May
Owen Wilson writes in “World Work Magazine”, that while traveling to Crater Lake he saw some Indians that had “an air of dignified respectability.” Their bones were large, showing evidence of cross-breeding. Other Indians were camped in the mud and were still using dug-out canoes. “And at no time in the world’s history could anyone have been dirtier, lazier, or more hopeless looking.”
July 1
Mazama National Forest Reserve established, containing the total drainage of the Rogue River. The name was eventually changed to the Rogue National Forest. Oregon, Umpqua, Cascade and Crater National Forests are also established.
July 10
“No drinking or barroom will be permitted upon government lands in the Park”.
July 20
A Lodge owned auto brings in a camping party of 6 visitors.
August
Violent storm destroys the Lake’s gasoline launch, the Wocus.
August 15
Isaac Skeeters, guide and organizer for the Crater Lake discovery party, dies and is buried in the Laurel Cemetery, Cave Junction, Oregon.
1909 Season
Plans are drawn up to extend the park into the surrounding lower elevations.
From 1908 until 1913
the average annual variation of the lake level is place at only 1.55 feet.
“No grazing is allowed in Crater lake. There is authority for permitting cattle to remote sections of the Park where such pastureage of livestock would not interfere with the use of the park by visitors. However, we have felt that the whole area of the Park was greatly over-grazed before becoming a park and resulted in the destruction of the flora of the region. “ (Steven Mather)
Sell Head – named by William G. Steel for the Indian deity of the Plains, or the Klamath god of the Klamath March.
First meals served in the park by Mrs. Jessie B. Momyer, at Annie Springs, in a log cabin erected for that purpose.
Winter 1908 – 1909
Park buildings collapse because of the winter’s snow load and are eventually rebuilt.
Will Steel convinces Congress to appropriate $10,000 to begin building roads into the Park. The money was spent through the seasons of 1910 and 1911. The total cost of proper roads was estimated at $700,000.
Season Visitation:5,275
