LENHART BUTTE
Clackamas County - Clackamas-Marion FPA - 2S-5E-35
1939: "Construction by the CCC during 1939 consisted of the following: Lenhart Butte Lookout - 2S 3E Sec 35: 100-foot tower, guard station, garage. 18 miles of telephone line and 4.5 miles truck trail. This development provides the northern part of the district with detection which has long been needed." (Clackamas-Marion District Annual Report)
September 6, 1939: “Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dodson of the Lenhart Butte fire lookout, were in Sandy Tuesday.Mr. Dodson has been in charge of the Lookout station on Lenhart butte since the middle of July. The station boasts of a new tower, 103 feet in height, a new cottage and garage and supplies shed and was active in spotting fires during the bad fire season.” (Sandy Post)
Activated: August 30, 1942; Deactivated: October 18, 1943. Portland Filter Center.
September 1, 1942: "This post was inspected yesterday in company with State Fire Warden George Bunke. Observers on duty are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ballou. The post was activated August 30 and consequently has not been in service long enough for observers to have much practice in their AWS work. The observers had not received their logbook or instructions from the Army but they had an acceptable knowledge of aircraft spotting and reporting.
Improvements consist of a 7'x7' cabin on a 110-foot tower, a 14'x16' one-room ground house of late model, and an 18'x18' garage, part of which is walled off for storage. The tower cabin will not be very satisfactory for winter AWS observation work and since the ground cabin commands a good view for aircraft detection work, this building is recommended for use as living quarters and observation work.
Additional sleeping quarters are needed. This can be provided either by sealing in and flooring a room in the garage or building a sleeping room extension to the one-room cabin. Warden Bunke prefers to have the extension to the ground cabin and since he has shingles, nails, and skilled labor on hand and the material cost for either development should not exceed $100, it is recommended that a bedroom (12x14) be added to the ground cabin. The cabin has a good stove and if the bedroom were added, no other stoves would be needed. Ample space is available in the garage for fuel storage and about seven cords are already stored.
To improve the view from the ground cabin, Warden Bunke plans to thin out some trees. Provisions for blackouts are planned." (A letter to James Frankland, USFS Engineering from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector)
Improvements consist of a 7'x7' cabin on a 110-foot tower, a 14'x16' one-room ground house of late model, and an 18'x18' garage, part of which is walled off for storage. The tower cabin will not be very satisfactory for winter AWS observation work and since the ground cabin commands a good view for aircraft detection work, this building is recommended for use as living quarters and observation work.
Additional sleeping quarters are needed. This can be provided either by sealing in and flooring a room in the garage or building a sleeping room extension to the one-room cabin. Warden Bunke prefers to have the extension to the ground cabin and since he has shingles, nails, and skilled labor on hand and the material cost for either development should not exceed $100, it is recommended that a bedroom (12x14) be added to the ground cabin. The cabin has a good stove and if the bedroom were added, no other stoves would be needed. Ample space is available in the garage for fuel storage and about seven cords are already stored.
To improve the view from the ground cabin, Warden Bunke plans to thin out some trees. Provisions for blackouts are planned." (A letter to James Frankland, USFS Engineering from W.N. Parke, AWS Inspector)
December 24, 1942: "The Forest Service informs us that the State Board of Forestry, Salem, Oregon, is preparing a deferment request for Mr. Charles Edward Ballou. Mr. Ballou is an Aircraft Warning Service observer on Lenhart Butte Observation Post and the operation of this post is needed for the defense of the Western area. It would be appreciated if your Board would delay action to the reclassify Mr. Ballou until you have an opportunity to study the deferment request." (Letter to Draft Board No. 2 from Regional Ground Observer Executive Officer)
June 24, 1943: “Lenhart Butte Forest service lookout was opened April 15th, but to date not a blaze has been sighted – due to the continued rain. Ed. Ballou is the man on duty at the post, and he is accompanied by his wife.” (Sandy Post)
October 16, 1943: The Army de-activated the AWS station effective 1800 hours.
1953: "Lenhart Butte LO - Painted floor and installed new night latch in cabin." (Clackamas-Marion District Annual Report)
July 15, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. Tom Boothby and family moved to the Linhart Butte lookout station the first of July to spend the summer months.” (The Sandy Post)
July 15, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. Tom Boothby and family moved to the Linhart Butte lookout station the first of July to spend the summer months.” (The Sandy Post)
1954: "Lenhart Butte LO - installed stool with glass legs for lightning protection." (Clackamas-Marion District Annual Report)
1955: "Lenhart Butte Lookout painted." (Clackamas-Marion District Annual Report)
July 4, 1957: “Burton Blake, local boy and son Bill Blake, Sandy, has been hired by the fire warden as a lookout on Lenhart Butte, this districts main lookout point.” (The Sandy Post)
July 4, 1957: “Burton Blake, local boy and son Bill Blake, Sandy, has been hired by the fire warden as a lookout on Lenhart Butte, this districts main lookout point.” (The Sandy Post)
August 18, 1968: "The age of the forest fire lookout is fast dying. For the first time in many years, the lookout at Lenhart Butte does not have anyone on a permanent basis for the summer. Now, only two lookouts remain in the once large chain of towers operated by Clackamas-Marion. More modern, more sophisticated fire spotting devices are being used these days, as the era of lookout towers join the biplanes and Model T's as American legends. High flying planes are able to cover a much larger area at one time, and are used frequently. A new infrared device, known as 'Fire Scan" is being tested, and is said to be able to scan 3,000 square miles in an hour, compared with a comparatively scant 600 square miles coverage by visual air patrol." (The Sunday Oregonian)
1969: "Because of the moderate fire season, Lenhart Butte LO was not manned." (Clackamas-Marion District Annual Report)
Removed