TID BITS MOUNTAIN
Linn County - Willamette National Forest - 15S-4E-15
1912: Established as a lookout point.
c.1914: A lookout structure built by John Short. A log cabin structure used for living quarters was located in a saddle approximately one-eighth of a mile from the lookout point.
April 17, 1922: "J.A. Moe, of Silverton, who has been lookout man on Tidbits mountain on the Santiam national forest since 1912, drove to Eugene yesterday on his way to McKenzie Bridge where he expects to make his home. While in Eugene, Mr. Moe will take the examination for lookout on the Cascade national forest." (The Eugene Guard)
August 24, 1923: "Fay Evans is located at Tidbits mountain, a lookout station in the Cascade range east of here." (Albany Evening Herald)
July 9, 1925: "Completion of the system of look out stations is now in sight, C.C. Hall, supervisor of the Santiam National forest, said today. The seventh and last of the stations is being started this week on Tid Bits mountain, 20 miles south of the Cascadia ranger station." (Albany Democrat)
July 15, 1925: "Supervisor C.C. Hall left yesterday for Blue river to inspect the new trails being built in the Santiam National forest there and will also inspect the new lookout on Tid Bits mountain." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
July 17, 1925: "C.C. Hall will return tomorrow from the southern section of the Santiam forest where he has been to inspect a new trail and the site of the newest of the lookout stations on Tid Bits mountain." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
September 24, 1925: "The windows for the lookout on Tid Bits mountain were shattered recently in transit when the mule, with the sashes packed on its back rolled down a grade on Owl Ridge." (Albany Democrat)
1925: A 14 x 14 Supervisor Hall design (modified D-5) lookout house constructed.
July 14, 1939: "Tidbits is located in the 'back country' of the district and is one of the major lookouts. This station is in very rugged country. John W. Turbyne, who is stationed here will make a trip to an observation rock occasionally to look over some hidden country. The elevation is 5200 feet and is located in Township 15S and Range 4E. From Cascadia to the end of the CCC camp road is six miles and from there it is 14 miles by trail to the lookout." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
July 31, 1961: "Tidbits is one of the highest lookout peaks in the Cascadia Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest, and is reached by several trails from Bear Pass, which in turn is reached by a rough mountain road. Anyone wanting to know how NOT to get lost should check with the Forest Service office, either in Sweet Home or Cascadia, where maps are available." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
October 27, 1967: The lookout disposed of by burning on site.
November 3, 1967: "At the request of Lance Davenport (Sweet Home), I called the Regional Office on October 25 for go-ahead to burn down three lookouts before AD-112's would reach them. I talked to Frank Walisch, explained the reason for the urgency, and obtained his verbal approval,
I advised Lance of the approval, and gave him the wording Mr. Walisch suggested for justification. I also passed the word that no publicity should be given to the destruction of lookouts, since there are people who object to this for various reasons. The same information will be transmitted to all districts.
Lance said that AD-112's for Pyramids, Tidbits, and Chimney Peak Lookouts would be submitted promptly." (Memo to Files from E.C. Scott, Engineering)