LAKE COUNTY
INDIAN BUTTE
Deschutes National Forest
23S-13E-27
23S-13E-27
June 24, 1924: “Fred Smith of LaPine went to work for the forest service. He will be placed at Indian Springs Butte just as soon as the telephone line is finished up there.” (Silver Lake Leader)
October 11, 1924: “A seven mile spur of telephone line, an extension of line from an ice cave in northern Lake county to Indian Spring Butte, has recently been completed, it is announced by officials of the Deschutes national forest. This line leads from the main telephone system of the forest service, with the central station in Bend, to an auxiliary lookout station on Indian Spring Butte.” (The Bend Bulletin)
August 5, 1927: An intermediate lookout placed because of the exceptionally high danger of fires.
August 12, 1929: Due to the heavy layer of smoke, the intermediate lookout stationed.
1929: The 1930 Forest Service budget considered improvements including a permanent telephone line to Indian Springs butte.
August 9, 1930: An emergency lookout stationed.
August 12, 1930: "Construction of five lookout houses, two guard cabins and several telephone lines is planned by the Deschutes national forest for the coming fall. winter and early spring, Carl B. Neal, supervisor, announced today."
A standard lookout house is to be erected on Indian butte. (Morning Oregonian)
October 21, 1930: "In the Fort Rock district, the forest service crew found the ground too dry for maintenance work. The outfit was shifted to Indian butte, where a lookout station will be constructed before the start of the 1931 fire season." (The Bend Bulletin)
April 24, 1931: "The Indian Springs fireman will go on Indian Springs butte as a fireman-lookout." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 10, 1932: “Word has been received here of the marriage of Miss Eleanor Wortman and Avon Derrick June 5th at Miss Wortman’s home near Eugene. Miss Wortman has taught school at Fremont the past two years. Avon is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Derrick of this valley and is employed as a lookout for the Forest Service on Indian Butte near here.” (Lake County Tribune)
July 18, 1939: “Fire broke out yesterday, the second time within a week, at Tom butte just south of Newberry crater. Suppressed within a few minutes, the fire covered only a 30x70 foot area. It was located by the Indian butte lookout. Although a small blaze, it could have proven serious due to the heavy slashings in that area.” (The Bend Bulletin)
July 19, 1939: “Late yesterday afternoon the Indian butte lookout located the third fire within a week at this rise just south of Newberry crater.
Each succeeding blaze on Tom butte has covered a larger area with the Tuesday fire touching two acres before being suppressed.” (The Bend Bulletin)
1941: The lookout received 1.25 inches of rain over the weekend of August 16th and 17th
Removed
DESIGNATION - INDIAN BUTTE LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - PB0694
STATE/COUNTY- OR/LAKE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - INDIAN BUTTE (1982)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US FOREST SERVICE 1934
THIS UNCHECKED INTERSECTED POSITION IS CENTER OF U.S.F.S. WOOD
LOOKOUT TOWER ON SUMMIT OF INDIAN BUTTE, ELEVATION 5985
FEET. TOWER BUILT IN 1932 AND IS STRUCTURE 10 FEET HIGH
'SUPPORTING WOOD HOUSE. POINT MAY BE REACHED BY FOREST ROADS AND
LIES ABOUT 10 MILES SE OF PAULINA MOUNTAINS.