Photography
1983
January
Kevin Peer, free lance film maker begins filming winter scenes
for a new informational film about Crater lake. Kevin spends a
week on top of the Watchman taking time-lapse photographs of
storms passing over the Lake. Peer also spends the winter
writing the movie’s scripts. Returning in the summer, Peer films
additional footage, including an reenactment of the Lake’s
discovery and the staging of William Steel’s famous School House
lunch box discovery of Crater Lake. The new film will replace
the 30 year old “Crater Lake Story”.
1981
June 24
Superintendent Jim Rouse and Reg. Hydrologist Don Barrett watch
as a large timber wolf walks in front of their vehicle at Lost
Creek Campground at 5:20 in the evening. Attempting to
photograph the animal, they approach within 20 yards.
1979
April
Nancy Jarrell and ski party observe and photograph a mountain
lion in the snow, near Sun Notch.
June
The name of the Exhibit Building’s (EB) (formerly the Kiser
Photo Studio) is changed to the Visitor Center (VC). Previously
in the 1940’s &1950’s the building was known as the Information
Building (IB).
1977
April
Mr. George Woodfield, of Yakima, Washington, donates John
Maben’s collection of negatives, manuscripts, diaries and
photographs of Crater Lake to the Oregon Historical
Society. John Maben was the first winter caretaker of Crater
Lake Lodge in 1924. Maben had attracted considerable attention
when his monthly dispatches about his solitary life at Cater
Lake were published in national magazines. Maben’s collection
was presented to the OHS in memory of Alta Knips Woodfield,
Maben’s niece, who had done a great deal of research on the
history of Crater Lake.
1976
February
Large Headquarter’s mantle photo (transparency) is installed,
taken by John Davis and Superintendent Frank Betts from an
elevation of 16,000 feet.
1975
January 29
Charles McCuller, 19, of Virginia, sets out from Roseburg,
telling friends that he plans on hitchhiking to Crater Lake in
order to take winter pictures of the Lake. Several people
remember seeing him in the Diamond Lake area, but that is the
last time anyone sees or hears from McCuller. There is reason to
believe that he planed to hike to Crater Lake along The North
Road. A heavy snowfall during the previous two weeks dropped
over five feet of fresh snow. Cross country skiers report that
the snow was so soft and powdery, that even with skis, they were
sinking up to their waists. McCuller’s father flies out to
Oregon two weeks later and conducts an extensive air and ground
search of the northern section of the Park, but no clues as to
McCuller’s disappearance are uncovered. (See October 13 & 14,
1976)
1972
August 8
The Lodge Company’s boat house is destroyed by a disastrous fire
on Wizard Island. Rudy Wilson, boat builder, attributed the fire
to a “faulty generator”. A spark from the muffler of the
generated, vented through the rear wall fell on a rotten log,
smoldering for several hours and finally bursting into flames
about 8 p.m. Fire crews were immediately dispatched, but because
of the distances involved, three hours passed before the initial
attack began. The fire loss is estimated at $50,000. Since the
boat house had been built in a heavy grove of 400 year old
Shasta Red Firs, to help camouflage the building, dozens of the
giant trees were destroyed in the 5 acre forest fire. Lodge
owner, Ralph Peyton, blamed the boathouse fire on lightning so
that the insurance claim could be settled faster and the company
would not be held responsible for irreplaceable damage done to
one of the most photographed areas in the World.
1953
June 12
Edmond Clark of Cave Junction, Oregon, falls to his death in
Castle Creek Canyon while trying to take a photograph.
1951
Sometime during the early 1950’s future Supreme Court Judge,
Sandra Day O’Connor visits Crater Lake during the winter. Photos
are taken of her playing in the snow with her college roommate.
1945
November 6
Superintendent Leavitt, in a letter to Dr. Howel Williams,
describes the Fall phenomenon seen over Crater Lake: “Mrs. Dale
Stoops of Klamath Falls reported that on September 18 she and
other members of her party saw a funnel shaped cloud just over
the water...it appeared to be gas, smoke, dust or steam just
over the surface of the lake...The phenomenon (was) reported by
Mr. Dale Vincent (photographer, naturalist and writer) on
September 17, from the summit of Garfield Peak, and by our
lookout, Miss (Linda) Newhall on September 15. Unless everybody
is getting “hallucinations” it does appear that there is some
phenomenon there that has not yet been satisfactorily
explained. No one seem to have seen the smoke or gas actually
rising from the waters of the Lake...Unfortunately, Crater Lake
has been officially closed...However special efforts are being
made to persuade the Navy to provide funds to keep the park
operating during the winter, primarily for the benefit of the
5,000 Marines at Klamath Falls who are being treated for
tropical diseased. The Medical officers find that a change of
environment...is one of the finest supplement to their medical
program and lasting recovery.”
1932
March 1
Proposal that the Government buy the Exhibit Building that has
been a private photo studio owned by Fred Kiser for
$1,000. Claimed to be “the finest building ever built in any of
the national parks.” By 1936 the NPS wanted to tear it down
because it distracted from the Rim Area. The building has
remained as the Park’s main visitor contact station for the past
70 years.
November 9
Will Steel donates, to the Park’ Archives, his collection of
photographs of early pioneers, identified with the discovery and
development of Crater Lake National Park
1931
April 10
“Science” magazine reports that the Carnegie Corporation has
donated $5,000 for the furnishing and installation of equipment
for the Sinnott Memorial Overlook. Congress appropriated $10,000
toward the construction of the Memorial. The overlook will be
developed with a twofold purpose: “To bring to the visitor to
the Park an adequate idea of the beauty of the picture presented
and to furnish interesting scientific data as to the formation
of the crater in which the blue lake lies and its geologic
history.”
July 18
Boy Scout, Drew Chick, and Chief Ranger Ansel Hall spend the day
laying out a new trail to the top of Wizard Island. While
exploring the island on the return to the boat dock, Hall
discovers the transom of the Cleetwood. Chick recovers the
remains of the old boat from a small lake inlet while Hall takes
photos of the historic recovery. The letters, “U.S.G.S.” were
still visible. Will Steel confirmed the discovery as being
authentic. Pieces of the pioneer craft are soon displayed at the
Park’s information Bureau and Community House.
1928
(some sources say, 1933)
The Old Man of the Lake is definitely identified by boat
operator Paul Herron and named by Fred Kiser, park
photographer. The old log may not be the same one referred to by
Diller as the log he describes in his report of 1896, but
Diller’s description fits the “Old Man” quite closely.
1924
January
“Pictures were taken of the frozen Lake.” Reported in the
Portland Oregonian.
February 12
Park Rangers visit Crater Lake to find the Lake completely
frozen over. Several photos are taken and are published in the
February 17, 1924 “Sunday Oregonian”.
Summer
Kiser Studio is enlarged. The small wing was added to provide
one-day photo developing service at Crater Lake.
1917
October 1 thru 19
Lady of the Woods carved by Dr. Ralph Bush, a doctor with the
Rim road construction and survey crew. The man-created work of
art is Dr. Bush’s desire for fulfillment: “The statue represents
my offering to the forest, my interpretation of its stillness
and response, its beauty, fascination and unseen life. Deep love
of this virgin wilderness fastened itself upon me and remains to
this day.” Name by Fred Kiser, photographer who built a photo
studio on the Rim now being used a the Park’s Visitor Center.
1912
Winter 1912
Colored photographs of Crater Lake are hung on the walls of the
U.S. Capitol. Superintendent Arant attempts to feed and tame the
bears in the Park for the enjoyment of park tourists. He also
carefully trimmed the trees along the roads to “help edify the
park.” The U.S. Congress appropriates $627,000 for roads in the
park. The addition of a second ranger. Extensive vandalism done
to the Lodge and furnishings. $50,000 given for roads.
1911
January
Benjamin Heidel, U.S. highway engineer, Martin Erickson,
Supervisor of the Crater National Forest and Harry Hicks of the
Rogue River Valley University Club of Medford, set out for
Crater Lake. “It is currently stated that no more than ten white
persons have ever gone to Crater Lake in winter.” They start
walking at Eagle Point because of deep slush on the roads. The
group camps the night at a contractor’s camp at Flounce
Rock. The third night is spent at Prospect. Only two trappers
are found in the whole town. The great snow depth requires the
use of snowshoes. Their fourth night is spent at Mill Creek
Ranger Station. They spent the fifth night in 12 feet of snow,
east of Union Creek. The 6th night is spent in relative comfort
in the Superintendent’s house at Annie Spring and the seventh
night is spent at the Rim Hotel, waiting out a raging storm. The
party discovers Barkowski’s photography equipment, but no trace
of the photographer is found. The three men sit out three days
of gale force wind and falling snow. Finally, when the sun
comes, the team is able to take the first winter photographs of
the Lake. Their complete trip takes about 18 days. (Sunset,
March, 1912)
February 22
“Photographer, B.B. Bakowski, of Oregon City, who left Ft.
Klamath three weeks ago to secure photos of Crater lake in mid
winter has been lost in the deep snows that now surround the
Crater. Frank Burns and Albert Gipson started out to try and
locate the missing adventurer. They found Bakowski’s sled and
shovel one and half miles south of the Rim. His camera cases
were found at the hotel, but his supplies were missing. Blizzard
and gale raging for over three weeks, buried most clues to the
man’s disappearance. His camp and supplies and a ten food snow
tunnel were located, but not his body.”
1903
August 5 - 15
Steel brings 27 people to Crater Lake from Medford. This is the
first attempt to provide visitor services at the Lake. The group
had begun at Union Station in Portland and traveled by train to
Medford. A large crowd of locals welcomed the group as their
wagon train set off for their camping rendezvous at Eagle
Point. The group spends five days traveling to Crater Lake. The
boat, the Start, a 16 foot skiff built in Klamath Falls and
launched for the auspicious group’s exclusive use is used to
ferry members of the group out to Wizard Island and over to
Cloud Cap.. After spending ten days visiting points of interest
in and around the Park, including photographing the Lake, and
stopping off at old Fort Klamath, the group broke up at Ashland.
August 11
Fred and Oscar Kiser and Will Steel lower a 16 foot boat over
the rim wall in order to take photographs of the Lake. The Kisers paddle across the lake to Pumice Castle area and climb
the East Rim, accompanied by Helen Akin and Gertrude
Metcalf. They become the first women to climb Mt. Scott. The
first Lake photographs of the Lake are taken from Mt. Scott. The
whole Lake had never been captured on one photo plate before,
which the Kisers felt was a remarkable accomplishment.
Summer
Fred Kiser of Portland (Scenic America Co.) produces the first
hand colored photos of Crater Lake. The pictures are subjected
to ridicule, for no water was believed to be so blue.
1874
August 9
Members of the Peter Britt photographic party, (including O.C.
Applegate, Samuel Hall and his twelve-year old son,
Emil), reaches the Rogue River Falls (Mill Creek) and Britt
photographs them.
August 11
Britt arrives at Crater Lake. Apparently the wagon is left not
far from the roadside while packing 200 pounds of photo
equipment and camping supplies up to the Rim of the Lake. The
sky is overcast and it begins to rain intermittently for the
next several days. Snow patches still partially cover the
ground. For two days the party shivers in the chilly weather,
examining a Lake lacking its famous blue.
August 13
The Britt party has been camping at the Rim for three
days. Britt is ready to give up and leave without a photograph
when suddenly the clouds part, the sun shines through and the
first photograph ever of Crater Lake is taken. During the cold
and windy stay on the Rim, Emil, Peter’s 10 year-old son comes
down with a cough. The party stays on for two more days, takes
more photos, and hikes and explores the area.
August 14
Using some 200 pounds of photographic equipment, Peter Britt
takes a total of 7 glass negative photos. The plates are made up
in a black, darkroom tent, and exposed before they dry. Peter
Britt is mainly a studio photographer, so natural photography
was a challenge for him.
August 16
The Britt party leaves Crater Lake and heads for Fort Klamath. A
total of ten days were spent traveling from and to Jacksonville.
1869
August 21
THE OREGON SENTINEL, Saturday: TRIP TO CRATER (sic) LAKE, To the
Editor Sentinel: In response to your request, I will endeavor to
furnish you a brief sketch of our late tour to the source of
Rogue River, and Fort Klamath.
On the 27th of July, memorable as the day of the great freshet
in Jacksonville, our party, consisting of David Linn, wife and
five children, Jas. D. Fay, Miss Anna Fay, Miss Hannah Ralls,
J.B. Coasts, Capt. J.M. Sutton, wife and one child, started on
an exploring and recuperating expedition to Crater Lake and
other points of interest in its vicinity. The thermometer stood
at 96 in the shade and atmosphere was unusually sultry...From
our first camping point we witnessed in the distance the
terrific storm which was devastating Jacksonville and terrifying
its inhabitants. We could see the dark and terrible cloud which
hung over our devoted town, pouring forth stream after stream of
lurid lightning and heavy peals of thunder which was startling,
even at our safe distance...
From this point the road was made through thick timber and over
a soft pumice stone soil, and consequently the road has been
beaten down from eighteen to twenty inches, leaving some
hundreds of stumps to the mile, too high for our duck legged
wagon to pass over. It was these stumps that the peculiar
virtues of our baggage master shone forth though the clouds of
dust which surrounded him and his favorite wagon....
On the 31st we traveled all day over a very good but stumpy
road. During the day we passed through vast forest of dead
timber, which had been killed by fire. Among this dead timber in
many places the ground was covered with a low whortleberry of
the most delicious kind. We also passed many small brooks and
springs in which the water stood at 40 degrees, F, just 8
degrees above freezing, while Jacksonville water stands at
sixty...
We camped one mile from the summit of the Cascade Mountains and
two and half miles from Crater Lake at a place known as
Sprague’s dug-away. At this place a trail has been graded down
the precipitous banks of Crack Creek sufficient to pass men and
horse. On the next day (August 1), the order of the day was to
find a “north-west passage” to Crater Lake whereby we could take
our wagons and boat. We started out early in the morning, a
party of self constituted road viewers. After nearly the whole
day spent, we succeeded in finding a good route for a wagon road
and moved our camp about one half mile Lakewards where we found
excellent grass and water. On the next day we cut out the road
to the Lake, returned and moved camp to within half a mile of
that point and in time to haul our boat to the brink of its
destination. On the 3rd we took our families in the wagons and
soon arrived at the long wished for point. On alighting from the
wagons and reaching the brink, the first exclamation of the
ladies was, “look out for the children! Come back Jimmy! Come
back Peter.”
In approaching the lake from whatever direction, we had to
ascend a mountain; it being located on a high point of the
dividing ridge of the Cascade mountains. From the south we
gradually ascended the mountain through heavy open timber,
principally hemlock and spruce, until within two hundred yards
of the lake, when we passed out of the timber into a fine grassy
lawn mottled with sealberry and other lowering shrubs peculiar
to high regions. Passing up this lawn, which was a little more
precipitous than before, we arrived at the brink of the Lake
which was beautifully skirted with timber at intervals, all
around its circumference, To say that this wonderful lake is
grand, beyond description, is to give an idea of its
magnificence. Everyone gazes at it for the first time in almost
tearful astonishment. Elevated 4,200 feet above the sea we could
skim the tops of the vast piles of mountains in every direction
which almost a quarter of a mile beneath our feet reposed the
placid lake. From the best estimates we could make, the lake is
about six and a half miles from east to west and five and a half
from north to south and nearly oval in shape. It is entirely
surrounded by walls of light colored basalt, scoria, and almost
every conceivable variety of volcanic productions. Near the west
end rises a cone like island about a mile in diameter at the
base and about seven hundred feet in height. This island is
about two miles from the shore where we stood and a half mile
from the west end of the lake.
Each man now shouldered up a portion of our boat material, and
after a few timid glances down the fearful incline, started
boldly over the loose, crumbling bank, starting bevies of loose
boulders at every step, at the imminent danger of anyone who
dared venture ahead of the party. We succeeded in getting our
boat to the water and afloat before night. I had forgotten to
state that one lady accompanied down on this occasion, arriving
at the bottom with her shoes torn entirely from her feet on the
sharp rocks. On getting ready to return, she made the following
address to the lake. “O, thou horrid puddle! Like a great
spider, thou has hid thyself down in this miserable hole to
catch butterflies. Before I entered thy face, you looked smooth
and the distance short, but I found the road long, and nothing
but roughness and danger, and now thou art rolling great waves
at my feet! I know not whither I shall escape these villainous
walls, but I promise you that if again safe at the top, I will
never more trouble you with my presence; In sincerity of which I
now make unto you this peace offering!” So saying, she cast her
dilapidated shoes in the troubled water, and returned barefoot,
through tribulation and boulders, to the top. As there was no
water for our horses, and only snow for ourselves, we returned
to your last camp, for the night. During the day we were joined
by Lt. S.B. Thornburn, U.S.A from Fort Klamath, Col. Ross and
H.P. Duseans and lady.
DOWN TO THE LAKE Arriving at the lake, speedy preparation was
made to go down to the water. Lieut. Thorborn, Col. Ross, David
Linn, J.B. Coasts, James D. Fay, J.M. Sutton, Miss Anna Fay,
Mrs. Linn and Mrs. Sutton make the decent. After the ladies had
went out in the boat a few hundred yards and returned, five of
us started for the island, two miles distant. One hour’s hard
rowing against a heavy wind, brought us to the island; forty
five minutes more took us to the top of the Island, where we
proclaimed it to the winds that on the 4th day of August, 1869,
we, David Linn, J.D. Fay, Lieut. S.B. Thorborn, J.B. Coats and
J.M. Sutton landed on the CREATER (sic) Lake Island, and then
and there claimed to be the first human beings that ever set
foot on its soil. This Island is but a loose pile of cinders and
pumice stone, crumbling down at the very touch. Around the
basin-like crater is large piles of scoria ready to tumble down
with the least exertion, and many, indeed, were the tons of this
rock that we started down the precipitous sides of the
Island. The rim around the crater is some five hundred yards in
circumference and on hundred feet deep, in the bottom of which
remains a bank of snow. We left a bottle on the south side of
the crater, sheltered beneath a ledge of lava, containing the
names of all our party. Any one curious to find it, near some
blazes made with a knife on the limbs of some small trees hard
by. We returned to the lake and found the wind blowing almost a
gale, and coming from every point of the compass every five
minutes. We arrived safely on shore, drew our boat above high
water mark, which by the way, is only about four feet, left with
it a bucket of tar and four or five pounds of nails for
repairing purposes, and then started on our weary way to the
top, a distance of half a mile at an angle steeper than
forty-five degrees. On arriving at the top, we heard the story
of how the ladies got back, how the Col. climbed a rope, and
many other male, and female adventures. Through the politeness
of Mr. Peter Britt, I was prepared to take photographs of the
lake, but owing to the smoke in the atmosphere I did not
succeed. We were soon underway to our camp, well repaid for all
our pains, and proud of our store of adventures.
