Baber Mountain." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1956: "The buildings maintained and painted were the Baber Mountain ground cabin." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1959: "At Baber Mountain Lookout, the catwalk was repaired, as well as the door that had been broken down during the preceding winter season. Also, the windows and shutters were repaired and the ground cabin painted." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1960: "Repair Baber Mountain Lookout tower door and broken windows in tower and ground cabin, as well as installed new wind gauge pole." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1969: The lookout dismantled. The lookout had not been used for several years and between wind damage and vandalism repairs were too expensive.