CROOK COUNTY
GEROW BUTTE
Oregon Department of Forestry
15S-19E-16
15S-19E-16
July 15, 1920: "Mr. J.E. Wilson has taken up duty as fireman at the headquarters of the Williamson Shearing Plant. he will remain there until the fire season is over." (Crook County Journal)
August 16, 1923: "Mrs. M.E. Gerow, who with her husband is spending the summer at the fire lookout station at the shearing plant," (Central Oregonian)
July 7, 1932: "Mr. and Mrs. Lem Houston and daughter, Lois, will be stationed at the shearing plant lookout station, where they moved Monday of last week. Mr. Houston is employed by the Ochoco National Forest." (Central Oregonian)
August 17, 1933: "Twenty miles of telephone line to be constructed to connect Antlers ranger station with Gerow Butte, where a lookout will be established as soon as the telephone line and road are completed." (Central Oregonian)
May 17, 1934: "Ira Swift and crew have finished the 66-foot wooden tower with observatory and cabin in the very center of the holdings of the Ochoco Timber Company which they expect to have ready for occupancy of the fireman by the opening of fire season. This station will be of immense value to both the forest service and the timber company as the fireman has heretofore been located at the shearing plant where he could render no detection service. He can now serve both as lookout and patrolman." (Central Oregonian)
July 12, 1934: "Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McNely took charge of the Gerow Butte lookout station in the Ochoco National Forest the first of the week. The Gerow Butte station is the nearest of all the Forest Ranger stations to Prineville, being but only 21 miles from town." (Central Oregonian)
July 1, 1937: "Mr. and Mrs. Ed Butze, who have been living at the Home boarding house, left Monday for Gerow Butte Lookout Station where they will be until September." (Central Oregonian)
August 20, 1937: "Mr. and Mrs. Ed Butze were in Prineville Wednesday from their nlookout station on Gerow Butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 24, 1953: "While her husband, Charles Martin, head of the physical education department at the Crook County high school, is in Eugene attending University of Oregon summer school school, Mrs. Martin and her 12 year old son, Bill, are manning the fire lookout station of the state forestry department at Gerow butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
1956: "Painted the lookout at Gerow Butte inside and out, also the outsides of the ground cabin and garage." (Central Oregon District Annual Report)
1961: A water tank and stand installed for wash water. Old slash and debris from around the lookout burned.
September 16, 1961: "Linda Pearson arrived home Tuesday after spending the summer months at the Gerow Butte Lookout out of Prineville." (The Bend Bulletin)
1961: Eight first reports made from this station.
1962: Rotten braces replaced and a cabinet installed in the lookout cabin.
1962: The lookout turned in two first discoveries for the fire season.
October 17, 1963: "Mr. and Mrs. Don Trushiem returned home Monday after spending the summer months on Gerow Butte Lookout near Prineville." (The Bend Bulletin)
1963: Three discoveries reported during the fire season.
1964: The lookout reported seven fires during the season.
1965: Stairs repaired on the tower. Windows repaired and new glides were put in the frames of the lookout cab. (1965 Annual Report to Oregon Department of Forestry)
1965: The lookout turned in 12 first reports.
1967: "Treated poles were purchased and delivered to Gerow Butte Lookout site. This tower will be rebuilt during the coming year." (1967 Annual report to Oregon Department of Forestry)
1968: "Gerow Butte Lookout is currently being rebuilt. The new tower was nearly completed before the snows arrived. This facility will be completed in early spring." (1968 Annual Report to Oregon Department of Forestry)
1969: "Gerow Lookout tower was completed just as winter set in. This tower was budgeted in 1964, but was not built until now due to other priorities." (1969 Annual Report to Oregon Department of Forestry)