LANE COUNTY
CUMMINGS PEAK
Siuslaw National Forest
15S-11W-27
15S-11W-27
June 24, 1922: "Each of these lookouts (includes Cummins Peak) will be connected by telephone with the nearest ranger and none of them will be allowed to leave his post throughout the fire season unless he has a substitute. Supplies are taken to the lookouts at intervals and in some instances water has to be carried to them." (Morning Register)
February 7, 1923: "A forest lookout house may be erected on Cummins mountain, not far from Waldport in Lincoln county, according to A.R. Wilcox, examiner in the Siuslaw national forest, who has just returned from a two weeks' trip to that part of the forest. Wilcox made a thorough inspection of the location and said that it is an ideal place for a permanent lookout station. The mountain has been used by forest lookouts at different times." (Morning Register)
June 19, 1924: “Ranger P.N. Stephenson sent out two lookouts on Tuesday. J.V. Straumfjord of O.A.C. to Cummings Peak and Joel Berremen of Philomath to Saddle Mountain. The boys have promised the News accounts of their thrilling experiences with packrats and other fauna of their mountain fastnesses.” (The Siuslaw News)
June 19, 1924: “Ranger P.N. Stephenson sent out two lookouts on Tuesday. J.V. Straumfjord of O.A.C. to Cummings Peak and Joel Berremen of Philomath to Saddle Mountain. The boys have promised the News accounts of their thrilling experiences with packrats and other fauna of their mountain fastnesses.” (The Siuslaw News)
September 27, 1924: "After spending a summer on the top of Cummins peak, where his only shelter is a rough log roof to protect his telephone and bed, J. R. Stromford, Siuslaw national forest lookout, arrived in Eugene Friday on his way to Portland where he will enter the medical school of the University of Oregon. Mr. Stromford expects to serve as lookout at the same post next year." (The Eugene Guard)
April 16, 1925: “A lookout house will be built this year on Cummings peak, Mr. Shelly states.” (The Siuslaw News)
April 16, 1925: “A lookout house will be built this year on Cummings peak, Mr. Shelly states.” (The Siuslaw News)
April 21, 1925: "A lookout house will be built this year on Cumming's peak in the Siuslaw national forest. It will be occupied by J.V. Straumfjord, who spent the winter attending medical college in Portland." (The Eugene Guard)
April 27, 1925: "A lookout house is also being erected this year on Cummings peak and the employee stationed at that point will not be required to camp out all summer, as was necessary last year." (The Eugene Guard)
April 29, 1925: "A new lookout house is being erected on Cummings peak on the Siuslaw national forest, according to H. H. Long, chief clerk in the Siuslaw forest office here. Seventy miles of telephone line will also be built, he said." (Morning Register)
August 8, 1925: "M. P. Adams and wife, of Salem, were here Wednesday evening on a vacation trip and visited their son, who is stationed as lookout on Cummings Peak. They left Thursday by way of Heceta and Ten Mile for the lookout station. Mrs. Adams' sister, who is a New Hampshire school teacher,accompanied then." (Morning Register)
September 1, 1925: "A lookout house is being built on Cummings place in the northwestern corner of Lane county in the Siuslaw national Forest according to R. S. Shelley, supervisor, who has just returned from a trip to that section. He said that the Deadwood-Five Rivers road leading to that district is in fine shape." (Morning Register)
January 23, 1926: "One lookout house was built on Cummins peak at a cost of $924.00." (Morning Register)
June 12, 1928: "Lloyd Cobert is in Mapleton for a few days getting ready for the fire season. Mr. Cobert will be located on Cummings peak as fire lookout. He was on this lookout station last year." (Morning Register)
June 29, 1928: "Floyd Covert, a student, goes for his second year's work as lookout on Cummins Peak." (Siuslaw Oar)
August 15, 1930: "Ed Weise, lookout man on Cummings Peak, enjoyed a visit this week with his mother from Corvallis." & "Mr. Weis, lookout on Cummings, has his sister and others visit him over the week end." (Siuslaw Oar)
May 1, 1931: “The forest service telephone line to Cummings Peak is again in operation. Wm. Lowney has been doing patrol work there.” (Siuslaw Oar)
May 1, 1931: “The forest service telephone line to Cummings Peak is again in operation. Wm. Lowney has been doing patrol work there.” (Siuslaw Oar)
1932: Therone Farris was lookout at the beginning of the season and Verus Dahlin at the end of the season.
August 19, 1932: “Lawrence Dahlin of Florence was here Sunday on his way to see his brother on Cummings Creek lookout.” (Siuslaw Oar)
August 19, 1932: “Lawrence Dahlin of Florence was here Sunday on his way to see his brother on Cummings Creek lookout.” (Siuslaw Oar)
October 1, 1932: "Verus Dahlin has been visiting his father here, briefly, on his way from Cummins peak where he has been stationed all summer to the O.S.C. where he will resume his work in the forestry department." (The Eugene Guard)
October 2, 1932: “Verne Whittaker of Mapleton has resigned his position as driver for Siuslaw Motor Transport Co. and will attend the University of Oregon this year. Verus Dahlin will move from Florence to Mapleton and take the position just vacated by Mr. Whittaker.
Verus has been been look-out man this summer on Cummings Peak in the forest service, and for several years has been a student at the O.A.C. He is the brother of Lawrence Dahlin who is the regular driver for the Siuslaw Motor Transport company between Florence and Eugene.” (Siuslaw Oar)
October 2, 1932: “Verne Whittaker of Mapleton has resigned his position as driver for Siuslaw Motor Transport Co. and will attend the University of Oregon this year. Verus Dahlin will move from Florence to Mapleton and take the position just vacated by Mr. Whittaker.
Verus has been been look-out man this summer on Cummings Peak in the forest service, and for several years has been a student at the O.A.C. He is the brother of Lawrence Dahlin who is the regular driver for the Siuslaw Motor Transport company between Florence and Eugene.” (Siuslaw Oar)
April 11, 1934: Panorama photos taken by Robert Cooper.
November 1, 1934: "The lookout roads are being built to Fairview mountain and Cummins peak. Both were well along when the Cape Creek camp crew was transferred to summer quarters last spring." (The Eugene Register-Guard)
July/August 1937: "Jack Robinson and his crew have completed the road to Cummins Peak Lookout." (The Salt - Forest newsletter)
1954: A 41-foot treated timber tower was erected. A memo indicates that an estimated cost of $5,200 to move the Blodgett Peak lookout to this site.
1971: The final year the lookout was staffed.
1972: The lookout was used as an emergency post. The lookout was sold for salvage.
c.1975: The lookout was removed.
National Geodetic Survey
DESIGNATION - CUMMINS PEAK LOH
PID - QE2295
STATE/COUNTY- OR/LANE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - CUMMINS PEAK (1984)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US FOREST SERVICE 1936
THIS OCCUPIED STATION IS CENTER OF U.S. FOREST SERVICE, CUMMINS
PEAK, LOOKOUT HOUSE, SITUATED ON HIGHEST POINT OF MOUNTAIN ON
EASTERLY PART OF CUMMINS RIDGE, AND ABOUT 8 MILES, AIRLINE, SE OF
YACHATS.
