JOSEPHINE COUNTY
BALD MOUNTAIN
Siskiyou National Forest
36S-10W-17
36S-10W-17
May 1, 1914: "Opening the trail to Bald Mtn., and locating a suitable lookout station as terminus for telephone line." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
June 1, 1914: "Guard Dell Churchill will assist on bridge and trail June 1 to 4 or later, and will then go to Wild Horse Prairie and construct a tool box and equip it with tools. (Then spend a number of days on various trail work). Guard Churchill will then go to Bald Mtn on patrol work." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
June 1916: "The probationary appointment of Mr. Allen as Assistant ranger terminated on June 30, but he will be retained as patrolman on Bald Mt. during the fire season." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
March 24, 1929: "Another item included in the allotment for the forest is the construction of fire chasers' lookout house on the summit of Bald mountain. This will be 12 feet square and will have a tower for observation purposes. At present there is no shelter of any kind on this peak, which is in the lower Illinois river district." (The Sunday Oregonian)
August 10, 1929: "The last load of lumber for construction of a lookout on top of Bald Mountain, on the lower Illinois River, left the city Friday. The lumber will go by truck to the end of the Illinois River road, where pack mules will take it 15 miles to the top of the mountain.
Trail crews working in that vicinity have henceforth held a lookout there unnecessary, but with their removal this year to other parts of the forest, officials decided to erect a building." (Grants Pass Daily Courier)
August 1929: "The material for the Bald Mountain lookout-fireman house is all on the ground except the lightning protection and prairie chimney and Henry expects to complete the house by September 15th." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
September 4, 1929: "With all material for construction of the lookout station on the top of Bald Mountain, on the ground, the building is now being erected by Henry Harrison of the forest service. Mr. Harrison built the lookout on Mt. Bolivar last year and also assisted with construction of the Ranger Station at Powers. Lumber for the Bald Mountain station was packed from Selma by horses. The lookout is 58 miles from the city, on the south side of the Illinois River trail between Selma and Agness." (Grants Pass Daily Courier)
October 1930: "Trip was made to Bald Mountain to cut several trees from around lookout house, making vision much better north and west, also giving vision on the Silver Creek section which was not visible before." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
July 28, 1931: "Quick action by George Wadsworth of Kerby, Bald mountain lookout fireman, who is student of medicine at the University of Oregon, held a fire on the mountain slope near virgin timber until crews, tools and equipment could be packed in over one of the most difficult trails in the forest. Wadsworth was assisted by three prospectors. About 250 acres of small trees were burned without reaching......
August 1931: "On the afternoon of July 9 the Chevrolet truck left Kerby loaded with supplies for Bald Mountain Lookout. Oak Flat was the destination of the truck. There it was met by a pack train, and the process of loading horses took place. The trip over 19 miles of trail started; how the stock groaned under the loads! 'Hot Dog!' said George, 'Enough grub for all summer, nothing forgotten.' On arrival poor George's feather fell; not a match in the outfit; so an everlasting fire is kept on Bald Mountain." (The Siskiyou Bulletin)
August 1932: "Mr. Gallaher, who has prospected on the Bald Mountain country for a number of years, came to the station on June 14, not feeling well. George Wadsworth, the lookout, took him in, taking the best possible care of him under the circumstances. On June 15, Mr. Gallaher got somewhat worse and at 3:55 a.m. died. Ed Cox of Oak Flat packed the corpse out to Oak Flat where the coroner met them with a car. Vondis Miller" (Six Twenty-Six)
May 1940: "Lightning is sole risk, and in past ten years there have been no such fires within its seen area. Suggested dates are set up under this premise. Provides coverage of high hazard areas, and should experience fairly low fuel moistures." (Plans, Guard Placement, Siskiyou National Forest)
1941: The lookout staffed 84 days. The lookout reported to the Redwood Ranger Station by way of forest line to Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.
Removed