COUGAR MOUNTAIN
Lincoln County - Siuslaw National Forest - 7S-10W-24
December 11, 1915: "Report on Proposed Administrative Site to Accompany Form 271"
1. Location: (a) 120 acres. (b) Section 24, T.7 S., R. 10 W. Tract is inside the National Forest boundary and is located (d) on the headwaters of Schooner Creek which flows southwest and empties into Siletz Bay about 9 miles distant. (e) The tract lies in the southern part of District 1 of the Siuslaw Forest. The nearest administrative site to this tract is the Ky-wa-chuck Ranger Station located in Section 4, T.8S., R.10W. The nearest telephone is 5 miles to the north along the Salmon River. The site is traversed by a wagon road which extends from Horner's place, one-half mile to the east, to the Salmon river. A branch of this road, when completed will follow down Schooner Creek and connect it with Taft on Siletz Bay. This branch road will will be completed within one year. Trails leading from this road connect it to Drift Creek and the Siletz River. The Siletz River, eight miles to the southwest and the Salmon River, five miles to the north, are the nearest large streams. There is scattered settlement along all the roads and streams mentioned above. From the site it is fourteen miles to Taft, the nearest trading point and five miles to Rose Lodge on the Salmon River, the nearest Post Office.
2. Purpose of site.: This site has been chosen for administrative and protective use, being especially important as a lookout. It includes a peak known as Bald Mountain which commands a view of the entire southern part of District 1." (Report on Proposed Administrative Site)
1. Location: (a) 120 acres. (b) Section 24, T.7 S., R. 10 W. Tract is inside the National Forest boundary and is located (d) on the headwaters of Schooner Creek which flows southwest and empties into Siletz Bay about 9 miles distant. (e) The tract lies in the southern part of District 1 of the Siuslaw Forest. The nearest administrative site to this tract is the Ky-wa-chuck Ranger Station located in Section 4, T.8S., R.10W. The nearest telephone is 5 miles to the north along the Salmon River. The site is traversed by a wagon road which extends from Horner's place, one-half mile to the east, to the Salmon river. A branch of this road, when completed will follow down Schooner Creek and connect it with Taft on Siletz Bay. This branch road will will be completed within one year. Trails leading from this road connect it to Drift Creek and the Siletz River. The Siletz River, eight miles to the southwest and the Salmon River, five miles to the north, are the nearest large streams. There is scattered settlement along all the roads and streams mentioned above. From the site it is fourteen miles to Taft, the nearest trading point and five miles to Rose Lodge on the Salmon River, the nearest Post Office.
2. Purpose of site.: This site has been chosen for administrative and protective use, being especially important as a lookout. It includes a peak known as Bald Mountain which commands a view of the entire southern part of District 1." (Report on Proposed Administrative Site)
September 5, 1931: "As discussed personally with K.P. Cecil of your office we would like to build a spur road (lengthy not definite yet, possibly one-half or one mile) from our Bald Mountain road in T&S, R11W. We are planning to put a fireman's cabin on Cougar Mtn and want to get the material up by this fall before the heavy rains.
The amount involved will probably be somewhere between $500 and $1000.
Early action is desired non this in order that we may plan accordingly." (Letter to Regional Forester from the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor, H.S. Shelley)
September 12, 1931: Project approval letter issued.
1938: A garage built.
Activated; March 18, 1942. Portland Filter Center.
1942: "Buildings constructed: Cougar Mountain - Winterized garage sleeping quarters 8 x 16." (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1943: "Supervisor Fred Furst phoned last evening and informed me that Cougar Mountain observation post would be without telephone communication for a few hours, and possible a day or two, until Warden Melum would be able to install a new repeat coil. Mr. Furst was asked to have the post report in to the Army when communications were resumed." (Memorandum to file from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector)
1943: "Supervisor Fred Furst phoned last evening and informed me that Cougar Mountain observation post would be without telephone communication for a few hours, and possible a day or two, until Warden Melum would be able to install a new repeat coil. Mr. Furst was asked to have the post report in to the Army when communications were resumed." (Memorandum to file from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector)
February 20, 1943: "Eliga W. Woody, about 65, was in the Lincoln county jail here Friday while authorities investigated the slaying of Charles Phillips, 67, whose body was discovered near a cabin on Cougar mountain. Woody and Phillips lived together in the mountain area.
Sheriff George Robinson said Woody told him that he shot his partner in self-defense. Woody, the sheriff said, walked to the Cougar mountain forest lookout after the shooting and reported it to Lookout Irvin Hussey, who notified state police at Newport.
Robinson said Phillips recently had been released from the state penitentiary to which he was sentenced for four years in 1939 for carrying concealed weapons." (The Oregonian)
Sheriff George Robinson said Woody told him that he shot his partner in self-defense. Woody, the sheriff said, walked to the Cougar mountain forest lookout after the shooting and reported it to Lookout Irvin Hussey, who notified state police at Newport.
Robinson said Phillips recently had been released from the state penitentiary to which he was sentenced for four years in 1939 for carrying concealed weapons." (The Oregonian)
1943: A woodshed constructed by the Lincoln County FPA. (Lincoln FPA Annual Report)
1954: A tower with cab erected. The estimated cost of this structure $4,252.
1970: The final year the lookout staffed. After the fire season ended the tower removed.