LANE COUNTY
BUSTER BUTTE
Umpqua National Forest
24S-2E-16
24S-2E-16
1910's: A tree lookout established.
September 13, 1930: "A strenuous ride for two or three hours took the way up into the clouds again to the Buster Butte lookout station, 4300 altitude. Aside from the little shelter cabin, open on one side, without floor or windows, a crude fireplace in the front where the lookout does his cooking, bunk back in one corner, with food supplies suspended on wire hung shelving to prevent woodrats, mice and squirrels from taking toll, the 'improvements' of the station consisted of a six foot square open platform, built in the top of a fir tree, and reached by a ladder made of poles, that is 71 feet above the ground. Around this is a single pole railing, while the telephone is fastened to one side thereof and next to the tree, three-eighths inch wire cables reach from the top of this nest to anchorage on the mountain top to prevent too much swing as the young man in charge climbs up and down, or when the wind sweeps over the range. At this point of 71 feet above the crest of Buster Butte, I.D. Adams, a young ranger scans the horizon for fire throughout the hours of each day. When he is not otherwise busy he is carrying water from a spring three-fourths of a mile below for his domestic purposes. He has a five gallon can that is strapped on a sort of pack which fits his back." (Roseburg News-Review)
September 14, 1933: " A 14x14 lookout is to be built by the CCC before the snow flies. The 14x14 is the standard size for a primary lookout." (Roseburg Chieftain)
1933: A 40-foot round fir pole timber tower with a 14x14 L-4 cab constructed.
November 26, 1936: "Jack Chapman, regular lookout at Buster butte, has been dispatched to Red Butte for duty until weather conditions change." (Roseburg News-Review)
1937: An expenditure of $23.33 made on pasture clearing.
June 13, 1939: "Mr. and Mrs. Handy were married at Portland last Sunday and are visiting the former's brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Enos Handy of Dillard. Mrs. Handy is a niece of C.M. Stubbs and has visited at Melrose on several occasions. The young people will soon leave for Buster Butte lookout where they will spend the summer." (Roseburg News-Review)
1941: The lookout manned 75 days. The reporting station at the Steamboat Bridge Ranger Station. Communications was by forest line to Pacific Telephone and telegraph.
May 3, 1947: "Two fliers, missing since Monday on a flight from Medford to Eugene, walked 30 miles from their crashed plane to Steamboat guard station 46 miles east of here (Roseburg) where they were discovered state police reported.
La Verne Hughes and Thomas Miller told rescuers they crashed in a small Aeronca Monday about 1500 feet from Buster Butte.
Hughes suffered broken ribs and scalp wounds and Miller a broken nose and knee injuries. They managed to crawl to the Buster Butte forest lookout station. It was unoccupied, but they broke in and rested for two days. They found a food cache and several maps.
They said several times they attempted to signal passing aircraft with a mirror, but were unable to make contact because of cloudiness.
Despite their injuries, they walked 30 miles through the forest, following trails marked on the maps, until they reached Steamboat guard station which is at the confluence of Steamboat creek and the Umpqua river." (Daily Capital Journal)
June 24, 1959: "Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Friday have just returned from a vacation trip to Portland, where they enjoyed the exposition, and a stay in Washington and Idaho. Mrs. Friday will spend the week here at the home of her parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Friday, while her husband attends fire school. They will both be on Buster Butte Lookout for the summer." (The News-Review)
July 9, 1959: "Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Friday of Corvallis, son and daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Friday of Roseburg, are doing fire lookout duty and are stationed at the Buster Butte lookout. They are located in the U.S. National Forest about 15 miles above Steamboat on Yellowjacket Trail." (The News-Review)
August 15, 1959: "Mrs. Harlow Friday, who has been working during the summer at Buster Butte Lookout, is here as a guest of her parents-in-law." (The News-Review)
July 5, 1962: "With the fire season under way again, the personnel of the North Umpqua district of the Umpqua National Forest, is justly proud of it's new lookout tower at Buster Butte completed six weeks ago, ready to be the eyes of the upper Steamboat area.
The new building is located 15 miles northeast of the Steamboat Ranger Station, elevation of Buster Butte is 3,832 feet and replaces the old building, built in 1933, which has become unsafe. Michael Fiebratt of Portland is stationed on the tower.
Destruction of the old building was accomplished by tying cables to it and pulling it over with the winch on a bulldozer owned by the L.L. Burr Logging Co. of Roseburg, according to Ray Shaaf, public relations officer and resource forester for the North Umpqua District. He said Larry Burr is logging the Buster Butte timber sale and donated the use of his tractor and tractor operator, Bill Christensen. After the collapse of the tower, the debris was piled and burned.
Shaaf said, as a result of the timber dale, there is a fine road to the lookout. Visitors will be welcome at Buster Butte to the extent possible without interference with the duties of the lookout or with logging operations. Burr Logging Co. is the operator for U.S. Plywood Corp. in the North Umpqua district." By Mrs. Arthur Selby.. (The News-Review)
August 4, 1962: "Buster Butte -- Mike Siebrass a senior drama major at the University of Portland has returned for his second stint at this station. Siebrass attended high school in Portland." (The News-Review)
1976: The lookout dismantled and re-erected on Cinnamon Butte.