SOUTH SADDLE MOUNTAIN
Washington County - Tillamook Fire Patrol - 1N-6W-26
July 23, 1930: "Weather damp. Slightly cloudy. Cougar killed my dog 40 feet from lookout tower at 11:30 this morning.
This was the daily report received by State Forester Cronemiller today from J.A. Stevenson. Forest fire lookout on Saddle Mountain near the head of the Wilson River.
Except when a fire breaks out the life of a lookout is said to be uneventful." (The Evening Herald)
This was the daily report received by State Forester Cronemiller today from J.A. Stevenson. Forest fire lookout on Saddle Mountain near the head of the Wilson River.
Except when a fire breaks out the life of a lookout is said to be uneventful." (The Evening Herald)
August 1, 1931: "Tom Stevenson, lookout on Saddle mountain in northern Tillamook county, seems to have rather a tendency to get into mix-ups with cougars. Last year about this time, while Tom was in his lookout 90 feet above the ground, a cougar came to the foot of the tree in midday and killed his dog. Tom, of course, having no gun, looked on while the cougar was after the dog and was unable to do anything. Since he returned to his lookout this year, Tom has been carrying a large six-shooter to the top of the tree each morning when going up. About a week ago, he gazed down at the foot of the tree and there stood a cougar taking in the situation. Tom fired once and the animal disappeared. He waited a short time and then went down to the foot of the tree. Evidently the animal was wounded for Tom tracked it by blood to a large rock flat about a quarter of a mile below his lookout. There the trail ended and it was impossible to find anything because the flat was covered with huge boulders under which the animal could crawl and it would be impossible for Tom to reach him." (The Forest Log)
1932: "Built a log lookout house on Saddle Mountain, sec 25 T1N R6W." (Tillamook District Annual Report)
August 21, 1933: "Tom Stevenson, lookout on Saddle mountain near the Washington-Tillamook county line, was forced to abandon his post as the flames swept in all directions up the mountain. One CCC worker was overcome by the heat and an unidentified family reached a camp after being driven from their home." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 22, 1933: "Tom Stevenson, who has been in the forest lookout service for ten years, was forced to flee for his life today when the flames came roaring toward his Saddle mountain lookout. 'It's hell here now. A pack train is waiting to take me out. I'm leaving in ten minutes,' he reported over the telephone from his lookout platform 80 feet above the mountaintop." (Morning Oregonian)
August 22, 1933: "Raging on a 15-mile front, defying efforts of 1500 men to control it, the Wilson River fire tonight ate its way into virgin timberlands destroying millions of dollars worth of uncut lumber.
The fire, which started last Tuesday, had been dormant several days. It covered a 14 mile area in the Glenwood District of Washington County.
Fanned by a stiff southwest wind, the stubborn Wilson River fire was sweeping all in its path. One family was driven from its home and sought refuge in a CCC camp. Tom Stevenson, lookout on Saddle Mountain, was driven from his post as the flames swept up the mountains side.
Scores of men relieved by a patrol of CCC workers were recruited again today to help fight the fire. One of the troopers was overcome by heat." (The Klamath Herald)
August 23, 1933: "No authoritative report on whether the Saddle mountain lookout station had been destroyed by flames had been received here late today. Tom Stevenson was to attempt the desperate trek over the burned-over area from Reeher's to the site of his lookout cabin as soon as the area has cooled off sufficiently. His cabin had been built of materials packed in laboriously piece by piece, and was considered a model among forest cabins in this area." (Morning Oregonian
August 25, 1933: "Another hazardous trip was undertaken today by Tom Stevenson, veteran in forest service, who set out from Reeher's for his old lookout on the top of Saddle mountain. This area was ravaged by flames the first of the week, and Stevenson was forced to flee. Whether the lookout station, 80 feet above the mountain top, or the cabin at the foot of the tower were burned is still unknown." (Morning Oregonian)
August 25, 1933: "Another hazardous trip was undertaken today by Tom Stevenson, veteran in forest service, who set out from Reeher's for his old lookout on the top of Saddle mountain. This area was ravaged by flames the first of the week, and Stevenson was forced to flee. Whether the lookout station, 80 feet above the mountain top, or the cabin at the foot of the tower were burned is still unknown." (Morning Oregonian)
August 25, 1933: "Fear was expressed that changing of the wind would make necessary removing all fighters, for their own safety, from the western front in Tillamook county. If that is done nothing but a change of weather will prevent flames from sweeping clear across Tillamook county to the ocean. Also fear was expressed that the fire might get into the old Wilson River burn where there is much fallen timber and a blaze would be almost impossible to stop.
The lookout station at Saddle mountain in the Wilson river area was destroyed by the spreading flames, the chief forester said, further hampering the fighters." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 26, 1933: "The Saddle mountain lookout was destroyed by fire, Tom Stevenson, who was stationed there, reported today. He succeeded in making his way from Reeher's to the point where he once was located after the area had cooled off sufficiently. The forest fire swept over Saddle mountain the first of the week. It left a wedge of unburned timber to the southwest, he reported." (Morning Oregonian)
Activated: March 10, 1942; Deactivated: October 19, 1942. Portland Filter Center.
July 27, 1942: "It has been found desirable to eliminate Saddle Mountain (South) as an AWS observation post since this station is now surrounded with new slash and to construct new buildings would be quite hazardous. The Army has approved the substitution of two other posts to take the place of Saddle Mountain. These are Baseline Cabin and Round Top.
Saddle Mountain should not be discontinued, of course, until these two other posts are available for sending flash messages. Both of these new posts have telephone lines and it is understood that portable buildings are available at the Scroggins side camp. The cost therefore of activating both of these posts should be very slight." (Memorandum to the State Forester from James Frankland, USFS Engineering)
Saddle Mountain should not be discontinued, of course, until these two other posts are available for sending flash messages. Both of these new posts have telephone lines and it is understood that portable buildings are available at the Scroggins side camp. The cost therefore of activating both of these posts should be very slight." (Memorandum to the State Forester from James Frankland, USFS Engineering)
1944: An 18-foot tower with a 7x7 cab constructed using E.D. labor. Cost of materials $56.75.
September 1945: "Four standard 14 feet by 14 feet ground lookout houses have been ordered for three of the forest protective associations. The Northwest Oregon structure will be on Saddle mountain within the Tillamook burn area." (The Forest Log)
1946: A tower constructed at a cost of $1952.00 for the tower only.
1948: A 40-foot timber tower with a 14x14 cab completed at a cost of $1554.83.
1956: Two window panes replaced after being broken out by vandals.
1974: The lookout removed.
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1935 (CP)
THE STATION IS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE LINE BETWEEN TILLAMOOK
AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES ON WHAT IS LOCALLY KNOWN AS SADDLE MOUNTAIN
AND IS A LOOKOUT STATION OF THE TIMBER PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
STATION AND REFERENCE MARKS ARE STANDARD BRONZE DISKS WEDGED IN
A DRILL HOLE IN OUTCROPPING BEDROCK.
REACHED FROM FOREST GROVE AS FOLLOWS--GO S ON STATE HIGHWAY 47
FOR 4.4 MILES, TURN RIGHT AT SERVICE STATION (CECIL ARMITAGE)
JUST BEFORE CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, GO AS PER SIGN GASTON 1-3/4
MILES, SCROGGINS CREEK ROAD ON THE LATTER, CONTINUE 3.0 MILES,
KEEP STRAIGHT 0.2 MILE, TAKE LEFT FORK, AT SCROGGINS VALLEY
SCHOOL, GO 0.1 MILE TURN RIGHT AS PER SIGN DEERLICK GO 0.4 MILE,
TURN LEFT WHERE THERE ARE 6 MAIL BOXES ALONG THE ROAD, JUST
AFTER CROSSING BRIDGE, GO 0.4 MILE, TAKE RIGHT FORK, GO 1.1
MILES, TAKE LEFT FORK GO 0.1 MILE, TAKE RIGHT FORK FOR 1.3
MILES THROUGH GATE PASSING HOUSE, CONTINUE 2.2 MILES TO BASE
LINE PATROL STATION AND END OF TRUCK TRAVEL. FROM HERE THE
STATION LIES ABOUT 6 MILES NE, BUT NE OF THE DOUBLE-TOPPED
HIGHEST PORTION OF THE MOUNTAIN. TAKE TRAIL AS PER SIGN
READING SADDLE MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT 6.0 MILES LONG GRADUAL ASCENT.
STATION RECOVERY (1941)
RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1941 (ANS)
STATION RECOVERED, ALL MARKS FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. STATION
IS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, VERY CLOSE TO THE WASHINGTON-TILLAMOOK
COUNTY LINE AND ABOUT 15 MILES WNW OF FOREST GROVE. THE STATION
IS NOT ON THE HIGHEST PART OF SADDLE MOUNTAIN, BUT ABOUT 1 MILE
NE OF THE HIGHEST PART, ON THE N END OF A HIGH SHARP RIDGE. THE
STATION IS 63 FEET NE OF SADDLE MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT TREE. THE TREE
HAS BEEN TOPPED AND A PLATFORM BUILT ON IT ABOUT 90 FEET ABOVE
THE GROUND. THE TREE IS IN VERY BAD CONDITION, IT IS CRACKED,
BURNED, AND PARTLY EATEN AWAY BY ANTS. THE LOOKOUT PLATFORM
IS ROTTEN, CARE SHOULD BE USED IN WORKING ON IT. THERE IS AN
OLD BRICK CHIMNEY ABOUT 35 FEET SW OF THE BASE OF THE TREE.
THE STATION MARK IS SET IN A PYRAMID-SHAPED PIECE OF
BEDROCK ABOUT 6 FEET HIGH, ABOUT 30 FEET W OF WHERE THE RIDGE
BREAKS OVER TO THE E. THE DISK IS STAMPED SADDLE MTN. 1935.
REFERENCE MARK NO.1 IS ABOUT 2 METERS LOWER THAN THE STATION,
ABOUT 20 FEET W OF WHERE THE RIDGE BREAKS OVER TO THE E. IT IS
SET IN BEDROCK AND STAMPED SADDLE MTN. NO.1, 1935.
REFERENCE MARK NO.2 IS ABOUT 2 METERS LOWER THAN THE STATION,
ABOUT 15 FEET W OF WHERE THE RIDGE BREAKS OVER TO THE E. IT IS
SET IN BEDROCK AND STAMPED SADDLE MTN. NO.2, 1935.
TO REACH THE STATION FROM FOREST GROVE, GO NW ON STATE HIGHWAY
NO.2 FOR 14 MILES TO GLENWOOD POST OFFICE. CONTINUE NW ON STATE
HIGHWAY NO.2 FOR 0.4 MILE TO A FORK IN THE ROAD AND A SIGN
CONSOLIDATED TIMBER COMPANY. TURN LEFT WITH THE SIGN AND GO NW
FOR 1.5 MILES TO THE CONSOLIDATED TIMBER COMPANY. HERE CONTACT
MR. JOE JOHANNASON. HE WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE USE OF A
MOTOR CAR TO BE USED IN CONTINUING TO THE STATION. TAKE
RAILROAD MOTOR CAR AND GO SW ABOUT 17.5 MILES, OR ABOUT 0.5
MILE FROM THE END OF THE RAILROAD. LEAVE THE MOTOR CAR AND
PACK S, UPHILL, ABOUT 0.3 MILE TO THE TOP OF A RIDGE RUNNING
E AND W. TURN RIGHT, W AND GO ABOUT 0.3 MILE TO A SHARP HILL.
CLIMB THE HILL. THE STATION IS ON THE N END OF IT. THE
STATION IS ABOUT A HALF-HOUR PACK FROM WHERE THE MOTOR CAR IS
LEFT.