Bly Ranger Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bly Ranger Station
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bly, Oregon, USA |
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| Built | 1936 - 1942 |
| Architect | E. U. Blanchfield |
| Architectural style | Cascadian rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000650 |
| Added to NRHP | 1981 |
The Bly Ranger Station is a special place in Bly, Oregon. It's like the main office for the Bly Ranger District, which is part of the huge Fremont National Forest. This station was built a long time ago, between 1936 and 1942, by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps. Today, the seven original buildings are still used by the Forest Service. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
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A Look Back at the Bly Ranger Station
In the early 1900s, it was hard to travel through forests. Roads were not very good. So, the Forest Service built ranger stations in important spots. These stations gave forest workers a place to live and helped them with supplies. They also supported fire patrols and other teams working in remote areas.
After World War II, the Forest Service built many more roads. This made it easier for workers to reach most forest areas quickly. Because of this, many isolated ranger stations closed. But the Bly Ranger Station has always been a main office since it was built.
How the Station Was Built
The idea for the Bly Ranger Station started in 1935. The Forest Service bought a 4-acre piece of land in Bly. They wanted a station to manage the western part of the Fremont National Forest. The land cost $625.
The station was built by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps. These workers were stationed at a nearby camp called Camp Bly. Some experienced local men also helped. Forest Service ranger Perry Smith watched over the construction. The buildings were designed by E.U. Blanchfield, an architect for the Forest Service. The seven original buildings were finished between 1936 and 1942. A newer office building was added in the 1960s.
Why Bly Ranger Station is Historic
All the original buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps are still in great shape. The Bly Ranger Station is very important because it's an early Forest Service station. Because of its history, the station and the land around it were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 1981. The entire site covers 47 acres.
Exploring the Buildings at Bly Ranger Station
The historic buildings at Bly Ranger Station include several important structures. There's a main office, two homes for rangers, and a home for a guard. There's also a warehouse, a garage, and a building for oil and gas.
These buildings were made in a style called "Cascadian rustic." This means they used natural materials from the area. They used local stone and pine wood. The roofs were made with wooden shingles. You can see a special open pine tree logo on the shutters and gables. This was a common design for Forest Service buildings from the 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corps also built a 400-foot stone wall in front of the station. This wall separates the station from the highway parking areas.
Building Costs and Current Use
Even though the Bly Ranger Station buildings are beautiful, they weren't expensive to build. The main office and the head ranger's home were finished in 1937. The office cost $1,700 to build. The ranger's home cost the government $2,400. The oil and gas house was built in 1939 for only $300. The last building the Civilian Conservation Corps built was the guard's home. It was finished in 1942 and cost $1,600.
Over the years, the staff at the station has grown to more than thirty full-time workers. This means they need more office space. So, the guard's home and the garage have been turned into offices. However, staff members still live in the two ranger homes. The warehouse and gas house are still used for their original purposes.
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- District office
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- Ranger's house
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- Guard residence
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- Warehouse
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- Garage
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- Gas house
Visiting the Bly Ranger Station
The Bly Ranger Station is located in the upper Sprague River Valley. This area is in eastern Klamath County, Oregon. The station is surrounded by the Fremont National Forest. You can find it on the south side of State Highway 140 in the small town of Bly. The station is about 43 miles northwest of Lakeview. It's also about 53 miles northeast of Klamath Falls.
You can visit the Bly Ranger Station for self-guided tours. It's open Monday through Friday all year, except on Federal holidays. You can get information about the historic buildings at the district office. There are also picnic tables and public restrooms available for visitors.
Near the ranger station, about ten miles northwest, is the Mitchell Monument. This monument marks a very important historical site. It's the only place in the continental United States where Americans were harmed during World War II due to enemy action. You can find information about the Mitchell Monument and its history at the ranger station.
