JACKSON COUNTY
CHIMNEY ROCK
Southwest Oregon FPA
37S-2E-30
37S-2E-30
November 23, 1952: "A forest fire lookout is planned on Chimney Rock between Antelope creek and Lake creek and a road into the site is now being constructed, the state forest patrol headquarters here reported.
The lookout will be the 15th in this district. A patrol spokesman said that the facility is much needed and will fill what now is a large 'hole' in the fire detection system.
The structure is being pre-fabricated at the headquarters here. It is hoped to have the lookout ready for the 1953 season but much depends on whether weather will permit completion of the road for getting materials to the site in time.
With a basically aluminum exterior, the lookout is of a new type designed by engineers at Salem. The 14 feet square building be on a 30-foot tower. Its cost is estimated at $4,500." (Medford Mail Tribune)
The lookout will be the 15th in this district. A patrol spokesman said that the facility is much needed and will fill what now is a large 'hole' in the fire detection system.
The structure is being pre-fabricated at the headquarters here. It is hoped to have the lookout ready for the 1953 season but much depends on whether weather will permit completion of the road for getting materials to the site in time.
With a basically aluminum exterior, the lookout is of a new type designed by engineers at Salem. The 14 feet square building be on a 30-foot tower. Its cost is estimated at $4,500." (Medford Mail Tribune)
September 4, 1955: "Completion of a new lookout on Chimney Rock will bring to 15 the number of observation posts in the Oregon state department of forestry's Southwest district, which has headquarters on Table Rock rd. north of Midway Four Corners.
The lookout, which is the district's next-to-last planned post, is located on the top of the divide between Antelope creek and Lost creek, southeast of Roxy Ann. It overlooks a large timbered area which previously has not been viewed by lookout posts.
The Chimney Rock lookout, the floor of which will be about 4,112 feet altitude, is being constructed by Howard Ash of Eagle Point, a veteran lookout builder who formerly was with the United States Forest service.
Cost of the structure will be about $3,500, or about average for average lookout construction. A road was built to within 200 feet of the lookout, but because of rugged terrain, a highline was installed by Ash to carry material to the actual construction site. Ash and his son, Gene, built a homemade donkey engine from a three-horsepower engine and an old transmission to transport material up the highline.
Gene Ash is a regular employee of the district.
The Chimney Rock lookout will be the 12th in Jackson county, but will not go into full operation until next year. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this fire season." (Medford Mail Tribune)
The lookout, which is the district's next-to-last planned post, is located on the top of the divide between Antelope creek and Lost creek, southeast of Roxy Ann. It overlooks a large timbered area which previously has not been viewed by lookout posts.
The Chimney Rock lookout, the floor of which will be about 4,112 feet altitude, is being constructed by Howard Ash of Eagle Point, a veteran lookout builder who formerly was with the United States Forest service.
Cost of the structure will be about $3,500, or about average for average lookout construction. A road was built to within 200 feet of the lookout, but because of rugged terrain, a highline was installed by Ash to carry material to the actual construction site. Ash and his son, Gene, built a homemade donkey engine from a three-horsepower engine and an old transmission to transport material up the highline.
Gene Ash is a regular employee of the district.
The Chimney Rock lookout will be the 12th in Jackson county, but will not go into full operation until next year. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this fire season." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1955: "A new Lookout on Chimney Rock was built in 1955. This construction consists of a 14' x 14' ground house built upon a rock that is precipitous on all sides and, until stairs were constructed on the east side, was nearly inaccessible. the area on top of the rock is about 20' x 12' and construction of this unit is a tribute to the men that worked on it and engineered the problem of getting materials to it. Materials were brought to the rock by means of a high line from the end of the road to the rock. a distance of about 250 ft long with a raise of about 125 ft. Cost of this project was $3,510.53." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1956: "Building maintenance: Interior varnished." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
June 18, 1958: "A lookout was placed at Chimney Rock in the Antelope creek area today to complete the staffing." (Medford Mail Tribune)
July 1958: "William Thompson, lookout for the Southwest Oregon State district, died on June 8. He had planned to move to Chimney Rock as soon as the weather cleared. He had spent one summer on Anderson Butte, three on Round Top and one on Tallowbox." (The Forest Log)
1958: "Building maintenance: Repaired stairway." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1959: "Building maintenance: Repaired steps." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
June 6, 1960: "Miss Maxine Gibeson, Ashland, assumed the station on Chimney Rock." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1960: "Building maintenance: News steps and handrail.' (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1961: "Building maintenance: New garbage pit dug." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1962: "Building maintenance: Repaired shutters." (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
June 23, 1963: "Six lookouts in the state forestry district will not be manned this summer. One of which is Chimney Rock. The lookouts can always be manned in case of emergency." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1963: "Building maintenance: Replaced broken window" (Southwest Oregon District Annual Report)
1969: The lookout destroyed.