From Burley to Hailey, Idaho 

February 15, 2004 

Administrative Facilities of the Sawtooth National Forest, 

1891-1960 

Historic Overview 

Forest Service Report No. SW-04-2195 

By 

Anthony Godfrey, Ph.D. 

U.S. West Research, Inc. 

2395 East Fisher Lane 

Salt Lake City, UT 84109 

801-485-2526 

uswestresearch@aol.com 
Cover Photo: "Ranger Station on Southfork Creek, Cassia County, Idaho"," no date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................V

PREFACE................................................................................................................................VI

ACRONYMS...........................................................................................................................VII

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1

PURPOSE AND SCOPE ......................................................................................................................................1

FORMAT ................................................................................................................................................................1

FOREST SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND NOMENCLATURE......................................................................3

METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................................3

CHAPTER ONE: OVERVIEW..................................................................................................5

GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................................5

Minidoka National Forest ...................................................................................................................................6

Sawtooth National Forest...................................................................................................................................7

SPATIAL BOUNDARIES......................................................................................................................................8

TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES.................................................................................................................................8

HISTORICAL SETTING........................................................................................................................................9

CHAPTER TWO: THE EARLY FORESTS, 1891-1960 ....................................................... 11

THE FIRST FOREST RESERVES.................................................................................................................... 11

SAWTOOTH FOREST RESERVE AND SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST ............................................. 12

Sawtooth Forest Reserve, 1905-1906........................................................................................................... 12

Sawtooth National Forest, 1907-1953 ........................................................................................................... 12

Sawtooth National Forest, 1953-1960 ........................................................................................................... 14

CASSIA AND RAFT RIVER FOREST RESERVES, MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST............................. 15

Cassia Forest Reserve, 1903-1906 ............................................................................................................... 15

Raft River Forest Reserve, 1903-1906.......................................................................................................... 16

Cassia and Raft River Forest Reserves, 1906.............................................................................................. 17

Cassia and Raft River National Forests, 1907-1908..................................................................................... 18

Minidoka National Forest, 1908-1953............................................................................................................ 18

CHAPTER THREE: ADMINISTRATION .............................................................................. 21

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST, 1908-1914.............................................................................................. 21

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST, 1915-1945.............................................................................................. 23

MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST, 1908-1945................................................................................................. 28

SAWTOOTH AND MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST, 1946-1960 ................................................................ 31

CHAPTER FOUR: NEW DEAL PROGRAMS, 1933-1942.................................................. 33

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS............................................................................................................... 33

i
THE CCC AND THE SAWTOOTH ................................................................................................................... 33

THE CCC & ERA ON THE MINIDOKA ............................................................................................................ 36

CCC'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY, 1983......................................................................................................... 39

CCC & CULTURAL RESOURCES, 1992........................................................................................................ 39

CHAPTER FIVE: SUPERVISOR’S OFFICES...................................................................... 41

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST.................................................................................................................. 41

Hailey Supervisor’s Office and Warehouse................................................................................................... 41

Hailey Supervisor’s Residence and Garage.................................................................................................. 43

MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST ..................................................................................................................... 44

Burley Supervisor’s Dwelling and Garage..................................................................................................... 44

Burley Portable Warehouse............................................................................................................................ 44

CHAPTER SIX: SNF RANGER DISTRICTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SITES................... 45

A. FAIRFIELD RANGER DISTRICT................................................................................................................. 45

Big Smoky Administrative Site........................................................................................................................ 46

Big Smoky Guard Station and Pasture.......................................................................................................... 46

Boardman Administrative Site ........................................................................................................................ 48

Buttercup Administrative Site.......................................................................................................................... 49

Cold Springs Administrative Site .................................................................................................................... 49

Deer Park [Iron Mountain] Administrative Site............................................................................................... 50

Emma Creek Administrative Site.................................................................................................................... 50

Fairfield Ranger Station .................................................................................................................................. 50

Grouse Creek Administrative Site .................................................................................................................. 52

Hay Press Administrative Site ........................................................................................................................ 52

Hunter Creek Guard Station........................................................................................................................... 53

Indian Camp Administrative Site .................................................................................................................... 54

Liberal [Old] Administrative Site...................................................................................................................... 54

Neut Revis Ranger Station/Liberal Guard Station......................................................................................... 54

Pine Administrative Site .................................................................................................................................. 56

Salt Ground Administrative Site...................................................................................................................... 57

Scotland Administrative Site........................................................................................................................... 57

Shake Creek Ranger Station.......................................................................................................................... 58

Skeleton Creek Administrative Site................................................................................................................ 60

Slick Ear Administrative Site........................................................................................................................... 61

Soldier Ranger Station.................................................................................................................................... 61

Three Mile Creek Administrative Site............................................................................................................. 63

Willow Creek Administrative Site.................................................................................................................... 63

Grouse Butte Lookout..................................................................................................................................... 63

Iron Mountain Lookout .................................................................................................................................... 64

Lick Creek Lookout.......................................................................................................................................... 65

Paradise Peak Lookout................................................................................................................................... 65

B. KETCHUM RANGER DISTRICT.................................................................................................................. 66

Baker Administrative Site................................................................................................................................ 67

Big Peak Creek Administrative Site................................................................................................................ 67

ii
Buck Camp Administrative Site...................................................................................................................... 68

Buzzo Administrative Site ............................................................................................................................... 68

Cove Administrative Site................................................................................................................................. 68

Elk Administrative Site..................................................................................................................................... 69

Flowers Administrative and Nursery Site....................................................................................................... 69

Garfield Ranger and Guard Station................................................................................................................ 70

Greenhorn Ranger and Guard Station........................................................................................................... 72

Ketchum Ranger Station................................................................................................................................. 73

Little Wood River Administrative Site ............................................................................................................. 75

Placer Creek Administrative Site.................................................................................................................... 75

Porcupine Administrative Site......................................................................................................................... 75

Ruick Creek Administrative Site ..................................................................................................................... 76

Warm Springs Creek Administrative Site....................................................................................................... 76

Wilson Creek Administrative Site ................................................................................................................... 76

Bald Mountain Lookout ................................................................................................................................... 77

C. MINIDOKA RANGER DISTRICT.................................................................................................................. 79

Albion Ranger Station ..................................................................................................................................... 80

Beaver Dam Administrative Site..................................................................................................................... 81

Black Pine Administrative Site........................................................................................................................ 81

Bostetter Ranger and Guard Station.............................................................................................................. 81

Buck Flat Administrative Site.......................................................................................................................... 83

Buckhorn Administrative Site.......................................................................................................................... 83

Durham Administrative Site ............................................................................................................................ 83

Emery Administrative Site............................................................................................................................... 83

Flint Administrative Site................................................................................................................................... 84

Fraser Ranger Station..................................................................................................................................... 84

Fuller Administrative Site ................................................................................................................................ 84

Goose Creek Administrative Site ................................................................................................................... 85

Gunnell Ranger and Guard Station................................................................................................................ 85

Hereford Ranger and Guard Station.............................................................................................................. 87

Heglar Ranger Station..................................................................................................................................... 88

Holstein Ranger Station.................................................................................................................................. 88

Howell Creek [Canyon] Guard Station........................................................................................................... 88

Indian Camp Administrative Site .................................................................................................................... 89

Junction Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 89

Langford Flat Administrative Site.................................................................................................................... 90

Lynn Administrative Site.................................................................................................................................. 90

Malta Ranger and Guard Station.................................................................................................................... 90

McMullen Basin Administrative Site............................................................................................................... 92

Naf Administrative Site.................................................................................................................................... 92

Nooning Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 92

Oakley Guard Station...................................................................................................................................... 92

One Mile [Holstein] Ranger and Guard Station............................................................................................. 93

Pine Basin Administrative Site........................................................................................................................ 95

iii
Platts [Pole Canyon] Administrative Site........................................................................................................ 95

Point Administrative Site ................................................................................................................................. 96

Pole Canyon Ranger Station.......................................................................................................................... 96

Rock Creek Ranger Station............................................................................................................................ 96

Shoshone Ranger Station............................................................................................................................... 97

Sublett Ranger and Guard Station................................................................................................................. 99

Trapper Creek Administrative Site ............................................................................................................... 100

Trout Creek Ranger Station.......................................................................................................................... 101

D. SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...................................................................................... 102

Alturas Lake Administrative Site................................................................................................................... 103

Blackman Administrative Site....................................................................................................................... 103

Boulder Administrative Site........................................................................................................................... 103

Bowery Ranger and Guard Station and Lookout ........................................................................................ 104

Champion Creek Guard Station................................................................................................................... 105

Decker Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 106

Galena Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 106

North Fork Ranger Station............................................................................................................................ 107

Pierson Administrative Site........................................................................................................................... 107

Pole Creek Ranger and Guard Station........................................................................................................ 107

Redfish Lake Ranger and Guard Station..................................................................................................... 109

Russian John Ranger and Guard Station.................................................................................................... 111

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station, Lookout, and Work Center..................................................................... 112

Senate Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 114

Tuck-A-Way Storage Building ...................................................................................................................... 114

Valley Creek [Stanley] Ranger and Guard Station...................................................................................... 114

Vienna Administrative Site............................................................................................................................ 116

Horton Peak Lookout .................................................................................................................................... 117

Lookout Mountain Lookout ........................................................................................................................... 117

APPENDIX A: TIMELINE................................................................................................... 119

APPENDIX B: PERSONNEL ............................................................................................. 125

SAWTOOTH NF PERSONNEL, 1906-1945 .................................................................................................. 125

Sawtooth National Forest Supervisors, 1906-1945 .................................................................................... 125

Sawtooth Deputy Supervisors, Rangers, Assistant Rangers & Other Personnel, 1906-1945................. 127

MINIDOKA NF PERSONNEL, 1906-1945 ..................................................................................................... 134

Minidoka National Forest Supervisors, 1906-1945..................................................................................... 134

Minidoka Rangers & Other Personnel, 1906-1947..................................................................................... 135

APPENDIX C: ADMINISTRATIVE SITES .......................................................................... 139

ADMINISTRATIVE SITES BY NAME............................................................................................................. 139

ADMINISTRATIVE SITES BY LOCATION.................................................................................................... 142

APPENDIX D: LIST OF RESEARCH FILES...................................................................... 145

iv
Acknowledgements 

The completion of this historic context statement and site evaluations for this project would 

not have been possible without special contributions from many individuals. 

First, I would like to thank Regional Forest Service Architectural Historian Richa Wilson who 

served as project coordinator for this project, and who provided invaluable knowledge 

regarding Forest Service architecture, answered critical questions in a timely manner, and 

whose astute general supervision of the project made it easier to complete. I need also to 

offer my gratitude to Sawtooth Forest Supervisor Ruth Monahan, all the District Rangers, 

and to the many Forest Service personnel at the Supervisor’s Office, and the many Ranger 

Districts I visited, who were very helpful in locating important files, reports, and other items 

related to this project. Individuals of special note include Forest Service Archaeologist 

Jamie Bennett, Forest Engineer Sarah Lau, and SNRA Outreach Program Coordinator 

Carol J. Cole. 

Finally, I also wish to extend deep appreciation to the staff of U.S. West Research, Inc. 

(USWR) for the long hours they put into this project, especially Jake “the dog” Mogelthorpe. 

Needless to say, I accept full responsibility for the final product, including any biases, errors, 

and omissions. 

Anthony Godfrey, Ph.D. 

U.S. West Research, Inc. 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

February 15, 2004

v
Preface 

This document is a supplement to "Forest Service Administrative Sites in Region 4, 1891-

1960," a draft historic and architectural context written in 2003. That Region 4 context 

statement provides information on the development of the Forest Service in the 

Intermountain Region with a focus on administrative sites and architectural history. It also 

discusses methodology of the historic research and field surveys. 

This history of the Sawtooth National Forest (SNF) addresses specific administrative sites 

and ranger districts. An overview of the Forest's evolution from several small forest 

reserves to its configuration in 1960 is also provided. 

Both the Region 4 and SNF historic overview support evaluations of administrative sites for 

listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This work complies with Section 110 of 

the National Historic Preservation Act and will be incorporated into facilities management 

and planning. 

vi
Acronyms 

ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

AS Administrative Site 

BLM Bureau of Land Management 

BNF Boise National Forest 

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps 

CFR Cassia Forest Reserve 

CHNF Challis National Forest 

CNF Cassia National Forest 

DOI United States Department of the Interior 

ECF Emergency Conservation Funds 

ECW Emergency Conservation Work 

ERA Emergency Relief Administration 

FERA Federal Emergency Relief Administration 

FY Fiscal Year 

GLO General Land Office 

GS Guard Station 

LEM Local Experienced Man 

LNF Lemhi National Forest 

MNF Minidoka National Forest 

NEPA National Environmental Protection Act 

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act 

NF National Forest 

NIRA National Industrial Recovery Act 

vii
NRHP National Register of Historic Places 

RD Ranger District 

RO Regional Office (headquarters of a Forest Service region) 

RRFR Raft River Forest Reserve 

RRNF Raft River National Forest 

RS Ranger Station 

SFR Sawtooth Forest Reserve 

SHPO State Historic Preservation Office 

SO Supervisor’s Office (headquarters of a National Forest) 

SNF Sawtooth National Forest 

SNRA Sawtooth National Recreation Area 

SRNF Salmon River National Forest 

SW Sawtooth Wilderness 

USDA United States Department of Agriculture 

USFS United States Forest Service 

USGS United States Geologic Survey 

USRS United States Reclamation Service 

USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service 

YTR Yellowstone Timberland Reserve 

viii
Introduction 

PURPOSE AND SCOPE 

The Intermountain Region (Region 4) of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is evaluating its 

historic administrative facilities for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). 

The USFS is completing field surveys of these sites, but sought professional services from 

U.S. West Research, Inc. (USWR) to compile a contextual report addressing the 

administrative history of each site. This contextual report will be used in determining 

eligibility of administrative facilities for listing in the NRHP. 

Federal law requires the Forest Service to identify, evaluate, and protect cultural resources 

on public lands under its jurisdiction. These and related requirements are mandated by the 

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 as amended, the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) of 1974, the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the Antiquities Act 

of 1906, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, and Executive Order 11593. 

The Sawtooth National Forest (SNF) (see Map One below) has many buildings that were 

used for administrative purposes. Many of them are over 50 years old, and therefore 

potentially eligible for listing in the NHRP. Referred to as “administrative facilities” or 

“improvements,” these include past and present ranger station compounds, guard station 

compounds, dwellings, fire lookouts, scaler cabins, and nurseries. Most are located on 

“administrative sites,” which are lands that have been designated for administrative use. In 

many cases, these sites have been withdrawn from public use. The scope of USWR’s 

contextual history was limited to administrative facilities that were constructed no later than 

1960. This project does not include other cultural resources such as prehistoric sites, 

mining cabins, ranches, or other historic resources that are not considered administrative 

facilities. 

FORMAT 

The identification of historic facilities presented in this volume was prepared with two 

objectives in mind: (1) Document the history of the SNF with a focus on significant events 

and people associated with its administration; (2) Conduct archival research of historic 

facilities on the SNF, providing a framework to assist in surveying, evaluating, and managing 

historic administrative resources on the SNF. Chapters 1-4 provide a general historic 

setting for the administration of the SNF, including the historical evolution of the various 

component forests that today comprise the SNF, the administrative history of ranger districts 

and related topics, and the role the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played in revitalizing 

many aging administrative buildings on the SNF. The next two chapters provide the 

historical background for each administrative site. Chapter 5 covers the history of the 

Supervisor’s Offices, while Chapter 6 provides an overview history of the administrative sites 

located on the SNF. To supplement this material, Appendix A provides a timeline of 

important events associated with SNF, Appendix B presents brief biographical material on 

1 
known Forest Supervisors and Forest Rangers on the SNF, and Appendix C furnishes a 

Table of Administrative Sites that provides names, withdrawal dates and geographic 

locations for each administrative site. At the end of the document is a list or bibliography of 

all files and documents consulted for this study (Appendix D). 

Map One: Location of Sawtooth National Forest 

2 
FOREST SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND NOMENCLATURE 

The unique identity and culture of the Forest Service are represented by its administrative 

organization and nomenclature. It is an agency within the Department of Agriculture and is 

directed by a Chief Forester. The main office is located in Washington, DC and is logically 

referred to as the Washington Office or the WO. The agency is divided into regions, of 

which there are nine headed by Regional Foresters. The SNF is in Region Four, also 

known as the Intermountain Region, which has its headquarters (the “Regional Office” or 

“RO”) in Ogden, Utah. 

Within each region, there are several forests and Region Four presently encompasses 

thirteen forests in Utah, Nevada, eastern California, southern Idaho, and southern Wyoming. 

At one time, there were many, smaller forests in Region Four, but a trend toward 

consolidation resulted in fewer, larger forests. That is the case with the SNF. The SNF is 

not a contiguous forest, but is comprised of numerous mountain ranges throughout southcentral Idaho. 

Each forest has a headquarters known as the Supervisor’s Office (SO) and is administered 

by a Forest Supervisor. The SNF’s Supervisor’s Office is presently located in Twin Falls, 

Idaho. Traditionally, a forest is divided into smaller administrative units known as Ranger 

Districts that are managed by District Rangers. The SNF is currently divided into the 

following three Ranger Districts which are listed alphabetically: Fairfield Ranger District, 

Ketchum Ranger District, and Minidoka Ranger District which resulted from the combination 

of the former Burley and Twin Falls ranger districts in 2002. In addition, to these Ranger 

Districts, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is located within the SNF. 

Certain terminology may sound peculiar to a person who is not familiar with the Forest 

Service. For example, “on the forest” is used in place of “in the forest.” The terms “ranger 

station” and “guard station” have two meanings. They can refer to a specific building, 

usually one that served as a home and/or office for a forest ranger or guard, or they can 

refer to a compound that includes several buildings. 

METHODOLOGY 

USWR focused its research on the establishment and development of each known historic 

administrative site, and completed exhaustive research in support of the historic context 

statement by reviewing records at the Supervisor’s Office (primarily the Archaeology office), 

and at each Ranger District Office. This research was accomplished during a lengthy 

archival field research trip conducted in October 2003. Research was also conducted at the 

Forest Service Heritage Center, which is a repository for Region Four’s archival documents 

located at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. 

3 
Detailed research included an investigation of active as well as closed (inactive) files. The 

most useful information was found in files with the following designations: 

1680 History Program 

6440 Real Property 

7300 Buildings and Other Structures 

Other valuable sources of information in the Forest Service offices included photo files, and 

land status maps. Relevant documents (letters, building inventories, etc.) were copied at 

each Forest Service location and then placed in new files and labeled with the appropriate 

Forest Service filing nomenclature. A list of collections and files searched was compiled and 

submitted as a final work product and will guide future USFS research. This list can be 

found in the final bibliography. 

As the Regional Architectural Historian completes fieldwork and additional research, further 

information will be included on cultural resource survey forms and in a separate volume that 

summarizes the evaluations of all sites. 

4 
Chapter One: Overview 

GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION 

The Sawtooth National Forest (SNF) is comprised of the former Minidoka National Forest 

(MNF) (1908-1953) and the Sawtooth National Forest (1905-1953), which were united and 

merged in 1953 under one administration with the Forest Supervisor’s Office located in Twin 

Falls, Idaho (see Map Two below). 

Map Two: Map of Sawtooth National Forest—Fairfield, Ketchum, 

and Minidoka Ranger Districts, and the Sawtooth NRA 

5 
Minidoka National Forest 

The MNF in south-central Idaho comprised the Minidoka Ranger District portion of the SNF 

and is principally a grass range punctuated and divided by several scenic mountain ranges. 

Today, there are five basic discontiguous geographic areas or divisions under the Minidoka 

Ranger District, which was created in 2002 and covers an area of more than 604,000 acres 

in southern Idaho and northern Utah. These areas originally were the Cassia and Raft River 

Forest Reserves created in 1905.1

First, there is the Albion Mountain Division, which is located approximately 25 miles 

southeast of Burley, Idaho. Its main features are Cache Peak (10,339 feet) the tallest Idaho 

mountain peak south of the Snake River, and Mount Harrison (9,265 feet), today the home 

of an alpine ski resort. There are also several high alpine lakes (e.g., Lake Cleveland) in the 

area. The Albion Mountains offer a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside—the 

distant mountain ranges of the Sawtooths and the Tetons to the north and northwest, the 

cinder buttes of the Arco desert to the south, and the Snake River Plain below.2

East of the Albion Mountains and west of U.S. Interstate 84 near the Idaho/Utah border is 

the Black Pine Mountain Range. The Black Pine Division is predominantly used for grazing, 

although it has an extensive history of mining activity. The northern slopes are covered by 

stands of Douglas fir and sub-alpine fir, while pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, and grasses 

occupy the southern exposure.3

On the other hand, east of U.S. Interstate 84, is the Sublett Division, which offers expanses 

of open sagebrush and grass terrain, along with open meadows and frequent pockets of 

Douglas-fir on northern slopes. Surface water here is scarce, but due to geologic features, 

there are a few pockets of underground water. 

South of the Albion Mountains is the Raft River Division— a unique mountain range located 

in Box Elder County, Utah and northwest of Salt Lake City. Elevations of these mountains 

range up to 9,925 feet, and on a clear day, one can see the Great Salt Lake to the south 

and the Sawtooth Range to the north. This mountain and open meadow country is covered 

with a variety of vegetation types, including heavy stands of pinyon and juniper with open 

grass basins. The region is well drained by several creeks, such as Clear and One-Mile 

creeks.4

Finally, there is the Cassia Division which lies west of the Albion Mountains and southeast of 

Twin Falls, Idaho—known locally as the South Hills and considered the playground of Twin 

Falls, a 40-minute drive away. Here, scenic mountains rise to an elevation of 8,000 feet, 

offering views of Magic Valley below. The Cassia Division is covered by a variety of 

rangeland and forest vegetative types, which include mixed stands of sub-alpine fir, 

 1

 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 2

 Sawtooth National Forest, Minidoka Ranger District Map, 2003. 3

 Ibid. 

4

 Ibid. 

6 
lodgepole pine, and aspen interspersed among rolling grasslands. Wildlife plays an 

important part both in the use and enjoyment of the former MNF.5

The distribution of wildlife on the MNF generally depends largely upon climate and elevation. 

Forested areas and rangeland provide habitat for wildlife species including mule deer, 

moose, elk, wild turkey, bobcat, cougar, many small mammals, and a wide variety of birds. 

Deer hunters consider the Cassia Division one of the best locations in the nation. Good 

trout fishing can be found in the South Hills in Rock Creek, Trapper Creek, and Goose 

Creek on the Cassia Division, while native trout reside in the streams and Sublett Reservoir 

adjacent to the Forest boundary. 

Sawtooth National Forest 

The former SNF today comprises the northern portion of the present-day SNF. It is 

comprised of the Ketchum and Fairfield ranger districts and the Sawtooth National 

Recreation Area (see Map Two above). The SNF is a region of high mountains with steep 

and precipitous slopes. These mountains attain an altitude of from 10,000 to 13,000 feet. 

The highest peaks are Mt. Hyndnam, White Cloud Peak, and Patterson Peak. The valleys 

are long and narrow, and settlement in them ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 feet. The 

Sawtooth Mountains and other ranges constitute an important watershed. The principal 

streams are the South Boise River, the Salmon River, and the Wood River. In 1908, when 

the SNF was established, settlement in Wood River Valley was dependent on the latter for 

water for irrigation and for other purposes.6

The northern half of the northern portion of the SNF is comprised of the Sawtooth National 

Recreation Area (SNRA). Congress created the SNRA and the Sawtooth Wilderness (SW) 

in 1972 with its headquarters located in Ketchum, Idaho. Within the 778,000-acre 

boundaries of the SNRA lie portions of four mountain ranges, the headwaters of five major 

rivers, and over 1,000 lakes. One important aspect of the SNRA legislation was the 

establishment of the 217,000-acre SW. The SW is comprised of hundreds of peaks, 40 

over 10,000 feet in height, with nearly 400 high alpine lakes dotting the predominantly rocky 

terrain.7

The southern half of the northern portion of the SNF is comprised of the Fairfield and 

Ketchum Ranger Districts. The SW and the Smoky Mountains comprises the north 

boundary of the Fairfield Ranger District, while the southern boundary below the mountains 

edges the Camas Prairie—known because in early days it was covered with wild camas 

whose bulbs were much favored by Native Americans, who came to the area in great 

numbers to dig and dry these bulbs for winter sustenance. The blue camas grew in such 

abundance that it gave the appearance of a blue lake. Tall rugged peaks such as Lookout 

Peak (9,694 feet), Paradise Peak (9,798 feet), and Baker Peak (10,174 feet) dominate the 

 5

 Ibid. 

6

 File: Sawtooth National Forest (Open files), 1650—Contacts and Other Historical Data, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth 

National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 7

 Ibid. 

7 
mountainous region of the Fairfield District, which is drained primarily by the South Fork of 

the Boise River and its many tributaries.8

The Ketchum Ranger District is bordered on the west by the Fairfield Ranger District, on the 

north by the SNRA, and on the east by the Challis National Forest (CHNF). Sitting at the 

gateway to the SNRA, the Ketchum Ranger District is surrounded on three sides by rugged 

mountain ranges containing peaks 10,000 feet or more in elevation—the Smoky Mountains 

(northwest), Boulder Mountains (north), and Pioneer Mountains (northeast). The Big Wood 

River flows through the center of these ranges on a southerly course. The topography is 

mostly rough and broken, with steep slopes and practically no bench and/or plateaus. 

Streams in the area cut down their beds to narrow deep valleys, showing very few flats of 

any size save along the main Big Wood River. Several streams join the Big Wood River at 

Ketchum, Idaho.9

SPATIAL BOUNDARIES 

The geographic area covered by this report is the SNF. The Forest is not contiguous, but is 

comprised of individual ranger districts and units in central and south-central Idaho, which 

are largely based on mountains ranges and watersheds. The Supervisor’s Office is located 

in Twin Falls, Idaho. They are grouped into the following ranger districts listed in 

alphabetical order: Fairfield Ranger District (Fairfield, Idaho), Ketchum Ranger District 

(Ketchum, Idaho), and the Minidoka Ranger District (Twin Falls and Burley Ranger Districts 

officially combined in December 2002). In addition to these ranger districts, and located in 

the heart of the SNF, is the SNRA. As stated earlier, in 1972, Congress created the 

Sawtooth NRA with headquarters located in Ketchum, Idaho. Some administrative facilities 

of the SNF are not located within forest boundaries. These are usually ranger district offices 

and warehouses located in towns or just outside the forest boundary. 

TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES 

This historic overview covers a period beginning in 1891 when the Creative Act was passed 

to allow the establishment of Forest Reserves. It is relevant to include those early years to 

achieve an understanding of Forest Service development and culture, even though the 

lands that now comprise the SNF (MNF and SNF combined) were not withdrawn until 

several years afterward. The cut-off date of 1960 corresponds with the requirement that 

resources be 50 years or older (except in special cases) before they are considered eligible 

to the National Register of Historic Places. 

 8

 History of the Sawtooth National Forest (Hailey, Idaho: Sawtooth National Forest, 1941), 5-6. 9

 File: Ketchum Ranger District History, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

8 
HISTORICAL SETTING 

For the historical setting for this contextual history, see Richa Wilson, Forest Administrative 

Sites in Region 4, 1891: A Contextual and Architectural History (Draft-May 2, 2003). 

9 

Chapter Two: The Early Forests, 1891-

1960 

THE FIRST FOREST RESERVES 

On March 3, 1891, Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act, also known as the Creative 

Act. It allowed the President to designate areas as Forest Reserves, which were to be 

administered by the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) General Land Office (GLO). Less 

than a month later, on March 30, President Benjamin Harrison established the country’s first 

federal forest reserve, the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve (YTR). President Harrison’s 

proclamation followed a decade of debate over the fate of America’s forested areas. The 

creation of this land reserve marked one milestone in the beginning of America’s 

conservation movement, while exemplifying the need for effective land management.10 The

establishment of the YTR by President Harrison however did not provide for active 

management or even the most limited administration.11

Other reserves were soon created, often in response to petitions presented by individuals or 

groups seeking protection of timber, range and watersheds from certain activities that were 

consuming natural resources at an alarming rate during the latter half of the nineteenth 

century. The pace of forest reserve establishment continued during President Grover 

Cleveland’s tenure, but accelerated when Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency 

after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt, clothing his actions 

with the terminology of the progressive interests against the vested interests, set aside a 

number of new forest reserves in 1905, including the Sawtooth Forest Reserve (SFR) and a 

year later the Cassia Forest Reserve (CFR), and the Raft River Forest Reserve (RRFR). 

President Roosevelt’s establishment of these forest reserves set in motion the beginning of 

the core areas, which would eventually become today’s SNF.12

The following chapter examines the founding and roots of today’s SNF, starting with the 

establishment of the SFR and the CFR in 1905, and the RRFR in 1906. The chapter then 

proceeds to unfold the history of various additions and deletions to the original SNF and the 

Minidoka National Forest (MNF), which resulted from the merger of the CFR and RRFR in 

1907. In 1953, the MNF and the SNF merged into one forest leading to their 1960 

configuration—the termination point of this historic context statement. 

 10 Richa Wilson, Forest Service Administrative Sites in Region 4, 1891-1960: A Contextual and Architectural History, Draft, 2 May 2003. 11 Glen O. Robinson, The Forest Service (Baltimore, Maryland: Resources for the Future, Inc., 1975), 6. 12 Wilson, Forest Service Administrative Sites in Region 4. 

11 
SAWTOOTH FOREST RESERVE AND SAWTOOTH NATIONAL 

FOREST 

Sawtooth Forest Reserve, 1905-1906 

The history of the first SNF began with the establishment of the SFR on May 29, 1905 under 

the Act of March 3, 1891, known as the Creative Act, and contained 1,947,520 acres. A 

year later, President Roosevelt by Presidential Proclamation dated November 6, 1906, 

added an additional 1,392,640 acres to the SFR bringing its total acreage of the Reserve to 

3,340,160 acres. At this point, the SFR encompassed much of the present-day Challis, 

Sawtooth, Salmon and Boise national forests. The first Forest Supervisor’s Headquarters 

was located at an unknown location in Boise, Idaho, and the first Forest Supervisor was F.A. 

Fenn.13

Sawtooth National Forest, 1907-1953 

On March 4, 1907, all Forest Reserves were renamed National Forests, and the old SRF 

became the SNF. Thereafter, in February 1908, the SNF was split into two divisions 

because its enormous territory proved too hard to manage. Forest Supervisor Emil 

Grandjean, located at Boise, Idaho administered the SNF (West). Forest Supervisor C.N. 

Woods administered the SNF (East) from headquarters located at Hailey, Idaho. However, 

by mid-year, President Roosevelt made several sweeping changes that affected the SNF. 

First, by Executive Order dated June 26, 1908, President Roosevelt created the Challis 

National Forest (CHNF) out of portions of the SNF (East), as well as from portions of the 

Salmon River National Forest (SRNF) and Lemhi National Forest (LNF). Second, by 

Executive Order dated July 1, 1908, Roosevelt created the Boise National Forest (BNF) out 

of the SNF (West). The remainder of the former SNF (East) then simply became the SNF 

under the supervision of Forest Supervisor Woods with headquarters remaining at Hailey, 

Idaho, while Grandjean became the first Supervisor of the newly created BNF.14

In 1908, when the SNF was established, it had an estimated 400,000,000 board feet of 

green sawtimber and 10,000,000 board feet of dead sawtimber. Of this, it was estimated 

that Douglas-fir comprised 60%; lodgepole pine comprised 25%; Englemann spruce 5%; 

balsam 5%; limber pine 3%; and yellow pine 2%. The largest and most continuous body of 

timber lay along the Salmon River, which was practically inaccessible at this time. In 

addition to timber, the SNF had been subjected to mining in and around it starting in the 

1880s, but ranching had not reached any height of development. Agriculture was an 

important industry in the territory adjacent to the SNF, but was not carried on to any great 

extent within the Forest. However, as agriculture and ranching increased, irrigation projects 

 13 History of the Sawtooth National Forest (Hailey, Idaho: Sawtooth National Forest, 1941), 10. 14 Victor O. Goodwin and John A. Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History (No Publication Place: U.S. Forest Service and 

National Park Service, 1965), 73-74. 

12 
sourcing and depending upon the SNF's watersheds would become more important. In 

1908, there were few settlers within the Forest, but there were extensive settlements just 

outside. The most important of these were along the south boundary of the Forest, in the 

valley of the Big Wood River, on Camas Prairie, on the South Boise River and on Little 

Wood River. There was also considerable settlement along the Salmon River on or 

surrounded by the Forest. The primary objective of the Forest Service at this time was the 

conservation of natural resources such as water, timber, and forage. The Forest Service, 

according to Inspector C.N. Woods, also intended to develop whatever resources and lands 

not needed for administrative purposes—including timber, agricultural lands, rangelands, 

watershed, and mining sites.15

From 1908 to 1931, the SNF went through several major additions and eliminations of total 

area. In 1908, the SNF began with 1,211,920 acres, which was recomputed in 1911 to 

1,320,000 acres. In 1913, the SNF was reduced to 1,220,130 acres when by Proclamation; 

President Wilson transferred 96,830 acres to the CHNF and released 3,040 acres to the 

Public Domain. Five years later (June 1918), a recomputation reduced the SNF’s total area 

to 1,177, 821 acres. Seven years later, Congress by Public Law 252 dated April 10, 1928, 

added 8,724 acres to the SNF bringing its total area to 1,186,545 acres. Thereafter, in June 

1931, a recomputation added 5,389 acres to the SNF, giving it a total area of 1,191,934 

acres.16

Original Bowery Ranger Station, 1970 

 15 File: Sawtooth National Forest (Open files), 1650—Contacts and Other Historical Data, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth 

National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

13 
In 1932, the SNF’s total acreage changed materially. By Executive Order #5925 dated 

September 21, 1932, several key additions and eliminations were made. At this time, 

54,205 acres was transferred from the BNF, and 1,680 acres was transferred from CHNF to 

the SNF. At the same time, 4,546 acres was eliminated from the SNF and transferred to the 

BNF. These transfers and elimination left the SNF with a total area of 1,243,273 acres. A 

recomputation made on June 30, 1935 indicated an increase of 3,081 acres bringing the 

SNF’s total area up to 1,246,354 acres. In 1942, because of a small purchase, and new 

surveys, this total decreased to 1,245,972 acres.17 

Sawtooth National Forest, 1953-1960 

No substantial land status changes occurred until 1953, when the Minidoka National Forest 

was added to the SNF. The merger of the two forests did not disrupt the boundaries or 

locations of Ranger Districts prior to 1960—the termination date of this project. In 1960, the 

SNF was still divided into a north division (former SNF) and a south division (former MNF).18

 16 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 63-64; and Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, Forming Part of Proclamation Dated May 19, 

1913, Archaeologist Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 17 Ibid.; Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1932, and Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1942, Archaeologist Office, Sawtooth 

National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 18 For instance, see Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho (North Division) 1960, Archaeologist Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 

14 
CASSIA AND RAFT RIVER FOREST RESERVES, MINIDOKA 

NATIONAL FOREST 

The Minidoka National Forest (MNF), prior to merging with the SNF in 1953, was comprised 

of the Cassia Forest Reserve (CFR), the largest unit, and the Raft River Forest Reserve 

(RRFR). 

Cassia Forest Reserve, 1903-1906 

On August 13, 1903, residents of Cassia County petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to 

set aside land for a proposed Cassia Forest Reserve or CFR. In 1904, E.M. Griffith of the 

Bureau of Forestry was sent to investigate and thereafter reported on the proposed CFR, 

which included 184,320 acres in 8 townships. According to Griffith’s report, 9,000 to 10,000 

acres, or about 5 percent contained any timber, while the rest of the land was covered with 

sagebrush and little grass, providing a “miserable” range for a large number of cattle, sheep, 

and horses owned by settlers in the immediate vicinity of the proposed reserve. Most 

signers of the petition were cattlemen who believed that creation of the reserve would 

exclude sheep from the range, half of which came from Utah, and thereby give them 

undisputed use of the range for their cattle. Cattle owners were the first settlers in this 

region and they claimed that sheep ruined their grazing land and that the Government 

should recognize and protect their rights. In the end, Griffith recommended strongly against 

the proposed Cassia Forest Reserve because his investigation found that the land in 

question was unsuited for a forest reserve and that the petitions were self-serving.19

Despite Griffith’s negative report, on June 12, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt created 

the CFR, which largely corresponds with the present-day Cassia Division of the Minidoka 

Ranger District of the SNF. The newly created CFR embraced about 14 townships, or 

323,520 acres in the southern part of Cassia County, Idaho just north of the Idaho-Nevada 

line. At the time, this rolling mountainous area was known as the Shoshone Mountains.20

In November 1905, the Forest Service sent Forest Assistant Joseph De Witt Warner to 

examine the CFR’s forest cover and economic conditions. De Witt Warner reported on the 

topography, climate, vegetation (21 per cent of which was more or less timbered with 

lodgepole pine, alpine fir, white cedar, mountain mahogany and aspen), and the various 

watersheds. He concluded the reserve was essentially grazing land rather than timberland, 

and that the reserve boundaries included that practically all the land in that part of the 

country suitable for summer range. At that time, about 75,000 head of sheep and 18,000 

head of cattle and horses grazed on the reserve. Oakley and Rock Creek were the only 

towns of any importance near the reserve. Forest rangers used Oakley as their 

headquarters and as a basis for supplies for work on the reserve. In the end, De Witt 

 19 E.M. Griffith, “Report on the Proposed Cassia Forest Reserve, Idaho,” 1904, File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-1905, Lands Status 

Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 20 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 7-9; and Joseph De Witt Warner, “Report on the Examination of the Forest Cover and Economic 

Conditions of the Cassia Forest Reserve, Cassia County, Idaho,” File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-1905, Lands Status Office, Region 

4, Ogden, Utah. 

15 
Warner recommended only one administrative improvement. He suggested that a nursery 

be located on Bear Gulch, about a half mile from where it came into Shoshone Creek to 

supply planting stock to improve various watersheds.21

Raft River Forest Reserve, 1903-1906 

In the summer of 1904, Bureau of Forestry Forest Assistant Smith Riley was asked to 

investigate the suitability of four areas for forest reserve status: the Black Pine, Goose 

Creek, and Sublett areas in Idaho, and the Raft River area of Utah. In October 1904, 

Smiley prepared a report on each area. 

In regard to the Black Pine area, Riley wrote that the chief industry of the communities 

contiguous to the reserve was cattle and sheep raising, the bulk of the stock being sheep. 

The settlers living in Raft River and Deep Valley were sincerely in favor of seeing a reserve 

created to protect nearby timberland, but sheep men opposed creating a reserve because 

they objected to restricted grazing rights. Riley recommended that a Black Pine Forest 

Reserve (108,960 acres) be created to accommodate both cattle and sheep grazing, and 

that a ranger be put in charge with headquarters on the reserve during the summer, either in 

Pole or Black Pine Canyon.22

In regard to the Goose Creek area, which is located in Cassia County just south of the town 

of Albion and included a large portion of the Goose Creek Mountains, Forest Assistant Riley 

reported that the chief industry was stock raising (50,000 sheep and 7,000 head of cattle), 

although some lands were irrigated to raise a little grain. The range had been badly 

overgrazed by both sheep and cattle, mostly by sheep, and owing to the very poor condition 

of the range, Riley recommended that sheep be excluded from the area entirely, and that 

the number of cattle allowed be reduced. Settlers in nearby communities contiguous to the 

reserve supported this proposition, and sheep owners were willing to secure summer range 

elsewhere. Riley recommended the creation of a Goose Creek Forest Reserve (77,416 

acres) with a ranger stationed at summer headquarters on the reserve, and winter quarters 

at Albion, just north of the reserve.23

Concerning the Sublett area in the northeastern portion of Cassia and the northwestern 

portion of Oneida counties, Idaho, Smith Riley stated that this area was comprised largely of 

winter range that was contested over by cattlemen and sheep owners. As described in 

previous sections, the local citizens living contiguous to the reserve desired seeing the 

reserve created to keep sheep out. Local settlers also argued that their watersheds and 

timberland (approximately 23 per cent of the total area) needed protection from overgrazing 

by sheep. Riley’s report suggested that a Sublett Forest Reserve (105,600 acres) be 

 21 De Witt Warner, “Report on the Cassia Forest Reserve.” 

22 Smith Riley, “The Proposed Black Pine Division of Raft River Idaho and Utah,” October 1904, File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-1905, 

Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 23 Smith Riley, “The Proposed Goose Creek Division of Raft River Idaho and Utah,” October 1904, File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-

1905, Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

16 
established with summer headquarters on the reserve and winter quarters at Sublett, 

Idaho.24

Finally, Forest Assistant Smith Riley proposed the creation of the Raft River Forest Reserve 

in northern and eastern portions of Box Elder County, Utah. The proposed reserve 

(117,800 acres) included the greater portion of Raft River Mountains, which extended in an 

easterly and westerly direction, being about 30 miles long and 8 miles in width. The 

proposed Raft River Forest Reserve was comprised of commercial timberland 

(approximately 9.7 per cent), woodland growth (approximately 10.2 per cent) and the 

remainder by brush growth, principally sagebrush. Not surprising, the principal industry of 

the communities contiguous to the proposed reserve was stock raising. The grazing value 

of the land had been injured by the large number of sheep (approximately 37,500 head of 

sheep) allowed to graze on the land, as well as by a lesser number of cattle and horses 

(500 head of stock cattle and between 200 and 300 head of horses). Riley suggested that 

the condition of the range would improve if sheep were excluded for an indefinite period and 

cattle restricted and kept from bunching along the streams during the hot summer months. 

Ranchers in the communities such as Yost, Park Valley, Stanwood and Naf, were anxious 

to see the reserve created to protect mountain area resources and watersheds. Smith Riley 

recommended that if the Raft River Forest Reserve was established that a ranger in charge 

of the reserve be headquartered at Yost or Stanwood.25

On November 5, 1906, almost two years after Smith Riley’s investigation of the suitability of 

the four areas for forest reserve status, President Theodore Roosevelt established the 

RRFR, which included the Albion Mountain (then called Goose Creek), Black Pine, and the 

Sublett divisions, Idaho (293,044 acres), and the Raft River Division in Utah (117,203 acres) 

of today’s Minidoka Ranger District, SNF.26

Cassia and Raft River Forest Reserves, 1906 

Following the establishment of the RRFR, Peter T. Wrensted was given the responsibility of 

overseeing this forest reserve, as well as the CFR, along with supervision of the Pocatello 

and Port Neuf forest reserves. He supervised these forest reserves from Pocatello, Idaho. 

The Cassia and the Raft River forest reserves had a combined total area of 736,407 

acres.27

 24 Smith Riley, “The Proposed Sublett Division of Raft River Idaho and Utah,” October 1904, File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-1905, 

Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 25 Smith Riley, “The Proposed Raft River Division of Raft River Idaho and Utah,” October 1904, File: LP-Boundaries—Minidoka, 1904-1905, 

Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 26 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 7-9. 27 Ibid. 

17 
Cassia and Raft River National Forests, 1907-1908 

As stated above, on March 4, 1907, all Forest Reserves were renamed National Forests, 

and the CFR and RRFR became the Cassia National Forest (CNF) and the Raft River 

National Forest (RRNF). Thereafter, in February 1908, William McCoy replaced Peter 

Wrensted as Supervisor, and the Supervisor’s office was moved from Pocatello to Oakley, 

Idaho in anticipation of merging the CNF and the RRNF into one national forest.28

Minidoka National Forest, 1908-1953 

On July 2, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt by Proclamation combined the CNF and 

the RRNF into one forest called the Minidoka National Forest or MNF.29 There are two 

schools of thought regarding the name of this new national forest. One version states that 

the name came from the Shoshone word “Minah-do-kah” meaning broad expanse. Another 

version is that it derives from the Sioux word “Mini-tokikeya” meaning first water, or water of 

the enemy.30

Between 1908 and 1953, several adjustments were made to the boundaries of the MNF. 

First, on May 6, 1910, President William H. Taft eliminated 97,322 acres from the Forest. 31 

This elimination was based on a series of reports on the various divisions of the MNF and 

included lands that could not be classified as Forest land or as land necessary for 

watershed regulation. Categories of land eliminated at this time from the MNF included 

property valuable for agriculture, grazing or mining purposes, as well as school lands and 

lands essential for railroad and irrigation projects, such as the Shoshone-Twin Falls 

Irrigation Project. The Cassia Division’s two eliminations embraced 11,520 acres. The Raft 

River Division’s three eliminations totaled 24,960 acres. The Goose Creek Division had six 

eliminations totaling 11,200 acres, while the Black Pine Division had one elimination of 

28,320 acres and the Sublett Division had one elimination of 21,120 acres. The boundaries 

of each division were adjusted accordingly, but these eliminations had no effect upon the 

Forest administration of the MNF.32

Besides eliminations, from time to time additions to the MNF were recommended but were 

not approved for one reason or another. For instance, in 1916, a petition filed with Idaho’s 

Senators and with the offices of the Forester, District Forester and MNF Forester signed by 

various interested farmers, ranchers, and stockmen called for an addition of 30,694 acres to 

the Goose Creek Division for watershed and Forest purposes. The situation was 

investigated and recommended for approval by Forest Examiner Charles D. Simpson, but 

was never acted upon.33 Or for instance, in 1935, the Western Livestock Association 

 28 Ibid. 

29 Ibid. 

30 Ibid., 25. 

31 Ibid., 9-10; and 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release. 32 R.P. Imes, “Summary Report: Recommended Eliminations from the Minidoka National Forest, Idaho and Utah, File: LP-Boundaries—

Minidoka, 1904-1905, Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah; and Map of Minidoka National Forest, Idaho and Utah, Forming Part of 

Proclamation Dated May 6, 1910, Archaeologist Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 33 Charles D. Simpson, “Report on Proposed Addition to Goose Creek Division,” 14 January 1916, File: LP-Boundaries-Minidoka-Goose

Creek Division, 1908-1922, Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

18 
requested that certain lands north of the Cassia Division of the MNF be added thereto. 

Even though the Forest Service investigated and strongly recommended that the area be 

added to the MNF, and Idaho’s congressional delegation strongly supported the idea and 

introduced legislation into Congress, no action was taken.34

As far as the records indicate, only two additions were made to the MNF after 1910 and 

prior to the post-World War II era. First, on May 15, 1922, an addition was made to Albion 

Mountain Division, increasing the MNF total area by 13,956 acres.35 The circumstances 

behind this addition are unknown. Second, on April 14, 1944, by administrative order, Soil 

Conservation Service (SCS) transferred 4,498 acres of land located within the MNF in 

Cassia County to the administration of the Forest Service and the lands were given National 

Forest status. This land had been part of a Resettlement Administration land purchase of 

approximately 195,760 acres of public-domain lands, interspersed State lands, and 

privately-owned lands that took place sometime in 1937. This project was known as the 

Southern Idaho Agricultural Demonstration Project (SIADP) and encompassed land largely 

west of Malad, Idaho. For a time, the Resettlement Administration and later the SCS, 

suggested that Forest Service administer or even add the west half of the SIADP to the 

Black Pine and Sublett Divisions of the MNF because of its forest and watershed values. 

However, by early March 1943, no part of this project had been turned over to the Forest 

Service for administration.36

As far as the limited documentation indicates, no other land changes occurred to the MNF 

between 1944 and 1953, the year when the MNF was added to the SNF. By this date, the 

MNF total area was approximately 636,997 acres, of which 544,594 acres were in Idaho, 

and the remaining 92,403 acres in northern Utah.37

Holstein Ranger Station. Minidoka National Forest, 1909 

 34 File: L-Boundaries-Cassia Division-Minidoka, 1924-1936, Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 35 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 9-10; and 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release. 36 File: LP-Boundaries-Minidoka-Transfer S.E. Idaho (LU Project LA0ID-1), 1940-1951, Lands Status Office, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 37 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 9-10; and 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release; and Map of Minidoka 

National Forest, Idaho and Utah, 1949, Archaeologist Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

19 

Chapter Three: Administration 

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST, 1908-1914 

Records for the early administrative history of the SNF are very limited. In July 1908, when 

much of the Eastern Division was transferred to other forests, the remaining land was 

divided into three ranger districts based on various watersheds. District One comprised all 

of the Wood River and Little Wood River drainage. District Two comprised the entire Boise 

River watershed on the SNF, while District Three embraced the Salmon River drainage. At 

this time, each of the Ranger Districts was divided into two to five so-called Guard Districts. 

Records indicate that the men in charge of each Ranger District in 1908, most likely did not 

have an established headquarters. In 1909, the boundaries of the districts remained the 

same, but were renamed as Deputy Ranger Districts, which were divided into districts called 

Assistant Ranger and/or Guard Districts. By this date, headquarters were established at the 

following nine locations listed in alphabetical order:38

District One (Wood River and Little Wood River Watershed): 

Garfield Guard Station (1908) 

Greenhorn Guard Station (1909) 

District Two (Boise River Watershed): 

Big Smoky Ranger Station 

Shake Creek Ranger Station 

Soldier Ranger Station 

District Three (Salmon River Watershed): 

Adams Gulch or Flowers Ranger Station 

Emma Creek Ranger Station 

Pole Creek Guard Station (1909) 

Slick Ear Creek Ranger Station 

C.N. Woods was the first Supervisor of the SNF, having served in this capacity from 1908 to 

1914, with headquarters at Hailey, Idaho. During his administration, many trying problems 

were satisfactorily resolved. In a paper entitled “Thirty-seven Years in the Forest Service,” 

he described his experiences and the early history of the SNF.39 

Woods was transferred to Hailey, Idaho in December 1907 as Forest Supervisor at $1,800 

per annum, and on January 1, 1909, he opened an office at Hailey, Idaho to supervise the 

SNF. During the summer, he hired a number of rangers. A professional and trained force 

of rangers staffed the new ranger stations. These rangers had taken and passed a required 

two-part Civil Service exam. The first part tested each man’s forestry and administration 

 38 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 19; and File: Administrative Site Evaluation, Accordion File, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, 

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 39 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 11. 

21 
knowledge, while the second part evaluated his practical skills. To Forest Supervisor 

Woods, “if one could read and write and knew a little arithmetic, and if he could ride and 

pack a horse, run a compass line, and do the simplest surveying, he stood a good chance 

of passing the examination. Practical experience was the principal requirement. A 

knowledge of woods work and of the handling of livestock on the ranges helped.”40

Problems faced by Woods in these early years involved controversies with woolgrowers. At 

the time of its creation, the Forest was very heavily stocked, and it was necessary to reduce 

established grazing preferences, and take parts of range allotments from the old users. 

This reduction in numbers and ranges caused much complaint, especially from powerful 

interests such as Frank R. Gooding, the Governor of Idaho and later a United States 

Senator who had a permit for some 20,000 sheep on the Sawtooth. The establishment of 

advisory boards of stockmen helped in the administration of grazing on the Forest. In the 

end, definite allotments of range were made to individual woolgrowers, and as far as 

practical to individual owners of cattle, and a system of rotating grazing on the ranges 

established.41

Another problem confronted by Woods during his tenure of six years on the SNF was 

homestead entries on the SNF. Entirely too much land within the Forest had been open to 

homestead entry. Much of the open, fairly level land that had been listed for homestead 

entry had but little value for agriculture because of the short growing season, poor soil, 

insufficient water for irrigation, elevation, and severe climate. Forest Supervisor Woods 

recalled many “eligible” homestead entries, and the land removed from the possibility of 

homestead entry.42

A third problem was reforestation. In 1910, a small nursery was established at the Flowers 

Ranger Station, which was located in Adams Gulch, and in 1911, another nursery was 

launched at the Shake Creek Ranger Station. Douglas fir and yellow pine were the principal 

species grown. Approximately 140,000 seedlings were available for planting in the spring of 

1914 from the two nurseries. Most of the planting on the SNF was on the Wood River 

drainage, Deer Creek, Adams Gulch, and Greenhorn Gulch. However planting was 

deemed unsuccessful, and natural propagation more practical. By 1916, both nurseries 

were discontinued because it was not thought the plants made sufficient growth to make it a 

practical operation.43

A fourth problem was the construction of permanent administrative improvements with the 

limited appropriations for development. According to Woods in his reminiscences, in a short 

time, the SNF “constructed a number of ranger stations, pastures, trails, telephone lines. 

Our dwellings were small and cheaply built. The first limit by Congress with reference to 

individual buildings was a $500 maximum. Low limits were probably advisable at that time. 

In a number of cases, ranger stations were built at places where they were not long needed 

 40 Ibid., 13-14; and Wilson, Forest Administrative Sites in Region 4. 41 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 14-18. 42 Ibid., 15-16. 

43 Ibid. 15, and 33-34. 

22 
nor used extensively. Generally, we started out with more ranger districts and more rangers 

than we were willing to continue many years.”44

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST, 1915-1945 

So far as documentation indicates, no changes were made in Ranger District boundaries 

under Forest Supervisor Woods. However, under the administration of Forest Supervisor 

M.S. Benedict, which began in the fall of 1914, the SNF was reorganized and divided into 

the following five Ranger Districts with the following Administrative Sites:45

Greenhorn (District 1)—Headquarters at Hailey, Idaho 

Administrative Site Name Area 

Greenhorn 160.00 Acres

Buck Camp 90.8 Acres 

Cove 62.20 Acres

Garfield 114.00 Acres

Flowers (District 2)—Headquarters at Ketchum, Idaho 

Administrative Site Area 

Flowers 151.95 Acres

Baker 86.40 Acres

Boulder 89.00 Acres

Buzzo 67.00 Acres

North Fork 75.50 Acres 

Placer Creek 120.00 Acres 

Rock Creek 48.80 Acres 

Russian John 88.20 Acres 

Senate 50.70 Acres

Wilson Creek 88.70 Acres 

Pole Creek (District 3)—Headquarters at Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station 

Administrative Site Area 

Pole Creek 131.46 Acres 

Alturas Lake 147.00Acres 

Blackman 40.70 Acres

Bowery 50.10 Acres

Champion 160.00 Acres

Galena 113.16 Acres

Redfish Lake 98.80 Acres 

Vienna 34.78 Acres

 44 Ibid., 18 

45 Ibid., 19; and File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 

23 
Soldier (District 4)—Headquarters at Soldier Ranger Station 

Administrative Site Area 

Soldier 160.00 Acres

Big Peak 31.50 Acres 

Big Smoky 162.40 Acres 

Boardman 28.50 Acres

Buttercup 80.00 Acres

Emma Creek 77.05 Acres 

Neut Revis (Liberal) 150.00 Acres 

Salt Ground 48.10 Acres 

Three Mile 106.00 Acres 

Shake Creek (District Five)—Headquarters at Shake Creek Ranger Station 

Administrative Site Area 

Shake Creek 117.4 Acres 

Shake Creek Addition 12.68 Acres 

Cold Springs 55.75 Acres 

Grouse Creek 38.33 Acres 

Hay Press 23.00 Acres 

Iron Mountain 40.00 Acres 

Pine 80 Acres

Scotland 26.50 Acres

Skeleton 32.60 Acres

Slick Ear 62.70 Acres 

Forest Supervisor Benedict served as SNF Forest Supervisor from 1914 until 1935, except 

during 1917 and 1918, when he served in the army. During those years, H.G. McPheters 

was in charge of the SNF.46

Between 1915 and 1941, no material changes were made in Ranger District boundaries 

under Forest Supervisor Benedict, however some name changes were made over time. In 

1931, the Flowers District name was changed to the Ketchum Ranger District, and in 1938, 

the Pole Creek District was renamed the Sawtooth Valley Ranger District. Prior to this date, 

the District Headquarters had moved in 1933 to the more centrally located and accessible 

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station.47

During the years, 1915 to 1953, Forest Supervisors faced a number of issues on the SNF. 

They included the subjects of timber management and fire control, forage for livestock, 

recreation and summer homes and other uses, watersheds, wildlife management, and SNF 

administrative and other improvements. 

Timber management and fire hazards were minimal during these years, and there was no 

material change in the area of timber types cut since the creation of the forest. The average 

 46 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 28. 47 Goodwin and Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History, 73-75. 

24 
annual cut of timber on the SNF was around 3,500,000 Board Feet, and timber sales, since 

the creation of the Forest, had not fluctuated to any great extent during this time period, 

except commencing about 1934, when a considerable amount of timber on Wood River was 

cut for a few years. At this time a heavy demand for timber products occurred because of 

relief projects during the Great Depression to furnish employment to needy people, and 

because during this period, Sun Valley (see below) was built and the Triumph Mine started 

operating. For instance, in 1936, 4,887,000 Board Feet of dead material was removed from 

the forest, most of which was cut on Wood River.48 In 1939, the SNF sold green timber to 

10 sawmills for supplying local needs, and they sold large amounts of green and dead 

timber for use on hundreds of farms in the adjoining rich Snake River Valley.49

When the SNF was created, a program of fire control was instituted. Fires happened due to 

lightning strikes and carelessness of humans. Lightning fires were left to burn, or go out of 

their own accord, at least in remote reaches of the SNF. If human habitations or 

improvements were in their path, SNF personnel would fight the blaze, which amounted 

primarily to Forest Guards, Rangers, or both, teaming up with any available local residents 

in the vicinity of a fire. Fires in the backcountry required long treks or pack trips on the part 

of suppression forces, with the firefighters furnishing their own tools, horses, and pack stock. 

By the 1930s, the CCC played an important role in the protection of national forest 

resources.50 By 1939, the “construction of lookout stations, telephone lines, roads, and 

trails; the development of fire-fighting equipment; the transportation, feeding, and care of fire 

fighters; and the tactics of fire fighting required the ranger’s most determined study, 

preparation, and performance.”51

One of the major activities of SNF rangers was the management of very extensive forage 

resources. Their primary activity was the retention of the watershed cover, coupled with 

stability of the livestock industry. The relatively steep slopes of the Sawtooth made it more 

suitable for sheep than for cattle, and sheep permits greatly exceeded those for cattle. For 

instance, in 1939, approximately 165,000 sheep and 5,000 cattle used the SNF. Many of 

the herders were Basques who, as a rule, produced high quality lambs using the SNF’s 

resources.52

Recreation became an important consideration on the SNF about 1936. Prior to 1917, the 

SNF was used very little for recreation, but following World War I, recreation opportunities 

increased with better roads and automobile vacations becoming more popular. For 

instance, in 1917, there were 5,400 recreational visitors to the SNF. By 1935, there were 

15,000 visitors, and in 1936, recreation on the SNF increased tremendously with the 

building of the Sun Valley Resort. In 1935, the Union Pacific Railroad Company sought land 

well adapted for skiing in the Ketchum area. The following year, the railroad purchased 

3,400 acres and by 1937 built the famous Sun Valley Ski Resort comprised of several ski 

lifts and lodges, and the area became a Mecca for winter sports enthusiasts. Some of the 

best downhill, cross-country, and slalom racecourses were thereafter located in the 

 48 History of the Sawtooth National Forest 15, 33-36, 41. 49 USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1939), 1. 50 Goodwin and Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History, 79-80. 51 USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest, 12. 52 Ibid., 2-3. 

25 
Ketchum area. During 1938-40, the Forest Service, in cooperation with Sun Valley, cleared 

three ski trails from 100’ to 500’ wide from the top to the bottom of Bald Mountain, a total of 

six miles of ski trails. Skiing thereafter became the greatest winter attraction to the SNF with 

annual ski events held at Sun Valley. By 1940, there were 69,000 recreational visitors to the 

SNF in due part to the Sun Valley Resort development.53 However, in 1942, Sun Valley 

closed its operation for the duration of the World War II due to a lack of labor and 

transportation. This was a terrific blow to the local communities and the town of Ketchum, 

which almost reverted to the ghost town of pre-Sun Valley days.54

On the other hand, summer recreational opportunities increased with the advent of the CCC 

program in 1933. Prior to 1917, there were no campgrounds or picnic areas on the SNF. 

From 1917 to 1933, a small amount of improvement work was done on campgrounds, such 

as at Warm Spring Creek. But with the CCC, considerable work was done creating and 

improving campgrounds. Areas were cleared, water systems installed, tables and stoves 

placed on the grounds, toilet and sanitary facilities erected, campground portals erected, 

swings built, and boat docks built. From 1933 to 1940, some of the most important and 

permanent campgrounds were built included the Redfish Lake, Alturas, Easley, and 

Baumgartner campgrounds. In 1940, some 20,000 summertime visitors used these camps, 

as well as nearby summer homes, lodges, and hotels.55

Around 1920-1928, various organized camps, summer homes, lodges, and hotels opened 

near and on the SNF under special use permits. Special use permits issued were for bath 

houses, cabins, corrals, fences, the cutting of hay, hotels, roadhouses, resorts, sawmills, 

stores, telephone lines, etc. The following table indicates the trend along these lines over 

time. 

Kind of Use 1920 1925 1929 1940 

Summer Homes 

5 28 51 63 

Other Special 

Uses 52 83 81 101 

At the beginning of the administration of the SNF, watershed issues were given little 

attention. But as the lower arable lands were put under cultivation, more irrigation water 

became necessary. In addition, the Forest Service began to realize the importance of 

protection of the watersheds in relation to fires, grazing, and lumbering. Dams and 

reservoirs were thereafter built to store irrigation water, which partly originates within the 

SNF and is used for irrigation in the lower valleys. They included the Magic Dam (1910), the 

Arrowrock Reservoir (1911-15), which at the time built was the highest dam in the world 

(348.6 feet), Fish Creek Dam (1920), and Carey Dam (1940).56

 53 Goodwin and Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History, 7-8, and 36-37; and USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National 

Forest, 3. 54 File: Specific Miscellaneous, 1600—Information Services, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 55 Goodwin and Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History, 37-38. 56 Ibid., 38-39. 

26 
Wildlife management in the early days of the SNF was ignored as well. Early pioneer 

statements indicate that the SNF was the home for abundant wild game, birds, fish and furbearing animals. With settlement, no thought was given to protection of wildlife, which was 

practically exhausted in most places on the SNF because of lost ranges and habitat. 

Gradually, as time passed, the management of wildlife on the SNF became very important 

from an economic and recreational standpoint.57

By the 1930s, wildlife management plans were being developed and implemented. On 

October 12, 1937, an area of 200,042 acres located on the Boise, Challis, and Sawtooth 

National Forests was set aside as a primitive area. Designated as the Sawtooth Wilderness 

(SW), this primitive area was created “to prevent unnatural alteration or impairment of 

unique natural values, and to conserve, so far as controlling economic conditions will permit, 

the opportunities to the public to observe the condition which existed in the pioneer phases 

of the nation’s development; and to engage in the forms of outdoor recreation characteristic 

of that period; thus aiding in preserving national traditions, ideals, and characteristics, and 

promoting a true understanding of historical phases of national progress.” The wild, 

undeveloped, and undisturbed area included the high summit and lakes region, and 

extended from Stanley Lake south almost to Alturas Lake Creek, which included gem-like 

lakes—Alice, Twin, Toxaway, Mary, Imogene, and Roaring and scores of others that “mirror 

in their depths the serrated outlines of the Sawtooth crags.”58

Last, but not least, administrative and other improvements challenged SNF Forest 

Supervisors. During early administration of the SNF, various roads, trails, and telephone 

lines were completed. Until 1933, stations on the SNF were simple and inexpensive with 

the regular forest force doing most of the construction. As Forest Supervisor Woods, stated: 

funds were limited, and the amount, which could be spent on any one building, was only 

$500. After 1933, CCC funds and other emergency relief funds became available in 

sufficient amounts to build modern houses, water systems, and other permanent structures 

at yearlong and other stations.59 The CCC program and the completion of administrative 

improvements are discussed in detail in Chapters Four and Six. 

By the eve of World War II, the SNF had become vitally important to local communities, 

Idaho, and the nation. During the years 1941 to 1945, little development (besides 

administrative personnel changes) took place on the SNF because of World War II. 

 57 Ibid., 39-40. 

58 Ibid., 46; and Goodwin and Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho: History, 77; and USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National 

Forest, 9. 59 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 41-43. 

27 
MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST, 1908-1945 

As noted in Chapter Two, the Cassia Forest Reserve (CFR) and the Raft River Forest 

Reserve (RRFR) were withdrawn in 1905 and 1906 respectively, and in 1908 were joined, 

becoming the Minidoka National Forest (MNF). In February 1908, William McCoy became 

the first Forest Supervisor of the MNF. At the time of its creation, the SO was established at 

Oakley, Idaho between the Cassia and Albion Mountain Divisions south of Burley, Idaho. In 

1917, it moved to Burley, Idaho, a more central location.60 There were six ranger districts 

on the newly established MNF. They were the East Cassia, West Cassia, Albion Mountain, 

Raft River, Black Pine and Sublett ranger districts.61

The period from the establishment of the Cassia and Raft River Forest Reserves in 1905 

and 1906 to the establishment of the MNF in 1908 until 1920 was one of steady 

development and considerable accomplishment in the areas of grazing regulation, timber 

management, and completion of administration improvements. 

First, beginning in 1906, attempts were made to regulate grazing and permits were required 

for permittees to run stock. In addition to this effort, the Forest Service began to reduce 

numbers of livestock on the range and to regulate the season of use. During this early 

period, critical problems were trespass of all kinds of stock on the Forest range, and excess 

numbers of stock. In 1914, Walter H. Campbell took over the reins of the MNF from Forest 

Supervisor McCoy. Campbell was described as a “Teddy Roosevelt type and started in with 

vigor to eliminate the trespass and otherwise raise standards.” Supervisor Campbell served 

until 1920, and records show that numerous trespass cases were initiated and carried 

through to a successful conclusion, and apparently trespass was brought under reasonable 

control by then. Finally, during the pre-1920 period, the Forest Service secured 

appropriations to construct a number of spring water developments for livestock.62

Next, forest administrators tackled the problem of timber management. After the MNF was 

established, several sawmills began operating on the forest. Most of these sawmills were 

quite small, but early forest administrators realized that they needed to survey the forest’s 

timber resources, and reforest wherever necessary. They attacked the timber and 

reforestation problem with vigor. In 1909, an extensive timber survey of the entire forest 

was completed, and in 1914, 1917, and 1919, intensive surveys were made of small areas 

of Douglas fir on the Sublett, Albion Mountain, and Raft River divisions. In 1910, they began 

a plan of reforestation. In that year, they planted large areas of the Cassia Division 

beginning in Shoshone Basin, where it was believed the most favorable conditions existed. 

During the years 1910 to 1915, they also planted 50-100 acres of Douglas fir and ponderosa 

pine per year in the vicinity of the Fraser Ranger station, proposing along the way to start 

nurseries at the Bostetter and Fraser Ranger Stations. Evidence of these plantings was still 

evident in 1941.63

 60 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 9 and 14. 61 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release; and History of the Minidoka National Forest, 27-30. 62 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 9-11. 63 Ibid., 12-13. 

28 
Of course, administrative improvements were needed to help rangers manage their territory, 

and almost immediately after the creation of the MNF, the construction of administrative 

improvements took place. In 1906, a pasture fence was built at the Fraser Station, and a 

two-room log cabin was constructed at Camp Bostetter the same year. The following year, 

a two-room log dwelling was built at the Fraser Ranger Station, and barns, cellars, and other 

structures soon followed. Construction of administrative improvements continued in 1909, 

when two-room log cabins were constructed at the Hereford and Trout Creek ranger 

stations, and in 1910, similar cabins were erected at the South Heglar, Holstein, and 

Gunnell ranger stations. Other improvements came in 1913, when the first frame dwelling 

was built at the Sublett Ranger Station. Between 1910 and 1914, telephone lines linked 

most of the above ranger stations. The following table summarizes the above construction 

information.64

Improvement Location Type of Administrative

Improvement 

Year of Improvement 

Bostetter Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1906 

Fraser Ranger Station Pasture Fence 1906 

Fraser Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1907 

Shoshone Ranger Station 1907 

Hereford Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1909 

One-Mile Ranger Station 1909 

Trout Creek Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1909 

South Heglar Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1910 

Holstein Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1910 

Gunnell Ranger Station 2-Room Cabin 1910 

Sublett Ranger Station Frame Dwelling 1913 

In 1920, R.D. Garver became Supervisor, serving in that capacity until 1923. In the early 

1920s, there was a rise of livestock and agriculture in the region, which led to rising property 

values in Burley and a building boom. The rising regional economy increased demand for 

timber to build dwellings and farm buildings. Fearing over-cutting, a timber reconnaissance 

survey was carried out on the MNF as a basis for a management plan. At this time, a 14-

point range management plan was also instituted. This plan included elements related to 

salting, system of grazing rotation, grazing seasons, reduction of livestock, elimination of 

trespass, water development, supervision of stock, mapping of grazing units, and 

trespass.65

In January 1924, S.S. Stewart became the MNF Forest Supervisor and held that position 

until 1935—the longest tenure of any MNF Forest Supervisor. During his administration, the 

six districts were reduced to just four. In 1926, the Albion Mountain and Raft River districts 

and the Sublett and Black Pine districts were combined respectively. Also under his 

leadership, grazing gradually improved prior to 1926, but extended drought conditions over 

time thereafter led to range depletion during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Fears that 

 64 Ibid., 13-14. 

65 Ibid., 14-15. 

29 
demand for timber products would cause over-cutting did not materialize, and in the later 

part of the 1920s, demand for lumber decreased rather than increased due in part to the 

depressed economic conditions that continued into the early 1930s.66

Recreation, according to one source, showed a striking increase on the MNF during the post 

World War I era. In 1917, the first report on recreation indicated 5,935 persons visited the 

Forest. These early visitors included settlers, many of who lived near the MNF boundary. In 

the early 1920s, a few campgrounds with latrines were established for the recreational 

visitor. They included: Shoshone Creek below the Shoshone Creek Ranger Station, Lake 

Cleveland, Sublett Creek below the Sublett Ranger Station, Independence Lake, and 

Cottonwood Creek above the Bostetter Ranger Station. The increased use of automobiles 

and the construction of several access roads to the MNF in the late 1920s and 1930s 

augmented recreational use on the Forest. In 1928, there were 6,495 visitors; in 1930, 

10,865 visitors, but by 1939, there were over 45,000 visitors. The construction of numerous 

public camp and picnic grounds by the CCC in the 1930s accounts for much of this 

increase—a subject discussed in the next chapter.67 

During the period 1920 to 1934, appropriations for improvement purposes continued, but 

were quite small. Some progress in the construction of needed improvements included the 

Big Cedar Road and the Indian Springs Road in 1923, which provided needed access roads 

to the MNF. A few needed water developments were constructed each year.68

Finally, various improvements were made to existing ranger stations, but the only new 

construction occurred in 1929, when a five-room frame dwelling was constructed at the 

Shoshone Ranger Station. Like the SNF, after 1933, CCC funds and other emergency relief 

funds became available in sufficient amounts to build modern houses, water systems, and 

other permanent structures at yearlong and other stations on the MNF. The CCC program 

and the completion of administrative improvements on the MNF are discussed in detail in 

Chapters Four and Six. 

Carl B. Arentson (1937-1940) followed S.S. Stewart as Forest Supervisor, and Curtis E. 

Price succeeded Arentson. During the later 1930s, problems tackled included range and 

timber management, along with fire protection. The MNF reduced stocking of the range to 

actual carrying capacity, improved range fencing for both boundary and zone line purposes 

to control stock, and increased range water development. At this time a greater emphasis 

was placed on fire management including fire preplanning, and fuel type mapping. Finally, 

the MNF revised its timber management plans based on a growing demand. From 1936 to 

1940, the average amount of timber sold was approximately 1,400M per year.69

The year 1941 was a year of retrenchment with the approaching war. However, a ski 

shelter was constructed at the head of Rock Creek, and winter sports enthusiasts began to 

use the Magic Mountain Ski Area. Close to 8,000 winter visitors came to the area, and 

overall, recreational use on the MNF hit a new high with over 61,000 visitors. After Pearl 

 66 Ibid., 16-17, 27-30: 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release; and History of the Minidoka National Forest, 27-30. 67 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 21-22. 68 Ibid., 17-18. 

69 Ibid., 22-23. 

30 
Harbor and during World War II, little further development took place on the MNF besides a 

few administrative personnel changes. In April 1942, Forest Supervisor Curtis E. Price 

resigned and John T. Mathews replaced him. The MNF experienced its worst fire season to 

date (1942) and the Mount Harrison Lookout was established and maintained throughout 

the fire season.70

SAWTOOTH AND MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST, 1946-1960 

In 1953, the Sawtooth and Minidoka national forests merged and was divided into six ranger 

districts. There were three yearlong ranger stations located on the former SNF at Hailey, 

Ketchum, and Fairfield. There were also two summer ranger stations—the Sawtooth Valley 

and the Shake Creek ranger stations. There were three yearlong ranger stations located on 

the former MNF at Rock Creek, Burley, and Malta. At this time, the Supervisor’s Offices 

were combined and moved to Twin Falls, Idaho (see Chapter Five for details) and may have 

been located at 1525 Addison Avenue East at that time.71

 70 Ibid., 31-36. 

71 File: Other Historical Data—Sawtooth Division—Land Status, 1650 Contacts and Other Historical Data, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor 

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

31 

Chapter Four: New Deal Programs, 1933-

1942 

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS 

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began on April 5, 1933, when President Franklin D. 

Roosevelt signed into law a bill that created the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) 

program, later renamed the CCC. Planned in its early stages to chiefly benefit forested 

areas of western states, it soon found that nearly every section of the country had problems 

and work opportunities for the CCC. The historical setting of the CCC on the Sawtooth and 

Minidoka national forests is one that follows much of the national setting regarding its 

beginning, administration, enrollment, camps, and relationship with the Forest Service from 

1933 to 1942 outlined in Richa Wilson, Forest Service Administrative Sites in Region 4, 

1891-1960 (Draft), May 2, 2003 and need not be repeated. 

THE CCC AND THE SAWTOOTH 

Within a short time after the institution of the program, the SNF was required to place men to 

work. This necessitated hiring overhead (supervisors and/or local experienced man, 

sometimes referred to as LEMs separate from regular Forest Service personnel), trucks, 

purchasing equipment and supplies, and planning work. Nonetheless, considerable 

difficulty was encountered in the early days of the program due to politics. At first, no 

consideration was given to whether or not a supervisor or LEM was politically a Democrat or 

a Republican. The program was apolitical. However, because this was a so-called 

“Democratic” program, SNF officials were severely criticized because some Republicans 

were employed as supervisors. In some cases, Republican-leaning CCC overhead were 

actually released.72 According to one source, this may explain why no CCC camps were 

occupied on the SNF during 1934. It may have taken some time to sort out these political 

feelings.73

The CCC constructed many projects specifically on the Sawtooth National Forest (SNF), 

playing an important part in the early development of recreation facilities and other 

improvements. Known CCC camps on the SNF and their work projects included the 

following three camps:74

 72 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 44-46. 73 File: Chapter 3—The CCC Years, 1933-1940, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 74 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 44-46; and File: Specific Miscellaneous, 1600—Information Services, Archaeologist Office, 

Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

33 
 •On or about May 15, 1933, the Ketchum Camp (F-81) was established on Warm 

Springs Creek about five miles above Ketchum, Idaho, and was most likely the first 

CCC camp on the SNF. R.E. Carney was the superintendent. The principle work 

projects during this first year were the construction of the Ketchum Ranger Station, 

the reconstruction of the Warm Springs Creek Road, and campground work. In 

1934, the camp was temporarily closed, but reopened in 1938 and kept open during 

field seasons until 1941. Under the supervision of Ralph Reed, a variety of jobs were 

completed. Among the most important were road construction (Trail Creek Road 

and Warm Springs Creek Road) and campground development (Trail Creek 

Campground and Wood River Campground). On June 30, 1941, the Ketchum CCC 

camp was closed and overhead found jobs in various places. 

Sawtooth National Forest CCC Camp

 •On or about June 1, 1933, the Big Smoky Camp was established near the mouth of 

Big Smoky Creek, and various men served as superintendents during this year. Its 

primary work projects were the building of the Soldier, Big Smoky, and Liberal ranger 

stations. CCC enrollees also completed roadwork from the Soldier Ranger Station to 

Big Smoky and onward to the river below that Ranger Station. In 1934, the camp 

was temporarily closed, but reopened a year later. During 1935-36, the Big Smoky 

Camp was occupied and work consisted mostly of construction of the South Boise 

Road. C.H. Ramage was superintendent in 1935 and C.R. Engelman in 1936. Big 

Smoky Camp most likely closed at the end of 1936. 

 •On or about June 1, 1933, the Redfish Lake Camp was established at Redfish Lake. 

C.H. Ramage served as the first superintendent. Important work projects that first 

year included building the Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station, the Redfish Lake Guard 

Station, road construction, campground work, and general cleanup work around the 

34 
lake and campgrounds. In 1934, the camp was temporarily closed until 1937. C.R. 

Engelman served as the superintendent. When the camp reopened the following 

year, Jack Evans served as superintendent, and in 1939, Emmett Steeples took over 

the position until the camp closed in 1940. During these years, work continued on 

the campgrounds, road construction, cleanup, fire suppression and bridges. 

In summary, the CCC program made major contributions to the Sawtooth National Forest 

(SNF) during its seven years of operation on this forest, especially in constructing 

administrative improvements. Without such a program, many of the worthwhile projects 

accomplished by them could not have been undertaken because of a lack of funds. In the 

1910s, when most of the ranger stations on the SNF were constructed, they were simple 

and inexpensive buildings costing no more than $500 each and constructed by the regular 

Forest force. In the 1920s, these early ranger stations were maintained and slightly 

improved, but funds were limited and they needed replacement. In 1933, CCC funds and 

other emergency relief funds became available in sufficient amounts to replace the early 

buildings with modern houses, water systems, and other permanent structures at year-long 

and other stations, or to establish new ranger stations or guard stations.75

CCC Camp, Redfish Lake, Company 4784 

The following table summarizes these administration improvements.76

35 

 75 History of the Sawtooth National Forest, 33. 76 Ibid., 33-34. 
Date Type of Administrative Improvement 

1933 Shake Creek Ranger Station—New Buildings 

“ Soldier Ranger Station—New Buildings 

“ Big Smoky Guard Station—New Buildings 

“ Liberal Guard Station—New Buildings 

“ Ketchum Ranger Station—New Buildings 

“ Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station—New Buildings 

“ Redfish Lake Guard Station—New Buildings 

1934 Supervisor’s Headquarters Office, Hailey, Idaho 

“ Russian John Guard Station 

1937 Dwelling for Forest Supervisor, Hailey, Idaho 

1938 Warehouse and Equipment Building, Hailey, Idaho 

“ Lookout Building on Horton Peak 

1940 Two-story Lookout Building on Bald Mountain 

THE CCC & ERA ON THE MINIDOKA 

Unlike the SNF, there was no political turmoil over the early CCC program on the MNF, 

probably because no CCC camps were established on the MNF in 1933—the first year of 

operation. However, from 1933 to 1935, the MNF did use considerable amounts of Federal 

Emergency Relief Administrative (ERA) funds, and National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) 

development and improvement funds. ERA funds were used to provide immediate and 

direct relief for those affected by the Great Depression by creating work relief programs and 

emergency work projects. On the other hand, NIRA funds sought to assist the nation’s 

economic recovery during the Depression by reducing unemployment by expenditures for 

public works which would generate more purchasing power by providing jobs, defining labor 

standards, and raising wages. ERA funds created immediate jobs, while NIRA was slow to 

create new jobs and by May 1935 was struck down by the Supreme Court as 

unconstitutional.77

There were two known CCC camps on the MNF that complemented each other and were 

considered “sister” camps. They were the Porcupine/Shoshone and the Rock Creek CCC 

camps, which were considered a single camp at times because they were used by the 

same company, but during different seasons of the year.78

First, on June 23, 1933, the Porcupine CCC camp was opened twelve miles south of 

Hansen, Idaho at Porcupine Springs near the heads of Goose Creek and Rock Creek on 

the Cassia Division of the MNF. Later called the Shoshone Camp, this camp was 

continuously occupied until 1941. The Porcupine Springs/Shoshone camp was a summer 

 77 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 18-20. 78 File: Zabala Giltzow Albanese, “Porcupine Springs, Phase 1-Site Analysis Report,” Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

36 
camp. During its operation, an estimated 1,800 to 2,000 CCC enrollees were based in this 

camp. Projects performed by them included firefighting, road construction (e.g., OakleyRogerson Road), telephone line installation, timber and insect management, work on 

several public campgrounds, and the construction of ranger stations and other Forest 

Service facilities. Among the most visible evidence of the camp’s contributions to 

administrative facilities (dwellings, office buildings, barns, warehouses, etc.), are those at the 

Bostetter, Shoshone, Oakley, and Rock Creek ranger stations, and the Burley Supervisor’s 

Office dwelling and garage. The camp closed on August 16, 1941.79

Second, on October 16, 1935, a winter camp was established in the Rock Creek area, just 

north of the Forest boundary on Rock Creek. It operated at the outlet of Rock Creek 

Canyon about 20 miles south of Twin Falls served as a winter camp from 1935 to 1941. 

The camp provided housing for about 200 CCC enlistees. The Rock Creek Camp 

continued some of the projects performed by the Porcupine/Shoshone camp, such as 

graveling and widening a portion of the Rock Creek road. The precise date of its closure is 

not known.80

In addition to these two camps, the CCC established several spike camps on the MNF to 

support projects performed in inaccessible areas or distant from the base camps. During 

the mid-1930s, a relatively large spike camp was located at Bostetter to build the Forest 

Front of Unknown CCC Camp Mess Hall 

37 

 79 Ibid.; and History of the Minidoka National Forest, 18-20. 80 Ibid. 
Service ranger station there. Another spike camp was situated to help in the construction of 

the Oakley Ranger Station.81

Unlike the SNF, the MNF depended also on ERA funding as well as CCC funds to 

accomplish much needed work on the MNF. According to one source, Forest Supervisor 

Blaine Betenson realized: 

. . . that much important work could be done with ERA labor and aggressively 

pushed such projects with the result that as high as 200 men were assigned 

at one time during 1935 and 1936. [Eventually] ERA funds rapidly 

dwindled—to 100 men in 1937, 60 in 1938, 20 to 40 in 1939, from none to 20 

in 1940, and terminated entirely in 1941. However, during this period much 

important improvement work was accomplished. A total of over $340,000.00 

CCC funds, $210,000,00 ERA funds, and $90,000.00 NIRA funds was 

spent.82

These funds, along with CCC and ERA labor, were used to accomplish the following:83

 Construction and/or rebuilding of approximately 150 range water developments. 

 Construction and/or reconstruction of fifty miles of road. 

 Creation of practically all existing pre-1941 campground and picnic area facilities. 

 Timber stand pruning and improvement on several hundred acres. 

 Construction of seventy miles of range fencing. 

 Building or reconstruction of fifty miles of telephone lines. 

In addition to these general improvements on the MNF, the following table summarizes 

administrative improvements constructed using CCC, ERA, and/or NIRA funds:84

Date Type of Administrative Improvement 

1933-1934 Shoshone Ranger Station—New Barn and Equipment Shed 

1934 Bostetter Ranger Station—New Barn and a Warehouse 

1936-1937 Oakley Ranger Station—New Dwelling, Barn, Two Large Warehouses, Office 

Building, and Gas and Oil House 

1936 Burley, Idaho—Supervisor’s Dwelling and Garage 

1941 Rock Creek Ranger Station—New Dwelling Partially Completed 

The sudden influx of funds after several lean years created a number of problems. For 

instance, administration of CCC, ERA, and NIRA Funds required greater administration 

costs and personnel. Prior to 1933, the MNF had only one clerk. In 1937, at the peak of 

these programs, the MNF had six full-time clerks to handle the workload. Clerks were 

 81 Ibid. 

82 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 19. 83 Ibid. 

84 Ibid., 19-20. 

38 
assigned to the individual ranger districts as well. On the other hand, District Rangers, who 

until 1933 had seldom directed crews larger than five men, now found themselves directing 

several ERA and NIRA crews up to a total of 100 men. They also were required to manage 

a vast amount of detail involved in securing supplies and outlining work projects to relatively 

untrained men, which took much of Ranger’s time and as a result his regular resource 

management work suffered in some instances.85

With the approach of World War II, the Shoshone (formerly Porcupine) CCC Camp closed. 

The Rock Creek CCC Camp had closed earlier. In the last few months of the existence of 

the Shoshone CCC Camp, the enrollees extended the Rock Creek telephone line from the 

Rock Creek Camp site to the Rock Creek Ranger Station, and partially completed the Rock 

Creek Ranger Station dwelling.86

CCC'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY, 1983 

In the early 1980s, interest increased in the activities of the CCC nationwide in part 

generated by economic conditions—the worst since the CCC Era. Interest was also 

engendered by the impending sense of loss as many former CCC members were getting on 

in years and the work of the CCC was nearing the end of its design life. At that time, there 

was a strong sentiment to preserve samples of CCC projects as a memorial to the efforts of 

millions of individual participants nationwide. In 1983, Forest Supervisor Roland M. 

Stoleson, issued a memorandum stating that the SNF would celebrate the CCC’s 50th

Anniversary by a number of specific actions. They included: (1) a news release listing CCC 

accomplishments on the SNF, referencing those CCC-constructed buildings and facilities 

that visitors could observe and/or visit; (2) a CCC story exhibit at the Stanley Museum (old 

Valley Creek Ranger Station), which was constructed by the CCC and recently placed on 

the National Register of Historic Places; (3) promotion of an oral history program by the 

South-Central Idaho History Council that would include taped interviews with former CCC 

members; and (4) usage of the CCC theme to develop the Forest Service exhibit at the 

Twin Falls County Fair.87

CCC & CULTURAL RESOURCES, 1992 

In 1992, the Forest Service hired a consultant to conduct a Phase 1- Site Analysis of the 

Porcupine Springs Campground, which included conducting archival and on-site research 

regarding the Porcupine Springs (later called Shoshone) CCC camp. This Phase 1 analysis 

included compiling and synthesizing the documented research in order to identify 

appropriate interpretive themes for the CCC camp and related resources. Today, existing 

 85 Ibid., 20. 

86 Ibid., 31. 

87 File: Civilian Conservation Corps, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

39 
evidence of the camp at Porcupine Springs consists primarily of structural remnants, 

earthworks, a road, rock walls and alignments, and pits.88

 

 88 File: Zabala Giltzow Albanese, “Porcupine Springs, Phase 1-Site Analysis Report,” Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

40 
Chapter Five: Supervisor’s Offices 

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST 

Hailey Supervisor’s Office and Warehouse 

From 1903 to 1933, the SNF Forest Supervisor’s Office was located on the second floor of a 

private office building in the town of Hailey. By 1933, however, the Forest Service had 

outgrown this site and needed more adequate office space as well as garage and 

warehouse space. Therefore, in 1933, the Forest Service purchased property for an 

administrative site in Hailey for a new Supervisor’s Office and other necessary headquarters 

buildings and improvements for the SNF. This administrative site included Lots 4 to 8 

inclusive, and Lots 13 to 20 inclusive of the City of Hailey, Blaine County, Idaho. The total 

area was approximately 1.10 acres. Lots 4 to 8 were purchased from Arthur Holgate in 

1933 for $392.00, and Lots 13 to 20 were purchased from Mr. Holgate in 1935 for additional 

building space for $300.00. The site of the Supervisor Office compound was located one 

block from the main business district of Hailey and U.S. Highway #93 ran in front of the 

property.89

On 9/16/33, the construction of an office building, garage, and warehouse at Hailey was 

approved. Ideally, the Forest Service wished to use Emergency Conservation (EC) funded 

enrolled men for the general labor, and NIRA Improvement Funds for overhead, carpenters, 

and other similar types of laborers. Apparently, about 150 CCC men were camped in Hailey 

at this time for about two weeks, and the Ranger thought they could be used to advantage 

on this project. In addition, an experienced construction crew at Camp F-51 could be drawn 

 Plan R4-54 Supervisor’s Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Hailey Idaho, 

41 

 89 File: History, O Improvements, and Hailey Supervisor Office Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office,

Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 
upon for the next month. The Ranger hoped the project could be completed by 10/31/33.90

Supervisor’s Office from Rear, Hailey, Idaho, n.d. 

Despite this “ideal” situation, only a minimal amount of CCC labor was used to build the SNF 

Forest Supervisor’s Office Compound. In 1933, the office building (Plan R4-54) was erected 

using novelty siding and wallboard and cost approximately $4,200. The office building was 

constructed completely with Forest Service funds and with limited CCC construction time 

($15). At the same time, a four-car garage (Plan R4-33) was also built on the site for 

approximately $1,800. The garage was erected using approximately $1,500 of Forest 

Service funds, $225 of ECF monies, and a minimal amount of CCC labor. Finally, a oneroom storeroom (Plan R4-33 modified) was constructed in the same year using a 

combination of Forest Service ($1,500) and EC ($500) funds and only a minimal amount of 

CCC construction time ($15). The building was 8 feet longer than the regular plan. In the 

fall and winter of 1935 and 1936, a full-size basement was dug under this building to provide 

more room and storage. The site plan included a shale driveway, lawn, concrete sidewalk, 

flagpole in front of the office, and a monument area with a sundial across the driveway from 

the office.91 

As stated earlier, in 1935, the Forest Service purchased Lots 13 to 20 for additional building 

space. On these lots, the Forest Service built two 70’ radio antenna towers. These towers 

were placed 150’ apart and were constructed from galvanized pipe tapering from 3” in 

diameter to 1.5” at the top. Each antenna was surrounded by a fence 60’ square. In 1936, 

42 

 90 File: Hailey Four Garage, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 91 Hailey Supervisor Office Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 
the Forest Service proposed building a 60’ x 32’ warehouse and equipment building across 

the alley from the SNF Forest Supervisor’s Office and between the two radio antenna 

towers, but the plan was apparently not approved.92

In 1939, the SNF proposed to the Washington Office additions to the site to provide 

adequate office room for the Supervisor’s staff and rangers at Hailey. It was suggested that 

the current office be turned into quarters for rangers who were detailed there for the winter 

and that a new Supervisor’s Office be constructed elsewhere. However, these plans did not 

meet fruition, and the 1933 Supervisor’s Office served as the SNF’s headquarters until July 

1, 1953, when the Supervisor’s Office was established at Twin Falls, Idaho. The intent 

thereafter was to use the former Supervisor Office for forest rangers.93

In the early 1980s, the Hailey Office (1933—earliest structure date) was found possibly 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria A.94 In 1992, the Forest conveyed the site to 

the American Public Land Co. Inc. in a land exchange.95

Hailey Supervisor’s Residence and Garage 

In 1936, the Forest Service purchased from Henrietta V. Jones Lots 20-24 in Block 25 of the 

City of Hailey, Idaho. On this site at the corner of Third Avenue and Walnut Streets, the 

Forest Service built the Hailey Supervisor’s residence and a two-car garage. The 1936 

three-bedroom residence was based on Plan R4-1F, and the garage was based on Plan 

R4-20. The following year a landscape planting plan was devised which included sidewalks, 

several lawn areas, an extensive shrub, tree and flower planting list, as well as perennial 

flower beds and a separate rose garden. The SNF Supervisor occupied the residence until 

1953 when the SNF was merged with the MNF and the Supervisor’s Office moved to Twin 

Falls, Idaho. Thereafter, the Supervisor’s dwelling was utilized as a ranger’s dwelling.96

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, these two buildings were still extant and were found 

ineligible for the National Register.97

 92 Ibid.; and File; Hailey Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 93 Ibid. 

94 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 95 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 96 Hailey Supervisor Office Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 97 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

43 
MINIDOKA NATIONAL FOREST 

In 1908, when the Cassia and the Raft River National Forests were combined to form the 

MNF, the first headquarters was located at Oakley, Idaho where it remained until mid-1917. 

During those years, it appeared to be a reasonable location for many reasons. First, the 

majority of the MNF users lived in or near the Cassia East Division. Second, Oakley was 

only one day’s drive from the Hereford Ranger Station—the farthest travel point for the 

Forest Supervisor. Third, Oakley acted as a good supply point for the Forest Service. And, 

fourth, by 1917, the Forest Service had developed a system of direct telephone 

communication and “free” service between Oakley and each ranger station. Nonetheless, 

by 1917, the Oakley location had one key disadvantage—it was largely inaccessible during 

the winter months because of poor roads. The Forest Service felt that the Ranger in charge 

would encounter fewer difficulties if the office were moved to Burley, Idaho. Therefore, 

sometime during the later part of 1917, the MNF Supervisor’s Office was moved to Burley, 

where it remained until 1953, when the MNF was merged with the SNF. Thereafter, Burley 

became the headquarters for the Burley Ranger District, under the supervision of the SNF 

Supervisor’s Office, which was located in Twin Falls, Idaho. 98 The exact location of the 

rented facility (1917-1953) in Burley is unknown. 

Burley Supervisor’s Dwelling and Garage 

The Burley Supervisor’s dwelling was constructed in 1936 on a 1.3477-acre lot at a time 

when rental dwellings were practically impossible to find. It was a Plan R4-1-C (revised) 

and was located at 1518 Burton Avenue, Burley, Idaho. Constructed at a cost of 

$10,023.84, the Burley Supervisor’s dwelling is a six-room house and in 1937 was 

landscaped with lawn, driveway, walks, curbing and shrubs. Storm windows were added in 

1953. At the same time the dwelling was constructed, a Plan R4-20C two-car garage was 

built for $943.01. There are photographs of the dwelling and garage from 1952.99

Burley Portable Warehouse 

In August 1932, the Burley Portable Warehouse was constructed and placed on Burley 

Townsite Lot 22, Block 137 -- a rented lot. This temporary storage building held Forest 

Service headquarters supplies and staff vehicles. It was a wood-frame, 18’ x 22’ building 

covered with 28-gauge galvanized corrugated steel. It had two double doors, one single 

door and three windows. In 1952, plans were made to replace this building with permanent 

warehouse facilities in Burley. There is a 1952 photograph of the building. The fate of the 

building is unknown.100

 98 File: D-1 History, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 99 File: Burley Residence, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

Supervisor’s Residence Set Up, Burley, Idaho, Minidoka National Forest, and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 100 File: Burley Residence, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho, File: Burley

Portable Warehouse, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office,Supervisor Office, Sawtoth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and Burley

Warehouse, Sawtooth National Forest, and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

44 
Chapter Six: SNF Ranger Districts and 

Administrative Sites 

A. FAIRFIELD RANGER DISTRICT 

The Fairfield Ranger District was formed in 1948-49, when the Soldier Ranger District 

(1914-1948) was discontinued and the buildings removed to Fairfield, Idaho. When the 

SNF and the MNF were combined in 1953, the Fairfield Ranger Station continued as one of 

three yearlong ranger stations. 

Map Three: Fairfield Ranger District 

In 1960, the ending date of this study, the Fairfield Ranger District included the upper 

headwaters of the South Fork of the Boise River and the northern fringe of Camas Creek, a 

tributary of the Wood River. Major peaks included Smoky Mountain, Smoky Dome, Big 

Peak, Ross Peak, and Two Point Mountain. In 1960, Douglas fir, Englemann spruce, and 

lodgepole pine were the major species on the district. There were also minor amounts of 

45 
ponderosa pine, alpine fir, and aspen. The timber was limited almost entirely to the north 

facing slopes. The bottoms were composed of grass-willow vegetation, while sagebrush 

and grasses are found on the lower slopes. As the elevation increases the sagebrush was 

gradually replaced by bitterbrush, chokecherry, and other shrubs. Prior to the establishment 

of the SNF and the Fairfield Ranger District, this area had a history of grazing and mining 

abuses. At this time, multiple-use management was practiced on the Fairfield District 

involving water, timber, forage, wildlife, and recreation (34,000 visits to the district in 1961). 

Management aspects included fire control, insect control, and watershed rehabilitation.101 

Effective July 1, 1972, a new organization structure for the SNF combined the former Shake 

Creek Ranger District with the Fairfield Ranger District, giving it a total acreage of 392,700 

acres. Fairfield continued to be the headquarters for the district and work centers were 

located at the Big Smoky and Shake Creek ranger stations.102

Administrative Sites, Ranger Stations, and Guard Stations:

The following is a list of administrative sites, ranger stations, and guard stations within the 

boundaries of the Fairfield Ranger District (see Map Three below). They are differentiated 

by whether any administrative improvements were constructed at the site, or not. They are 

listed as ranger stations and/or guard stations if this type of improvement was made at the 

site. If no such improvement were made, they are listed as administrative sites only. 

Big Smoky Administrative Site 

The Big Smoky Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/29/06, requested 

for withdrawal on 12/8/06, and withdrawn by the GLO on 12/13/06. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 640-acre site at T3N, R13E, Section 1 on the SNF. This tract 

was revoked on 4/21/09.103

Big Smoky Guard Station and Pasture 

The Big Smoky Guard Station was recommended for withdrawal 6/25/08 and meant to 

replace the first Big Smoky Administrative Site withdrawal (see above). The second 

withdrawal was recommended on 6/25/08, requested on 8/11/08, and withdrawn by the 

GLO on 11/14/08. A tabular record of administrative sites lists the 162.40-acre site at T3N, 

R13E, Sections 3 and 11 on the SNF. The site was near the junction of the Big Smoky 

 101 File: Specific Miscellaneous, 1600—Information Services, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 102 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 103 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Big Smoky Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

46 
River and Paradise Creek. A wagon road passed along the eastern boundary of the site, 

and a cabin was already located on the site according to a 1908 blueprint map of the site.104

This location has been used as a guard station since the time of its withdrawal in connection 

with the administration of the Soldier Ranger District headquarters for the SNF at the time. 

As a guard station it was seasonally used 4-5 months each year, and it was 25 miles from 

Fairfield, the nearest supply point, 16 miles from the Soldier Ranger Station, and 55 miles 

from the Supervisor’s Office at Hailey.105 

In 1910, a small ditch (approximately 1/2 mile) was constructed and used thereafter to 

convey water from Paradise Creek to the Big Smoky Guard Station. In 1916, the Big 

Smoky Guard Station had a guard station (unknown type) and a horse pasture west of it. At 

this time also, approximately 120 acres were unofficially used by the ranger’s horses during 

the summer months. [The Big Smoky Pasture site was later formally withdrawn on 1/29/49. 

It comprised 110-acres located in T3N, R13E, Sections 1 and 2. This pasture was needed 

to prevent overuse of the first pasture area.]106 The Big Smoky Ranger Station appears as 

such on a 1926 SNF map of that year, and there are several historic photographs (1926) of 

the site available.107 In 1929, a fence was constructed to enclose the Big Smoky Guard 

Station site.108

In 1933, a new Big Smoky Guard Station complex replaced the older one. Using ECF and 

NIRA funding and minimal CCC labor, the Forest Service built an 18’ x 32’ Plan R4-7 guard 

station dwelling with 1’ x 6” novelty siding; 18’ x 24’ Plan R4-23 garage and storeroom, a 14’ 

x 16’ Plan R4-66 woodshed or store house, and a 12’ x 16’ Plan R4-14 fly shed or horse 

barn. In 1935, a Plan R4-70 single-unit toilet with similar siding as the dwelling was 

constructed. CCC labor was used mostly on the smaller buildings. In 1935, the water 

system, which had been built in 1930, was extended to the new dwelling and improved with 

a storage tank and piping to the kitchen.109 In 1938, the Big Smoky Guard Station was 

noted as a guard station and appears as such on a SNF map of that year. A 1940 

improvement plan showed the above buildings, a flagpole, a root cellar dug into a hillside 

east of the guard station, and a corral as located east of the barn.110

In 1955, several improvements took place at the Big Smoky Guard Station. First, an 

addition was made to the Plan R4-7 dwelling to provide more bedroom/office space. The 

kitchen was remodeled to provide a bathroom as well. Second, the Plan R4-23 

 104 Ibid. 105 File: Big Smoky Guard Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

Big Smoky Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 106 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, and File: Big Smoky Guard Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, 

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from 

Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Grouse Butte Lookout, Information 

from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 107 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Loose Material-Historic Photographs, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 108 Big Smoky Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 109 File: Big Smoky Guard Station, 7300 Buildings, and Big Smoky Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 110 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

47 
garage/storeroom was converted to crew quarters when a water and sanitary system was 

installed, along with a shower, sink, cabinets, range, chimney, and other improvements. 

The storeroom was moved from the former garage/storeroom building to the Plan R4-66 

woodshed. Finally, an old 5’ x 5’ telephone booth was converted to a storage shed for 

gasoline, oil, and kerosene for the Big Smoky Guard Station.111

During the summer of 1985, the Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a 

structures and site analysis of the SNF. In December 1985, SNF Forest Supervisor Roland 

M. Stoleson agreed to maintain the Big Smoky Guard Station site as a portion of the Forest 

Service’s Administrative History in Southern Idaho. In February 1989, a Memorandum of 

Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer 

(SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) was drafted regarding 

this and other sites, but was never signed.112 

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were eight buildings extant at the Big Smoky Guard 

Station (1 bedroom dwelling, barn/storage, office, fire cache/shop, pit toilet, generator 

house, storeroom, gas and oil house). All were found eligible for the National Register with 

the exception of the storeroom.113

According to current facilities records, six historic and two modern (1977, 1980) buildings 

exist at the site.114

Boardman Administrative Site 

The Boardman Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal 6/9/08, requested for 

withdrawal on 7/7/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 8/27/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 28.50-acre site at T2N, R13E, Section 19 on the SNF. The 

character of land of the tract was pasture land drained by Lime Creek. The Forest Service 

selected this site because it was a stock center and no other tract was suitable. The 

Boardman trail passed through the site and then forked at the north end of the site. One 

fork headed northeast to Boardman Pass, and the other fork headed northwest to Iron 

Mountain.115

In 1916, the Boardman Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture.116 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated 

that the Boardman Administrative Site was not being used.117

 111 File: Big Smoky Guard Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 112 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 113 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 114 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 115 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Boardman Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 116 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

48 
Buttercup Administrative Site 

The Buttercup Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal 5/26/08, requested for 

withdrawal on 6/22/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 7/13/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 80-acre site at T2N, R15E, Sections 25 and 36 on the SNF. 

The character of the land was 20 acres agricultural and the remainder pasture land. The 

Forest Service selected this tract because it was the most suitable location for a ranger 

station in the area, and there was sufficient domestic water available from Willow Creek that 

passed through the western boundary of the site. According to a site plan, north of the 

property was a cabin named “Sam Friend’s Cabin” and the site plan also had the notation 

“mouth of tunnel.”118

In 1916, the Buttercup Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was still available from Willow Creek.119 In 1929, a list of administrative 

sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Buttercup Administrative Site was not 

being used.120

Cold Springs Administrative Site 

The Cold Springs Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/9/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 6/27/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 8/20/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 56-acre site at T2N, R12E, Section 23 on the SNF. 

The character of the land was pasture land. The Forest Service selected this tract because 

it was thought that it was essential to have a ranger headquarters at this point during the 

summer months on account of the stock business. Cold Springs Creek drained the 

property, and a trail to Iron Mountain also passed through the tract.121

In 1916, the Cold Springs Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still obtainable from Cold Springs Creek.122 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Cold Springs 

Administrative Site was not being used.123

 117 Ibid. 118 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Buttercup Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 119 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 120 Ibid. 121 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cold Springs Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 122 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 123 Ibid. 

49 
Deer Park [Iron Mountain] Administrative Site 

The Deer Park Administrative Site started out as the second-named Iron Mountain 

Administrative Site, which was recommended for withdrawal on 1/18/15 and approved 

thereafter on 1/27/15 for the SNF. A tabular record of administrative sites lists the 40-acre 

site at T2N, R12E, Sections 6 and 7 on the SNF. The Forest Service selected this site to 

furnish pasture for stock used by Forest officers. The site was also valuable in connection 

with fire protection and grazing work. Deer Creek drained the property.124

In 1916, the second-named Iron Mountain Administrative Site continued in operation, but 

only had an unfenced pasture. Also, it was unofficially called Deer Park and named after 

nearby Deer Creek, which drained part of the property. On 1/15/24, the second-named Iron 

Mountain Administrative Site was officially renamed the Deer Park Administrative Site.125 

Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Emma Creek Administrative Site 

The Emma Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 8/13/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 9/21/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/14/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 77.05-acre site at T5N, R13E, Section 27 on the SNF. 

About 30 acres of the site was agricultural and the rest pasture. The Forest Service 

selected this tract because it was the only place suitable for a station and was a reasonable 

distance from other ranger stations. The South Boise River flowed by the west side of this 

site, from which, any amount of water was available.126

In 1916, the Emma Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was obtainable from Emma Creek.127 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Emma Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.128

Fairfield Ranger Station 

On February 3, 1946, the Forest Service purchased Lots 11-27 in Block 16 of the Village of 

Fairfield for a ranger station compound.129 The 120-acre Fairfield Ranger Station (T1N, 

R14E, Section 9) was located on the corner of First Avenue North and First Street West, 

 124 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Deer Park Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 125 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Deer Park Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 126 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Emma Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 127 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 128 Ibid. 129 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

50 
Fairfield, Idaho. In 1948-49, this compound was created from a number of Soldier Ranger 

Station buildings constructed in the 1930s and relocated to this site. A 1949 Improvement 

Plan indicates that the following five Soldier Ranger Station buildings were removed to 

create the Fairfield Ranger Station: (1) Plan R4-8 dwelling (Revised) with a utility room 

addition designed by the RO, (2) Plan R4-66 woodshed which was turned into a gas and oil 

house, (3) Plan R4-20 two-car garage, (4) Plan R4-7 office, and (5) a Plan R4-33 shop and 

storeroom. According to this 1949 Improvement Plan, a Plan R4-1-C was slated for future 

construction. However, later plans (1959) proposed a Plan R4-166A (R) instead along with 

a proposed trailer site. In 1950, the site was landscaped with lawn and shrubbery around 

the house as well as the office. There are several historical photographs of the buildings 

being removed to Fairfield.130

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were seven buildings extant at the Fairfield Ranger 

Fairfield Ranger Station, n.d. 

51 

 130 File: Fairfield Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, and Fairfield Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 
Station Compound (2-bedroom dwelling, 3-bedroom dwelling, bunkhouse, garage, oil 

house, warehouse, and tack room). All were found ineligible for the National Register.131

Grouse Creek Administrative Site 

The Grouse Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/15/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 9/11/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/14/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 38.33-acre site at T3N, R11E, Section 31 on the SNF. 

The character of the land was principally pasture with a portion tillable. The site was located 

in a stock center and adjacent to valuable timberlands and Grouse Creek provided plenty of 

water for the site.132

In 1916, the Grouse Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was obtainable from Grouse Creek.133 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Grouse Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.134

Hay Press Administrative Site 

The Hay Press Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/19/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 8/25/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/11/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 23-acre site at T4N, R11E, Section 12 on the SNF. 

The Forest Service selected this agricultural and pasture site because no other suitable site 

was located in this vicinity and because a summer camp was needed in this place.135 

In 1916, the Hay Press Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was obtainable from Hay Press Creek.136 In 1929, a list of administrative 

sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Hay Press Administrative Site was not 

being used.137

 131 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 132 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Grouse Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 133 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 134 Ibid. 135 Ibid.; and File: Hay Press Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 136 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 137 Ibid. 

52 
Hunter Creek Guard Station 

In March 1918, the Forest Service proposed a site for a new ranger station on Hunter 

Creek, which was to be no more than 10 miles from Hill City. Since Hunter Creek was the 

principal place that most people went to for timber and since a wagon road passed the area, 

this seemed to be a logical location choice. This site was to be occupied full-time by a 

District Ranger and would replace the Shake Creek Ranger Station as the District 

headquarters. The Forest Service proposed the construction of a one or two-room, 16’ x 28’ 

house with a 7’ x 16’ front porch costing approximately $300.00 for labor and materials.138

For almost a year, this recommendation was not approved for various reasons.139 

However, the Hunter Creek Administrative Site was finally approved for withdrawal on 

9/15/19. This 90-acre site was located at T1N, R11E, Section 15 on the SNF. The Forest 

Service selected this site, because they felt it was more desirable than the Slick Ear site 

(see below). Hunter Creek drained the property and emptied into Lime Creek.140 In 1920, 

the Forest Service constructed a 12’ x 24’, frame shingle-roof guard dwelling, a 14’ x 22’ 

storeroom and garage, and a latrine. Prior to this time, the guard for the south side of the 

Shake Creek District was stationed at the old Slick Ear Administrative site. Thereafter, the 

Hunter Creek Station was used during the summer months as a Guard Station.141 The

Hunter Creek Guard Station appears as such on a 1926142 and 1938 SNF maps.143

In 1941, a report on the Hunter Creek Guard Station indicated that the buildings were in a 

“poor state of repair.” According to this report, they were not worth spending money on and 

that a new set of buildings was needed. A new water system and irrigation ditch were also 

needed, and the pasture needed clearing and reseeding. By 1951, a location for a new 

guard station (T1N, R11E, Section 28) was discussed, and in 1952, a different site (T1S, 

R10E, Section 2) was proposed for relocating the Hunter Creek Guard Station. However, 

no action was taken on these proposed relocation sites because the Forest was in no 

position at this time to go ahead with these plans. Instead, it was suggested that a trailer, 

tent and tent frame, or temporary building be used. Thereafter, no funds were authorized 

for maintenance of the Hunter Creek Guard Station.144 The fate of the Hunter Creek Guard 

Station building is unknown. 

 138 File: Hunter Creek Ranger Station, O Improvements, and Hunter Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 139 Ibid. 140 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Hunter Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 141 Hunter Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 142 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 143 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 144 File: Hunter Creek Guard Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

53 
Indian Camp Administrative Site 

The Indian Camp Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal first on 6/24/08 but 

was delayed because it was located on a school section. The site was again recommended 

for withdrawal on 4/23/09 and withdrawn by the GLO at that time. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 38-acre site at T4N, R12E, Section 36 on the SNF. The value 

to the Forest Service was that the tract was a stock center, had good water, and timber 

lands adjacent. Skeleton and Indian Camp creeks flowed through the tract. In addition, a 

sheep corral was already located on the tract and a trail to Montgomery’s Cabin was noted 

on a 1909 blueprint map of the site.145

In 1916, the Indian Camp Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was obtainable from Skeleton Creek, which bordered the western 

boundary of the track.146 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service 

indicated that the Indian Camp Administrative Site was not being used.147

Liberal [Old] Administrative Site 

The first Liberal Administrative Site was withdrawn by the GLO on 10/19/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 160-acre site at T2N, R15E, Sections 6 and 7 on the 

SNF. This site was revoked on 11/8/13.148 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Neut Revis Ranger Station/Liberal Guard Station 

The Neut Revis Ranger Station, according to a tabular record of administrative sites, was 

approved on 10/27/09. This 150-acre site was located at T3N, R15E, Section 33 near Little 

Smoky Creek—a source of domestic water. The site was approximately 18 miles northwest 

of the Soldier Ranger Station and 20 miles distant from Fairfield, Idaho. In 1909, a 14’ x 16’ 

wood-frame cabin with a one-half pitch cedar shingled roof and a stone foundation was 

constructed. The cabin had three double-hung windows, one on the east and west side, 

and one on the south end. Materials for the cabin cost approximately $50.00 and the labor 

of three rangers for eleven days.149

 145 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Indian Camp Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 146 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 147 Ibid. 148 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 149 Ibid.; File: Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho; and Liberal Ranger Station Improvement 

Plans, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

54 
In 1910, a pasture was withdrawn for the Neut Revis Ranger Station. This 38-acre pasture 

was located at T3N, R13E, Section 32. Later, approximately 160 acres of native pasture 

land was enclosed and used by ranger and guard horses during the summer months.150

The Neut Revis Ranger Station was used prior to 1913 as headquarters for the Liberal 

District of the SNF, but the entire area was thereafter made part of the Soldier Ranger 

District that year. After that date, it was used as a guard station for approximately five 

months each year.151

In 1914, Forest Service Inspector C.N. Woods examined and reported on the pasture. His 

report stated that the pasture was in low rolling hills along Little Smoky Creek and was 

covered with a little lodgepole pine and aspen with sagebrush. An abundance of running 

water for the pasture could be had from this creek. At the time of Inspector Wood’s visit, the 

pasture was fenced with lodgepole pine posts and smooth wire. [This pasture was in use as 

late as August 1953.]152

In 1916, the Neut Revis Guard Station continued in operation and was used by a guard and 

two horses for four months of the year. It had a guard cabin, a fenced pasture.153 On

12/21/22, the Neut Revis Ranger Station’s name was changed to the Liberal Guard Station, 

and included the pasture one section away.154 The only known improvement to the site in 

the 1920s was the construction of a three-wire barbed wire fence enclosing the site with a 

vehicle entrance gate.155

In 1933, the Liberal Guard Station changed considerably. First, a new guard station 

dwelling was constructed based upon Plan R4-7. It was constructed using EC 

(approximately $700.00) and NIRA (approximately $700.00) funds. Second, the former 

1909 dwelling was turned into a bunkhouse and upgraded to meet the design of the new 

dwelling at a cost of $100.00. Third, a Plan R4-23 garage and storeroom was built. It 

departed from regular plans by not including any windows and used EC funds 

(approximately $500.00), NIRA funds (approximately $60.00), and some CCC time. And 

finally, a Plan R4-66 woodshed and a Plan R4-70 latrine were constructed using ECF and 

NIRA funds, but no CCC labor. 

In 1938, the Liberal Guard Station was noted as a guard station and appears as such on a 

SNF map of that year. In the same year, a fly shed (no plan #) and corral were added to the 

site to protect the guard’s horses during the summer from flies while being kept tied up in 

readiness for a fire call. A year later, a landscape plan for the station and grounds was 

 150 File: Liberal Pasture Fence, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; File: 

Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho; and Liberal Ranger Station Improvement Plans, 

Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 151 File: Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 152 File: Liberal Pasture Fence, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 153 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 154 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 155 Liberal Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

55 
proposed, and the Plan R4-66 woodshed was converted into a Plan R4-40 tool house with 

the installation of cupboards and tool racks.156

In 1942, according to a Liberal Guard Station Improvement Plan, the site had the following 

improvements: a Plan R4-7 dwelling, a R4-23 garage, a R4-40 storeroom or tool house, a 

R4-70 latrine, a septic tank, a fly shed and corral, a springhouse for food storage, and 

flagpole. Apparently, the bunkhouse was torn down and removed by this date.157

In the 1950s, several major changes were made to the Liberal Guard Station. In 1954, the 

Plan R4-7 dwelling was moved to the Shake Creek Ranger Station. In 1955, the Plan R4-

40 woodshed-workshop was made into a portable dwelling-workshop by moving it from its 

foundation and placing it on skids. It was moved to the Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station. In 

1956, the Forest Service proposed moving the Plan R4-23 garage and storehouse to the 

Shake Creek Ranger Station, but changed its mind.158

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, two buildings were extant (pit toilet and spring house). Both 

were found ineligible for the National Register.159

Pine Administrative Site 

The Pine Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/5/08, requested for 

withdrawal on 7/27/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 10/16/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 80-acre site at T2N, R10E, Section 33 outside of the SNF. The 

character of the land was agricultural and pastureland with water obtainable from nearby 

Deer Creek.160

In 1916, the Pine Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was still obtainable from Deer Creek. Three years later, a local farmer 

wished to lease the unused 80-acre site. It is not known whether or not the lease was 

granted.161 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated 

that the Pine Administrative Site was not being used.162

 156 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 157 Intermountain Region Administrative Site Improvement Plans, 1934-1952—Liberal Guard Station, Bound, Weber State University USFS 

Library/Store Room, Ogden, Utah; and File: Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 158 File: Liberal Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 159 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 160 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Pine Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 161 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, and File: Pine Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, 

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 162 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

56 
Salt Ground Administrative Site 

The Salt Ground Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/26/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 7/27/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 10/19/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 48.10-acre site at T2N, R13E, Section 2 on the SNF. 

The character of the land was pastureland. The Forest Service selected this tract because it 

was the only suitable station site that could be located for a ranger station in this vicinity. 

Plenty of water was available from Salt Creek, which flowed through the tract. In addition, a 

north-south trail to the Smoky Mountains passed just east of the tract.163

In 1916, the Salt Ground Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still available from Salt Creek.164 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Salt Ground 

Administrative Site was not being used.165

Scotland Administrative Site 

The Scotland Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/9/08, requested for 

withdrawal on 6/27/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 8/20/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 26.50-acre site at T2N, R11E, Section 22 on the SNF. The 

character of the land was pastureland. The Forest Service selected this tract because the 

site was not only a stock center at the time, but the site also offered an outlook over the 

Forest for several miles in every direction. In addition, the site had adequate water for 

domestic purposes because Salt Creek flowed through the tract. Finally, the Lime CreekBlue Ridge trail entered and exited this tract.166

In 1916, the Scotland Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was still available from Salt Creek.167 In 1929, a list of administrative sites 

still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Scotland Administrative Site was not being 

used.168

 163 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Salt Ground Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 164 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 165 Ibid. 166 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Scotland Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 167 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 168 Ibid. 

57 
Shake Creek Ranger Station 

The Shake Creek Ranger Station was located 90 miles by road west from the Supervisor’s 

Headquarters at Hailey, Idaho, and 60 miles north from Mountain Home, Idaho.169 The 

Shake Creek Ranger Station was located on the South Boise River and was about 6 miles 

from Featherville, the nearest post office. The District Ranger in charge of the Shake Creek 

District was located at this station year-round, and the entire District was administered from 

the station. The waters of Lime Creek drained the south side of the District, and the south 

boundary of the District was fairly adjacent to the settlements on the north end of Camas 

Prairie. The Forest Service felt that the Shake Creek Ranger could administer the area 

because there were few Forest Service activities in the area with the exception perhaps of 

grazing.170

The original Shake Creek Ranger Station was recommended for withdrawal on 6/18/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 9/11/08, and withdrawn on 11/14/08 by Executive Order. A 

tabular record of administrative sites lists the 117.40-acre site at T3N, R11E, Sections 4,5,8, 

and 9. The site was approximately 70% outside of the SNF. The character of the land was 

primarily pasture land with some agricultural ground. The Forest Service selected this tract 

because it was the most suitable in that section of the country for a ranger station, and 

because it was located in a stock center and adjacent to timberlands. Water from Shake 

Creek and wood was abundant. By July 1908, prior to when it was recommended for 

withdrawal, the Forest Service had built a cabin and a fenced pasture. A blueprint map 

indicated that the South Boise River flowed just south of the site and a wagon road 

paralleled the north bank alongside the selected tract.171

In 1911, the Forest Service established a small nursery at the Shake Creek Ranger Station 

to raise yellow pine seedlings. However, this effort was discontinued in 1913. Nonetheless, 

approximately, 140,000 plants were available for planting in the spring of 1914 from the 

Shake Creek and the Flowers Ranger Station nurseries.172

On May 19, 1914, by Executive Order #1943 signed by President Woodrow Wilson, 12.60 

acres were added to the Shake Creek Ranger Station. This tract near the South Boise 

River was desired to raise hay for feeding the ranger’s horses during fall, winter, and spring 

months. Water would be diverted from a ditch already constructed out of Shake Creek 

(1908), a tributary of the South Boise River. Prior to this addition, the Forest Service 

cultivated ten acres of timothy and alfalfa hay each summer to feed the ranger’s horses in 

the winter. A blueprint map of the site indicated that the Shake Creek Ranger Station house 

 169 Shake Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 170 File: Hunter Creek Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 171 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; File: Shake Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, and Shake Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans and 

Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 172 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

58 
had replaced the original cabin and a barn had also been built at this site.173 This dwelling 

was approximately 24’ x 26’ in dimension, had 3 rooms with bath, and a shingle roof.174

In 1916, the Shake Creek Ranger Station continued in operation, and as noted, a ranger 

station and a fenced pasture had been built. Water was still obtainable from Shake Creek 

and diverted for both domestic and irrigation purposes.175

In 1918, District 5 of the SNF was commonly called the Shake Creek District and was 

divided by a high range of mountains. The portion north of this range was drained by the 

South Boise River and formed a natural administrative unit. By 1926, the Shake Creek 

Ranger Station appears as such on a SNF map of that year.176

The Shake Creek Ranger Station site remained unchanged until 1933-34, when the Forest 

Service decided to build a new ranger station dwelling at the site and make other 

improvements. In May 1934, they offered for sale at public auction the old Shake Creek 

Ranger Station, which was in very bad shape. It was purchased for $10.00 and removed.177

In 1933, major improvements at the Shake Creek Ranger Station included the following: a 

Plan R4-8 two-bedroom dwelling (modified) with full basement constructed with NIRA 

(approximately $2,750.00) and Forest Service (approximately $75.00) funds; a Plan R4-21 

Shake Creek Ranger Station, n.d. 

 173 File: Shake Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 174 File: Shake Creek Ranger Station Dwelling, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin

Falls, Idaho. 175 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 176 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

59 
garage and storeroom constructed with NIRA (approximately $1,500.00) and Forest Service 

(approximately $55.00) funds; a Plan R4-33 shop and storeroom constructed with NIRA 

(approximately $1,500.00) and Forest Service (approximately $60.00) funds; a Plan R4-66 

woodshed constructed with NIRA (approximately $400.00) and Forest Service 

(approximately $4.00) funds; a Plan R4-11 four-horse barn constructed with NIRA 

(approximately $1,500.00) and Forest Service (approximately $40.00) funds; and a fenced 

36-acre pasture with 30-foot horse corral. In 1934, improvements included: a Plan R4-51 

office and guard station constructed with NIRA (approximately $1,500.00) and Forest 

Service (approximately $30.00) funds and a Plan R4-70 toilet. At this time, the water 

system, sanitation system, irrigation ditch and telephone connections were improved as 

well. There are available in the files, historic photographs of the old Shake Creek Ranger 

Station, as well as photographs of these improvements.178

In 1938, the Shake Creek Ranger Station was noted as a Ranger Station and appears as 

such on a SNF map of that year. In 1939, a planting plan was designed and the following 

year approved for the Shake Creek Ranger Station. It included a variety of trees, hedges 

and flowerbeds.179

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were eleven buildings extant at the Shake Creek 

Ranger Station (3-bedroom dwelling, office/dwelling, 1-bedroom dwelling, storage building, 

bunkhouse, gas and oil house, fire cache, generator shed, bunkhouse, second storage 

building, and pesticide building). All were found eligible for the National Register with the 

exception of the 3-bedroom dwelling and the pesticide building.180

In 1957-58, a new ranger residence (Plan R4-8) was constructed west of the 1933 Plan R4-

8 two-bedroom dwelling, which by this date had been converted into an office. The new 

residence was landscaped in 1959.181

Current facilities records list eight buildings from the 1930s, and three buildings with 

construction dates ranging from 1957 to 1989.182

Skeleton Creek Administrative Site 

The Skeleton Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/22/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 7/27/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 10/19/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 32.60-acre site at T3N, R12E, Section 15 on the SNF. 

The Forest Service selected this tract of agricultural and pastureland because no other tract 

 177 File: Hunter Creek Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 178 Shake Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 179 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 180 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 181 File: Shake Creek Ranger Station, 7300—Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho 182 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

60 
of ground in the vicinity was suitable for a ranger station, and because it had ample 

domestic water available from Skeleton Creek.183

In 1916, the Skeleton Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still available from Skeleton Creek.184 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Skeleton Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.185

Slick Ear Administrative Site 

The Slick Ear Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/13/08, requested 

for withdrawal on 8/4/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 10/26/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 62.70-acre site at T1N, R11E, Section 7 on the SNF. This tract 

was described as the most suitable of any in this locality for a ranger station 

headquarters.186

In 1916, the Slick Ear Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had a fenced 

pasture. Water was still obtainable from Slick Ear Creek and was used by a guard and his 

horses for two months of the year.187

In 1918, a short-term man was stationed at the Slick Ear Administrative Site. At this time a 

pasture was fenced, but no house had been constructed. The man located here lived in a 

tent during the time he stayed on this portion of the district (June 1—September 30).188

In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Slick 

Ear Administrative Site was not being used.189

Soldier Ranger Station 

The Soldier Ranger Station was recommended for withdrawal on 5/26/08, requested for 

withdrawal on 6/15/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 6/29/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 160-acre site at T2N, R14E, Sections 19 and 30 on the SNF. 

This tract was comprised of 30 acres of agricultural land and the remainder as pasture. The 

Forest Service selected this site because all other land on Soldier Creek had already been 

homesteaded. A road from a sawmill passed through this tract as well. It was 12 miles 

 183 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Skeleton Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 184 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 185 Ibid. 186 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Skeleton Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 187 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 188 File: Hunter Creek Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 189 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

61 
north of Fairfield, Idaho, and 40 miles from the Supervisor’s Office at Hailey, Idaho. It 

served as a summer headquarters for the district ranger of the Soldier Ranger District for 

approximately 7-8 months each year from 1908 to 1948.190

In 1911, the Forest Service constructed the first Soldier Ranger Station. It was a 28’ x 17’, 

frame two-room building with a front room and a kitchen. Roofed with cedar shingles, this 

station had a foundation that consisted of large granite boulders set under each corner and 

at two or three places under the sills. It was sided with 6” rustic Douglas fir, and lined on the 

inside with shiplap. A small 6’ x 8’ shed was attached onto the kitchen. Its exterior and roof 

were composed of the same materials as the house, but it was not finished on the inside. 

The total cost of the cabin complete was $500.00.191

In 1916, the Soldier Ranger Station had a fenced pasture of some 59.51 acres, which had 

been built in 1909. Additionally, water from Soldier Creek was being used for domestic and 

irrigation purposes.192 In 1917, a 12’ x 12’ room addition was proposed and built for the 

Soldier Ranger Station at an estimated cost of $150.00. The room addition was built entirely 

from contributed “incidental” ranger labor. The addition was needed for use as a bedroom 

or for a ranger’s office.193 By 1926, the Soldier Ranger Station appears as such on a SNF 

map of that year.194 There are several historic photographs (circa 1926) of the Soldier 

Ranger Station available.195 The only relevant additional improvements to the site were the 

construction of a pasture fence (1929-1930), and an extension of the fence (1932).196

By 1933, the old Soldier Ranger Station had served its purpose and was in bad condition, 

needing replacement. In the fall of that year, the Forest Service began construction of a 

new dwelling (Standard Plan R4-8), completing the project in early 1934. The estimated 

cost limit of $2,500 was exceeded because of a number of factors (weather, skilled-labor 

rates, rising lumber prices) and an additional $500.00 of NIRA funds was needed. Some 

CCC time was spent on the building as well. Other buildings constructed in 1933 included: 

a Plan R4-66 woodshed; a Plan R4-66 tool house; a Plan R4-20 two-car garage; a Plan R4-

11 four-horse barn; a Plan R4-33 shop and storeroom. In 1934, the Forest Service built one 

additional building—a R4-7 office and guard quarters. During the period 1933-35, the 

Forest Service also upgraded the water system, sanitary system, telephone connections, 

and yard fence. In 1939-1940, the Soldier Ranger Station was landscaped with a variety of 

trees and shrubs.197

In 1948, the following buildings were moved to form the Fairfield Ranger Station (see 

above): Plan R4-8 dwelling, Plan R4-7 office and guard quarters, Plan R4-66 woodshed; 

 190 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; File: Skeleton Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, and Soldier Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, 

Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 191 File: Soldier Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 192 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Soldier Ranger Station Fence, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 193 File: Soldier Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 194 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 195 File: Loose Material-Historic Photographs, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho. 196 File: Soldier Ranger Station Fence, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 197 File: Soldier Ranger Station Fence, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; 

and Soldier Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

62 
Plan R4-20 two-car garage, and Plan R4-33 shop and storeroom. The Plan R4-11 fourhorse barn and the Plan R4-66 tool house remained on the site.198 The fate of these two 

buildings is unknown. 

Three Mile Creek Administrative Site 

The Three Mile Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 5/22/08, 

requested for withdrawal on 6/22/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 7/13/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 110-acre site at T1N, R13E, Sections 2 and 3 on the 

SNF. The character of the land was agricultural/pasture and Three-Mile Creek, a 

continuous natural stream, flowed through the tract. At some point in time, the area of the 

site was reduced to 106.82-acres.199

In 1916, the Three Mile Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had a 

fenced pasture. Water was still obtainable from Three Mile Creek.200 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Three Mile Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.201

Willow Creek Administrative Site 

The Willow Creek Administrative Site was approved for withdrawal on 9/1/5/31. This 22.50-

acre site was located at T3N, R11E, Section 10 on the SNF. The Forest Service selected 

this tract because no other tracts were available near the Shake Creek Ranger Station for 

pasture purposes.202

Fire Lookouts: 

Grouse Butte Lookout 

The Grouse Butte Lookout was withdrawn on 3/6/42 and was located at T3N, R11E, 

Section 33, very near to the Grouse Creek Administrative Site (see above). Nothing more is 

known regarding this site . The purpose of the site was for a lookout and a pasture for the 

 198 Soldier Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 199 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Three Mile Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 200 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 201 Ibid. 202 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Willow Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

63 
lookout’s horse. It was about seven miles from the Shake Creek Ranger Station and nine 

miles from the Iron Mountain Lookout.203

Iron Mountain Lookout 

The Iron Mountain Lookout was withdrawn by the GLO on 10/19/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 67-acre site at T2N, R12E, Section 17 on the SNF. This site, 

however, was revoked on 5/15/14.204 Prior to 1915, there were few substantial 

improvements at this 8,000-foot high site. There was a fenced pasture, near the top of the 

summit between Beaver and Middle Fork Lime Creek. One fireguard was stationed here 

from June 20th until the close of the fire season, but there was no shelter furnished for the 

forest guard to protect him or supplies from bad weather.205

In February 1915, Forest Ranger Noel C. Heath proposed the construction of a 12’ x 15’ log 

cabin with two windows to provide comfort for forest officers and to protect supplies from the 

weather and animals at a cost of approximately $140.00. This cabin was most likely 

constructed sometime thereafter. Six years later, the Forest Service erected a lookout 

tower at this location.206

 203 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Grouse Butte Lookout, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

Iron Mountain Lookout, Interior, n.d. 

204 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Three Mile Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 205 File: Iron Mountain Ranger Station Cabin, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 206 Ibid. 

64 
The Iron Mountain Lookout appears on 1926 and 1938 maps of the SNF.207 In 1942, a new 

location for the Iron Mountain Lookout was withdrawn in T2N, R12E, Sections 4 and 5. On 

5/18/64, this 85.00-acre site was reduced to just 40 acres by Executive Order #10355 

(Public Law 3396).208

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, the Iron Mountain Lookout was extant but no determination 

of eligibility for the National Register was made.209 There are several undated historic 

photographs of the site available.210

Lick Creek Lookout 

In 1938, the Lick Creek Lookout appears as such on a SNF map of that year.211 This

lookout was a tent-type lookout with no permanent structure, and is no longer there.212

Paradise Peak Lookout 

The Paradise Peak Lookout was withdrawn on 3/6/42. This 1.56-acre fire lookout site was 

located at T5N, R14E, Section 29. The area was used to detect forest fires on adjacent 

lands. It was about sixteen miles to the Big Smoky Guard Station and sixteen miles to the 

Soldier Ranger Station. The lookout served the entire district except what coverage was 

obtained from the adjoining Shake Creek Lookout at Iron Mountain.213 This lookout was a 

tent-type lookout with no permanent structure, and is no longer there.214

 207 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, and Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, 

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 208 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Iron Mountain Lookout, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 209 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 210 File: Loose Material-Historic Photographs, Fairfield Ranger District, Fairfield, Idaho; and Iron Mountain Lookout Photographs, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 211 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 212 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 213 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; File: Big Smoky Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Paradise Peak Lookout, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 214 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

65 
B. KETCHUM RANGER DISTRICT 

The Ketchum Ranger District was formed in 1914, when the SNF was reorganized and 

divided into five ranger districts. At that time, it was called the Flowers District, but had its 

headquarters at Ketchum, Idaho. In 1931, the Flowers District name was changed to the 

Ketchum Ranger District. 

Map Four: Ketchum Ranger District 

The ranger district is surrounded on three sides by rugged mountain ranges containing 

many peaks 10,000 feet or more in elevation. These ranges are the Pioneer, Boulder, and 

Smoky mountains with the Big Wood River flowing through the center of these ranges on a 

southerly course. Several streams join the Big Wood River at Ketchum forming an 

important watershed for the region, supplying irrigation water to the communities south of 

Hailey and near Shoshone and Gooding for agricultural purposes. Once an important 

mining center (1880s-1890s), Ketchum became the largest sheep-shipping center in the 

West. Every fall, from 1895 to 1930, large herds of sheep were driven out of the hills, where 

they grazed during the summer, to corrals in Ketchum for shipment on the railroad to 

eastern markets. The Ketchum region also during most of these years produced and 

supplied timber during the early years of the twentieth century for local markets. In 1960, 

the ending date of this study, the Ketchum Ranger District was the gateway to a vast 

66 
recreational area with scenic subalpine basins with beautiful lakes for summer hiking, and a 

host of winter recreational opportunities, such as skiing on Bald Mountain. 

Administrative Sites, Ranger Stations, and Guard Stations:

The following is a list of administrative sites, ranger stations, and guard stations that are 

currently within the Ketchum Ranger District (see Map Four). They are differentiated by 

whether any administrative improvements were constructed at the site, or not. They are 

listed as ranger stations and/or guard stations if this type of improvement was made at the 

site. If no such improvement were made, they are listed as administrative sites only. 

Baker Administrative Site 

The Baker Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/21/08, requested to 

be withdrawn on 10/14/08 and approved on 10/23/08. A tabular record of administrative 

sites lists the 86.40-acre site at T5N, R16E, Section 29 on the SNF. The Forest Service 

selected this site for a ranger station because one was needed in the vicinity and this tract 

was the most suitable. Baker Creek flowed through the tract and a trail up Baker Creek 

passed through the eastern boundary of the tract.215 In 1916, the Baker Creek 

Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced pasture.216 In 1929, a 

list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Baker 

Administrative Site was not being used.217

Big Peak Creek Administrative Site 

The Big Peak Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/23/08, 

requested to be withdrawn on 10/14/08 and approved on 10/23/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 31.50-acre site at T5N, R15E, Section 30 on the SNF. The 

Forest Service selected this site for a ranger station because the tract was the only one 

suitable for a ranger station in the vicinity. All other land in the area was too rocky and 

barren of grasses. The tract was drained by North Fork of Big Peak Creek. 218 

 215 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Baker Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin

Falls, Idaho. 216 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 217 Ibid. 218 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Big Peak Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

67 
In 1916, the Big Peak Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture.219 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated 

that the Big Peak Creek Administrative Site was not being used.220

Buck Camp Administrative Site 

The Buck Camp Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/13/07, 

requested to be withdrawn on 3/20/08 and withdrawn by the GLO on 4/30/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 90.80-acre site at T4N, R19E, Sections 19 and 20 on 

the SNF. The Forest Service selected this site because the entire tract was suitable for 

pasture and 50 acres was tillable. The North Fork of the East Fork of the Wood River 

flowed through much of this site, which had no timber.221 

In 1916, the Buck Camp Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still available from the North Fork of the East Fork of the 

Wood River.222 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service 

indicated that the Buck Camp Administrative Site was not being used.223

Buzzo Administrative Site 

The Buzzo Administrative Site was withdrawn by the GLO on 3/2/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 67-acre site at T4N, R17E, Section 20 on the SNF.224

In 1916, the Buzzo Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was available from Warm Springs Creek.225 In 1929, a list of administrative 

sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Buzzo Administrative Site was not 

being used.226

Cove Administrative Site 

The Cove Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/15/07, requested for 

withdrawal on 2/29/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 3/9/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 62.30-acre site at T3N, R19E, Sections 10 and 15 on the SNF. 

 219 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 220 Ibid. 221 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Buck Camp Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 222 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 223 Ibid. 224 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 225 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 226 Ibid. 

68 
The site was primarily grazing land with no timber or tillable land. The site was located on 

Cove Creek a small tributary emptying into the East Fork of the Big Wood River from the 

south.227 Tabular records indicate that on 1/20/21, this site was released and another 

withdrawal of 62.30-acres at T3N, R19E, Sections 14 and 15 on the SNF. This may have 

been done to correct the first withdrawal.228

In 1916, the Cove Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an unfenced 

pasture. Water was still obtainable from Cove Creek.229 The Forest Service requested that 

this site be revoked on 10/11/20 and it was revoked on 1/20/21.230

Elk Administrative Site 

The Elk Administrative Site was withdrawn by the GLO on 3/9/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 106.30-acre site at T3N, R21E, Section 17 on the SNF. A 

blueprint map of the site indicates that Elk Creek ran through the tract. The site was 

revoked on 5/15/14.231 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Flowers Administrative and Nursery Site 

The Flowers Administrative Site was one of the first sites to be withdrawn for the SNF. 

Located at T4N, R17E, Section 2, the Flowers Administrative Site was recommended for 

withdrawal on 10/1/07, and requested for withdrawal on 11/8/07. The 151.95-acre site 

encompassed land north of Adams Creek and was withdrawn by the GLO on 12/7/07. The 

site had light loamy soil covered with bunch grass. About 80 acres suitable for agriculture 

with the balance being pasture land. A road ran through the tract, which led to Ketchum in 

one direction, and to a mill in the other direction. According to the report, the original site 

was intended to be a nursery.232 

Apparently no administrative improvements were immediately made until the spring of 1910, 

when the Flowers Ranger Station became the first nursery on the SNF. In 1910, a small 

area was fenced for a garden and nursery purposes and four 5’ x 40’ beds were planted 

with yellow pine seed from the Boise National Forest. In addition to these plantings, 80,000-

 227 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cove Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 228 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 229 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 230 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cove Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 231 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Elk Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 232 File: Flowers Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, and File: Flowers Guard Station, Adams Gulch Trailhead, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

69 
100,000 yellow pine and 30,000 Douglas fir seedlings were shipped from the Pocatello and 

the Wasatch nurseries and planted in beds in Adams Gulch. The nursery seemed to have 

had problems due to drought conditions.233

In 1916, the Flowers Administrative Site continued in operation, and a ranger station and a 

fenced pasture had been built. Water was obtainable from Adams Creek and diverted for 

both domestic and irrigation purposes.234 In 1916, the nursery was discontinued because 

the plants made insufficient growth to make the project practical.235

In late 1923, the withdrawal was amended and 135.33 acres in Section 2 were added to the 

site to protect it, reportedly because the township in which it was located had been recently 

surveyed. In December 1923, the Flowers Site was no longer needed, and its release was 

requested and approved on 1/17/24.236 However, in 1926, the Flowers Ranger Station still 

appeared as such on a SNF map of that year.237

In 1931, the Flowers Ranger District name was changed to the Ketchum Ranger District and 

the Flowers Ranger Station dwelling was moved to Ketchum, Idaho. Later it was sold, when 

the CCC erected new buildings there.238

In 1990, an IMACS site form for the old Flowers Guard Station Corral was completed along 

with photographs of the corral and any associated artifacts, but no determination of eligibility 

for the National Register was made. In 1999, the Forest Service proposed developing the 

interpretation of the popular Adams Gulch Trailhead as it related to the historic Flowers 

Guard Station site.239

Garfield Ranger and Guard Station 

The Garfield Ranger Station was one of the first ranger stations to be withdrawn for the 

SNF. Located at T3N, R22E, Section 6, the Garfield Ranger Station was recommended for 

withdrawal on 10/8/07, requested for withdrawal on 11/8/07, and withdrawn by the GLO on 

12/7/07. The 114-acre site lay north of the East Fork of the Little Wood River. The site was 

open arid land with bunch grass suitable for agricultural purposes, but lacked proper water 

for irrigation.240 A tabular record of administrative sites lists the site at T3N, R21E, Sections 

2,3,10, and 11. A 1907 blueprint map of the site indicates that a mill ditch and reservoir 

were located on the property at the time of withdrawal.241

 233 File: History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 234 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 235 File: Bald Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 236 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 237 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 238 File: Bald Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 239 File: Flowers Guard Station, Adams Gulch Trailhead, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 240 File: Garfield Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 241 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; File: Garfield Guard Station, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho, and Garfield Ranger Station Improvement Plans, 

Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

70 
At the time of its withdrawal, the Garfield Ranger Station was located 44 miles by road from 

the District Ranger’s Headquarters at Greenhorn, and 35 miles from the Supervisor’s Office 

at Hailey, Idaho. In 1908, a one-room 16’ x 24’ log cabin was constructed as an Assistant 

Ranger’s Headquarters. The roof of the cabin was originally tarpaper, but the roof was 

replaced at some time by cedar shingles. At some point in time, a log addition was added to 

the building. There are historic and current photographs of this cabin that indicate that the 

building is in good condition.242

In 1916, the Garfield Ranger Station continued in operation, and had a ranger station and a 

fenced pasture. Additionally, water from Garfield Creek was being used for domestic 

purposes.243 The Garfield Ranger Station was noted as a guard station and appears as 

such on a 1926 SNF map of that year.244 In 1929, the fence was reconstructed.245

In 1930, the one-room log cabin was in good condition, although the foundation logs were 

rotting. These were replaced at a cost of approximately $600.00. In the same year, two 

buildings were added to the site. The first building was a 6’ x 8’ wood-frame tool house with 

corrugated iron sides and roof. The second building was 3’ x 4’ frame, single-unit outhouse 

with a shingle roof.246

In the early 1980s, the Garfield Guard Station (1908—earliest structure date) was found 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and D.247 During the summer of 1985, the 

Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a structures and site analysis of the 

SNF. In December 1985, SNF Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson agreed to maintain 

the Garfield Guard Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in 

Southern Idaho. In February 1989, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the 

Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory 

Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was 

never signed.248

In 1992, Idaho Zone Archaeologist Joseph G. Gallagher visited the site and conducted a 

condition assessment report on the Garfield Ranger Station (roof, exterior and interior walls, 

foundation and other elements). He identified the major problems with the building and 

made recommendations for their repair. He concluded that the building was built in 1907-

1908 and was in good condition. In 1930, a small metal shed had been added to the site. 

His report stated that the “station had only a few minor alterations: the original tar paper roof 

was covered with shingles; a small half log-covered shed was added to the rear; a 

deteriorated sill log was replaced with a sawn timber piece; and the original foundation was 

 242 File: Garfield Guard Station, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho; and Garfield Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 243 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 244 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 245 File: Garfield Guard Station, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho; and Garfield Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 246 Ibid. 247 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 248 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

71 
replaced with concrete block. Any or all of these modifications could be corrected, though 

some have themselves become historically important.”249

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were two buildings extant at the Garfield Guard Station 

(1-bedroom dwelling, and a shed). Both were found ineligible for the National Register.250

Current facilities records list three buildings on this site: a 1908 dwelling, a 1948 storage 

shed, and a 1970 toilet. These dates have yet to be confirmed.251

Greenhorn Ranger and Guard Station 

The Greenhorn Ranger Station was withdrawn by the GLO on 2/26/08. This 160-acre site 

was located at T3N, 17E, Section 15.252 The Greenhorn Ranger Station was nine miles by 

road from the Forest Supervisor’s Headquarters at Hailey, Idaho. 

On 6/22/08, the Forest Service authorized the construction of a 15’ x 17’, gable-ended, 

rustic, cedar shingle cabin, but the Greenhorn Ranger Station Cabin was not completed until 

7/1/09 at a cost of approximately $164.00. In 1911, $100.00 was authorized for the 

construction of a one-room bedroom, 14’ x 18’ addition to the north end of the cabin. This 

addition allowed the ranger to stay during the winters. In 1912, a two-stall, 14’ x 24’ stable 

was constructed. Both the cabin and stable improvements are thoroughly documented in 

the files. A year later, the front porch was removed and moved around to the back of the 

building, and a new porch built in its place.253

In 1916, the Greenhorn Ranger Station continued in operation, and a fenced pasture had 

been built in addition to the cabin and stable. Water was obtainable from a small creek 

nearby and diverted for both domestic purposes and for irrigation of a small garden.254 By

1926, the Greenhorn Ranger Station appears as such on a SNF map of that year.255

This site was used as a yearlong Ranger District Headquarters from 1908 to 1920. Due to 

changing conditions and improved roads, it was decided that the work could be more 

expeditiously performed from Hailey, and thereafter this station was used only as the 

summer headquarters for the Greenhorn Ranger District, which was known as SNF District 

 249 File: Flowers Guard Station and Adams Gulch Trailhead, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 250 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 251 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 252 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 253 File: Greenhorn Cabin, O Improvements, File: Greenhorn Guard Station, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho, and Greenhorn 

Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 254 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 255 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

72 
#1 at the time. The Greenhorn District included the Wood River and Little Wood River 

areas.256

In 1936, the Greenhorn Ranger Station was comprised of the following non-standard plan 

buildings: dwelling (1908-11), wagon shed (1909), barn (1912), root cellar (1917), outhouse 

(1909), warehouse (n.d.), and woodshed (n.d.) and pasture and corral.257

In 1936-37, the CCC remodeled the Greenhorn Guard Station with labor being provided by 

Company 971. These improvements were later removed in the 1940s, leaving only the oneroom cabin, barn, cellar, and outhouse.258

In the early 1980s, the Greenhorn Guard Station (1908—earliest structure date) was found 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and D.259

In 1991, Idaho Zone Archaeologist Joseph G. Gallagher visited the site and conducted a 

condition assessment report on the Greenhorn Guard Station (roof, exterior and interior 

walls, foundation and other elements). He identified the major problems with the building 

and made recommendations for their repair. He concluded incorrectly that the building was 

built in the 1920s but underwent a period of remodeling during the 1930s perhaps by the 

CCC.260

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were four buildings extant at the Greenhorn Guard 

Stations (dwelling, barn, root cellar and toilet). Three were found ineligible for the National 

Register. The toilet remained undetermined.261 These four buildings are currently listed on 

facility records.262

Ketchum Ranger Station 

On 4/10/26, the Forest Service acquired 0.39 acres in Ketchum, Idaho by Executive Order 

#4415. This site was located at T4N, R18E, Section 18, or Lots 6,7, and 8, Block 40. In 

1931, a 24’ x 50’ warehouse (no standard plan) built as a nursery building in Adams Gulch 

(1929) was moved on the site, and divided into two rooms and used as a bunkhouse. 

 256 Greenhorn Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 257 File: Greenhorn Guard Station, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho; and Greenhorn Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 258 USDA Forest Service, “Greenhorn Guard Station: Ketchum Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest,” Washington, D.C.: Government 

Printing Office, 2000. 259 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 260 File: Flowers Guard Station, Adams Gulch Trailhead, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 261 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 262 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

73 
Thereafter, on 1/3/33, the Forest Service purchased Lots 1 thru 5, Block 40 in Ketchum, 

Idaho. Together, these became known as the Ketchum Administrative Site.263

Ketchum Ranger Station, 1937 

In 1933-1934, the Forest Service constructed a number of improvements using EC and 

NIRA funds along with CCC labor. They included: a Plan R4-1 dwelling, a Plan R4-51B 

office and storeroom, a Plan R4-20 two-car garage, Plan R4-33 (modified) shop building 

and equipment storeroom, a Plan R4-33A (modified) warehouse, and a Plan R4-62 water 

pump house. In 1935, a Plan R4-95 gas and oil house was constructed as well.264 On the 

other hand, in 1933, the Forest Service auctioned off the Ketchum bunkhouse for $57.00.265

From their construction in the 1930s to the 1980s, these buildings were modified in many 

ways. In the early 1980s, their eligibility for the National Register was undetermined.266

In 1992-93, after HABS documentation was conducted on the buildings, the site was 

exchanged with the City of Ketchum for other considerations with the approval of the Idaho 

SHPO. Today, the former historic Ketchum Ranger Station houses the City of Ketchum’s 

 263 File: History, O Improvements, Ketchum Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, and File: Ketchum Administrative 

Site, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 264 Ketchum Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, and File: Hailey-Ketchum Notes, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 265 File: O-Improvements Ketchum Ranger Station Bunkhouse, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 266 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, and File: O-Improvements

Ketchum Administrative Site, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

74 
Heritage and Ski Museum, which preserves 25 collections, including: early wooden skis 

used in the valley prior to 1935; the 1930-1993 Gretchen and Don Fraser Collection; and 

early Sun Valley photographs and oral histories of the development of skiing in the 

American West.267

Little Wood River Administrative Site 

The Little Wood River Administrative Site was withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 42-acre site at T3N, R20E, Section 14 on the SNF. 

The Little Wood River passed through the site. According to this document, it was revoked 

on 5/1/5/14.268 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Placer Creek Administrative Site 

The Placer Creek Administrative Site was withdrawn on 11/9/09 by the GLO. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 120-acre site at T3N, R16E, Section 6, and T3N, 

R15E, Section 1 on the SNF. The character of the land consisted of high hills suitable for 

grazing and a narrow bottom on the north side of Placer, which possibly could be used for 

raising hay. An old barn already existed on the south side of Placer Creek.269

In 1916, the Placer Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still obtainable from Placer Creek.270 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Placer Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.271

Porcupine Administrative Site 

The Porcupine Administrative Site was recommended to be withdrawn on 2/29/08, and 

withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular record of administrative sites lists the 37.50-

acre site at T3N, R20E, Section 20. The Porcupine site was revoked on 6/20/14.272

 267 File: Ketchum Exchange, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 268 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Little Wood River Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 269 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cove Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 270 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 271 Ibid. 272 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Ruick Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

75 
Ruick Creek Administrative Site 

The Ruick Creek Administrative Site was recommended to be withdrawn on 10/6/07, 

requested for withdrawal on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 2/26/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 48.80-acre site at T4N, R16E, Section 26 on the SNF. 

The character of the land was predominantly tillable (20 acres) surrounded by hillsides of 

fine shell rock and drained by Warm Spring Creek and Ruick Creek. The Boise-Ketchum 

wagon road passed through the tract. The Forest Service proposed watering the site by an 

irrigation ditch to Warm Springs Creek.273

In 1916, the Ruick Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. A guard and several horses used the site for two months of the year.274

In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Ruick 

Creek Administrative Site was not being used.275

Warm Springs Creek Administrative Site 

The Warm Springs Creek Administrative Site was approved for withdrawal on 2/14/47 and 

was located at T4N, R17E, Sections 16 and 21. This 90-acre site was the former location of 

the Warm Springs CCC camp. At the time of withdrawal, a number of buildings and 

improvements existed at this site. They included the following: garage, two small buildings 

used for a warehouse and storage purposes, a cap house and a powder house, along with 

a traveling creosote plant for treating posts and poles. The site was located on the Forest 

road to Ketchum, five miles distant. The site was being used for storing Forest Service 

equipment, road culverts, and other supplies for general use of the Forest.276

Wilson Creek Administrative Site 

The Wilson Creek Administrative Site was recommended to be withdrawn on 10/10/07, 

requested for withdrawal on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 2/26/08. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 88.70-acre site at T5N, R18E, Section 14 on the SNF. 

The Forest Service selected this site for a potential ranger station and nursery. The 

character of the land was mostly tillable. The Ketchum-Lost River wagon road passed 

 273 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cove Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 274 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 275 Ibid. 276 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Warm Springs Creek Administrative Site, Information from Architectural Historian 

Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

76 
through the western portion of this tract. The parcel was drained by Wilson Creek, which 

flowed into nearby Trail Creek.277

In 1916, the Wilson Creek Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still obtainable from Wilson Creek.278 In 1929, a list of 

administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Wilson Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.279

Fire Lookouts:

Bald Mountain Lookout 

The first Bald Mountain Lookout was built in 1921 as a small structure that lay on the bottom 

of the ridge near the current Bald Mountain Lookout. However, it does not appear on a 

1926 SNF map.280 The 1921 lookout reportedly burned in the 1960s.281

The CCC and several college students, living in a tent, built the second Bald Mountain 

Lookout from winter to summer during 1938-1939. This frame structure was a two-story 

building with rubble masonry foundation. Construction materials were hauled to the site by 

a caterpillar. In 1939-1940, a trail to the lookout was constructed over an old skid trail from 

the 1890s for harvesting timber in the area. Using a bulldozer for the work, and pack mules 

to haul in supplies, a three-man forest crew then finished the trail by hand. The Bald 

Mountain Lookout was occupied year-round.282 In 1938, the Bald Mountain Lookout 

appeared as such on a SNF map of that year.283 

In 1941, George L. Nichols of the Division of Engineering inspected the Bald Mountain 

Lookout and approved the final finishing touches to the lookout. On 3/6/42, the Forest 

Service approved the withdrawal of the Bald Mountain Lookout site. This 20-acre tract was 

located at T4N, R17E, Section 27. Over time, the Bald Mountain Lookout received regular 

maintenance and repairs to such items as windows. The Bald Mountain fire lookout was the 

principal one on the Ketchum Ranger District and also served the Greenhorn Ranger District 

at the time of its construction. It also served as an observation point for tourists in the 

summer. It was accessible by horse trail three miles from the Ketchum Ranger Station and 

the Bald Mountain Ski lift operated by Sun Valley284

 277 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Cove Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 278 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 279 Ibid. 280 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 281 File: Bald Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 282 Ibid. 283 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 284 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; File: Bald Mountain Lookout, Ketchum Ranger District, Ketchum, Idaho; File: Bald Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings,

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Bald 

Mountain Lookout, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

77 
On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, the Bald Mountain Lookout was extant and found ineligible 

for the National Register.285

 285 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

78 
C. MINIDOKA RANGER DISTRICT 

The Minidoka Ranger District was created in 2002 when the former Burley and Twin Falls 

ranger districts were joined. This consolidation came six years after the two districts were 

combined on a trial basis in 1996. In that year, the Burley Ranger District was in charge of 

the Malta Compound, Sublett Guard Station, One Mile Guard Station, Mount Harrison 

Lookout, as well as the Gunnell and Heglar administrative sites. On the other hand, the 

Twin Falls Ranger District was in charge of the Rock Creek Guard Station and the Bostetter 

Guard Station.286

Map Five. Minidoka Ranger District 

Today, the Minidoka Ranger District covers an area of more than 604,000 acres in southern 

Idaho and northern Utah and has five divisions that correspond to those of the former 

Minidoka National Forest. These divisions are: Cassia, Albion, Sublett, Black Pine and Raft 

River (the latter is located in northern Utah).287

79 

 286 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 287 4 December 2002, Sawtooth National Forest News Release. 
Administrative Sites, Ranger Stations, and Guard Stations:

The following is a list of administrative sites, ranger stations, and guard stations that are 

currently within the Minidoka (formerly Burley/Twin Falls) Ranger District (see Map Five). 

They are differentiated by whether any administrative improvements were constructed at the 

site, or not. They are listed as ranger stations and/or guard stations if this type of 

improvement was made at the site. If no such improvement were made, they are listed as 

administrative sites only. 

Albion Ranger Station 

The Albion Ranger Station was located on Blocks 5 and 21 of Hunter’s Addition, Albion, 

Idaho on land acquired in 1947. In 1947, rentals were very poor in Albion, and the federal 

government determined that it was advantageous to furnish quarters for the new district 

ranger who was unable to find suitable housing. Originally, the Forest Service desired to 

move a dwelling from the Howell Canyon Guard Station to Albion. However, the Forest 

Service eventually decided to move a dwelling from the Shoshone Administrative Site to 

Albion at a cost of $1,695.00. Additional costs to make the dwelling fairly convenient 

amounted to $2,819.00. In 1950, the dwelling’s basement and furnace were remodeled. In 

the same year, or thereabouts, a garage was erected of panels salvaged from Camp 

Antelope, a former CCC camp on the Toiyabe National Forest at no cost. The garage was 

20’ x 25’ and designed for storage of two cars. There is an Improvement Site Plan (1947), a 

Landscape Plan (1952), and historic photographs for the Albion Administrative Site.288

In 1954, the Forest Service proposed moving the Albion Garage to the Malta Ranger Station 

to be used as a warehouse. Instead, the Forest Service moved a Plan R4-1 Barn from the 

Soldier Ranger Station to the Malta Ranger Station. At the same time, many items were 

removed from the Albion dwelling for use elsewhere, an indication of its demise or sale.289

In 1980, a cultural resource inventory site form (SW-306) was completed with photographs 

for the Albion Ranger Station. It indicated that the dwelling and garage were still extant.290

 288 File: Albion Administrative Site, O Improvements, and Albion Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and Personal Communication from Ray Connelly to 

Richa Wilson, 2003. 289 File: Albion Administrative Site, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 290 File: Albion Ranger Station, SW-306, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 

80 
Beaver Dam Administrative Site 

Albion Ranger Station, n.d. 

The Beaver Dam Administrative Site was withdrawn on 10/16/08 by the GLO and was 

located at T16S, R20E, Sections 11 and 14. This 48-acre site was revoked on 1/9/19.291 

Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Black Pine Administrative Site 

The Black Pine Administrative Site was withdrawn on 5/14/40 and was located at T15S, 

R29E, Section 32. The purpose of the site was to establish and maintain a pasture and 

campsite in connection with range management activities in this part of the Forest.292 

Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Bostetter Ranger and Guard Station 

In July 1906, the Bostetter Ranger Station was one of the first five stations on the Cassia 

Forest Reserve. The others were Buck Flat or Fraser, Trout Creek, Nooning, and Langford 

Flat. Cassia Forest Reserve Supervisor Peter T. Wrensted selected these sites. Supervisor 

81 

 291 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 292 Ibid.; and File: U Administrative Sites, Minidoka, Black Pine, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 
Wrensted had suggested 150 acres in the neighborhood of T14S, R19E, Section 25 for a 

“pasture and camp house.”293 Nonetheless, a different site was withdrawn on 1/9/07 by the 

GLO. Located at T14S, R20E, Section 31, the station was located near the head of Big 

Cottonwood Canyon on a spur road from the Oakley-Rogerson highway 20 miles west of 

Oakley, Idaho. The site consisted of 138 acres, 98 of which were pasture. Bostetter 

Ranger Station was the summer headquarters of the District Ranger who had winter 

headquarters at Oakley, Idaho.294

In 1906-07, the Forest Service constructed a 14’ x 24’ log dwelling on this 138-acre site for 

$500.00. This dwelling was built near the spot where an old cabin belonging to a pioneer 

named Bostetter stood. In 1919,295 the Forest Service built an addition and concrete 

foundation bringing the building’s total cost to $632.43. The original dwelling had a shingle 

roof and was “L” shaped. In 1910, the Forest Service built a shingle-roof, 16’ x 24’, log barn 

($138.00), and a log 10’ x 14’ tool shed with a concrete floor ($40.00). Six years later, the 

Forest Service fenced a 98-acre pasture with juniper posts and wire.296 

No additional improvements occurred until the early 1930s, other than an addition to the 

dwelling in 1926 and fencing additions in 1922. By the early 1930s, the original structures 

were most likely in bad shape due to usage and the harsh climate. For instance, the harsh 

winter of 1917 caused severe damage to the house, barn and other improvements such as 

the fence. At this time, the interior of the house was lined with what they listed as Neponsite 

Board or Beaver Board—a fiber composite board.297

In 1933, the Forest Service built a log root cellar with concrete floor ($70.00). The 10’ x 10’ 

cellar was built from materials from an old log building. Then, in 1934, the Forest Service, 

using ECF ($1061.94) and NIRA Improvement Funds ($495.75), constructed an 18’ x 30’ 

four-stall, Plan R4-11 barn for a total cost of $1,557.69, replacing the older barn, which was 

razed. The new barn had been built in front of the dwelling, but in 1935, it was lifted from its 

foundation and moved to the rear of the lot and a new foundation cast under it.298 

Next, a 1936 Improvement Plan proposed: (1) keeping the current dwelling; (2) building a 

garage (no specified plan); (3) modifying and/or removing several roads and fence lines and 

creating new entrances, car parking, and some flagstone walkways. However, this proposal 

was not acted upon at this time with the exception of adding a Plan R4-20 two-stall garage 

to the site that year.299

In 1952, the old Bostetter Ranger Station (1906), the Plan R4-11 barn (1934) the Plan R4-

20 two-stall garage (1936), and tool shed (1910) still stood on the site, but the dwelling and 

 293 File: Trout Creek Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 294 Bostetter Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 295 Apparently, the original Bostetter Cabin was approximately 300 yards downstream from the Bostetter Ranger Station. It was occupied for 

a time by the trapper’s wife who had chickens and cows. She walked to 18 miles to Oakley to sell her butter and eggs. Ibid. 296 File: Bostetter Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, and Bostetter Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 297 Ibid. 298 Ibid. 299 Ibid. 

82 
tool shed had outlived their usefulness. The old dwelling was in very bad shape and the 

lower logs and floor sills had rotted out. Remodeling and/or repairing this structure were 

unfeasible so the Forest Service razed it, and removed the old tool shed. At this time, the 

Forest Service changed the site from a ranger station to a guard station and converted the 

Plan R4-11 barn into a guard station, which involved extensive remodeling. There are 

blueprints and photographs regarding this project in the files. Because horses were kept at 

Bostetter Guard Station only during the summer, a barn was not considered necessary.300

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were four buildings extant at the Bostetter Guard 

Station (3-bedroom dwelling, garage, storage shed and a pit toilet). All were found ineligible 

for the National Register.301 Current facilities records list a dwelling, a garage/warehouse, 

and a toilet as being constructed in the 1930s.302

Buck Flat Administrative Site 

See Shoshone Ranger Station below. 

Buckhorn Administrative Site 

The Buckhorn Administrative Site was withdrawn on 7/23/08 by the GLO and was located at 

T13S, R20E, Section 19. This 85-acre site was revoked on 1/9/19.303 Nothing more is 

known regarding this site. 

Durham Administrative Site 

The Durham Administrative Site was withdrawn on 11/27/07 by the GLO and was located at 

T14N, R14W, Sections 29 and 30. This 80-acre site was revoked on 12/20/18.304 Nothing 

more is known regarding this site. 

Emery Administrative Site 

The Emery Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 8/11/15 for a ranger 

station to be located on the Goose Creek Division of the MNF. This 150-acre site was 

 300 Ibid. 301 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 302 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 303 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 304 Ibid. 

83 
located at T15S, R23E, Section 26. The character of the land was 40 acres agricultural 

land, 90 acres of pasture, and 20 acres of wasteland. The Forest Service selected this tract 

because there was no other suitable site available for an administrative site in this locality, 

and there was a possibility at a future date temporary quarters would be needed here. 

Emery Creek, a small creek, flowed through the southern part of the area from east to west. 

The area was also valuable to the Forest Service in that it controlled the creek sufficiently to 

insure open water for range stock that grazed on the Forest.305

Flint Administrative Site 

The Flint Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 4/22/18, approved on 

4/24/18, and located at T11S, R30E, Section 22. The Forest Service selected this tract on 

the Sublett Division of the MNF for three reasons: first to ensure a sawmill site for the cutting 

of National Forest timber in the future, second, to ensure that the Forest Service retained 

control of the only water available for several miles, and third, to reserve for the Forest 

Service a future administrative site.306

Fraser Ranger Station 

The Fraser Ranger Station was one of the first five stations on the Cassia Forest Reserve. 

The others were Bostetter, Langford Flat, Nooning, and Trout Creek. See Shoshone 

Ranger Station below. 

Fuller Administrative Site 

The Fuller Administrative Site was located on the Cassia East Division of the MNF at T14S, 

R20E, Section 6. The Forest Service recommended its withdrawal on 9/22/22, which was 

approved on 10/10/22 or 10/20/22. This 85-acre site was selected as a pasture for Forest 

Service officer’s horses when working the north end of this Division. About 20 acres of the 

tract was timbered.307

 305 File: Emery Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 306 File: Flint Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: 

Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 307 File: Fuller Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 

84 
Goose Creek Administrative Site 

The Goose Creek Administrative Site 

was withdrawn on 10/16/08 by the 

GLO and was located at T15S, R19E, 

Section 6. This 30-acre site was 

revoked on 1/9/19.308 Nothing more is 

known regarding this site. 

Gunnell Ranger and Guard Station 

This site along Six Mile Creek was 

named after W.J. Gunnell, a pioneer 

settler who in 1940 still lived in that 

vicinity. The Gunnell Ranger Station 

was recommended for and approved 

for withdrawal on 8/1/08 and was 

originally located in T15S, R28E, 

Sections 15 and 16, at the only 

practical site for a yearlong Ranger 

Station on the west side of the Black 

Pine Division of the MNF. This 217-

acre site was primarily agricultural 

land (80 acres) with the remainder 

good pasture. In September 1908, 

the withdrawal was amended so that the site was entirely located in Section 15, giving it 160 

acres. Six acres of the site were bottomland, which were cultivated and where good crops 

of hay were raised. Another seven acres could be cultivated with some irrigation from a 

nearby creek—Six-Mile Creek. The Gunnell Ranger Station was admirably located for the 

watering of stock and it appeared to the Forest Service that it was possible to winter at least 

twelve head of horses on the site.309

Gunnell Ranger Station, 1910 

In 1909-1910, a station was built as a temporary headquarters for the Black Pine Ranger 

District of the MNF. This shingle-roofed dwelling was an 18’ x 24’, two-room log structure. 

A four-foot porch ran along the full length of the front. The dwelling was constructed for 

$298.00. In 1911, a five-stall log barn measuring 16’ x 32’ was constructed. In 1914, an 8’x 

12’ woodshed was added to the site. In 1915, a 13’ x 19’ tool house and storeroom was 

built of native log, board gables, and shingle roof for $100.00.310 Water rights were 

 308 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 309 File: Gunnell Ranger Station Water Development, O Improvements, File: Gunnell Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Gunnell Ranger Station 

Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 310 File: Gunnell Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, and Gunnell Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

85 
purchased in 1916 from Gunnell, and in 1919-20, water development (cistern and piping) for 

the ranger station followed.311 

In 1936, photographs were taken of the Gunnell Ranger Station showing improvements, 

such as the guard station (1909-1910), barn (1911), and tool house (1915). In 1940, a twoto-five acre fenced pasture was proposed as an overnight sheep campground in connection 

with range management activities,312 and in 1941, the Forest Service developed an 

Improvement Plan for the Gunnell Ranger Station. This 1941 Improvement Plan indicated 

that the site still had the following buildings: dwelling, tool house, barn with attached garage, 

and toilet. The garage and the toilet may have been added to the site during the 1930s, 

because in 1935, the Forest Service added a 14’ x 16’ frame addition to the barn, which 

served as a garage. In October 1951, the barn and garage were sold to William Gunnell 

and removed,313 and in 1952, an improvement plan with photographs indicated that the 

1909-1910 guard station and the 1915 tool house were still extant and in good shape.314

In 1958, the Gunnell Guard Station was photographed again, showing the guard station 

(1909-1910), tool house (1915), and an undated toilet (1915?).315

In 1980, a cultural resource inventory site form (SW-308) was completed with photographs 

for the Gunnell Guard Station. It indicated that the guard station (1909-1910) and tool 

house (1915) were still extant.316 In the early 1980s, the Gunnell Guard Station’s eligibility 

for the National Register was undetermined. However, in 1975, SHPO Merle Wells in a 

letter to the SNF regarding a Forest Service inventory of historic resources in the Black Pine 

Division determined that a storeroom at the Gunnell Guard Station was not eligible for the 

National Register.317 In 1984, an IMACS Site Form (SW-84-625) was completed for the site 

indicating that a tool house (1915) and a pit toilet (1915) were still extant, but ineligible for 

the National Register.318

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there was one building extant at the Gunnell Guard Station 

(shed/tool room). It was found ineligible for the National Register.319 Current facilities 

records may incorrectly list a 1909 storehouse and a 1915 shed at the site.320

 311 File: Gunnell Ranger Station Water Development, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Gunnell Administrative Site, 6440 Property, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 312 File: Gunnell Administrative Site, 6440 Property, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 313 File: Gunnell Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, and Gunnell Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Gunnell Administrative Site, 6440 Property, Burley Ranger 

District, Burley, Idaho. 314 File: Gunnell Administrative Site, 6440 Property, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 315 Ibid. 316 File: Albion Ranger Station, SW-306, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 317 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 318 File: Gunnell Guard Station, SW-84-625, Burley Ranger Station, Burley, Idaho. 319 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 320 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

86 
Hereford Ranger and Guard Station 

The Hereford Ranger Station was located on the Albion Mountain Division of the MNF, 

approximately 7 miles west of Elba, Idaho in Sections 32 and 33, T13S, R24E. Withdrawal 

of 60 acres for the site was recommended by the Forest Supervisor on 9/5/07, requested by 

the Forester on 2/15/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 2/29/08. On 1/28/09, an additional 

33 acres were withdrawn in Section 32, making a total area of 93 acres. The addition was 

selected because the ranger station did not have sufficient pastureland.321

In 1909, the Hereford Ranger Station was built as a summer station for the District Ranger 

who wintered in Elba, Idaho. At that time of its construction date, it was a two-room 14’ x 24’ 

log structure, but had a lean-to addition of two rooms (kitchen and bedroom) added in 1919-

20 along with a front porch to make the house large enough for family use. In 1909, a 24’x 

26’ log barn was also built. In 1922, a frame portion (12’ x 24’) was added to the barn for a 

buggy shed. In 1910, a 12’ x14’ tool house was built as well. These buildings were located 

on the south side of a pasture, the pasture being between the Oakley-Elba road and the 

ranger station. In 1920, a lodgepole corral was constructed on the south side of the barn. 

In 1921, a 5’ x 6’ springhouse was constructed and reconditioned in 1935, and in 1931, the 

pasture was fenced. A 1941 Improvement Plan indicated that the dwelling, tool house, 

springhouse and barn were still extant. A Plan R4-95 gas and oil house, a Plan R4-34 

garage, and flagstone walk and flagpole were proposed as additions to the site.322

In 1984, an IMACS site form (SW-494) was completed on the Hereford Ranger Station. It 

indicated that the site consisted of a dwelling, storage shed, pit toilet, and barn, which were 

all constructed circa 1909-1910. In the early 1980s, the Hereford Guard Station was found 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and D.323 

During the summer of 1985, the Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a 

structures and site analysis of the SNF. In December 1985, SNF Forest Supervisor Roland 

M. Stoleson agreed to make every effort to maintain the Hereford Guard Station site as a 

portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in Southern Idaho. In February 1989, 

a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic 

Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) 

was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was never signed.324 

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were four buildings extant at the Hereford Guard 

Station (dwelling, barn, shed, and toilet). All were found ineligible for the National 

 321 Hereford Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, and File: Hereford Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on 

Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 322 Ibid. 323 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Hereford Guard Station, SW-84-625, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 324 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

87 
Register.325 Current facilities records indicate two buildings remain on the site: a onebedroom house and a barn, both with construction dates of 1909.326

Heglar Ranger Station 

On 6/13/08, the Forest Service realized the need for a ranger station at T11S, R29E, at the 

junction of Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36 near the head of the south end of Heglar Canyon on 

the Sublett Division of the Raft River National Forest. By October of that year, the MNF had 

been formed and sought this area for a ranger station. On 1/7/09, however, the Forest 

Service recommended the withdrawal of a 67.50-acre ranger station site at T11S, R29E, 

Section 4. The Forest Service selected this tract because no other was suitable in this 

locality—the water being very scarce in the region. There were several improvements on 

the site (a squatter 16’ x 36’ two-room log house and corral constructed by Hyrum Walker 

and valued at $125.00), for which the claimant wished to be compensated.327

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there was one building extant at the Heglar Ranger Station 

(barn). It was found ineligible for the National Register. Eventually, it was moved to the 

Sublett Ranger Station (see below).328

Holstein Ranger Station 

See One Mile Ranger Station below. 

Howell Creek [Canyon] Guard Station 

The Howell Creek [Canyon] Ranger Station was developed in 1937. On 6/15/37, the Forest 

Service developed an Improvement and Landscape Planting plan for the Howell Creek 

Guard Station. This plan indicated the presence of a Plan R4-5 dwelling (no date, but likely 

built by the CCC), and proposed development including a Plan R4-24 garage, a flagpole, 

retaining walls, flagstone walkways, new toilet location, gravel driveways, car parking, and 

landscaping. It is not known whether or not these improvements were ever constructed.329 

 325 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 326 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 327 File: Heglar Temporary Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 328 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 329 File: Howell Canyon Guard Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

88 
Nonetheless, on 1/14/41, the Forest Service withdrew a 48.23-acre tract for administrative 

purposes at T13S, R24E, Section 1.330

In August 1948, the Forest Service made known that it wished to move the Howell Creek 

Guard Station to Malta, Idaho because it had not been used very much since its 

construction (10-12 days annually), and that any supervision of this area could be handled 

from the ranger headquarters at Albion, Idaho. Many of the summer homeowners in the 

area, as well as those who used the area for recreational purposes, protested this move. 

They even offered to pay for a part-time recreation guard. Even the Burley Chamber of 

Commerce and Senator Dworshak of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee became 

involved, but to no avail because of the housing shortage in Malta, which needed to be met. 

According to one document, the move of the Howell Creek Guard Station was “part of a 

larger program of moving all of the buildings constructed under CCC for which we had no 

present use, or where their use as year-long quarters had a greater value than short-term 

use in place.”331

In 1950, the Howell Creek Guard Station was moved to the Malta site to serve as a office 

building.332

Indian Camp Administrative Site 

The Indian Camp Administrative Site was withdrawn on 10/16/08 by the GLO and was 

located at T16S, R19E, Section 8. This 67-acre site was revoked on 1/9/19.333 Nothing 

more is known regarding this site. 

Junction Administrative Site 

On 5/22/09, the Junction Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal. This 160-

acre tract was located at T15S, R23E, Section 3 on the Goose Creek Division of the MNF. 

The character of the land was approximately 100 acres of pastureland, two acres of 

agricultural land, and the balance was covered with aspen trees. The Forest Service 

selected this tract as the most suitable ranger station located on the south end of the Goose 

Creek Division. Lake Creek, a natural mountain stream, flowed from the property.334 

Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

 330 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Minidoka, Howell Creek Administrative Site, Information from Architectural Historian Richa 

Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 331 Ibid. 332 Howell Creek Guard Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 333 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 334 File: Howell Canyon Guard Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; 

and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 

4, Ogden, Utah. 

89 
Langford Flat Administrative Site 

The Langford Flat Administrative Site was located at T15S, R18E, Sections 9 and 18 and 

was withdrawn on 1/9/07 by the GLO. The Langford Flat Ranger Station was one of the first 

five stations on the Cassia Forest Reserve. The others were Bostetter, Buck Flat or Fraser, 

Nooning, and Trout Creek. This 170-acre site was revoked on 12/15/08. On 12/15/08, the 

GLO withdrew a 130-acre site at T15S, R18E, Sections 7, 17, and 18 for the Langsford Flat 

Administrative Site. Records indicate that it perhaps existed as late as 1911.335 

Lynn Administrative Site 

On 5/24/09, the MNF recommended that the Lynn Administrative Site be withdrawn for a 

ranger station. This 160-acre site was located at T14N, R16W, Section 28. The Forest 

Service valued this tract as the only suitable place for a ranger station on the west end of the 

Raft River Division. Several springs were thought to provide sufficient water for irrigating 

and a garden. The 160-acre site was withdrawn on 8/18/09.336

Nonetheless, on 2/25/15, the MNF recommended a new Lynn Administrative Site for 

withdrawal as a ranger station. This 250.90-acre site included the previous site along with 

part of Section 29. Approximately 210 acres was pastureland and 30 acres of agricultural 

land. Much of the motivation of this recommended withdrawal was to protect important and 

valuable water sources for public use. The addition to the Lynn Administrative Site was 

approved on 9/17/15, but 40 acres in Section 29 was eventually released.337

Malta Ranger and Guard Station 

Since the establishment of the Sublett-Black Pine District headquarters at Malta in 1926, 

office and dwelling rentals were difficult to obtain and always unsatisfactory to the Forest 

Service. Therefore, on 2/18/49, the Forest Service negotiated a purchase of a 2.35-acre 

administrative site in Malta at T13S, R26E, Section 13. Following this purchase, the Forest 

Service made several improvements to the site. First, in 1949-50, the Forest Service 

constructed a rambler or ranch type dwelling without a basement using a special plan (Plan 

R4-1-C-3) at a cost of $13,183.50. Second, in 1950, the Forest Service moved a Plan R4-5, 

18’ x 30’ building from the Howell Canyon Guard Station and remodeled it for use as an 

office at a cost of $397.00. And third, the Forest Service built a two-car garage using 

material coming from some portable camp buildings secured from CCC Camp Antelope on 

 335 File: Shoshone Ranger Station (Temporary), 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, 

Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 336 File: Lynn Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: 

Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 337 Ibid. 

90 
the Toiyabe National Forest at a cost of $408.64. A two-acre horse pasture with corral was 

also set aside which was necessary for the ranger to make over-night stops with horses in 

Malta. By 1952, the site was properly landscaped based on a 1949 landscaping plan, and 

there were plans to add a Plan R4-34 barn, a warehouse, and a gas and oil building in the 

future. In 1955, a Plan R4-11 warehouse, and an 8’ x 8’ pump house (no standard plan) 

lean-to on the back of the garage were added. In 1958, a second dwelling (plan unknown) 

was added to the site, along with a paint and oil storehouse, an outdoor toilet, a corral, and a 

small weather station.338

Malta Ranger Station, n.d. 

In 1984, cultural resource site forms were completed for the buildings of the Malta Ranger 

Station. They included the 1949-1950 rambler or ranch type dwelling (SW-309-1), 1938 

office (SW-309-2) moved from Howell Canyon, a 1958 dwelling (SW-309-3), a two-car 

garage garage/storeroom moved from the Toiyabe National Forest (SW-309-4), a 1955 

barn/warehouse (SW-309-5), and a prefabricated metal building used as a paint house 

(SW-309-6). By this date, there were also several trailer pads present that had mobile 

homes on them from time to time.339

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were eight buildings extant at the Malta Compound (2-

bedroom dwelling, 3-bedroom dwelling, office, garage/storeroom, warehouse, paint house, 

pesticide building, and new warehouse). All were found ineligible for the National 

 338 Malta Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, and File Malta Station Site, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, 

Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; File: Malta Ranger Station, 6440 Real Property, Burley Ranger Station, 

Burley, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa 

Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 339 Files: Malta Ranger Dwelling, SW-84-309; Malta Ranger Station, SW-84-625; Malta Garage, 6440 Real Property; Malta Ranger Station, 

6440 Real Property, and Malta Warehouse, 6440 Real Property, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 

91 
Register.340 Current facilities records list five buildings constructed in the 1930s, three trailer 

pads (1975), and five buildings built between 1967 and 2002.341

McMullen Basin Administrative Site 

The McMullen Basin Administrative Site was withdrawn on 6/20/08 and was located at 

T13S, R17E, Section 36. This 80-acre site was released on 7/4/08.342 Nothing more is 

known regarding this site. 

Naf Administrative Site 

The Naf Administrative Site was withdrawn on 8/21/09 and was located at T14N, R13W, 

Section 10. This 160-acre site was released on 4/16/18.343 Nothing more is known 

regarding this site. 

Nooning Administrative Site 

On 7/9/06, Cassia Forest Reserve Supervisor Peter T. Wrensted selected a 16-acre site of 

meadowland, formerly known as Nooning Place, for a government pasture for the Forest 

Service. The Nooning, or Nooning Place Administrative Site was located at T14S, R20E, 

Section 15 and was on the former Cassia Forest Reserve. The Nooning Ranger Station 

was one of the first five stations on the Cassia Forest Reserve. The others were Bostetter, 

Buck Flat or Fraser, Langford Flat and Trout Creek. It was withdrawn by the GLO on 

1/9/07.344 

Oakley Guard Station 

On 1/9/36, the Forest Service purchased Lot 3, Block 9 of original townsite of Oakley, Idaho 

(T14N, R22E, Section 4) for an administrative site for a permanent headquarters for the 

Oakley Ranger District. In 1936-1937, the Forest Service made the following 

improvements: a Plan R4-51 office at a cost of $3,478.94; a Plan R4-1 dwelling at a cost of 

$6,778.13; a Plan R4-35 garage and equipment building at a cost of $6,032.21; a Plan R4-

33A garage and storeroom; a Plan R4-20 two-car garage for storage space for the ranger’s 

 340 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 341 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 342 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 343Ibid. 344 File: Nooning Ranger Station, O Improvements, and File: Trout Creek Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor 

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, 

Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

92 
personal car and one office car; and a Plan R4-13A two-horse barn; a Plan R4-95 gas and 

oil house. In addition to these improvements, the site was also fully landscaped at this time, 

including a separate graveled equipment and service yards.345

Interestingly, CCC labor and labor under the ERA were used to build the dwelling, office and 

storeroom, equipment building and shop, barn, and two-car garage. Upon completion of 

these improvements, the Regional Office inspected them and found the workmanship very 

unsatisfactory. According to the inspection report: “...the job could have been better 

organized and that a lot of time has been lost because of improper organization. It might be 

that the carpenter became disgusted with the type of CCC and relief labor that he had and 

tried to do the major part of the work himself, or it may be that the CCC and the relief 

workers did not get proper instructions in carrying out the work. Then we know that this job 

for the most part was handled in the winter when weather conditions were severe, and this, 

no doubt, had its effect on the quality of work accomplished.” In response, Forest 

Supervisor Betenson wrote: “ It is appreciated that the work was done with CCC labor and 

labor under ERA, secured from the Relief Rolls, who were not skilled in much of the work 

which they were required. . . . I think too often we take things for granted and think 

subordinates are familiar with the standards required by the Forest Service, and we later 

find, that due to lack of emphasis on our part, unsatisfactory work is done which is later 

difficult to correct after the unsatisfactory work is discovered.”346 

In 1979, Forest Archaeologist Joseph Gallagher conducted a cultural resources inventory 

report on the Oakley Guard Station in conjunction with a land exchange. This project 

involved the exchange of the property of the Oakley Guard Station and all buildings for 

property of equal value within National Forest lands. At that time, the Oakley Guard Station 

consisted of seven 1937 or later frame structures. The State of Idaho had by this date 

prepared a District nomination for the town of Oakley that included the USFS Guard 

Station.347 The Oakley Guard Station (1936—earliest structure date) was found possibly 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria C by the State of Idaho. The Forest Service 

and the Idaho SHPO disagreed and the decision went to the Keeper of the Register.348 

According to the online National Register inventory, the Oakley Guard Station was 

determined eligible on 1/3/80.349

One Mile [Holstein] Ranger and Guard Station 

The One Mile Ranger Station was located on the Raft River Division of the MNF about five 

miles from Standrod, Utah, and was formerly known as the Holstein Ranger Station. 

Withdrawal of 160 acres at T14N, R14E, Section 9 along One Mile Creek was 

 345 Oakley Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho; File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa 

Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah; and File: U Administrative Sites, Minidoka, Oakley Administrative Site (Purchase), Information from 

Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 346 File: Oakley Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 347 File: Oakley Guard Station Land Exchange, SW-79-147, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 348 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 349 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

93 
recommended by the Forest Supervisor on 11/11/07 and was granted by the GLO on 

12/7/07. The construction of the Holstein Ranger Station was authorized in July 1908, and 

the station was completed in 1909 as a summer station for the District Ranger. The building 

was a combination log and frame structure of four rooms. The log portion was 12’ x 24’ and 

was built first, and a 10’ x 24’ vertical board frame lean-to was added later. At the same 

time, 135 acres was used as a horse pasture. In 1910, a 16’ x 24’ log barn was situated on 

the site, a 10’ x 14’ cellar was added in 1915, and a 12’ x 16’ frame vertical board garage 

was built in 1916.350

No further improvements occurred until the 1930s. At that time, the following improvements 

were made to the site: a 14’ x 16’ log tool house was built in 1933 using Forest Service and 

NIRA funds; a roof, door, and floor was completed for the cellar in 1935; and a Plan R4-70 

toilet was built in 1936 on the east side of the dwelling. In 1941, an improvement plan 

indicated that the Forest Service proposed to remove the old barn and garage, and build a 

new Plan R4-24 closer to the dwelling, but apparently the changes did not happen.351

In 1944, the Forest Service changed the name of the Holstein Ranger Station to the One 

Mile Ranger Station because the local ranchers and stock raisers believed that the name 

“Holstein” suggested that only this type of cattle ranged on this part of the Forest range.352

In the early 1980s, the One Mile Guard Station (1909—earliest structure date) was 

surveyed (SW–83-512) and thereafter found eligible for the National Register under Criteria 

A and D.353 During the summer of 1985, the Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists 

completed a structures and site analysis of the SNF. In December 1985, SNF Forest 

Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson gave a high priority to maintaining the One Mile Guard 

Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in Southern Idaho. In 

February 1989, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the 

Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic 

Preservation (ACHP) was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was never signed.354 

On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were five buildings extant at the One Mile Guard 

Station (dwelling, barn, storage shed, root cellar, and pit toilet).355

In 1997, plans were being made to restore the One Mile Guard Station. However, it was a 

challenge to find support for the cabin’s restoration because it sits in Utah but is part of a 

national forest based in Idaho. Changes were proposed to improve the historic integrity of 

the NRHP-eligible One Mile Guard Station. A plan was approved to restore the cabin. In 

 350 One Mile Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 351 One Mile Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 352 File: U Administrative Sites, Minidoka, One Mile Ranger Station, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, 

Utah. 353 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: One Mile Guard Station, SW-83-512, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 354 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 355 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

94 
1999, a grant was received to finish the interior of the cabin to make it habitable. The Forest 

Service planned to use the building for administrative purposes.356 

Current facilities records list four 1909 buildings (dwelling, barn, storage shed, cellar), and a 

1970 toilet.357

Family in Front of Holstein Ranger Station, n.d. 

Pine Basin Administrative Site 

The Pine Basin Administrative Site was withdrawn on 10/16/08 by the GLO and was located 

at T13S, R18E, Section 26. This 30-acre site was revoked on 1/9/19.358 Nothing more is 

known regarding this site. 

Platts [Pole Canyon] Administrative Site 

The Platts Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 6/18/09 for the Black 

Pine Division of the MNF. This tract was located at T15S, R29E, Section 6. The only 

available water on the east side of the Black Pine Division was Pole Canyon Spring (which 

flows through the tract) and a ranger station was badly needed in that locality. The 

character of the land was pastureland. A 12’ x 14’ log cabin with a dirt roof and no floor or 

 356 File: One Mile Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: One 

Mile Guard Station Rehabilitation, SW-97-fs-0507f, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 357 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 358 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 

95 
windows was located on this tract and claimed by Moroni Stone and his sons. The T.S. 

Platts sawmill, which was constructed under special use permit, was on the north end of this 

tract. On 6/10/09, 23 acres was recommended for withdrawal, but there was no indication 

of approval. Nonetheless, during the summer of 1915, the Forest Service fenced the 

important spring in Pole Canyon and stock watering troughs were installed as well. In April 

1917, it was suggested that the name of the administrative site be changed to Pole 

Canyon.359 Nothing more is known regarding this particular site. 

Point Administrative Site 

The Point Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 8/18/09 under the Black 

Pine Division of the MNF. Named after Point Spring, the Forest Service selected this tract 

for a ranger station as the only suitable tract on the north end of the Black Pine Division, 

where one was needed for the proper administration of the MNF. The 160-acre Point 

Administrative Site was located at T13S, R28E, Section 32. The character of the land was 

20 acres of agricultural land with the remainder as good pasture.360 Nothing more is known 

regarding this particular site. 

Pole Canyon Ranger Station 

See Platts Administrative Site above. 

Rock Creek Ranger Station 

The 198.3-acre Rock Creek site was withdrawn for administrative purposes on 11/27/40 to 

be used for a summer headquarters, but is now used for a summer guard station, and was 

strategically located for the Twin Falls Ranger District in T14S, R18E, Section 25. In 1941, a 

number of improvements were made planned for this site under the CCC program and 

money was allotted for the purchase of the material in fiscal year 1941. They included the 

construction and/or re-siting of the following buildings: a Plan R4-3 four-room dormitory type 

of dwelling of milled log siding finished in oil and varnish stain at a cost of $2,848.03; a Plan 

R4-51 (revised) ranger’s office also of milled log siding at a cost of $2,553.58; a Plan R4-33 

(revised) 24’ x 48’, shingle-roof warehouse finished with plywood walls and ceiling with 

overhead storage space; and the relocation of a Plan R4-11 18’ x 30’, four-stall barn from 

the Shoshone Ranger Station (1933) and a 24’ x 48’ road equipment shed (based on Figure 

535 of the Forest Truck and Trail Handbook) built in 1934. Other improvements constructed 

 359 File: Platts Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 360 File: Point Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: 

Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 

96 
at this time included a fenced pasture and station yard. Little landscaping was necessary 

because of native surroundings. In the end, only minimal CCC labor (112 man days) was 

used on the Rock Creek Ranger Station because the Rock Creek CCC camp moved out in 

August 1941. Thereafter, private carpenters were hired to complete the project along with 

Forest Service personnel.361

In the early 1980s, the Rock Creek Guard Station’s (1933—earliest structure date) eligibility 

for the National Register was undetermined.362 On March 29, 1996, the SNF identified 

those administrative sites found eligible for the National Register. At this date, there were 

four buildings extant at the Rock Creek Guard Station (3-bedroom dwelling, office, 

warehouse and generator shed). All were found ineligible for the National Register.363 

Current facilities records indicate that three 1941 buildings remain (house, bunkhouse, and 

warehouse), a 1947 generator shed, and two 1972 trailer pads.364

Shoshone Ranger Station 

Named after the Shoshone Indians who lived and occupied the region,365 the Shoshone 

Ranger Station was formerly named the Fraser or Frazier Ranger Station, and was also 

known as Buck Flat. In July 1906, Cassia Forest Reserve Supervisor Peter T. Wrensted 

had suggested 120 acres in the neighborhood of T14S, R18E, Section 10 on Buck Flat, 

Shoshone Basin for a ranger’s pasture and cabin.”366 Nonetheless, a different 130-acre 

site, known as the Fraser Ranger Station, was withdrawn on 1/9/07 by the GLO at T14S, 

R18E, Section 8 and 9, and an 110-acre addition located at T14S, R18E, Sections 8 and 9 

was released and approved by the Acting District Forester on 11/4/14. Located 

approximately nineteen miles east of Rogerson, Idaho, the Fraser Ranger Station was built 

in 1907-1908. This 14’ x 22’, two-room log building was built at a cost of $165.00. At the 

same time, a 16’ x 24’, shingle-roof, four-stall log barn and a round horse corral 50’ in 

diameter were also built. Other improvements to the site prior to the 1930s included the 

following: a 12’ x 14’ combination woodshed and tool house (pre-1914); a 170-acre fenced 

pasture; and a five-room frame dwelling (no standard plan) was added to the Shoshone 

Ranger Station in 1929 at a cost of $1,651.00. A hillside cellar was most likely constructed 

 361 Rock Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, File: Rock Creek Administrative Site, 7300 Buildings, and 

Shoshone Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 362 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 363 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 364 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 365 History of the Minidoka National Forest, 24. 366 File: Trout Creek Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 

97 
Fraser Ranger Station, n.d. 

at the same time. By 1929, the Fraser Ranger Station had been renamed the Shoshone 

Ranger Station.367

In the early 1930s, several improvements were made to the Shoshone Ranger Station. 

They included the following: a Plan R4-11 18’ x 30’ barn constructed in 1933; a 12’ x 14’ 

hillside cellar reconstructed in 1933; and a 24’ x 48’ road equipment shed (based on Figure 

535 of the Forest Truck and Trail Handbook) built in 1934.368

Eventually, in 1947, the Shoshone Guard Station was abandoned, and the buildings either 

moved or abandoned by that date. In 1941, the Road Equipment Shed and the Plan R4-11 

barn were moved to the Rock Creek Ranger Station. In 1947, the 1929 dwelling was 

moved to the Albion Ranger Station, but was later sold off in the mid-1950s. In 1947, the 

original 1907 dwelling was the only building remaining at the site. The Idaho Fish and 

Game Department used it under Special Use Permit.369

 367 Shoshone Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize; and File: Shoshone Ranger Station (Temporary), 7300 

Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 368 Shoshone Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho 369 Ibid.; History of the Minidoka National Forest, 18-19; and File: Albion Administrative Site, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, 

Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

98 
In the early 1980s, Regional Archaeologist Evan DeBloois found the Shoshone Guard 

Station (1907—earliest structure date) eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and 

D.370

Sublett Ranger and Guard Station 

The Sublett Ranger Station was approved on 5/22/14 and included parts of Sections 20, 28 

and 29, T12S, R30E. Named after the trapper Milton Sublette, this 118.9-acre building site 

was situated in the forks of two canyons with the main view to the west. Approximately 15 

acres were agricultural land, 100 acres were pasture with a few scattering Douglas fir trees 

and thickets of quaking aspen, and 3.9 acres were wasteland. The tract was posted in July 

1911 and fenced and occupied in 1913. It was selected because there was no other land 

suitable for carrying on the administrative work of the Forest Service. It was centrally 

located for the carrying on of the work and was accessible to the users of the Forest. The 

site was drained by Sublett Creek, which provided a source of domestic water.371

A year prior to the approval of the Sublett Ranger Station, a three-room frame ranger station 

was built and used as the summer headquarters 

for the Sublett Ranger District of the MNF. The 

26’ x 28’ station was constructed was sided with 

rustic tongue-and-groove lumber with a 5’ porch 

across the full length of the front. Other 

improvements were soon added to the site. In 

Fiscal Year 1915, a two room, 14’x 15’ frame 

storehouse and woodshed was built. The 

building cost $154.90. In Fiscal Year 1917, a 

five-stall log barn measuring 16’ x 26’ with a 12’ 

x 16’ frame addition for garage (no date) was 

constructed at a cost of $645.00. Two years 

later, a 10’ x 12’ concrete cellar with a shingle 

roof and trap door was added to the site at a 

cost of $131.34.372

A corral was added to the property in 1929 to 

assist in trapping trespass horses, and to hold 

trespass cattle. The interiors and exteriors of 

each of these buildings were modestly 

upgraded using Forest Service and NIRA funds 

in the early 1930s. A 1941 Improvement Plan 

for the Sublett Ranger Station that the site had a Sublett Ranger Station, 1921 

 370 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 371 File Sublett Guard Station, 6440 Real Property, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho; and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on 

Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 372 Sublett Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

99 
toilet (construction date unknown) in addition to the dwelling, cellar, tool shed, barn with 

garage. The 1941 Improvement Plan proposed the addition of a proposed Plan R4-24 

garage, which was not constructed.373

The Sublett Guard Station (1913—earliest structure date) was surveyed (SW-317) in 

1984.374 During the following summer, the Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists 

completed a structures and site analysis of the SNF. By the end of the year, SNF Forest 

Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson agreed to maintain the Sublett Guard Station site as a 

portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in Southern Idaho. In February 1989, 

a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic 

Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) 

was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was never signed.375 

The SNF evaluated those administrative sites found eligible for the National Register under 

Criteria A and D on March 29, 1996. There were five buildings extant at the Sublett Guard 

Station (dwelling, barn, storage shed, root cellar, and pit toilet). All were found eligible for 

the National Register.376

Current facilities records list the 1909 “Heglar Barn,” four 1913 buildings (house, barn, cellar, 

and storage shed), and a 1970 toilet.377 The Heglar barn was moved to the Sublett Ranger 

Station sometime after 1996.378

Trapper Creek Administrative Site 

On 6/25/08, the Trapper Creek Administrative Site, located at T15S, R20E, Section 1 or 

Section 11, was recommended for approval as an administrative site because no other 

suitable tract in this locality was suitable for a future Ranger Station. This 38-acre site was 

partially drained by Trapper Creek and requested for withdrawal on 7/21/08, and withdrawn 

on 10/16/08 by the GLO.379 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

 373 File: Sublett Guard Station, 6440 Real Property, and File: Sublett Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho; 

and Sublett Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 374 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Sublett Guard Station, SW-84-625, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho. 375 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 376 File: Sublett Guard Station Improvement, SW-94-1610, Burley Ranger District, Burley, Idaho; and File: “Letter Regarding National Register 

Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 377 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 378 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 379 File: Trapper Creek Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; 

and File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Minidoka National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 

4, Ogden, Utah. 

100 
Trout Creek Ranger Station 

The Trout Creek Ranger Station was one of the earliest stations on the Cassia Forest 

Reserve. The others were Bostetter, Buck Flat or Fraser, Langford Flat and Nooning. The 

initial proposed site of the Trout Creek Ranger Station was a 32-acre tract located at T16S, 

R19E, Section 12, which was divided by Trout Creek. Cassia Forest Reserve Supervisor 

Peter T. Wrensted selected this site in 1/9/07. However, this site was never officially 

approved, and was revoked on 9/22/22.380

Meanwhile, a second site was selected at T16S, R19E, Section 16 for use as a temporary 

station for traveling forest officers during field season. A three-strand 80-acre pasture fence 

was authorized for Trout Creek Ranger Station completed in late 1908. MNF Assistant 

Forest Ranger T.R. Peters mapped out Trout Creek Ranger Station site on 4/1/09 a 71-acre 

that lay west and along Trout Creek. Thereafter, a 16’ x 24’, two-room log building was 

constructed at a cost of $533.00 on the west side of the tract.381

Minimal improvements were made on the Trout Creek Ranger Station. They included a 

four-strand barbed wire pasture fence constructed in 1931 at a cost of $151.51. By the 

early 1950s, the dwelling was badly deteriorated and rat infested because no maintenance 

work had been done on this building. Nonetheless, the roof and wall structure of the 

building were in fair condition for the age of the building. A photograph of the Trout Creek 

Station was taken in October 1952.382 Nothing more is known regarding the fate of this 

station.

 380 File: Trout Creek Ranger Station, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 381 Ibid. 382 Ibid. 

101 
D. SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area was created in 1972, well after the closing date of 

this study. 

Administrative Sites, Ranger Stations, and Guard Stations:

The following is a list of administrative sites, ranger stations, and guard stations that are 

currently under the responsibility of the Sawtooth National Recreational Area (see Map Six 

below). They are differentiated by whether any administrative improvements were 

constructed at the site, or not. They are listed as ranger stations and/or guard stations if this 

type of improvement was made at the site. If no such improvement were made, they are 

listed as administrative sites only.

Map Six: Sawtooth National Recreation Area 

102 
Alturas Lake Administrative Site 

The Alturas Lake Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 9/26/07, the 

withdrawal requested on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 147-acre site at T7N, R14E, Sections 17,18,19, and 20 on the 

SNF. The site, which was located along the north shore of Alturas Lake contained no 

timber, but the entire tract was good pasture and tillable. According to a blueprint map of 

the site, a ranger cabin was located on the tract alongside the road to Ketchum, Idaho.383 

The Alturas Lake Administrative Site continued in operation, but by 1916 only had an 

unfenced pasture. However, it lay within the proposed Sawtooth Park at this date.384 In

1929, a list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service indicated that the Alturas 

Lake Administrative Site was not being used.385

Blackman Administrative Site 

The Blackman (misspelled as Blackmon on some documents) Administrative Site was 

recommended for withdrawal on 10/22/08, requested for withdrawal on 11/14/08, but 

returned by the Department of the Interior without action. Nevertheless, a tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 40.70-acre site at T8N, R15E, Section 6 on the SNF as 

withdrawn on 10/22/08. The tract of pastureland was drained by several springs, a creek to 

a small lake, and was selected because no other suitable tract could be located in the 

vicinity. An unnamed trail passed through the northern portion of the tract.386

The Blackman Administrative Site only had an unfenced pasture in 1916,387 and list of 

Forest Service administrative sites indicated that the Blackman Administrative Site was not 

being used in 1929.388

Boulder Administrative Site 

The Boulder Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 9/20/07, the 

withdrawal requested on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 89-acre site at T5N, R16E, Section 12 on the SNF. The tract 

 383 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Alturas Lake Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 384 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 385 Ibid. 386 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Blackman Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 387 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 388 Ibid. 

103 
had no timber, but was suitable for agriculture and/or pasture, was drained by Boulder 

Creek although the Wood River bordered its southern boundary, and it lay along the 

Stanley-Ketchum wagon road.389 

Like the Alturas Lake and Blackman administrative sites, the Boulder Administrative Site 

only had an unfenced pasture and a holding area in 1916. Water was still available from 

either Boulder Creek or the Wood River.390 The Boulder Administrative Site, according to a 

list of Forest Service administrative sites, was not being used in 1929.391

Bowery Ranger and Guard Station and Lookout 

The Bowery Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/23/08, and the 

withdrawal requested on 11/14/08. This site was listed at T9N, R17E, Section 23. The 

Forest Service had selected this 50.10-acre tract because of its location and the quality of 

the grasses growing thereon. A blueprint site map indicates that the East Fork of the 

Salmon River flowed through the tract along with a trail up the Salmon River. The site, 

however, was never withdrawn by the GLO. Apparently, it was discovered that through 

errors in the original recommendation, the location was incorrectly given. The correct 

location of this station was really Section 1, T7N, R16E. This mistake was discovered in 

February 1909. The request was returned by the Department of Interior without action.392

Sometime between 1909 and 1916, the Forest Service approved a 151.42-acre withdrawal 

for the Bowery Ranger Station, which was relocated at T8N, R17E, Section 31.393 The

151.42-acre site was about 1/2 mile above the mouth of West Pass Creek and about five 

miles above the East Fork of the Salmon Road. It was approximately 26 miles by trail from 

the Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station. The Bowery Ranger Station continued in operation, 

but by 1916 only had an unfenced pasture and a holding area. Water was still obtainable 

from the East Fork of the Salmon River.394

The Forest Service built the Bowery Guard Station in 1925, which was used as a summer 

quarters for the administrative guard and for fire control. The Bowery Guard Station was a 

14’ x 20’ log one-room cabin with three windows and one door. The roof was sheeted with 

“rubberoid” roofing and the building cost $423.64. At the same time, a 4’ x 4’, log latrine was 

constructed. A pasture along a portion of the East Fork of the Salmon River was enclosed 

in 1930 with 1.25 miles of fence using 400 treated posts.395

 389 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Boulder Ranger Station, 0 Improvement—Administrative, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 390 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 391 Ibid. 392 File: Bowery Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 393 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 394 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 395 Bowery Guard Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

104 
The Bowery Guard Station was restricted almost entirely to fire control purposes with a 

lookout on a point just above the station in the 1930s. By 1938, the Bowery Guard Station 

and Lookout appears as such on a SNF map of that year.396

During the summer of 1941, a new guard station was built at Bowery to replace the old log 

structure that had served many years. This was made possible by the construction of the 

East Fork Salmon Road from Germania Creek to the Bowery Administrative Site.397

The Bowery Guard Station (1925—earliest structure date) was found eligible for the 

National Register under Criteria A and D.398 During the summer of 1985, the Southern Idaho 

Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a structures and site analysis of the SNF. In 

December, SNF Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson agreed to maintain the Bowery 

Guard Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in Southern 

Idaho. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the Idaho State 

Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

(ACHP) was drafted regarding this and other sites in February 1989, but was never 

signed.399

The SNF identified those administrative sites found eligible for the National Register on 

March 29, 1996. There were eight buildings extant at the Bowery Guard Station (dwelling, 

tack and hay, woodshed, generator house, pit toilet, Tent Frame #158, Tent Frame #258, 

and a vault toilet). Only the dwelling, generator house, and pit toilet were found eligible for 

the National Register.400 Current facilities records list a 1925 woodshed, a 1939 guard 

station, a 1941 toilet, power-plant shelter, two tent-frame houses (both 1958), a 1977 barn 

and a 1993 toilet.401

Champion Creek Guard Station 

The Champion Creek Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 11/20/13, 

the withdrawal requested on 11/26/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/26/13. A tabular 

record of administrative sites lists the 160-acre site at T8N, R14E, Sections 14 and 23 on 

the SNF. The Forest Service selected this site because of its central location in the ranger 

district, its accessibility to the public, its value as a lookout station, and the possibility of its 

making a very desirable permanent headquarters. Champion Creek flowed through the 

 396 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, and Bowery Guard Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist 

Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 397 File: Specific Miscellaneous, 1600—Information Services, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 398 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 399 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 400 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 401 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

105 
property, which had 100 acres of agricultural land and 60 acres of pasture. There also were 

nearby stands of spruce and lodgepole pine.402

The Champion Creek Administrative Site continued in operation in 1916, but only had an 

unfenced pasture. Water was still obtainable from Champion Creek.403 A Forest Service 

list of administrative sites, however, indicated in 1929 that the Champion Creek 

Administrative Site was not being used.404

The SNF evaluated those administrative sites found eligible for the National Register on 

March 29, 1996. At this time, there were three buildings extant at the Champion Creek 

Guard Station (homestead, hay barn and woodshed). Eligibility for the National Register 

was undetermined.405 Current facilities records list a cabin, hay barn, and woodshed, all of 

which were constructed in 1910.406

Decker Administrative Site 

The Decker Administrative Site was withdrawn on 3/9/08. A tabular record of administrative 

sites lists the 91.30-acre site at T8N, R13E, Section 2 on the SNF. The site was revoked on 

5/15/14.407 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Galena Administrative Site 

The Galena Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 9/27/07, requested to 

be withdrawn on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 2/26/08. This 113.16-acre site is 

located at T6N, R15E, Section 7 on the SNF, and not at T6N, 14E, Sections 11 and 12 as 

indicated by a Tabular List of Administrative Sites. The Forest Service selected this tract for 

its exceedingly good pasture. The site lay west of the Stanley-to-Ketchum Road and the 

Salmon River and Camp Creek flowed through the tract.408

The Galena Administrative Site had an unfenced pasture in 1916, and water was available 

from the Salmon River and Camp Creek at this time.409 The Forest Service list of active 

 402 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Champion Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 403 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 404 Ibid. 405 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 406 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 407 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 408 Ibid; and File: Galena Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho. 409 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

106 
administrative sites indicated that the Galena Administrative Site was not being used in 

1929.410

North Fork Ranger Station 

The North Fork Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 1/1/08, requested 

to be withdrawn on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 2/26/08. This 75.50-acre site is 

located at T5N, R17E, Sections 3 and 10 on the SNF. The Forest Service selected this tract 

because the majority of the tract was tillable (60 acres) and because it was conveniently 

located along the Stanley-to-Ketchum Road. In addition to these factors, the North Fork of 

the Wood River bordered on the eastern side of the tract and a timber road passed through 

the parcel.411

In 1916, the North Fork Administrative Site continued in operation. Water was available 

from the North Fork of the Wood River.412 In 1929, a list of administrative sites still held by 

the Forest Service indicated that the North Fork Administrative Site was not being used.413 

Today, this is the site of the current SNRA headquarters. 

Pierson Administrative Site 

The Pierson Administrative Site was withdrawn by the GLO on 11/7/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 125-acre site at T8N, R14E, and Section 35 on the SNF. This 

site was revoked on 2/2/11.414 Nothing more is known regarding this site. 

Pole Creek Ranger and Guard Station 

The Pole Creek Ranger Station Site was recommended for withdrawal on 7/9/08, requested 

to be withdrawn on 8/7/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/7/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 131.46-acre site at T7N, R15E, Section 30 on the SNF. The 

Forest Service selected this tract of agricultural and pastureland because it was 

“exceptionally” well located and had “exceptionally good ground” for a ranger station. It was 

also desirable as a ranger’s headquarters because it was a stock center of the region and 

 410 Ibid. 411 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: North Fork Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 412 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 413 Ibid. 414 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 

107 
had plenty of wood. There also was a plentiful supply of water from Pole Creek, and the site 

straddled the Pole Creek Wagon Road.415

The Forest Service, in July 1908, constructed a 16’ x 28’ gable-ended, two-room, log cabin 

with a one-half pitch, cedar shingle roof and a rock foundation. Materials such as shingles, 

finishing lumber, nails, and concrete blocks for the chimney were hauled to the site from 

Hailey, Idaho, a distance of about 55 miles. The logs were cut locally, but the rest of the 

lumber was hauled from Oregon Gulch, a distance of about 35 miles. The cost of the Pole 

Creek Cabin, along with fencing about 40 acres with posts one rod apart with stays between 

was approximately $375.00. This amount excluded ranger and guard labor costs estimated 

at $346.00 to cut and peel the logs and build the cabin and fence. An increase of authorized 

money was needed to complete the project because the improvement (cabin and fence) 

exceeded the $500.00 per station requirement. In the end, the Pole Creek Cabin cost 

$458.00 alone.416

The Forest Service, in July 1910, added a 22’-6” x 14’-6” barn to the Pole Creek Ranger 

Station. The sum of $114.00 was allotted for the project. Lumber used for the gable ends 

and roof were secured from a neighboring mill. The roof was covered with corrugated iron. 

In the end, the cost of material and labor for the barn was $220.60—far exceeding initial 

estimates.417 

Pole Creek Ranger Station continued in operation, and in 1916, had a ranger station and a 

fenced pasture. Additionally, water from Pole Creek was being used for irrigation and 

station purposes by the ranger and his horses.418 The Pole Creek Ranger Station appears 

as such on a 1926 and 1938 SNF maps.419 

In the early 1980s, the Pole Creek Guard Station (1909—earliest structure date) was found 

eligible for the National Register under Criteria A, B, and D. The Forest Service proposed to 

the Regional Office on 8/7/72 that the Pole Creek Guard Station be listed as a National 

Register site.420

The Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a structures and site analysis of 

the SNF in the summer of 1985. SNF Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson in December 

agreed to maintain the Pole Creek Ranger Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s 

Administrative History in Southern Idaho. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between 

the Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory 

Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) was drafted in February 1989 regarding this and 

other sites, but was never signed.421

 415 Ibid.; and File: Pole Creek Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, and Pole Creek Ranger Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, 

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 416 File: Pole Creek Cabin, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 417 Ibid. 418 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 419 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926; and Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, 

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 420 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 421 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

108 
The SNF, on March 29, 1996, evaluated those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. At this date, there were two buildings extant at the Pole Creek Ranger 

Station (dwelling and modern vault toilet). Only the dwelling was found eligible for the 

National Register.422 Current facilities records indicate both remain on the present-day 

site.423

Pole Creek Ranger Station Under Restoration, 1986 

Redfish Lake Ranger and Guard Station 

The Redfish Lake Ranger Station was withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 99-acre site at T10N, R13E, Sections 34 and 35, and T9N, 

R13E, Section 3. According to this document, the greater part of this area was within the 

CHNF.424 The site was along the Redfish Road overlooking Redfish Lake, approximately 

six miles from Stanley, and about fourteen miles from the Sawtooth Valley Station. The 

purpose of this withdrawal was for use by a forest guard in connection with fire prevention 

and recreational work, holding the area closed for any other purpose.425

 422 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 423 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 424 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 425 Redfish Guard Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho. 

109 
The Redfish Lake Ranger Station had an unfenced pasture in 1916, and water was 

obtainable from Lake Creek.426 A list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service, 

however, indicated that the Redfish Lake Administrative Site was not being used in 1929.427

The site remained unimproved until 1933. Several buildings were erected at that time for 

administrative purposes in association with the development of the Redfish Campgrounds 

as headquarters for a recreation and fire patrolman. They included the following: a Plan R4-

7 guard station, a Plan R4-23 garage-storeroom, and a Plan R4-70 latrine. EC and NIRA 

funds, as well as CCC labor was used to construct these buildings, which were completed 

between 1933 and 1935.428 In 1938, the Redfish Lake Guard Station appears as such on a 

SNF map of that year.429 An April 1942 improvement plan indicated that the Redfish Lake 

Guard Station had the following facilities: R4-7 dwelling, R4-23 garage and woodshed, R4-

70 toilet, and a flagpole in front of the dwelling.430 An addition of 4.35 acres was made to 

the site in 1949, which was needed as headquarters for a Fire Control Aide, stationed at this 

location during the summer months.431

In the early 1980s, the Redfish Lake Guard Station’s (1925—earliest structure date) 

eligibility for the National Register was undetermined.432 The Southern Idaho Zone Forest 

Archaeologists completed a structures and site analysis of the SNF during the summer of 

1985. SNF Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson, thereafter, agreed to maintain the 

Redfish Guard Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative History in 

Southern Idaho. A February 1989 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest 

Service, the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation (ACHP) was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was never 

signed.433 In the same year, Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologist Joseph Gallagher 

inspected the property to identify immediate needs to protect the property and plan for any 

restoration.434

The SNF, on March 29, 1996, identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. There were two buildings extant at the Redfish Guard Station (dwelling, 

and a pit toilet) at this time. All were found eligible for the National Register.435 Current 

facilities records list them with construction dates of 1936.436

 426 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 427 Ibid. 428 Redfish Guard Station Improvement Plans, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 429 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 430 Intermountain Region Administrative Site Improvement Plans, 1934-1952—Redfish Lake Guard Station, Bound, Weber State University 

USFS Library/Store Room, Ogden, Utah. 431 File: U Administrative Sites, Sawtooth, Redfish Lake Administrative Site, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah. 432 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 433 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 434 File: Pole Creek Ranger Station—Cultural Resource Management Success Stories, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, 

Ketchum, Idaho. 435 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 436 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

110 
Russian John Ranger Station, 1920 

Russian John Ranger and Guard Station 

The Russian John Ranger Station was recommended for withdrawal on 9/29/07, requested 

to be withdrawn on 2/14/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 3/3/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 88.20-acre site at T6N, R16E, Section 31, and T5N, R16E, 

Sections 5 and 6 on the SNF. The Forest Service selected this tract because it was 

comprised of 60 acres of tillable area—the rest being pastureland. The Wood River flowed 

past the northeastern boundary of the tract, and a road to Ketchum traversed the tract as 

well.437

In 1916, the Forest Service operated from the Russian John Ranger Station, which had a 

pasture by that date. Additionally, water from Dooley Creek was being used for irrigation 

and station purposes by the ranger and several horses for four months of the year.438 The

pasture was fenced with barbed wire in 1929.439

Several improvements were made to the Russian John site. The following buildings were 

completed in 1934: a Plan R4-7 office and dwelling, a Plan R4-33 equipment and 

storeroom, a Plan R4-70 toilet, a bath house, a paint house, and a woodshed. These 

 437 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Russian John Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 438 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 439 File: Russian John Guard Station, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 

111 
improvements were paid for through NIRA funding.440 The Russian John Guard Station 

was noted as a Guard Station and appears as such on a 1938 SNF map.441 An

Improvement Plan dated October 21, 1940 indicates that by this date the site also had a 

bathhouse and springhouse. At this time, a bedroom, bath and basement were added to 

the dwelling. A landscape-planting plan was developed in March 1941 and thereafter most 

likely implemented.442

The Russian John Guard Station (1934—earliest structure date) was found eligible for the 

National Register under Criteria B In the early 1980s.443 On March 29, 1996, there were six 

buildings extant at the Russian John Guard Station (office/dwelling, warehouse, storeroom, 

woodshed, pit toilet, and bath house). Eligibility for the National Register was undetermined 

for all buildings.444 Current facilities records list six 1934 buildings at this site (house, bath 

house, paint house, toilet, warehouse, and woodshed).445

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station, Lookout, and Work Center 

On 9/20/33, the Forest Service purchased an 80-acre site for the Sawtooth Valley Ranger 

Station located at T8N, R14E, and Section 9 for $400.00. Prior to its purchase by the Forest 

Service, for some 8-10 years, the Forest Service had maintained a lookout from the ridge 

crest thereon—even though the land was privately owned. At periods of high fire hazard, an 

additional guard had been used as a smoke chaser from the same point.446

A number of other buildings were completed here, which was selected as the headquarters 

for the Sawtooth Valley Ranger District in 1933. The site was more centrally located than 

the Pole Creek Ranger Station the previous headquarters station. These building were built 

using ECF and NIRA funds as well as some CCC labor, and they included the following: a 

Plan R4-2 ranger dwelling (modified with full basement, and bedroom on first floor replaced 

with bathroom with shower and other modifications); a Plan R4-7 guard station, a Plan R4-

11 four-horse barn with pole corral, a Plan R4-21 two-car garage and storeroom, a Plan R4-

66 woodshed, a Plan R4-33 shop and storeroom (modified with right hand door facing the 

shop blocked in solid and a small panel door installed), and a Plan R4-70 single unit toilet. 

Other improvements included a lumber shed (no standard plan), gas pump and concrete 

 440 Russian John Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National 

Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and File: Russian John Bath House, File: Russian John Guard Station, File: Russian John Paint House, File: 

Russian John Pit Toilet, File: Russian John Warehouse, and File: Russian John Woodshed, Sawtooth National Recreation Area 

Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 441 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 442 File: Russian John Guard Station, O Improvements, and Russian John Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize,

Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; File: Russian John Bath House, File: Russian John 

Guard Station, and File: Russian John Paint House, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 443 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 444 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 445 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 446 Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth 

National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

112 
base, gravel or shale drives, and a flagpole.447 The Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station and 

Lookout appears as such on a 1938 SNF map.448

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station, 1940 

The Sawtooth Valley Work Center’s (1933—earliest structure date) eligibility for the National 

Register was undetermined until the early 1980s.449 The Southern Idaho Zone Forest 

Archaeologists completed a structures and site analysis of the SNF, and thereafter in 

December 1985, SNF Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson agreed to maintain the 

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station site as a portion of the Forest Service’s Administrative 

History in Southern Idaho. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest 

Service, the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation (ACHP) was drafted in February 1989 regarding this and other sites, 

but was never signed.450 

The SNF, on March 29, 1996, identified those administrative sites found eligible for the 

National Register. There were fourteen buildings extant at the Sawtooth Valley Work 

Center (ranger dwelling, office, barn, woodshed, shop/bunkhouse, gas and oil house, 

garage/storage, small bunkhouse, bunkhouse complex, vault toilet, Trailers #1, #2, and #3, 

and well house). All were found eligible for the National Register with the exception of the 

 447 File: Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, 

Idaho; and Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station Improvement Plans and Photographs, Oversize, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office,

Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho 448 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 449 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 450 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 

113 
bunkhouse complex, Trailers #1, #2, and #3, and well house.451 Current facilities records 

list eight 1930s buildings and five buildings constructed between 1969 and 1991.452

Senate Administrative Site 

The Senate Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 10/23/08, and 

requested to be withdrawn on 11/14/08, but returned by the Department of the Interior 

without action. A tabular record of administrative sites lists the 50.70-acre site at T6N, 

R15E, Sections 2 and 11, but incorrectly lists an approval date of 10/23/08. The Forest 

Service selected this tract because the land was considered exceptionally good pasture 

ground and excellently located for a ranger station. Senate Creek drained the site.453

In 1916, the Senate Administrative Site continued in operation, but only had a fenced 

pasture. Water was still available from Senate Creek.454 A list of administrative sites still 

held by the Forest Service indicated that the Senate Administrative Site was not being used 

in 1929.455

Tuck-A-Way Storage Building 

Facilities records lists this 1940 storage building to be located nine miles south and three 

miles east of Stanley, Idaho at T8N, R14E, Section 6.456 Nothing more is known regarding 

this site. 

Valley Creek [Stanley] Ranger and Guard Station 

The Valley Creek Ranger Station started out as the 160-acre Stanley Ranger Station 

located at T10N, R13E, Section 7, which was withdrawn by the GLO on 6/24/08, but was on 

the Challis National Forest (CHNF) at the time. This site was revoked on 8/11/13. There is 

no indication that it was ever developed. However, on 11/1/09, a 20.36-acre site in T10N, 

R13E, Sections 3 and 4 was approved as the Valley Creek Ranger Station. In 1909, a 

ranger station was built on this site. On 6/15/14, after the Stanley Ranger Site had already 

been revoked, an addition consisting of 74.12 acres in T10N, R13E, Section was added to 

 451 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 452 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 453 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Senate Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 454 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 455 Ibid. 456 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

114 
the Valley Creek site.457 By 1926, the Valley Creek Ranger Station appears as such on a 

SNF map of that year, but under the jurisdiction of the CHNF.458

Valley Creek Ranger Station, 1981 

The original Valley Creek Ranger Station (1909) was removed in 1933. Meanwhile, a set of 

new buildings was being constructed on this CHNF site. They included a telephone officegarage (1929), a machine shop (1932), a new ranger station (1932-33), a barn (1933), a 

woodshed-cellar (1933-34), and an oil house (1935-36). Later the machine shop and oil 

house were moved elsewhere, but the rest remained. The post-1933 buildings were 

constructed by the CCC and were rustic in style.459 The Valley Creek Ranger Station 

appears as such on a 1938 SNF map of that year.460

The Valley Creek Ranger Station was part of the CHNF until 1972, when it was transferred 

to the newly created Sawtooth National Recreation Area of the SNF.461

In the early 1980s, the Valley Creek Ranger Station (1931—earliest structure date) was 

found eligible for the National Register under Criteria.462 It was listed in the National 

Register on 12/15/82, but mistakenly as the “Stanley” Ranger Station, and not the Valley 

Creek Ranger Station. According to the nomination, it is an “excellent and well-preserved 

example of Forest Service log architecture from the CCC period of the 1930s.”463

During the summer of 1985, the Southern Idaho Zone Forest Archaeologists completed a 

structures and site analysis of the SNF. Forest Supervisor Roland M. Stoleson agreed in 

December of that year to maintain the Valley Creek Ranger Station site as a portion of the 

 457 Ibid. 458 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1926, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 459 File: Valley Creek Caretaker’s House, 6440 Real Property, and File: Valley Creek Woodshed/Icehouse, 6440 Real Property, Sawtooth 

National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 460 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 461 File: Valley Creek Caretaker’s House, 6440 Real Property, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 462 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 463 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

115 
Forest Service’s Administrative History in Southern Idaho. In February 1989, a 

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Forest Service, the Idaho State Historic 

Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) 

was drafted regarding this and other sites, but was never signed.464 

The Valley Creek, or “Stanley” Ranger Station was no longer needed by the late 1980s, and 

a local interest group, the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association (SIHA), took over 

the site and restored the CCC-era buildings. The Valley Creek Ranger Station complex was 

occupied by the SIHA by 1993 under a Memorandum of Understanding with the SNF. At 

that time, the SIHA operated a small museum in the ranger station building, which featured 

exhibits of artifacts of local history.465

On March 29, 1996, there were four buildings extant at the Valley Creek Guard Station 

(dwelling/museum, barn, caretaker house, ice house).466 Current facilities record list the 

following four buildings on this site: ranger dwelling, caretaker’s dwelling, and 

icehouse/woodshed built in 1931, and a barn built in 1935.467

Meanwhile, the present-day (and correctly name) Stanley Ranger Station was developed 

three miles south of Stanley in the 1960s. This site was withdrawn as 167.29 acres in 

T10N, R13E, Section 22 by Public Land Order (PLO) 3537 in 1965. This was 

supplemented by PLO 4334 (11/29/67), which withdrew 66.26 acres in Sections 22 and 27. 

In 1968, another PLO revoked 132.69 acres of the site. Current facilities records indicate 

there are thirty-two buildings, structures, and trailers that provide housing, storage and 

administrative space. Many date from the 1960s and 1970s, although there is a gas and oil 

house that was moved there from the Valley Creek Ranger Station.468

Vienna Administrative Site 

The Vienna Administrative Site was recommended for withdrawal on 7/10/08, requested to 

be withdrawn on 8/7/08, and withdrawn by the GLO on 11/7/08. A tabular record of 

administrative sites lists the 34.78-acre site at T6N, R14E, Sections 21 and 22 on the SNF. 

The Forest Service selected this tract of pastureland because no other locality could be 

found and because Smiley Creek provided ample water for domestic purposes. In addition, 

the Vienna-Ketchum Wagon Road bordered the western boundary of the site.469

 464 File: Administrative History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 465 File: Valley Creek Caretaker’s House, 6440 Real Property, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 466 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 467 Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 468 Ibid. 469 File: Tabular Record of Administrative Sites on Sawtooth National Forest, Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, 

Ogden, Utah; and File: Vienna Ranger Station, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin 

Falls, Idaho. 

116 
An unfenced pasture existed at the Vienna Administrative Site in 1916 and water was still 

obtainable from Smiley Creek.470 A list of administrative sites still held by the Forest Service 

indicated that in 1929 the Vienna Administrative Site was not being used.471

Fire Lookouts:

Horton Peak Lookout 

The Forest Service first reported on the withdrawal of the Horton Peak Lookout 

Administrative Site in 1942. This report stated that this 4.79-acre site of very poor grazing 

land with some scattered timber was located at T7N, R14E, Section 6. The Forest Service 

selected this tract as the principal fire lookout for the Sawtooth Valley District because it was 

a prominent location overlooking timbered areas across the valley. Based on this report, the 

Forest Service withdrew the site on 12/30/42.472

In the early 1980s, the Horton Peak Lookout’s (1938—earliest structure date) eligibility for 

the National Register was undetermined.473 The SNF identified those administrative sites 

found eligible for the National Register. On March 29, 1996, there were two buildings extant 

at the Horton Peak Lookout (lookout and pit toilet). Both were found eligible for the National 

Register, and are listed on current facilities records.474

Lookout Mountain Lookout 

Lookout Mountain Lookout was located in T10N, R14E, Section 13. In 1938, the Lookout 

Mountain Lookout first appears as such on a SNF map of that year. A house nearby may 

have been used unofficially as the lookout.475 

In 1944, the Forest Service proposed the withdrawal of the Lookout Mountain Lookout site. 

According to a report of date, a 32-acre site in T10N, R14E, Section 13 was selected for a 

Forest Service lookout with enough pasture to keep the ranger’s or packer’s horses for 

several nights during the fire season. By this date, a permanent lookout building had been 

constructed on the peak and had been used for some time as a primary lookout. From this 

point, one could see all of the Sawtooth range along with the Whiteclouds, Stanley Basin, 

the Upper Sawtooth Valley, and the Salmon River area.476

 470 File: Stations, 1919-1921, L Status—Stations, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 471 Ibid. 472 File: Horton Peak Lookout, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 473 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 474 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 475 Map of Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, 1938, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; and 

File: Lookout Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 476 File: Lookout Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 

117 
The Lookout Mountain Lookout’s (1933—earliest structure date) eligibility for the National 

Register was undetermined until the early 1980s.477 The lookout was evaluated for its 

cultural resource value along with the Horton Peak Lookout in 1986478 The SNF identified 

those administrative sites found eligible for the National Register. There were two buildings 

extant at the Lookout Mountain Lookout (lookout and a pit toilet) on March 29, 1996. 

Eligibility for the National Register was undetermined at this time.479 

 477 File: Pre-1941 Sawtooth NF Administrative Structures, Sawtooth Miscellaneous Reports, 7300 Buildings, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho. 478 File: Lookout Mountain Lookout, 7300 Buildings, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, Ketchum, Idaho. 479 File: “Letter Regarding National Register Eligibility of Sawtooth Administrative Sites,” 29 March 1996, Information from Architectural 

Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

118 
Appendix A: Timeline 

1811 First recorded non-Native American entry into the area when the Astoria 

expedition on their return trip camps near Burley, Idaho and calls the Raft 

River “Trout River.” 

1843-1851 Immigration to Oregon and California passes through southern half of presentday Sawtooth National Forest at several points. 

1860s Sawtooth Mountains is named by immigrants passing through the region 

because of the jagged peaks along the range, which, when observed along the 

skyline resembled a huge saw blade lying on its back. 

1862 May 15: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is established. 

General P.E. Connor and a colony of people build Fort Connor at Soda 

Springs. 

1863 March 3: Idaho Territory is organized. 

1869 First cattle arrive in Southern Idaho. 

1874 First sheep brought into southern half of present-day Sawtooth National Forest 

at Heglar Canyon on the Sublett Division. 

1875 September 10: American Forestry Association is formed. 

1879 Prospectors and permanent settlers move into Wood River County after Native 

Americans are vanquished. 

1879-80 Formation of first mining towns such as Galena (1879), Hailey (1880), 

Ketchum (1880), and Vienna (1880). 

1881 Division of Forestry is established in the USDA. 

1886-91 Evident that range on southern half of present-day Sawtooth National Forest is 

overcrowded and good range conditions could not be maintained due to dry 

years and the severe winter of 1886-87. 

1890-97 Numbers of sheep being grazed increases rapidly, reaching peak in about 

1897 creating a heavily overstocked situation. 

1891 March 3: Forest Reserve Act is passed, giving the President power to 

establish forest reserves from public domain. 

119 
March 30: President Benjamin Harrison creates first forest reserve 

(Yellowstone Timberland Reserve), which is administered by the GLO in the 

Department of the Interior (DOI). 

1893 President Harrison leaves office after creating 15 reserves compiling 13 million 

acres. Grover Cleveland adds 5 million acres to forest reserve area. 

1897 February 22: President Cleveland creates 13 forest reserves including the 

Teton Forest Reserve. 

June 4: Congress passes the Organic Act, which specifies the purposes for 

which forest reserves can be established, their administration and protection. 

The act allows hiring employees to administer the forests and opens the 

reserves for use. 

1898 July 1: Gifford Pinchot succeeds Bernard Fernow as Chief of the Division of 

Forestry. 

1899 February 28: Act is passed allowing recreational use on the forest reserves. 

1901 USDA Division of Forestry is renamed the Bureau of Forestry. A new Division 

of Forestry is created in the DOI’s General Land Office. 

1902 The Minnesota Forest Reserve is established. It is the first forest created by 

Congress and not by Presidential proclamation. 

1905 February 1: Forest reserves are transferred from DOI to USDA. 

March 3: Act is passed renaming the Bureau of Forestry as the Forest Service 

(USFS), effective July 1, with Gifford Pinchot as Chief. 

May 29: Creation of the Sawtooth Forest Reserve, Idaho with an area of 

1,947,520 acres. 

June 12: Creation of the Cassia Forest Reserve, Idaho, corresponding to the 

present-day Cassia Division. 

Publication of the first USFS manual, The Use Book, which codifies laws, 

regulations and standards for administration. 

1906 June 8: American Antiquities Act is passed, authorizing protection of 

antiquities and features of scientific or historical interest on land owned or 

controlled by the Government. 

June 11: Homestead Act is passed, allowing agricultural lands within forest 

reserves to be available for homesteading purposes. 

120 
November 5: Raft River Forest Reserve is established and includes the 

present-day Raft River Division in Utah, the Goose Creek (later called Albion 

Mountain), Black Pine and Sublett divisions. 

November 6: By proclamation, President Roosevelt adds 1,392,640 acres to 

Sawtooth Forest Reserve. 

Pinchot organizes the forest reserves into three inspection districts. 

1907 March 4: Forest Reserves are renamed National Forests. Establishment or 

enlargement of forests in six western states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, 

Montana, Colorado and Wyoming) is forbidden except by Act of Congress. 

The three inspection districts are reorganized into six districts. District Four’s 

headquarters are in Salt Lake City. 

1908 February: Sawtooth National Forest is split into East and West divisions. 

May 23: Act is passed to require 25% of all money received by national 

forests be paid to States to benefit public schools and public roads of counties 

containing national forests. 

June 26: Challis National Forest is created out of portions of the East Division 

of the Sawtooth National Forest, the Salmon River National Forest, and the 

Lemhi National Forest. 

July 1: By Executive Order #858, 2,128,240 acres are eliminated to create the 

Boise National Forest out of the West Division of the Sawtooth National Forest 

with headquarters at Boise, Idaho. Land is also transferred to the newly 

created Challis, Lemhi, and Payette national forests. 

July 2: By Proclamation, President Roosevelt combines the Raft River and 

Cassia forest reserves and renames them the Minidoka National Forest with a 

total area of 736,407 acres. 

1910 January 7: Gifford Pinchot is fired by President Taft and replaced by Henry S. 

Graves. 

May 6: President William H. Taft eliminates 97,322 acres from Minidoka 

National Forest. 

Act is passed authorizing the President to reserve public lands for irrigation or 

waterpower sites. 

1911 March 1: Weeks Act is passed, authorizing federal and state cooperation in 

forestry and fire protection, as well as government purchases of land in the 

headwaters of navigable streams and of forestland in the East. Leads to 

121 
numerous additions to and eliminations of national forest lands. Forest 

boundaries are moved to ridgelines. 

1913 May 19: By Presidential Proclamation, Woodrow Wilson transfers a portion of 

the Sawtooth National Forest west of Stanley, Idaho to the Challis National 

Forest. 

1915 March 15: The term lease law is passed, allowing permits for stores, hotels, 

summer homes, and other structures on national forests. 

Strong support for recreational development. 

USFS Branch of Research is established. 

1916 First USFS campground is constructed. 

1918 June 30: Recomputation of Sawtooth National Forest indicates 1,177,821 

acres. 

1922 March 20: Act is passed, allowing the exchange of land in national forests for 

private land within forest boundaries. 

May 15: An addition was made to the Albion Mountain Division increasing the 

total area of the MNF to 13,956 acres. 

1924 June 3: First wilderness area is established on the Gila National Forest in New 

Mexico. 

June 7: Clarke-McNary Act is passed, expanding the 1911 Weeks Act 

authority for Federal-State cooperation in fire protection and forestry efforts. 

Allows purchases of forestlands in watersheds, not just the headwaters, of 

navigable streams. 

1928 April 10: Act of Congress (Public Law 252) 8,724 acres are added to the 

Sawtooth National Forest. 

Woodruff-McNary Act is passed, providing money for more land purchases. 

McSweeney-McNary Act is passed, establishing a ten-year forestry research 

program and survey of forestry resources. Establishes regional experiment 

stations. 

1929 May 1: “Districts” are renamed “regions” to avoid confusion with ranger 

districts. 

1931 June 30: Recomputation of Sawtooth National Forest indicates 1,191,934 

acres. 

122 
1932 September 21: By Executive Order #5925, several additions and eliminations 

are made between the Sawtooth, Boise, and Challis national forests. 

1933 April 5: Office of Emergency Conservation Work is established. 

April 17: First CCC camp is established on the George Washington National 

Forest near Luray, Virginia. 

May 12: Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA or ERA) is 

established. Included a Works Division that later became the WPA. 

Forest Service sends the Copeland Report to the Senate, calling for a 

comprehensive management plan for the national forests, including plans for 

trails, recreation facilities, administrative facilities and lookouts. 

1934 June 28: Taylor Grazing Act is passed; ending unregulated grazing on 

national forests. 

1935 April 8: Emergency Relief Appropriations (ERA) Act is passed, permitting 

funding and operation of CCC camps. 

June 30: Recomputation of Sawtooth National Forest indicates 1,246,354 

acres. 

Works Progress Administration is created from the Works Division of FERA. 

1935-40 Sun Valley Ski Resort is established with support of the Forest Service. 

1937 June 28: Emergency Conservation Work is renamed Civilian Conservation 

Corps. 

October 12: Sawtooth Primitive Area (200,942 acres) is set aside from the 

Boise, Challis, and Sawtooth national forests to perpetuate wilderness 

conditions for historical, recreational, and aesthetic reasons. 

1941 Magic Mountain Ski area gains importance. 

1942 June 30: CCC is eliminated. 

1944 April 14: By administrative order, the Soil Conservation Service transfers 4,498 

acres of land located within the MNF to the Forest Service. 

1946 The General Land Office and the Division of Grazing, both in the DOI, are 

combined to form the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 

1950 April 24: Granger-Thye Act is passed, upholding USFS authority to regulate 

and collect grazing fees. 

123 
1953 July 1: Minidoka National Forest (SO in Burley) is combined with Sawtooth 

National Forest (SO in Hailey) and new SO is established in Twin Falls, Idaho. 

1955 Golden Anniversary of the Forest Service. 

1957 “Operation Outdoors,” a five-year expansion and renovation plan for recreation 

facilities, is implemented. 

1960 Congress passes the Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act directing Forest 

Service to develop and administer the renewable resources (recreation, 

forage, water, timber and wildlife) on the National Forests for sustained yield. 

1972 August: Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) is established. 

124 
Appendix B: Personnel 

SAWTOOTH NF PERSONNEL, 1906-1945 

The information below regarding the Sawtooth National Forest personnel is derived from the 

following sources: (1) File: History, O Improvements, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor 

Office, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, Idaho; (2) File: Specific Miscellaneous, 1600—

Information Services, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho; (3) File: Sawtooth National Forest (Open files), 1650—Contacts and 

Other Historical Data, Archaeologist Office, Supervisor Office, Sawtooth National Forest, 

Twin Falls, Idaho; (4) No Author, History of the Sawtooth National Forest (Hailey, Idaho: 

Sawtooth National Forest, 1941); and (5) Information from Architectural Historian Richa 

Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

Sawtooth National Forest Supervisors, 1906-1945 

Benedict, Miller S. 

Miller S. Benedict began his career on the Toiyabe National Forest as a guard in 1908, advancing to ranger 

and, in 1909 to Forest Supervisor. In 1910, he became Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Boise National Forest. 

This was followed by a short stint as Idaho Forest Supervisor (1914) and as the fourth Sawtooth Forest 

Supervisor (1916-17). He joined the war effort and by June 1917 was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 

Tenth Engineering Regiment (Forestry). Benedict returned from World War I in 1919 to work on the Lassen 

National Forest in California for a few months. He then served again as Forest Supervisor of the Sawtooth 

National Forest from 1920 until at least 1935. At this time, he was transferred to the Caribou National Forest as 

Supervisor, and then in June 1938 he became Supervisor of the Targhee National Forest. Eventually, he was 

transferred to the Regional Office, I & E. He retired in 1946 and lived in Ogden. By 1958, Benedict was living in 

Clarkdale, Arizona. 

Briggs, Alonzo Eugene “Gene” 

Alonzo Eugene “Gene” Briggs was born and raised on a farm and livestock ranch in southeast Idaho, and 

became a forest ranger on November 18, 1924 at the age of thirty. His assignments included the following: 

Forest Ranger, District 2 (Grays Lake), Caribou National Forest, 1925-26; Forest Ranger, District 2 (Idaho 

Falls, Idaho), Caribou National Forest, 1927; Forest Ranger, District 1 (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Caribou National 

Forest, 1928; and Senior Forest Ranger, District 1 (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Caribou National Forest, 1929-31. His 

next job was District Ranger of the Warren District on the Idaho National Forest, then the Kamas Ranger 

District on the Wasatch National Forest. Briggs became Assistant Forest Supervisor for the Nevada National 

Forest on March 1, 1937. A year later, he was sent to Reno for two months before he was transferred back to 

Ely as the Forest Supervisor for the Nevada National Forest. He started in this position on August 1, 1938 and 

finished on November 1, 1945 when he transferred to Burley, Idaho as Forest Supervisor of the Minidoka 

National Forest. While in Ely, Briggs was very active in the community, serving as President of the Ely Lions 

Club and Chairman of the White Pine County Civil Defense Council. He also wrote the civil defense 

emergency fire protection plan that was used by all of the counties throughout the state. Briggs retired in 1956 

and was living in Ogden in 1958. He later wrote the book, Memoirs of a U.S. Forest Ranger, which was widely

distributed. He died in December 1971. 

125 
Daugherty, Charles or “Chas” 

In 1918, Charles Daugherty entered the Forest Service as a trail and telephone line foreman on the Challis 

National Forest. He served in that capacity until 1921 or 1922, when he was assigned to Assistant Ranger 

work. Daugherty was in charge of various ranger districts on the Challis from 1923 to 1931. Thereafter, from 

1932 to 1935, he was District Ranger (Greenhorn and Ketchum districts) on the Sawtooth National Forest, and 

from 1936 to 1938, he was Assistant Supervisor for the Sawtooth. He was transferred to the Targhee National 

Forest as Assistant Supervisor during January 1939. He returned to the Sawtooth National Forest as 

Supervisor in July of the following year, and in January 1943, Supervisor Daugherty was transferred to the 

Guayule Rubber Project with its headquarters at Los Angeles, California. 

Fenn, F.A. 

Technically, F.A. Fenn was the first Supervisor of the Sawtooth National Forest, having served in that position 

from July to December 1906. At this time, headquarters were located at Boise, Idaho. From the Sawtooth 

National Forest, Fenn transferred to northern Idaho. 

Grandjean, Emil A. 

Born October 31, 1867 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Grandjean was a third-generation trained forester of French 

Huguenots ancestry. He immigrated to the United States in 1883, ending up in the Wood River Valley and 

Salmon River country of Idaho. After spending some time in Alaska, he returned to Idaho in 1899. His father 

and grandfather served as Chamber Councilor to the King in Forestry and First Master of the Hunts of the 

Crown's Forests. When the Sawtooth NF was created in 1905, he applied and was hired as a forest guard, 

and after a few months, he became an assistant ranger on the Payette. 

Eventually, Grandjean returned to Sawtooth as a ranger (1907), but after a year he became the Forest 

Supervisor of the Sawtooth and Payette forests. When the Payette and Weiser became part of the Sawtooth 

and a separate Boise National Forest was established (1908), Grandjean became the second Supervisor of the 

Sawtooth National Forest with headquarters at Boise, Idaho. He served in that capacity only a very short time 

before he was put in charge of the Boise National Forest until about 1922. At that time, he was offered the 

Supervisor position on the Nevada National Forest but declined. He was demoted to Deputy Forest Supervisor 

on the Boise. Consequently, he resigned in October 1922 and later moved with his family to Caldwell, Idaho. 

He died in August of 1942. 

McPheters, Herbert G. 

Herbert G. McPheters began as a Guard on the Weiser (1906), and then worked on the Sawtooth National 

Forest as an Assistant Ranger (1906-1907). In 1908, H.G. McPheters served as the first Deputy Forest 

Supervisor of the Sawtooth National Forest and held that position until 1917 when he became the fifth Forest 

Supervisor for the Sawtooth National Forest. He held this position during World War II (1917-1919). In 1919, 

he was transferred and records indicate that he was Assistant Supervisor on the Kaibab. In 1925, he was 

transferred to the Salmon National Forest as Assistant Supervisor. During the spring of 1926 he was killed in a 

car accident along the Salmon River. 

Moore, F.S. 

In 1935, F.S. Moore became the seventh Forest Supervisor for the Sawtooth National Forest, and served at 

that post during the New Deal years until 1940. He entered the Forest Service as a Clerk on the Payette 

National Forest about 1909. He served as Clerk, Ranger, and Deputy Supervisor of the Payette National 

Forest, and then Supervisor of the Caribou National Forest from April 1928 to April 1935. In July 1940, he was 

transferred to the Boise National Forest as Supervisor. He retired in 1949. 

126 
Woods, Clarence N. 

Clarence N. Woods began working on the Shoshone Division of the Yellowstone Forest Reserve in July of 

1902 as a second-class ranger. He worked on the Teton National Forest before he was sent to Elko in 

February 1907 to take charge of the Ruby Mountains and Independence forest reserves, which later became 

the Humboldt National Forest. After ten months, Woods was promoted to become the third Forest Supervisor 

of the new Sawtooth National Forest, operating from Hailey, Idaho. He served in that position until 1914. For 

over thirty years thereafter, he served in the Region Four office in such positions as Inspector of Grazing, 

Assistant Regional Forester in charge of Operations, and Associate Regional Forester. Woods became 

Regional Forester in January of 1939 and retired from the Forest Service in 1944. He was community oriented, 

serving as director of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, a Rotary club official, and a member of the Boy Scout 

council and the Ogden Safety Council. 

Sawtooth Deputy Supervisors, Rangers, Assistant Rangers & Other Personnel, 1906-1945

Bailey, C.A.

Road Foreman, Sawtooth National Forest (1925-1940). 

Beal, Robert P.

In May 1941, Robert P. Beal was transferred to the Sawtooth National Forest from the Wasatch National Forest 

and placed in charge of the Greenhorn District. However, in June 1941, he was called to the Army, and for the 

balance of the year there was no ranger in charge of the Greenhorn District. The work on the District was 

handled out of the Supervisor’s Office. 

Berry, Arthur H. 

Arthur H. Berry entered the Service as a Guard in 1923. Thereafter, he served in the following positions: 

Ranger, District #2 (Flowers, Ketchum, Idaho) Sawtooth National Forest (1924-1934), Ranger, District #1 

(Greenhorn, Hailey, Idaho) Sawtooth National Forest (1935), Ranger, District #3 (Pole Creek, Obsidian, Idaho) 

Sawtooth National Forest (1936-1937), Ranger, and District #3 (Sawtooth Valley, Hailey, Idaho) Sawtooth 

National Forest (1938-1941). He retired from the Forest Service on December 31,1957 and thereafter lived in 

Hailey, Idaho. 

Bowman, Richard F. 

Richard Bowman served as Senior Clerk on the Sawtooth National Forest from 1921 to 1931. In May 1931, he 

was transferred to the Nevada as Clerk. Later, he transferred to the Targhee National Forest, where he served 

until at least 1941. 

Bradley, Glenn S.

Glenn S. Bradley entered the Forest Service as a laborer in a trail crew on the Salmon National Forest in 1923, 

and a year later was assigned to roadwork on the Challis National Forest, and then to a trail crew on the 

Salmon National Forest. From 1925 to 1928 he worked on the Salmon National Forest as a Guard, lookout, as 

laborer on trails, roads, telephone lines, creosote treating plants, and various other field jobs. He was assigned 

to the Copper Creek District on the Salmon National Forest as Ranger In 1929, and transferred in 1936 to the 

Sawtooth National Forest as Ranger, District #5 (Shake Creek, Pine, Idaho). He served until at 1950. 

127 
Brado, Glen

Glen Brado entered the Service in 1934 as Guard at the Hunter Creek Ranger Station on the Sawtooth 

National Forest. Thereafter he served as Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn, Hailey, Idaho) Sawtooth National 

Forest (1936-1940). In May 1941 Brado was transferred to the Targhee National Forest and placed in charge 

of the Heise Ranger Station. However, in July 1941, Ranger Brado transferred back to the Sawtooth National 

Forest to be in charge of the Ketchum District. 

Butler, Lester

Ranger, District #5 (Shake Creek) Sawtooth National (1915-1917). 

Butler, O.M.

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest, Boise, Idaho (1908). 

Dodge, Leslie E.

Deputy Forest Supervisor, Sawtooth National Forest (1917-1918). 

Dremolski, L.A.

L.A. Dremolski entered the Forest Service in 1925 as a trail crew member on the Wenatchee National Forest, 

Region 6. Thereafter, he served as the following over the next few years: 1926-1927, Guard, Wenatchee 

National Forest, and Assistant Ranger, Wenatchee National Forest; 1928-1930, Field Assistant, Ashley 

National Forest. Thereafter, he served on the Sawtooth National Forest in the following positions: Junior 

Ranger Examiner (1930-1935), Ranger, District #2 (Ketchum, Idaho) (1936-1937), Assistant Range Examiner 

(1938-1940), and Assistant Forest Supervisor (1941-1942). When Forest Supervisor Daugherty was 

transferred to the Guayule Rubber Project with its headquarters at Los Angeles, California in January 1943, 

Assistant Supervisor Dremolski was left in charge of the Sawtooth as Acting Supervisor. 

Evans, Charles F. 

Appointed from Wisconsin, Evans worked as a forest assistant in the regional office in 1912. He became a 

Forest Examiner on the Palisade in 1914, was transferred to the Ashley in 1915, then to the Lemhi in 1917. He 

was Forest Supervisor there from at least 1918 until 1922 when he went to the Division of Operations (it is not 

clear if this was at the WO or the RO). While there, he worked as a National Forest Examiner, then a District 

Forest Inspector, until at least 1925. 

Garner, L.H.

L.H. Garner served as Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn, Hailey, Idaho) Sawtooth National Forest (1930-1931), 

and then transferred to the Challis National Forest.

 

Garver, Raymond D. 

An appointee from Nebraska, Garver worked as a forest assistant in the RO from 1912 to 1914. He then 

worked as a Forest Examiner for the Wasatch (1914), the Lands Department (1915-18), the Cache (1918-19), 

and the Uinta (1919-20). He became the Minidoka's Forest Supervisor in 1920, and then transferred to the 

RO's Grazing Office as a Senior Administrative Officer in 1924. Garver transferred to the Forest Products 

Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin in 1925. 

128 
Gilman, John

Ranger, District #2 (Flowers) Sawtooth National (1918). 

Gray, Charles T. 

Gray was a Guard, then a ranger on the Sawtooth (1906-10) and a ranger on the Boise (1910-1918). He 

resigned in 1918, but returned as a ranger on the Idaho in 1921 where he remained until at least 1925. 

Gray, Frank E. 

He was a guard on the Sawtooth in 1907-08. He also worked as a ranger on the Boise from 1909 until he 

resigned in 1918. After two years, he returned to work as a ranger on the Idaho in 1920. He was still there in 

1924. He retired from the Forest Service on May 31, 1945. 

Griffith, A.R.

A.R. Griffith served as Ranger, District #2 (Flowers, Ketchum, Idaho) Sawtooth National Forest (1920-1922) 

and then resigned. 

Grimshaw, Donald

Assistant Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1938). 

Hays, A.L.F.

A.L. F. was Clerk on the Sawtooth National Forest from 1935 to 1936. In 1937, he was transferred to the 

Wasatch National Forest and by 1941 was Clerk on the Humboldt National Forest. 

Heineman, T.F.

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest (1913). 

Hendrickson, S.C.

Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1914-1917). 

Hintz, Henry C.

Henry Hintz was one of the early Rangers on the Sawtooth National Forest. Records indicate that he worked 

on the Forest as a Ranger for District #2 (Soldier) (1906-1908). He passed away during 1908. 

Hitchcock, Lester E.

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest (1911). 

Hopke, E.S.

E.S. Hopke was the first clerk for the Sawtooth National Forest, serving for four years (1910-1913). By 1941, 

he was in the Regional Office in Portland, Oregon. 

129 
Horton, W.H.

W.H. Horton, one of the earliest Rangers, entered the Service as a Guard in 1908. He served on the Pole 

Creek District until he retired in 1929, due to ill health. His service included the following: District #3 (Pole 

Creek) (1908-1919), and District #3 (Pole Creek, Ketchum, Idaho) (1920-1929). He died in California about 

1935. 

Ivie, Alden S.

Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn) Sawtooth National Forest (1915-1918). 

Ivie, Ray

One of the earliest rangers on the Sawtooth National Forest, Ray Ivie started out as a Ranger in 1908. His 

service included the following: Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn) (1908-1914), and Ranger, and District #2 

(Flowers) (1915-1917). He resigned in 1917. 

Jensen, N.C.

N.C. Jensen served as Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn), Sawtooth National Forest (1920-1924, and 1926-

1929), and resigned thereafter. 

Johnson, R.B.

R.B. Johnson served as Ranger, District #5 (Shake Creek, Featherville, Idaho) (1931-1935). In 1937, he was 

promoted to Assistant Supervisor of the Challis National Forest. In 1942, he transferred to the Bridger National 

Forest, Kemmerer, Wyoming as Forest Supervisor. 

LeFlang, Walter

Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn), Sawtooth National Forest (1919). 

Locke, Samuel B.

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest (1911), Deputy Forest Supervisor, Sawtooth National Forest (1912-

1914). 

Mallory, Martyn

Ranger, District #2 (Flowers), Sawtooth National Forest (1919). 

Millard, Ned

Ned Millard served as Ranger, District #3 (Pole Creek, Obsidian, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest (1933-

1935). In 1936, he transferred to the Targhee National Forest as a Ranger, a position he held until at least 

1941. 

Minear, J.D. “Ed”

130 
“Ed” Minear entered the Service in 1908, working under Ranger Henry C. Hintz. His service on the Sawtooth 

National Forest from 1909 to 1937 was spent on several districts where he rendered loyal, faithful, and efficient 

service for a long period of years as a ranger. It included the following: District #2 (Soldier) (1909-1914), District 

#4 (Soldier) (1915-1919), and District #4 (Soldier, Fairfield, Idaho) (1920-1937). 

Mink, Oscar W.

Oscar W. Mink worked on the Sawtooth as a Guard (1913-16) and Ranger (1916). He then transferred to the 

Humboldt where he was a Ranger (1917-18) and Deputy Forest Supervisor (1918-21). Some Humboldt 

records suggest he was Jarbidge District Ranger (1916-19) and Deputy Forest Supervisor (1919-21). Mink 

then went to the Weiser National Forest as Deputy Forest Supervisor (1921-23) and Forest Supervisor (1923). 

From 1923 until at least 1926, he was the Lemhi Forest Supervisor. 

Moody, Virgil C.

Virgil C. Moody served as Ranger, District #2 (Flowers, Ketchum, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest (1923), and 

then transferred to the Clearwater National Forest in Region 1. 

Osborn, A.T.

A.T. Osborn served as Ranger, District #5 (Shake Creek), Sawtooth National Forest (1918-1919), and Ranger, 

District #5 (Shake Creek, Featherville, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest (1920-1925). 

Potter, Arthur

In 1917, Arthur Potter entered the Forest Service as a Guard on the Payette National Forest. After various 

assignments on the Payette, in 1925, he was transferred to the Boise National Forest as Assistant Supervisor. 

In 1937, he was transferred to the Targhee National Forest as Assistant Supervisor, and in 1939, he became 

the Assistant Forest Supervisor, Sawtooth National Forest (1939-1941). 

Prevol, W.J.

W.J. Prevol entered the Forest Service on February 1, 1929 as Junior Clerk-Stenographer on the Wyoming 

Forest; was transferred to the Nevada Forest on July 5, 1930; and then was transferred to the Sawtooth 

National Forest as Principal Clerk. He held this position from 1932 to 1934, and then served as Administrative 

Assistant from 1935 to at least 1941. 

Price, Harold

Prior to his assignment to the Sawtooth National Forest, Harold Price worked on the Humboldt National Forest 

doing grazing survey work. In 1932, he worked as a Junior Ranger Examiner, Sawtooth National Forest. By 

1941, he was working for the Intermountain Range and Experiment Station in Utah. 

Priest, Walter L.

Senior Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1919-1920). 

Ritter, Ed

After spending several years as Ranger, District #3 (Pole Creek, Obsidian, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest 

(1931-1932), Ed Ritter transferred to Region 7 where he was located at least until 1941. 

131 
Rutledge, Richard H. 

Rutledge may have been hired as early as 1903. His appointment record shows in 1905-06 he was a Guard 

and an Assistant Ranger on the Sawtooth, Payette and Weiser forests. In early 1907 he became Assistant 

Supervisor of the Coeur d'Alene and Palouse forests. He then went to Missoula (Region 1) as Chief Officer of 

Operation (1908-1910), and Assistant Regional Forester (1910-1919), and Regional Forester (1919-1920). He 

returned to Region 4 as Regional Forester, a position he held from 1920 until 1938. He left in 1938 to became 

Chief of the Grazing Division (now BLM) in the Department of the Interior. 

Ryder, Frank J. 

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest, Hailey, Idaho (1909-1911). 

Saling, Wallace M.

Wallace Saling entered the Forest Service in 1923 on the Clearwater National Forest as a sheep driveway 

patrolman. In 1924, he was a lookout and smoke chaser on the Clearwater, and in 1925, he was a Trail 

Foreman on the Clearwater National Forest. He was grazing survey crew member on the Cache and Uinta 

national forests in 1926. By 1929, he was appointed Junior Range Examiner on the Boise National Forest, and 

was detailed to the Regional Office on insect control work on the Wasatch National Forest. After stints on the 

Idaho, Payette, and Weiser national forests at various positions, in 1934 he was assigned to the Minidoka 

National Forest as Ranger. In 1937, he was transferred to the Sawtooth National Forest as Ranger in charge 

of District #4 (Soldier, Fairfield, Idaho) until at least 1941. 

Shaw, Ora J.

Ora J. Shaw served as Ranger, District #1 (Greenhorn), Sawtooth National Forest (1925), and Ranger, District 

#5 (Shake Creek, Featherville, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest (1926-1928 and 1930). 

Smith, Harold E.

Harold E. Smith entered the Forest Service as a CCC Voucher Clerk on the Boise National Forest in 1935. He 

received a Civil Service appointment in 1937 and transferred to the Challis National Forest as Warehouse 

Clerk. In 1939, he transferred to the Sawtooth National Forest as Clerk and held that position until at least 

1941. 

Stewart, John T.

Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1936-1939). In the spring of 1939, he was transferred to the Regional Office 

at Ogden, and was Clerk there until at least 1941. 

Van Meter, T.H.

T.H. Van Meter entered the Forest Service working on the Targhee National Forest conducting timber sale 

work. Thereafter, he ended up working on the Sawtooth National Forest serving in the following positions: 

Ranger, District #5 (Shake Creek, Featherville, Idaho) (1929) and Assistant Forest Supervisor, (1931-1932). 

He was transferred to the Wyoming Forest in 1932 as Assistant Forest Supervisor. In 1934, he became 

Assistant Supervisor of the Payette National Forest. He was assigned to the Regional Office in Personnel 

Management and Fire Control Work in 1937 and during 1939, he was in charge of the Boise River Flood 

Control Project. In the spring of 1940, he became Supervisor of the Payette National Forest. 

132 
Van Winkle, H.H.

H.H. Van Winkle served as Ranger, District #3 (Pole Creek, Obsidian, Idaho), Sawtooth National Forest (1930). 

Having served one year on the Sawtooth, he transferred to the Lemhi National Forest (now Challis National 

Forest), and by 1941 was working on the Boise National Forest as Assistant Forester. In 1944, he transferred 

to the Teton National Forest as Assistant Forest Supervisor. 

Walgren, L.R.

Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1918). 

Walston, Russell

Assistant Clerk, Sawtooth National Forest (1938-1940). 

Wilber, C.P.

Forest Assistant, Sawtooth National Forest, Hailey, Idaho (1909). 

Winkler, Orval E.

Orval Winkler first entered the Forest Service in 1922 as a road crew member. Between 1924 and 1937, he 

was seasonally employed on the Kaibab and then the Sawtooth national forests. In 1937, he was appointed as 

Assistant Range Examiner on the Cache National Forest. Thereafter, he served as Ranger, District #2 

(Ketchum, Idaho) Sawtooth National Forest (1938-1942). Ranger Winkler was transferred to the Wasatch 

National Forest with headquarters in Evanston, Wyoming in July 1942, where he served for 19 years. 

133 
MINIDOKA NF PERSONNEL, 1906-1945 

The information below is derived from the following sources: (1) No Author, History of the 

Minidoka National Forest (Twin Falls, Idaho: Minidoka National Forest, 1941) and (2) 

Information from Architectural Historian Richa Wilson, Region 4, Ogden, Utah. 

Minidoka National Forest Supervisors, 1906-1945 

Arentson, Carl B. 

An Idaho native, Arentson was raised on a ranch. He worked in the mines and in the freighting business. His 

formal education consisted of five months at a Boise business college and some correspondence courses that 

he took while in the Forest Service. He was Acting Supervisor after only three years with the Forest Service. 

Nine years later, he was Wasatch Forest Supervisor from 1916 to 1919. This was followed by a similar stint on 

the Cache National Forest from 1922-1936. He then went to the Minidoka National Forest and became the 

seventh for a short time (February-June 1937). Thereafter, he became supervisor of the Bridger National 

Forest from 1937 to 1949. By the early 1950s, he was living in Logan Canyon, Utah in the summers and 

California in the winters. There is an oral history interview with him by Arnold Standing recorded in 1965. 

Betenson, Blaine 

Sixth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1935-1937). 

Briggs, Alonzo E. 

Tenth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1945-). See Sawtooth National Forest Supervisors, 1906-

1945 above. 

Campbell, Walter M. 

Campbell climbed the USFS career ladder, starting as a forest guard on the Weiser Forest Reserve in 1906. 

By the time he left the forest in 1914, he was a Deputy Forest Supervisor. He then served as third Forest 

Supervisor of the Minidoka (1914-1920), and then as Supervisor for the Boise (1920-1922), the Cache (1922, 

for 6 months), and the Uinta (1922-1924) national forests. 

Garver, R.D. 

Fourth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1920-1923). 

Mathews, John T. 

Ninth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1942-1945). 

McCoy, William 

Second Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1908-1914), operating from Oakley, Idaho. 

134 
Price, Curtis E. 

Eighth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1937-1942). 

Stewart, Sidney S. 

Fifth Forest Supervisor, Minidoka National Forest (1924-1935). Appointed from Indiana, Stewart worked as 

Forest Assistant on the Kaibab (1909-1911), and LaSal (1911-1913) national forests. In 1913, he went to the 

Salmon National Forest as Deputy Supervisor. He remained in this position until 1917 when he transferred to 

the Regional Office's silviculture branch as Forest Examiner. Stewart became supervisor of the Minidoka on 

July 1, 1924. He retired from Forest Service on November 30, 1941 and lived in Salt Lake City. 

Stokes, J. Warrington 

Stokes, appointed from Pennsylvania was a Forest Assistant on the Targhee (1911-13) before he became a 

Forest Examiner and assigned to the Palisade National Forest (1913-14). His appointment record indicates he 

worked on many forests throughout the region from 1911 until 1917 when he became Deputy Supervisor of the 

Minidoka National Forest. He transferred to Region 8 in the summer of 1918 but returned as the Minidoka's 

Deputy Supervisor in late 1919. He was promoted to Supervisor in 1920, a position he held until 1923. (He 

had several extended periods of leave without pay through 1922.) Stokes transferred to the Boise in 1923 

where he was Assistant Forester until at least 1925. He retired from the Forest Service on September 30, 1946 

- possibly due to a disability - and lived in Ogden. 

Wrensted, Peter T. 

On March 7, 1904, Peter Wrensted became the Forest Supervisor for the newly created Pocatello Forest 

Reserve. His appointment, then under the General Land Office, was at a salary of $75 per month. One of his 

primary jobs was to determine his district boundaries and to regulate grazing to protect the water quality of the 

City of Pocatello. From 1905 to 1907, his duties grew to include not just the Pocatello Forest Reserve, but also 

the Cassia and Raft River forest reserves. His headquarters were in Pocatello, Idaho, and in 1906, a letter from 

Gifford Pinchot congratulated Wrensted, stating “I am very glad indeed to be able to congratulate you on your 

good work.” On March 15, 1907, Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot notified him that he was placed in charge of the 

new Portneuf Forest Reserve, 100,000 acres east of Pocatello City, Idaho. In 1906, he was became the first 

Forest Supervisor for the newly established Minidoka National Forest (1906-1908). In 1908, he was made 

Supervisor of the Pocatello National Forest, operating from Pocatello, Idaho. 

Minidoka Rangers & Other Personnel, 1906-1947 

Albion Mountain—Forest Ranger 

1907-1913 George H. Severe 

1913-1914 Clarence Nelson 

1914-1916 R.E. Clabby 

1916-1924 Henry L. Smith—Smith worked on the Weiser as a Guard (1913) and Assistant Ranger (1914-

16). He was a ranger on the Minidoka (1916-24), as well as Deputy Forest Supervisor (1924) 

and Principal Clerk (1924-25) on the Idaho National Forest. He transferred to the Challis in 

1925 in the position of Senior Clerk. Smith retired on June 30, 1949 and lived in Challis, 

Idaho. 

1924-1926 M.F. Youngblood 

135 
Albion Mountain and Raft River—Forest Ranger 

1926-1932 M.F. Youngblood 

1932-1947 Wallace S. Averill—Wallace Averill began his career on the Wyoming National Forest as 

assistant ranger in 1909 and by 1911 was employed as a guard there. His appointment 

records suggest he did not work for the Forest Service from the Fall of 1911 until September 

1918 when he was hired as a ranger on the Weiser. The following year, he transferred to the 

Cache, working on the Paris RD until 1932. By that year, he was a ranger on the Minidoka 

National Forest. He retired on March 31, 1947, and his residence was Albion, Idaho. 

Black Pine Division—Forest Ranger 

1908-1911 Bert Mahoney—Mahoney was a Guard on the Cassia (1907) and an Assistant Ranger on the 

Raft River (1908-09) Forest Reserves. He held the titles of Assistant Ranger (1909-12) and 

Ranger (1912 until at least 1925) on the Minidoka National Forest. Mahoney retired on June 

30, 1940 and lived in Burley, Idaho. 

1911-1914 Wallace Hale 

1914-1915 Marion Johnson 

1915-1916 Simon Kinney 

1916-1917 ? Wallace 

1917-1920 Harry G. Kersey 

1920-1921 William H. Taft 

1921-1923 Chas. R. Boosinger 

East Cassia Division—Forest Ranger 

1907-1909 Fred Critchfield 

1909-1912 Fred Bach 

1912-1916 Simon Kinney 

1916-1934 Edwin E. Stock— He was a Guard on the Caribou (1909), an Assistant Ranger on the Boise 

(1910-16), and ranger on the Minidoka. 

1936-1937 Wallace Saling 

1937-1939 A.K. Wogensen 

1939- Christian E. Jensen—According to personnel records, he was a ranger on the Minidoka from 

1920 until at least 1924. Jensen was a ranger on the Mink Creek (aka Preston) District of the 

Caribou National Forest (1936-39) and by 1940 was again a ranger on the Minidoka. 

Raft River—Forest Ranger 

1907-1923 John Henry Kroencke—According to his obituary (Deseret News, 5 March 1964), Kroencke 

was born May 28, 1877 in Hamm Hanover, Germany to Claus and Henrietta Kemme 

Kroencke. After his first wife, Hertha Martha Benne, died, John married Lina Rosa Kanzleiter. 

He was hired as a guard, then assistant ranger, on the Raft River National Forest (1907-10), 

then worked on the Minidoka as assistant ranger (1910-13) and ranger (1913-23). Kroencke 

became the Enterprise District Ranger on the Dixie National Forest in 1923, but was 

suspended and then fired in 1925. He died at the age of 86 at his home in Pioche, Nevada. 

136 
Raft River and Black Pine—Forest Ranger 

1923-1926 Chas. R. Boosinger 

Sublett Division—Forest Ranger 

1908-1909 Bill Oliver 

1909-1911 Charles L. Castle 

1911-1926 Bert Mahoney 

Sublette and Black Pine—Forest Ranger 

1926-1937 Bert Mahoney 

1937-1941 Charles H. McDonald 

1941- Lawrence H. Garner 

West Cassia Division—Forest Ranger 

1907-1915 George D. Crockett 

1915-1920 S.A. Buchanan 

1920-1936 C.E. Jensen 

1936-1945 Elmer C. Ross—Ross was employed on the Sawtooth as a guard (1907) and 

Deputy/Assistant Ranger (1908-12). He was promoted to Ranger on the Payette (1912-14), 

then Boise (1914-18) forests. He transferred to the Regional Office where he worked as a 

telephone examiner (1918-19) and National Forest Examiner (1919-20). Ross was then sent 

to the Weiser as Deputy Supervisor (1920-24) and Senior Ranger (1924 until at least 1926). 

He retired on February 28, 1945 and lived in Twin Falls. 

Forest Clerks 

1907-1912 Truman R. Peters 

1912-1916 H.G. Harris 

1916 R.B. Haskell 

1917 Howard J. Stratford— He was a clerk on the Humboldt (1917-18), Minidoka (1918), and Lemhi 

(1919-23). He left in 1918 to join the Army, returning in February of 1919. Stratford 

transferred to Region 6 in 1923. 

1917 Edward Pfferley 

1918-1920 Mabel Sturgis— She was a Clerk on the Minidoka (1918-20), Boise (1920-22), and Regional 

Office (1922 until at least 1923). 

1920-1928 Evelyn Ferrin 

1928-1929 I.R. Richardson 

1929-1930 Evelyn Ferrin 

1930-1935 Hugh E. Wilmot 

1935-1937 Lewis E. Darby 

1937- Byron K. Herndon 

137 
Forest Assistants, Forest Examiners 

1906 G.E. Clements, Pocatello 

1913-1917 Charles D. Simpson— Simpson came to Region 4 from Minnesota, working on the Minidoka 

as a Forest Assistant (1913-15), Examiner (1915-1917), and Deputy Supervisor (1917). He 

was appointed Supervisor of the Caribou (1917-19), then transferred to the RO Operations 

division as Forest Examiner (1919-1920) and Assistant Regional Forester (1920-23). 

Simpson transferred to Region 1 on April 16, 1923. In 1965, he was retired and living in 

Baker, Oregon. 

Timber or Grazing Survey Workers 

C.H. Burrage, Thorton G. Taylor, Dale M. Rustay, Milo H. Deming, D.E. Romano, and Nils Eckbo 

Romano, Dominick E. 

Dominick E. Romano was a ranger on the Minidoka (1921), Nevada (1921-22), and Salmon (1922 until at least 

1926) forests. He retired on June 30, 1951 and lived in Ogden, Utah. 

Rustay, Dale M. 

He was appointed from Pennsylvania to the Minidoka as a forest assistant in 1920. He became a Ranger in 

1922 and was transferred to the Humboldt, where his title was changed back to Forest Assistant. Later that 

year, he worked for short periods on the Boise and Targhee forests. In 1923, he was assigned to what appears 

to be a section of the Regional Office. Rustay continued to hop around, working on the Wyoming, Challis and 

Cache Forests in 1923-24, possibly as Deputy Forest Supervisor. He became Ranger on the Cache in July of 

1924 but resigned from Forest Service the following April. 

Taylor, Thornton G. 

Taylor was appointed from Massachusetts to Region 4 where he was a Forest Assistant on various forests 

from 1921-24. These included the Minidoka, Fishlake, Wyoming, Fillmore, and Targhee. He became Ranger 

on District 7 (Hawley Gulch) of the Targhee in 1924 and was still in that position in 1926. In "The History of 

Engineering in the Forest Service," Henry Shank wrote that Taylor joined him as part of a timber survey party. 

Taylor was "fresh out of Yale and with a Boston accent . . . and had never before been west of the Hudson 

River. He endured much from other members of the party.” He went on to be dean of the School of Forestry at 

Utah State University. 

138 
Appendix C: Administrative Sites 

ADMINISTRATIVE SITES BY NAME 

Name Township/Range/Section Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

Albion Ranger Station 12 S 25 E 6 1947 12/23/1947

Alturas Lake Ranger Station 7 N 14 E 17 1908 3/3/1908

Baker Ranger Station 5 N 16 E 29 1908 10/23/1908

Bald Mountain Lookout 4 N 17 E 27 1921 3/6/1942

Basin Stock Corral 14 N 23 E 4 1947 3/15/1947

Beaver Dam Ranger Station 16 S 20 E 11 1908 10/16/1908

Big Creek Ranger Station 4 N 15 E 30 1908 10/23/1908

Big Peak Creek Ranger Station 5 N 15 E 30 1908 10/23/1908

Big Smoky Ranger Station 3 N 13 E 2 1906 12/13/1906

Black Pine Ranger Station 15 S 29 E 32 1940 5/14/1940

Blackman Ranger Station 8 N 15 E 6 1908 10/22/1908

Boardman Ranger Station 2 N 13 E 19 1908 8/27/1908

Bostetter Guard Station 14 S 20 E 31 1906 1/9/1907

Boulder Lakes Administrative Site 9 N 16 E 14 1956 12/20/1956

Boulder Ranger Station 5 N 16 E 12 1908 3/3/1908

Bowery Guard Station 8 N 17 E 31 1908 10/23/1908

Buck Camp Ranger Station 4 N 19 e 19 1908 4/30/1908

Buckhorn Ranger Station 13 S 20 E 19 1908 7/23/1908

Burley Dwelling Site 10 S 23 E 20 1936 4/10/1936

Buttercup Ranger Station 2 N 15 E 25 1908 7/13/1908

Buzzo Ranger Station 4 N 17 E 30 1908 3/3/1908

Champion Creek Guard Station 8 N 14 E 14 1913 11/26/1913

Cold Springs Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 2 N 12 E 23 1908 8/20/1908

Cove Ranger Station 3 N 19 E 15 1908 3/9/1908

Decker Ranger Station 8 N 13 E 2 1908 3/9/1908

Deer Creek Ranger Station 1907 10/24/1907

Deer Park Ranger Station 2 N 12 E 6 1915 1/9/1915

Durham Ranger Station 14 N 14 W 29 1907 11/27/1907

Elk Ranger Station 3 N 21 E 17 1908 3/9/1908

Emery Ranger Station 15 S 23 E 26 1915 8/11/1915

Emma Creek Ranger Station 5 N 13 E 27 1908 11/14/1908

Fairfield Administrative Site 15 N 14 E 9 1967 11/22/1967

139 
Name Township/Range/Section Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

Fairfield In-Town Administrative Site 1 S 14 E 9 1946 2/3/1946

Flint Ranger Station 11 S 30 E 22 1918 4/24/1918

Flowers Ranger Station 4 N 17 E 2 1907 12/7/1907

Fuller Ranger Station 14 S 20 E 6 1922 10/20/2022

Galena Ranger Station 6 N 14 E 11 1907 2/26/1908

Garfield Guard Station 3 N 21 E 2 1907 12/7/1907

Goose Creek Ranger Station 15 S 19 E 6 1908 10/16/1908

Greenhorn Guard Station 3 N 17 E 15 1908 2/26/1908

Grouse Butte Ranger Station 3 N 11 E 33 1942 3/6/1942

Grouse Creek Ranger Station 3 N 11 E 31 1908 11/14/1908

Gunnell Guard Station 15 S 28 E 16 1908 8/1/1908

Hailey Ranger Station 2 N 18 E 9 1934 4/28/1934

Hay Press Ranger Station 4 N 11 E 12 1908 11/11/1908

Heglar Administrative Site 11 S 29 E 4 1908 1/7/1909

Hereford Guard Station 13 S 24 E 32 1908 2/29/1908

Horton Peak Lookout 7 N 15 E 6 1942 12/30/1942

Howell Creek Ranger Station 13 S 24 E 1 1937 1/14/1941

Hunter Creek Ranger Station 1 N 11 E 15 1919 9/15/1919

Indian Camp Ranger Station 4 N 12 E 36 1909 4/23/1909

Indian Camp Ranger Station (Minidoka) 16 S 19 E 8 1908 10/16/1908

Iron Mountain Lookout 2 N 12 E 5 1908 10/19/1908

Junction Ranger Station 15 S 23 E 3 1909 5/22/1909

Ketchum Ranger Station 4 N 18 E 18 1933 1/3/1933

Langford Flat Ranger Station 15 S 18 E 7 1907 1/9/1907

Liberal Ranger Station 3 N 15 E 33 1909 10/27/1909

Liberal Ranger Station (old) 2 N 15 E 6 1908 10/19/1908

Lick Creek Lookout 1938

Little Wood River Ranger Station 3 N 20 E 14 1908 3/3/1908

Lookout Mountain Lookout 10 N 14 E 13 1938

Lynn Ranger Station 14 N 16 W 28 1909 8/18/1909

Malta Administrative Site 13 S 26 E 13 1949 2/18/1949

McMullen Basin Ranger Station 13 S 17 E 36 1908 6/20/1908

Naf Ranger Station 14 N 13 W 10 1909 8/21/1909

Nooning Ranger Station 14 S 20 E 15 1907 1/9/1907

North Fork Ranger Station (Sawtooth NRA 5 N 17 E 3 1908 2/26/1908

Oakley Ranger Station 14 N 22 E 4 1936 1/9/1936

140 
Name Township/Range/Section Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

One Mile (aka Holstein) Guard Station 14 N 14 W 9 1907 12/7/1907

Paradise Peak Lookout 5 N 14 E 29 1942 3/6/1942

Pierson Ranger Station 8 N 14 E 35 1908 11/7/1908

Pine Basin Ranger Station 13 S 18 E 26 1908 10/16/1908

Pine Ranger Station 2 N 10 E 33 1908 10/16/1908

Placer Creek Ranger Station 3 N 16 E 6 1909 11/9/1909

Platts Ranger Station 15 S 29 E 6 1909

Point Ranger Station 13 S 28 E 32 1909 8/18/1909

Pole Canyon Ranger Station 15 S 29 E 7 1909 6/18/1909

Pole Creek Guard Station 7 N 15 E 30 1908 3/9/1908

Porcupine Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 3 N 20 E 20 1908 3/3/1908

Potaman Peak Lookout 10 N 17 E 1

Redfish Lake Guard Station 10 N 13 E 34 1908 3/3/1908

Rock Creek Guard Station 14 S 18 E 25 1940 11/27/1940

Ruick Creek Ranger Station 4 N 16 E 26 1908 2/26/1908

Russian John Guard Station 6 N 16 E 31 1907 3/3/1908

Salt Ground Ranger Station 2 N 13 E 2 1908 10/19/1908

Sawtooth Valley Work Center 8 N 14 E 9 1933 9/20/1933

Scotland Ranger Station 2 N 11 E 22 1908 8/20/1908

Senate Ranger Station 6 N 15 E 2 1908 10/23/1908

Shake Creek Guard Station 3 N 11 E 8 1908 11/14/1908

Shoshone (aka Fraser) Ranger Station 14 S 18 E 8 1907 1/9/1907

Skeleton Creek Ranger Station 3 N 12 E 15 1908 10/19/1908

Slick Ear Ranger Station 1 N 11 E 7 1908 10/26/1908

Soldier Ranger Station 2 N 14 E 19 1908 6/29/1908

Sublett Administrative Site 12 S 30 E 29 1914 5/22/1914

Three Mile Creek Ranger Station 1 N 13 E 2 1908 7/13/1908

Trapper Creek Ranger Station 15 S 20 E 11 1908 10/16/1908

Trout Creek Ranger Station 16 S 19 E 12 1907 1/9/1907

Tuck-a-Way Administrative Site 8 N 14 E 6

Valley Creek Ranger Station 10 N 13 E 3 1909 11/1/1909

Vienna Ranger Station 6 N 14 E 21 1908 11/7/1908

Warm Springs Creek Ranger Station 4 N 17 E 21 1947 2/14/1947

Warm Springs Meadow Administrative Site 9 N 15 E 5 1956 12/20/1956

Warm Springs Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 3 N 12 E 7 1906 12/13/1906

Willow Creek Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 3 N 11 E 10 1931 9/15/1931

Wilson Creek Ranger Station 5 N 18 E 14 1908 2/26/1908

141 
ADMINISTRATIVE SITES BY LOCATION 

Township/Range/Section Name Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

Lick Creek Lookout 1938

Deer Creek Ranger Station 1907 10/24/1907

1 N 11 E 7 Slick Ear Ranger Station 1908 10/26/1908

1 N 11 E 15 Hunter Creek Ranger Station 1919 9/15/1919

1 N 13 E 2 Three Mile Creek Ranger Station 1908 7/13/1908

1 S 14 E 9 Fairfield In-Town Administrative Site 1946 2/3/1946

2 N 10 E 33 Pine Ranger Station 1908 10/16/1908

2 N 11 E 22 Scotland Ranger Station 1908 8/20/1908

2 N 12 E 5 Iron Mountain Lookout 1908 10/19/1908

2 N 12 E 6 Deer Park Ranger Station 1915 1/9/1915

2 N 12 E 23 Cold Springs Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 1908 8/20/1908

2 N 13 E 2 Salt Ground Ranger Station 1908 10/19/1908

2 N 13 E 19 Boardman Ranger Station 1908 8/27/1908

2 N 14 E 19 Soldier Ranger Station 1908 6/29/1908

2 N 15 E 6 Liberal Ranger Station (old) 1908 10/19/1908

2 N 15 E 25 Buttercup Ranger Station 1908 7/13/1908

2 N 18 E 9 Hailey Ranger Station 1934 4/28/1934

3 N 11 E 8 Shake Creek Guard Station 1908 11/14/1908

3 N 11 E 10 Willow Creek Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 1931 9/15/1931

3 N 11 E 31 Grouse Creek Ranger Station 1908 11/14/1908

3 N 11 E 33 Grouse Butte Ranger Station 1942 3/6/1942

3 N 12 E 7 Warm Springs Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 1906 12/13/1906

3 N 12 E 15 Skeleton Creek Ranger Station 1908 10/19/1908

3 N 13 E 2 Big Smoky Ranger Station 1906 12/13/1906

3 N 15 E 33 Liberal Ranger Station 1909 10/27/1909

3 N 16 E 6 Placer Creek Ranger Station 1909 11/9/1909

3 N 17 E 15 Greenhorn Guard Station 1908 2/26/1908

3 N 19 E 15 Cove Ranger Station 1908 3/9/1908

3 N 20 E 14 Little Wood River Ranger Station 1908 3/3/1908

3 N 20 E 20 Porcupine Ranger Station (Sawtooth) 1908 3/3/1908

3 N 21 E 2 Garfield Guard Station 1907 12/7/1907

3 N 21 E 17 Elk Ranger Station 1908 3/9/1908

4 N 11 E 12 Hay Press Ranger Station 1908 11/11/1908

4 N 12 E 36 Indian Camp Ranger Station 1909 4/23/1909

4 N 15 E 30 Big Creek Ranger Station 1908 10/23/1908

4 N 16 E 26 Ruick Creek Ranger Station 1908 2/26/1908

4 N 17 E 2 Flowers Ranger Station 1907 12/7/1907

4 N 17 E 21 Warm Springs Creek Ranger Station 1947 2/14/1947

142 
Township/Range/Section Name Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

4 N 17 E 27 Bald Mountain Lookout 1921 3/6/1942

4 N 17 E 30 Buzzo Ranger Station 1908 3/3/1908

4 N 18 E 18 Ketchum Ranger Station 1933 1/3/1933

4 N 19 e 19 Buck Camp Ranger Station 1908 4/30/1908

5 N 13 E 27 Emma Creek Ranger Station 1908 11/14/1908

5 N 14 E 29 Paradise Peak Lookout 1942 3/6/1942

5 N 15 E 30 Big Peak Creek Ranger Station 1908 10/23/1908

5 N 16 E 12 Boulder Ranger Station 1908 3/3/1908

5 N 16 E 29 Baker Ranger Station 1908 10/23/1908

5 N 17 E 3 North Fork Ranger Station (Sawtooth NRA 1908 2/26/1908

5 N 18 E 14 Wilson Creek Ranger Station 1908 2/26/1908

6 N 14 E 11 Galena Ranger Station 1907 2/26/1908

6 N 14 E 21 Vienna Ranger Station 1908 11/7/1908

6 N 15 E 2 Senate Ranger Station 1908 10/23/1908

6 N 16 E 31 Russian John Guard Station 1907 3/3/1908

7 N 14 E 17 Alturas Lake Ranger Station 1908 3/3/1908

7 N 15 E 6 Horton Peak Lookout 1942 12/30/1942

7 N 15 E 30 Pole Creek Guard Station 1908 3/9/1908

8 N 13 E 2 Decker Ranger Station 1908 3/9/1908

8 N 14 E 6 Tuck-a-Way Administrative Site

8 N 14 E 9 Sawtooth Valley Work Center 1933 9/20/1933

8 N 14 E 14 Champion Creek Guard Station 1913 11/26/1913

8 N 14 E 35 Pierson Ranger Station 1908 11/7/1908

8 N 15 E 6 Blackman Ranger Station 1908 10/22/1908

8 N 17 E 31 Bowery Guard Station 1908 10/23/1908

9 N 15 E 5 Warm Springs Meadow Administrative Site 1956 12/20/1956

9 N 16 E 14 Boulder Lakes Administrative Site 1956 12/20/1956

10 N 13 E 3 Valley Creek Ranger Station 1909 11/1/1909

10 N 13 E 34 Redfish Lake Guard Station 1908 3/3/1908

10 N 14 E 13 Lookout Mountain Lookout 1938

10 N 17 E 1 Potaman Peak Lookout

10 S 23 E 20 Burley Dwelling Site 1936 4/10/1936

11 S 29 E 4 Heglar Administrative Site 1908 1/7/1909

11 S 30 E 22 Flint Ranger Station 1918 4/24/1918

12 S 25 E 6 Albion Ranger Station 1947 12/23/1947

12 S 30 E 29 Sublett Administrative Site 1914 5/22/1914

13 S 17 E 36 McMullen Basin Ranger Station 1908 6/20/1908

13 S 18 E 26 Pine Basin Ranger Station 1908 10/16/1908

13 S 20 E 19 Buckhorn Ranger Station 1908 7/23/1908

13 S 24 E 1 Howell Creek Ranger Station 1937 1/14/1941

143 
Township/Range/Section Name Earliest Mention Withdrawal or 

Purchase

13 S 24 E 32 Hereford Guard Station 1908 2/29/1908

13 S 26 E 13 Malta Administrative Site 1949 2/18/1949

13 S 28 E 32 Point Ranger Station 1909 8/18/1909

14 N 13 W 10 Naf Ranger Station 1909 8/21/1909

14 N 14 W 9 One Mile (aka Holstein) Guard Station 1907 12/7/1907

14 N 14 W 29 Durham Ranger Station 1907 11/27/1907

14 N 16 W 28 Lynn Ranger Station 1909 8/18/1909

14 N 22 E 4 Oakley Ranger Station 1936 1/9/1936

14 N 23 E 4 Basin Stock Corral 1947 3/15/1947

14 S 18 E 8 Shoshone (aka Fraser) Ranger Station 1907 1/9/1907

14 S 18 E 25 Rock Creek Guard Station 1940 11/27/1940

14 S 20 E 6 Fuller Ranger Station 1922 10/20/2022

14 S 20 E 15 Nooning Ranger Station 1907 1/9/1907

14 S 20 E 31 Bostetter Guard Station 1906 1/9/1907

15 N 14 E 9 Fairfield Administrative Site 1967 11/22/1967

15 S 18 E 7 Langford Flat Ranger Station 1907 1/9/1907

15 S 19 E 6 Goose Creek Ranger Station 1908 10/16/1908

15 S 20 E 11 Trapper Creek Ranger Station 1908 10/16/1908

15 S 23 E 3 Junction Ranger Station 1909 5/22/1909

15 S 23 E 26 Emery Ranger Station 1915 8/11/1915

15 S 28 E 16 Gunnell Guard Station 1908 8/1/1908

15 S 29 E 6 Platts Ranger Station 1909

15 S 29 E 7 Pole Canyon Ranger Station 1909 6/18/1909

15 S 29 E 32 Black Pine Ranger Station 1940 5/14/1940

16 S 19 E 8 Indian Camp Ranger Station (Minidoka) 1908 10/16/1908

16 S 19 E 12 Trout Creek Ranger Station 1907 1/9/1907

16 S 20 E 11 Beaver Dam Ranger Station 1908 10/16/1908

144 
Appendix D: List of Research Files 

Sawtooth National Forest Archival List 

By

U.S. West Research, Inc. 

February 15, 2004

Archive Box #1 

U.S. West Research, Inc. Office 

A. General Office Files: 

(1) Statement of Work

(2) Proposal 

(3) Travel Information 

(4) Telephone Directory—Sawtooth National Forest Personnel List 

(5) Orientation Meeting Notes (10/20/03) 

(6) Working Bibliography 

(7) Archive Box List 

(8) Correspondence and Emails: 

 a. Dreama Pitman 

 b. Richa Wilson 

(9) Evaluating Administrative Sites: A Guide for Region 4 by Richa Wilson (12/14/02) 

Bound Material: 

Thomas Alexander, The Rise of Multiple-Use Management in the Intermountain West: A History of 

Region 4 of the Forest Service. 

Unbound Material: 

Richa Wilson, “Forest Administrative Sites in Region 4 (Draft), 1891-1960.” 

 

USDA Forest Service, Region Four, Ogden, Utah 

B. Documents Transmitted to USWR by Richa Wilson 10/20/03: 

(1) Sawtooth National Forest Visitor Maps, 2002 

(2) Staff Directory, Sawtooth National Forest, February 2003 

(3) National Register Nomination for Stanley Ranger Station, 1972 with letters about review of 

nomination. 

(4) News Release, Burley and Twin Falls district consolidation, 2002 

(5) Photocopied photographs of the Lookout Mountain lookout, June 1986 from file at Sawtooth NRA 

(Box 2 of “Bldg Stds, EA Project Record). 

(6) Letter regarding National Register eligibility status of Sawtooth administrative sites (Forest 

Supervisor William P. Levere to Clyde Lay, Engineering, 29 March 1996). 

(7) Printouts from the R4 Slides Database, photos of administrative sites and CCC camps 

(8) Historic Site Plans

(9) INFRA query of existing administrative facilities (as of 10/15/03) 

(10) Sawtooth personnel query from the R4 personnel database (as of 10/15/03 

145 
(11) “History of the Minidoka National Forest” transcription of a 1941-1942 forest history, and “History of 

Sawtooth National Forest “ transcription of a 1941-1942 forest history. 

(12) “Sawtooth Mountain Area Study Idaho, History,” by USFS and NPS 

(13) “Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, History,” by Victor O. Goodwin of the USFS and John A. Hussey 

of the NPS, January 1965 

(14) Management Direction for the Rural Historic Landscape of the Sawtooth Region.” 

(15) Tabular Record of Administrative Sites, Sawtooth National Forest from RO Lands records. 

B. Documents Transmitted to USWR by Richa Wilson 11/13/03: 

(1) “Porcupine Springs, Phase 1-Site Analysis Report,” by Zabala Giltzow Albanese. 

(2) Documents (U-Administrative Sites) from historic files located in Regional Office Land Records: 

a. Minidoka 1920. 

b. Minidoka, Oakley Administrative Site (Purchase) McBridge, Glen 

G. Title Accepted 6/9/36. 

c. Minidoka, Black Pine, Approved 5/14/40. 

d. Minidoka, Howell Creek Administrative Site, Approved 1/14/41. 

e. Minidoka, Burley Administrative Site (Purchase), Title Accepted 6/9/36. 

f. Minidoka, One Mile Ranger Station, Name Approved 1/26/44. Withdrawn 12/7/07 as “Holstein 

Ranger Station.” 

g. Sawtooth, Iron Mountain Lookout, Approved 3/6/42. 

h. Sawtooth, Public Service Sites, Redfish Lake Area, Approved 12/26/39. 

i. Sawtooth, Warm Springs Creek, Approved 12/26/39. 

j. Sawtooth, Paradise Peak Lookout, Approved 3/6/42. 

k. Sawtooth, Redfish Lake Administrative Site. 

l. Sawtooth, Grouse Butte LO, Approved 3/6/42. 

m. Sawtooth, Big Smoky Pasture, Approved 1/29/49. 

n. Sawtooth, Bald Mountain Lookout, Approved 3/4/42 

(18) Sawtooth Historical Atlas Listing 

(19) Printout from R4 Slides Database “Harrison Mountain Fire Lookout, Constructed in 1977,” 414-1, 

No. 89. 

(20) Printout of 1947 photos taken by Ray Connelly with Captions. 

B. Documents Transmitted to USWR by Richa Wilson 10/20/03: 

(21) Draft Sawtooth report with edits, comments, etc. 

(22) Draft List of Sawtooth Administrative Sites based upon context statement and RO documents. 

(23) Tabular Record of Minidoka Administrative Sites 

(24) Memos regarding Size of Ranger District Studies (1972) from R4 Lands Status Office, Sawtooth 

Basic Information files.

(25) Excerpt of “Regions 4 & 6 & the Washington Office,” by Ray P. Connelly from The History of 

Engineering in the Forest Service. 

(26) Documents from the “2760, Withdrawals-Withdrawal Reviews-Sawtooth,” located in the R4 Lands 

Status Office. 

a. Excerpt from Federal Register, Vol. 55, No. (6 (5/18/1990) regarding Rock Creek and Garfield 

Administrative Sites.

b. Excerpt from Federal Register, Vol. 54, No. 192 (10/5/1989) regarding Skeleton Creek Ranger 

Station, Shake Creek Administrative Site, and Big Smoky Ranger Station 

c. Withdrawal review report for the One Mile Administrative Site and Hereford Ranger Station 

d. Correspondence and comments regarding withdrawal reports for Soldier, Skeleton Creek, 

Shake Creek, Big Smoky, Iron Mountain, Grouse Creek, and Liberal administrative sites. 

e. Withdrawal review report for Iron Mountain Administrative Site. 

f. Withdrawal report for the Big Smoky Ranger Station 

g. Withdrawal report for the Skeleton Creek Administrative Site 

h. Withdrawal report for the Shake Creek Administrative Site 

146 
i. Withdrawal report for the Soldier Creek Administrative Site 

j. Correspondence and withdrawal report for Ketchum Administrative Site. 

k. Withdrawal revocation report for Shake Creek, Scotland, Cold Springs, Three Mile, Buttercup, 

Salt Ground, Emma, and Hay Press Administrative Sites. 

l. Correspondence and withdrawal review report for Ruick Creek (Rooks Creek), Greenhorn, 

Garfield, and Warm Springs Creek Administrative Sites. 

m. Withdrawal report for Bald Mountain Lookout 

n. Withdrawal report for Grouse Creek, Boardman, and Liberal Administrative Sites 

o. Correspondence and site plans for Boardman and Emma Creek Administrative Sites 

p. Withdrawal review report for Rock Creek Administrative Site (excerpt) 

q. Miscellaneous correspondence and tables regarding various administrative sites 

(27) Basic Information Sheets from R4 Lands Status Office for: 

a. Burley Administrative Site 

b. Hailey Administrative Site 

c. Oakley Administrative Site 

d. Fairfield Administrative Site 

e. Malta Administrative Site 

f. Sawtooth Valley Administrative Site 

g. Valley Creek Administrative Site (with Executive Order and letter) 

h. Stanley Administrative Site 

(28) Correspondence and miscellaneous documents from R4 Lands Status 

Office permanent file titled “LP-BOUNDARIES-Minidoka-1904-1905.” 

(29) Correspondence and miscellaneous documents from R4 Lands Status 

Office permanent file titled “LP-BOUNDARIES-Minidoka-1908-1922.” 

(30) Correspondence and miscellaneous documents from R4 Lands Status 

Office permanent file titled “LP-BOUNDARIES-Minidoka-1909-1934.” 

(31) Correspondence and miscellaneous documents from R4 Lands Status 

Office permanent file titled “LP-BOUNDARIES-Minidoka-1924-1936.” 

(32) Correspondence and miscellaneous documents from R4 Lands Status 

Office permanent file titled “LP-BOUNDARIES-Minidoka-Transfer S.E. 

Idaho (LU Project LA-ID-1) 1940-1951.” 

 

Weber State University Forest Service Library/Store Room

Main File Room:

Intermountain Region—Administrative Site Improvement Plans, 1934-1952. 

Bowery Guard Station 

Greenhorn Ranger Station 

Fairfield Ranger Station 

Hailey Office Site 

Liberal Guard Station 

Redfish Lake Guard Station 

Soldier Ranger Station 

Archive Box #2 

Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Twin Falls, Idaho 

Archaeologist’s Office—Jamie Bennett:

Filing Cabinets, Historical Files—Administrative Sites, L-Status—Stations: 

147 
L Status—Stations—1919-1921 

Alturas Lake Ranger Station 

Big Peak Ranger Station 

Big Smokey Ranger Station 

Blackman Ranger Station 

Boardman Ranger Station 

Bowery Ranger Station 

Buck Camp Ranger Station 

Buttercup Ranger Station 

Champion Ranger Station 

Cold Springs Ranger Station 

Cove Ranger Station 

Deer Park Ranger Station 

Emma Creek Ranger Station 

Elk Ranger Station 

Flowers Ranger Station 

Galena Ranger Station 

Garfield Ranger Station 

Grouse Creek Ranger Station 

Hay Press Ranger Station 

Howell Canyon Guard Station 

Hunter Creek Administrative Site 

Indian Camp Ranger Station 

Little Wood River Ranger Station 

North Fork Ranger Station 

Peace Valley Ranger Station 

Pine Ranger Station 

Placer Creek Ranger Station 

Pole Creek Ranger Station 

Soldier Ranger Station 

Ruick Creek Ranger Station 

Russian Jon Ranger Station 

Skeleton Creek Ranger Station 

Slick Bar Ranger Station 

Salt Ground Ranger Station 

Scotland Ranger Station 

Snake Creek (Original) Ranger Station 

Three Mile Ranger Station 

Vienna Ranger Station 

Willow Creek Ranger Station 

Wilson Creek Ranger Station 

Filing Cabinets, Historical Files—Administrative Sites, O-Improvements: 

O-Improvement—Stations—Administrative History 

O-Improvement—History 

O-Improvement—Administrative History 

Albion Administrative Site 

Baker Ranger Station 

Boulder Ranger Station 

Burley Portable Warehouse 

Emery Ranger Station 

Flint Ranger Station 

Fuller Ranger Station 

Greenhorn Cabin 

Gunnell Ranger Station Water Development 

148 
Hailey Four Car Garage 

Horton Peak Lookout 

Hunter Creek Ranger Station 

Iron Mountain Ranger Station Cabin 

Junction Ranger Station 

Ketchum Administration Site Appraisal, 1984 

Ketchum Dwelling 

Ketchum Garage (2 Car) 

Ketchum Ranger Station Office 

Ketchum Ranger Station Bunkhouse 

Liberal Ranger Station Pasture 

Russian John Guard Station 

Lynn Ranger Station 

Nooning Ranger Station 

Point Ranger Station 

Pole Creek Cabin 

Platte Ranger Station 

Senate Ranger Station 

Shake Creek Ranger Station Dwelling 

Solder Ranger Station 

Soldier Ranger Station Office (empty) 

Soldier Ranger Station Fence 

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station 

Filing Cabinets, Historical Files—1600 Files and Related Material: 

 

1600 Information Services: 

 Specific Miscellaneous 

1610 Plans: 

 Mining 

1650 Contacts and Other Historical Data: 

Sawtooth National Forest (Open Files) 

Sawtooth Division—Land Status 

Filing Cabinets, Historical Files—7300 Building Files and Related Material: 

 

Sawtooth Misc. Report #1, Pre-1941 Sawtooth 

Bald Mountain Lookout 

Big Smokey Guard Station 

Bostetter Ranger Station 

Bowery Guard Station 

Burley Residence 

Fairfield Ranger Station 

Flowers Guard Station 

Garfield Guard Station 

Gunnell Ranger Station 

Hailey Administration Site 

Hailey-Ketchum Notes

Heglar (Temporary Station) 

Hereford Ranger Station (Temporary) 

Hunter Creek Guard Station 

Ketchum Administrative Site 

Ketchum Dwelling (1962) 

Ketchum Ranger Station Storehouse 

149 
Ketchum Ranger Station Shop 

Ketchum Ranger Station Pumphouse 

Ketchum Exchange 

Liberal Administrative Site 

Malta Ranger Station Site 

Oakley Ranger Station 

One Mile Ranger Station 

Rock Creek Administrative Site 

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station 

Shake Creek Ranger Station 

Shoshone Ranger Station (Temporary) 

Stanley Administrative Site 

Sublett Ranger Station 

Trapper Creek Ranger Station 

Trout Creek Ranger Station 

Archive Box #3 

Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Twin Falls, Idaho (continued) 

Archaeologist’s Office—Jamie Bennett:

Un-filed Material, Historical Files—Alphabetical by Folder: 

Accordion File: 

Administration Site Evaluation 

Hailey Administrative Dwelling 

Ketchum Administrative Site 

Other Information 

Anecdotes 

Bald Mountain History 

Civilian Conservation Corps 

Fire 

Forest History by Mrs. Sliger 

Forest Service Histories 

Forest Service Personnel and Organizational History 

Greenhorn Ranger Station Interpretive Brochure 

History District-1 

History District-2 

History District-3 

History District-4 

History District-5 

History Written by Petra Morrison 

Interpretive Information, 1996 

Ketchum Ranger District History File: 

Ketchum Ranger District File 

Forward, Table of Contents, Chapter 1, 1880-1905 

Chapter 2, 1905-1933 

Chapter 3, The CCC Years, 1933-1940 

Chapter 4, Union Pacific Railroad Years, 1936-1964 

Chapter 5, 1964 to the Present 

Chapter 6, Old Timer’s Tales 

Chapter 7, Tales of Old Buildings and Movie Sets 

150 
Chapter 8, Conclusion 

Chapter 9, Glossary of Place Names 

Chapter 10, List of Sources and Reference Materials 

 Photographs—Need Originals 

Livestock 

Loose Material 

Maps and Boundaries 

Recreation 

Timber 

Oversized Material, Historical Files—Alphabetical and Bound: 

Albion Ranger Station 

Bald Mountain Lookout 

Big Smokey Ranger Station 

Bostetter Ranger Station 

Bowery Guard Station 

Burley Ranger Residence 

Burley Warehouse 

Fairfield Ranger Station 

Garfield Ranger Station 

Greenhorn Ranger Station 

Gunnell Ranger Station 

Hailey Office 

Hereford Ranger Station 

Holstein Ranger Station 

Howell Creek Ranger Station 

Hunter Ranger Station 

Iron Mountain Lookout 

Ketchum Ranger Station 

Liberal Ranger Station 

Magic Mountain Shelter 

Malta Ranger Station 

Oakley Ranger Station 

One Mile Ranger Station 

Pole Creek Ranger Station 

Redfish Ranger Station 

Rock Creek Guard Station 

Russian John Ranger Station 

Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station 

Shake Creek Ranger Station 

Shoshone Ranger Station 

Soldier Ranger Station 

Sublett Ranger Station 

Trout Creek Ranger Station 

Oversized Material, Maps—Chronological: 

1910 USDA Forest Service: Map of Minidoka National Forest 

1913 USDA Forest Service: Map of Sawtooth National Forest 

1932 USDA Forest Service: Map of Sawtooth National Forest 

1959 USDA Forest Service: Map of Minidoka National Forest 

1960 USDA Forest Service: Map of Sawtooth National Forest (North Division) 

1964 USDA Forest Service: Map of Sawtooth National Forest (North Division) 

151 
Archive Box #4 

Burley Ranger District 

Main File Room:

6440 Real Property Files: 

 

Current File 

Gunnell Administrative Site 

Malta Administrative Site Garage 

Malta Administrative Site Ranger Station 

Malta Administrative Site Warehouse 

Malta Ranger Station Dwelling (Old) #1120 

Quarters Rental 

Rock Creek Guard Station 

Rock Creek Guard Station Inspection 

Rock Creek Ranger Station Dwelling 

Rock Creek Ranger Station Dwelling #1101 

Rock Creek Ranger Station Office #1108 

Rock Creek Ranger Station Power Plant Shelter 

Rock Creek Ranger Station Warehouse, Garage, Bunkhouse 

Sublette Guard Station #1105 

7300 Building Series: 

Facility Site Needs Report 

Heritage File Drawers-Back Room:

Heritage Survey Files 

SW-83-512—One Mile Guard Station 

SW-84-306—Albion Ranger Station 

SW-84-307—Burley Ranger Residence 

SW-84-308—Gunnell Ranger Station 

SW-84-309—Malta Ranger Dwelling 

SW-84-623—Oakley Administrative Site, Advisory Council Case Folder 

SW-84-625—Gunnell Guard Station 

SW-84-625—Hereford Guard Station 

SW-84-625—Malta Ranger Station 

SW-84-625—Sublett Guard Station 

SW-94-1610—Sublett Guard Station Improvement 

SW-95-1226—North Heglar Barn 

SW97-fs-0507f—One Mile Guard Station Rehabilitation 

SW97-fs-147—Oakley Guard Station Land Exchange 

Fairfield Ranger District 

Main File Room:

6440 Real Property Files: 

Big Smokey Guard Station #051109 

152 
Shake Creek 2 Bedroom #051110 

Shake Creek 2 Story House #051106 

Shake Creek Guard House (2 Quarters) #051102 

Shake Creek Guard House (1 Bedroom) #051125 

7300 Building Series: 

Big Smokey Guard Station 

Fairfield Assistant Ranger Dwelling 

Fairfield Ranger Dwelling 

Liberal Administrative Site 

Old Office Building Converted to Bunkhouse 

Loose Material: 

Historic Photographs 

Iron Mountain Lookout, n.d. 

Big Smoky Guard Station (2), 1926 

Soldier Ranger Station (2), n.d. 

Loose Historical Material 

Map File Room:

Atlas Information for Use of Sawtooth National Forest Status Records 

Ketchum Ranger District 

Main File Room:

6440 Real Property Files: 

 

Bald Mountain Lookout, #1701 

Garfield Guard Station, 1 Bedroom Dwelling, #1115 

Greenhorn Guard Station, 1 Bedroom Dwelling, #1112 

Hailey, 3 Bedroom Dwelling, #1117 

Ketchum Ranger Station Office, #1208 

Pioneer Cabin, #1626 

7300 Building Series: 

Building History and Maintenance, Part I 

Building History and Maintenance, Part II 

Building History and Maintenance, Part III 

Sawtooth National Recreation Area 

1680 History Files: 

History Files Index 

Boulder Lake Administrative Site 

Highlights in History of Sawtooth Historical and Interpretive Association 

Historical Marker “Stanley Ranger Station” 

Inspection Notes, etc. 

153 
154 

Kay Flock Transcript of Oral History Early Forest Service 

Middle Fork Ranger District 

Pole Creek Ranger Station 

Pole Creek Ranger Station Cultural Resource Management Success Stories 

Pole Creek Ranger Station Interpretive Planning 

Pole Creek Ranger Station Historical Site I 

Pole Creek Ranger Station Historical Site II 

Russian John and Early Hot Springs 

Engineer’s Office: Danny King

6440 Real Property Files: 

Black Binder (No Name) 

Bowery Generator House, #1602 

Bowery Guard Station, #1105 

Bowery Woodshed 

Real Property Listing, 1975—Loose 

Valley Creek Barn, #1363 

Valley Creek Caretaker’s House 

Valley Creek Woodshed/Icehouse 

7300 Building Series: 

Boulder Lakes Administrative Site 

Champion Creek Residence, #1144 

Lookout Mountain Lookout 

Pole Creek Guard Station 

Potoman Peak Administrative Site 

Russian John Bathhouse, #1891 

Russian John Guard Station, #1118 

Russian John Paint House, #1603 

Russian John Pit Toilet, #1890 

Russian John Warehouse, #1344 

Russian John Woodshed, #1659 

Stanley Gas House, #1364 

Carol Cole Office

Bound Material: 

1941 No Author, Historical Information Report Sawtooth National Forest. 

1965 Victor O. Goodwin and John A. Hussey, Sawtooth Mountain Area Study, Idaho. 

1978 Arthur Selin, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Sawtooth National Forest. 

1996 Claudia Taylor Walsworth, Cultural Development of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area 

in Central Idaho. 

Stanley Ranger District 

Basement File Room:

1650 Contacts and Other Historical Data: 

Stanley Ranger Station