JACKSON COUNTY
RAILROAD GAP
Umpqua National Forest
32S-2W-32
32S-2W-32
1932: The water system was constructed at a cost of $18.00. The work consisted of building a three wire drift fence, and installing 22 feet of half inch pipe from the spring to a trough. (Umpqua National Forest Archives)
July 20, 1932: "Nine new lookout houses are to be built at an estimated cost of $5,300. [One of] these lookouts will be built on Railroad Gap on the Cow creek-Rogue river divide. Pasture fences are to be built at Railroad Gap." (Roseburg News-Review)
July 28, 1932: "Miss Laura Wilson of Portland is spending her vacation at the home of her sister, Mrs. Kenneth Hopkins. Miss Wilson is a student nurse in one of the Portland hospitals. Mrs. Hopkins has recently returned from a week's visit with her husband at the Railroad Gap lookout above Tiller." (The News-Review)
August 19, 1932: "Mrs. Kenneth Hopkins and son, Don, and Miss Laura Wilson of Portland spent several days with Mr. Hopkins at the Railroad Gap lookout recently." (The News-Review)
1933: A 15-foot round fir timber tower with an L-4 cab constructed.
1933: A quarter mile of pasture fence was constructed. This three wire fence cost $99.90. (Umpqua National Forest Archives)
1934: An additional $22.87 was spent on fencing. (Umpqua National Forest Archives)
1937: A garage and warehouse was constructed at a cost of $12.46. (Umpqua National Forest Archives)
August 6, 1935: "Ermil Chaney, who is employed by the forest service at Railroad Gap lookout beyond Diamond Rock on the Umpqua divide, came out to his home here for several days on business." (Roseburg News-Review)
July 8, 1941: "Mrs. Jack Ulam and son, Owen, are visiting at the home of the former's aunt, Mrs. Wallace Poole. Mr. Ulam has gone to the Railroad Gap lookout for the fire season." (The News Review)
August 8, 1942: "Mrs. Rollin Redifer, who has been having quite a serious time with an abscessed tooth, has been staying here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Spore while receiving dental treatment at the office of Dr. Wilson in Myrtle Creek. She plans to return soon to Railroad Gap where Mr. Redifer is stationed by the forest service." (The News-Review)
August 17, 1942: "Mrs. Rollin Redifer, who has been spending some time here with her parents while receiving dental treatment in Myrtle Creek, has rejoined her husband at the Railroad Gap lookout where he is stationed by the forest service." (Roseburg News-Review)
1943: The garage and storage shed were acquired from the Air Warning Service for the sum of $100.00.
December 15, 1949: "Construction of a forest fire lookout tower on Roundtop mountain in the east fork of Evans Creek area to replace the lookout at Railroad Gap was announced today by the state forest patrol here." (Medford Mail Tribune)
1951: The lookout removed.