LATAH COUNTY
MASON BUTTE
Potlatch Timber Protective Association
38N-1E-17
38N-1E-17
1917: Tree platform with log cabin. (Kresek)
August 3, 1917: "Shorty Karstein, who is lookout at the Mason Meadows fire station, had a close call this week from a serious accident falling about 50 feet out of the lookout tree there when a limb broke. He turned two or three times in the air, but landed on his hands and knees without injury." (Elk River Sentinel)
1917: "Another new line was built from the cabin on Mason Meadow to our Mason Butte Lookout, a distance of one and one-fourth miles." (Annual Report of the Potlatch TPA)
1933: 67-foot pole tower with L-6 cab. (Kresek)
July 17, 1952: "Mr. and Mrs. Ash and four children are stationed at the Mason Butte lookout for the summer." (The Kendrick Gazette)
August 28, 1952: "Glen Betts, assisted by Herman Kuykendall, made a trip to Elk River Saturday to help the H.W. Ash family move. They had spent the past two months at the Mason Butte lookout, but had to move back to prepare for school." (The Kendrick Gazette)
1954: During the year repairs were made to the tower. (Potatch TPA combined Annual Report 1953-54)
1962: {Caption under photo of two towers} "Mason Butte lookout built in 1934 with CCC help was replaced in 1962. The new steel tower (right) was purchased from war surplus stocks. While its design was made for aircraft spotting work in the South Pacific, bullet proof and all, it will serve for many years to protect the forest from fire." (Potlatch TPA Annual Report)
1962: "The Mason Butte Lookout tower was built in 1934 during the CCC program and was a 90-foot wood structure. Considerable maintenance work has been required in the last few years and, with the general wear and tear of the tower, it was found economical to make a replacement. Through Excess Property channels a new 90-foot steel tower was obtained a few years ago and this was used this summer to give our Association a fine, modern, steel tower which will be far more lasting and safe." (Potlatch Timber Protective Association Annual Report)
1965: "A stairway was constructed on the Mason Butte tower to replace the vertical ladder stairway." (Potlatch TPA Annual Report)
1999: The tower was removed.