DESCHUTES COUNTY
BEND (awbrey butte)
.
April 15, 1919: "If some property owner on Awbrey heights will donate the use of a lot to the forest service, Bend will have a combination observatory and fire lookout this summer. This was the declaration this morning of Supervisor N.G. Jacobson, of the Deschutes National Forest, who believes that an ideal lookout can be established within the city.
If the desired site can be obtained the forest service will build a 40-foot tower and will build and maintain a first class auto road to the base of the tower, adding another spot of interest for visitors in Bend. From a forest standpoint, the establishment of the station would make possible the elimination of the Lava Butte lookout, as the territory now overlooked by the observer at that station could be easily covered from Awbrey heights." (The Bend Bulletin)
If the desired site can be obtained the forest service will build a 40-foot tower and will build and maintain a first class auto road to the base of the tower, adding another spot of interest for visitors in Bend. From a forest standpoint, the establishment of the station would make possible the elimination of the Lava Butte lookout, as the territory now overlooked by the observer at that station could be easily covered from Awbrey heights." (The Bend Bulletin)
April 18, 1919: "To provide a site for the proposed forest service fire lookout, Judge J.A. Estes has offered to donate to the Deschutes National Forest, any lot in Manzanita heights, one of the highest locations in or about Bend. Supervisor N.G. Jacobson is expected to give a final decision within a few days as to whether or not the tract offered will be suitable for this purpose.
Once the site is picked the forest service will construct a forty foot tower, which will serve the double purpose of fire lookout station and city observatory. In addition an auto road to the tower will be built and maintained." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 15, 1919: "Following an inspection of the lookout site, a high, rocky point which commands a territory of 50 miles radius. Supervisor Jacobson has promised to detail William Sproat to make a survey of the proposed road, which would wind back and forth along the face of the heights.
The lookout, which will be open to the public, lies slightly above Manzanita heights, and on property owned by Mrs. V.A. Forbes. Judge Estes is now negotiating with the owner for permission to install a 50-foot tower.
Mr. Jacobson is particularly enthusiastic over the plan, as the lookout connected with the office of forest headquarters here by phone, would permit of a most useful check in locating forest fires reported from other stations." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 31, 1919: "While lookouts on the Deschutes national forest were unable to locate fires Tuesday afternoon because of heavy smoke which has drifted across the Cascades from fires on the west side of the mountains, forest service men stationed at headquarters here were able to observe from the top of Awbrey Heights a blaze in the privately owned timber southwest of Lava Butte.
The point from which the blaze was seen is to be used by the forest service as a fire lookout, and the necessary preliminary surveys are now being made. A 50-foot tower will be erected in the near future, it is expected." (The Bend Bulletin)