WHEELER COUNTY
WHEELER POINT
Umatilla National Forest
7S-24E-18
7S-24E-18
November 12, 1931: "Tree tower was erected at Wheeler Point." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
1931: A 50-foot pole tower with a 7' x 7' cab erected. (From an undated lookout inventory, Umatilla National Forest)
October 6, 1932: "On Wheeler Point, the tower, cabin and latrine have been built. The tower is a 50-foot wooden tower surmounted by a seven by seven foot cabin for the lookout. These buildings are located on Ox Head butte and overlook the Winlock country." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
July 20, 1938: "A fire fighting speed record was set near Lone Rock when a forest service plane spotted a one-acre blaze on a ridge southwest of town. James Iler, Pendleton, assistant supervisor of the Umatilla forest, dropped a note to a lookout at Wheeler Point, five miles away. Forty minutes later the fire was under control.
Iler said the fire was located in a 'blind spot' where lookouts were unable to see it." (The Klamath News)
Iler said the fire was located in a 'blind spot' where lookouts were unable to see it." (The Klamath News)
June 8, 1939: "Mrs. Bert Mason departed Sunday for Corvallis where she went to get her son, Bert, Jr., a student at Oregon State college, and bring him home for the summer. Bert, Jr., has the position as fire lookout at Wheeler station for the summer." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
June 29, 1939: "Bert Mason, Jr., returned from Tollgate Saturday evening and departed Tuesday for his post at the Wheeler lookout station, where he is to work this summer." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
July 3, 1941: "William Vail and family are occupying the Norbert Peavy residence. The Peavys are at Wheeler Point in the mountains where Mr. Peavy is stationed as lookout through the fire season." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
May 2, 1946: "Roland Farrens, recently discharged from the navy, and Orville Corley of Gurdane were hired recently for the coming fire season. Farrens will man Wheeler Point lookout this summer and Corley will be stationed at Ditch Creek guard station." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
1958: "During the 1959 season a new tower and house will be built at Wheeler Point." "Site surveys have been completed for a new lookout on Wheeler Point. We expect contracts to be let shortly after July 1." (Umatilla National Forest files)
1958: "During 1959 season a new tower and house will be built at Wheeler Point." (1958 Annual Report)
1959: "Construction of a 67-foot lookout tower at Wheedler Point on the Heppner District has been completed. The old tower at this point was no longer safe for use." (1959 Annual Report)
July 18, 1968: "Ronald Jones of Heppner is on Wheeler Point." (Heppner Gazette-Times)
The lookout removed.
DESIGNATION - WHEELER
PID - QC1047
STATE/COUNTY- OR/WHEELER
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - WHEELER POINT (1995)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1941 (ANS)
STATION IS LOCATED ON WHEELER RIDGE, A HIGH TIMBERED RIDGE LYING
ABOUT 17.0 MILES E OF FOSSIL AND ABOUT 11.0 MILES NW OF SPRAY. IT
IS ABOUT 3/4 MILE NE OF THE NOTCH WHICH IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE
VICINITY. STATION IS UNDERNEATH THE WHEELER POINT LOOKOUT TOWER.
STATION MARK IS A STANDARD U.S.C. AND G.S. BRONZE DISK, STAMPED
WHEELER 1941, SET IN A DRILL HOLE IN THE TOP OF A BOULDER THAT IS
ABOUT 4 INCHES BELOW THE GROUND. IT IS ON THE HIGHEST PART OF THE
HILL UNDERNEATH THE WHEELER POINT LOOKOUT TOWER.
STATION RECOVERY (1979)
RECOVERY NOTE BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1979 (JVD)
THE STATION AND BOTH REFERENCE MARKS WERE RECOVERED IN GOOD
CONDITION. THE LOOKOUT TOWER, UNDER WHICH THE STATION WAS LOCATED,
HAS BEEN TORN DOWN, BUT THE FOUR CYLINDRICAL CONCRETE LEG BASES
REMAIN. A NEW LOOKOUT TOWER HAS BEEN BUILT WEST OF THE STATION.
A DIRT ROAD PASSES BETWEEN THE FOUR LEG BASES AND THE STATION IS
IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD.