Under a grant from the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Howel Williams completes his extensive study of the Crater lake region and his findings will soon be published. While agreeing with Diller great void in the mountain's heart was formed by the expulsion of molten lava, either from the Crater's mouth ir through fissures in the mountain sides, and not by subterranean drainage.

1942

Lake level has dropped 13 feet during the past 40 years.

February 1942

A ski bowl is located south of the Lodge and used by visitors.

April 1942

Goodbye Creek Bridge collapses, along with the Annie Spring Bridge because the bridges were old and winter snow plowing had been suspended. For 14 years, traffic is routed temporarily above the two springs on a hazardous and narrow route.

June 1942

Fatal fall of man over the rim near Sinnott Memorial Overlook.

July 25, 1942

Crater Lake Natural History Association is founded "to promote and assist the Ranger-Naturalist program, to further the investigation of subjects of popular interest and to aid in the distribution of information on all subjects pertaining to the Park." Approval finalized by the Secretary of Interior.

July 27, 1942

The last day the Lodge is open until it reopens after the War on June 15, 1946.

August 24, 1942

Rangers beat an Army team in softball, 11 to 5.

Summer 1942

Annie Springs CCC Camp is removed.

September 10, 1942

New record low set for the Lake - 6,132.2 feet of elevation. (See March 25, 1975)

October 31, 1942

Weather station at headquarters discontinued, due to WWII, until July 8, 1946. Only fragmentary weather records are available during these years.

Season 1942 Visitation: almost the same as in 1920.

1943

Summer 1943 First woman lookout. Visitation: 28,637 - equaled the number of visitors from 1921.

1944

February 11, 1944

Assistant Superintendent, Thomas Parker, in a memorandum to Park Superintendent Leavitt, writes that "no national park can hope to come into its own if operated only on a short seasonal basis... A safe comfortable means of reaching the lake shore should be provided... I do believe that hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, campfires... are all compatible with each other. With this thought in mind, I see the urgent need for a tunnel, or elevator, to the lake shore, and the development of a fine winter sports area, and program... if a tunnel for vehicles was constructed from near headquarters, the entrance portal would be close to the (new) campground, with adequate space for parking of cars... When one reaches the park... and is given the choice of a bleak, cold windy camp ground, or a drafty room in a ramshackle lodge at prices that would put the blush of shame on the operator of a clip joint,...we cannot expect them to tarry long in our midst or praise us for our thoughtfulness toward our guests."

1944

Director Newton Drury condemns the idea of building a tunnel or elevator to the Lake's surface as "mutilation".

April or May 1944

Dan Jackman (899-8719 of Jacksonville) reports that while he was stationed in Klamath Falls a Grumman Torpedo plane TBF-VC 88-9=89, was reported crashing into the Lake. Two planes were flying in formation near Mt. Scott, when one partner turned away and when he looked back, the other pilot was gone. The government kept the crash a secret because they did not want it to get out to the enemy. The pilot did not actually see the plane go into the Lake. Jackman reported that 2 or 3 planes crashed each week near the Army air base in Klamath Falls.

Another plane story says that a SNJ trainer went down late fall of 1944, while heading north and was never found. The pilot and turrret gunner were lost. Another time a plane's engine quite over the Park and the plane was guided southeast until it crashed into either Agency or Klamath Lakes. (Dick McCullock, 826-7237 and Tony Gallo 779-4611)

August 6, 1944

The lodge is called a "firetrap of the worst sort" and a recommendation is made that it should be replaced as soon as possible. The Rim Village development is further described as an unsightly conglomeration of buildings which should be demolished and the entire area, except for the road and parking lo,t be allowed to revert to nature. (R.D. Waterhouse, Associate Engineer)

1940's

Several oral sources tell of a plane that buzzed so low over Rim Village and then dove toward the Lake near Sinnott. The plan was supposedly in such a steep dive, the pilot was unable to pull out and the plane entered the water.

Season 1944 Visitation: 42,385

1945

May 1945

J.C. Major, 1218 Chateau Drive, San Jose, California, claims a Grumman Torpedo Bomber TBM crashed into the Lake when the plane's engine quite while over the water. The Navy plane made a water landing and the pilot got out in a raft. Since the Park was closed during this period, rescue was difficult.

August 20, 1945

a minor building fire.

September 15, 1945

The Watchman Fire Lookout reports seeing a strange cloud of smoke or fog rising sharply from the Lake's surface, then mushrooming. Two days later a similar cloud is seen from the summit of Garfield Peak. a third was seen from Devil's Backbone. All three clouds were seen on a clear day and over the deepest part of the Lake. Miss Linda newhall, the fire lookout, reported the cloud as a dust colored fog or smoke cloud forming on or arising from the waters of the Lake. It rose sharply, then mushroomed out, and finally spread and drifted away with the wind currents.

September 17, 1945

Dale Vincent, while on the summit of Garfield Peak, observed a column of grayish smoke or steam extending about 1000 feet in height, 200 feet in width, and about 300 feet above the surface of the water of the Lake. He estimated the smoke to be one mile from the east shore of the lake. Mr. Vincent had his camera with him, but was so frightened he thought only of getting himself and the camera down off the peak.

September 30, 1945

The third reported sighting of a dust cloud over Crater Lake. Park Ranger Kenneth Hurlburt observed the cloud about 11:15 a.m. from a lookout point on the west side of the lake, between Hillman and Llao Rock. The cloud was about 300 to 400 feet wide and extended upward to a distance of four hundred to five hundred feet. It was diamond in shape, narrow at the top and bottom and wider in the middle of the formation. He observed it from all the various lookout points along the rim, as far south as Crater Lake Lodge. (from a NPS press release)

October 29, 1945

Dr. John C. Merriam, dies in Oakland, California

November 6, 1945

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... The phenomenon (was) reported by Mr. Dale Vincent (photographer, naturalist and writer) on September 17, from the summit of Garfield Peak,and bby 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 if the finest supplement to their medical program and lasting recovery."

November 12, 1945

Time magazine reports that eight weeks ago a fire lookout on the Watchman Peak saw the calm blue water emit a giant belch. A cloud of smoke or dust filled gas billowed out of the deep water, rose high in the air. Two days later, a second dust bubble broke from the surface. The third was two weeks later, forming a cloud 300 feet wide. Tourists began to flock to the Lake to watch. In late October, after the road was closed, the Lake uttered yet one more eruption of gas.

December 5, 1945

Because of the sighting of strange smoke clouds over Crater Lake, Dr. Howel Williams proposes the installation of a seismograph near the Rim of Crater Lake.

December, 3 1945

Grumman Hell Cat fighter plane crashes east of Skell Head. The remains of the pilot are found 25 years later. A group of seven planes had left Redding, California heading for Washington. As the formation entered clouds near the Park, one of the planes disappeared. The seven plane squadron was part of a larger group of 100 F-6-F Hell Cats heading eventually to San Diego. The planes were flying in squadron of 4 each, flying at 21,000 feet. The squad master saw Pilot Frank Lupo trying to switch his gas tanks. Apparently the switch failed, the engine quit and the Hell Cat was last seen heading down through the clouds. The official investigation of the crash was conducted in 1970, folowing the discovery of the Lupo's skull. (See entry for: August 17, 1970)

Season Visitation: 77,864

1946

Last recorded sighting of beaver along Annie Creek.

Major National Park Service uniform change when the wearing of slacks and shoes replaces the breech pants and boots.

March 1946

Following the end of WWII, Crater Lake is again reopened on a year-round basis.

April 1946

Snow crushes the dinning hall-bunkhouse. (Currently known as the Canfield Building)

June 15, 1946

The Lodge reopens after being closed for four years during the war. Much damage to be repaired.

July 1946

Tourists capture a cougar kitten from Munson Valley. The kit-napping was discovered as the car was about to leave the West Entrance checking station.

July 8, 1946

A year round weather station is again established at Park Headquarters.

July 19, 1946

Rescue of two persons from below the Lodge.

August 7, 1946

Dorothy M. Dodge, appointed as the Park's seventh postmaster.

Season 1946 Visitation: 188,794

1947

June 16, 1947

Jewel E. Finley is appointed as the Park's eighth postmaster.

May of June 1947

The Watchman Fire Lookout is badly vandilized. The windows are broken out and the equipment is smashed with clubs.

July 4, 1947

A Park visitor, Mr. Cornelius, suddenly hands his startled wife his billfold and watch as he sits down on a snow chute near the old Lake Trail, and slides to the Lake shore attempting suicide. Since the fall only broke his leg, Cornelius crawls to the water's edge and drowns himself.

Summer 1947

A stream survey of Sun Creek locates 3,000 bull trout. By 1989 the number had dropped to 130.

October 1947

Earhquake recorded eleven kilometers from the Lake. (Magnitude not recorded.)

Season Visitation: 289,681

1948

Crater Lake's 1948 operations prospectus recommended that the NPS should be prepared to: "eventually condemn the existing public accommodations on the Rim and refuse to permit any rebuilding of such accommodations within the park area with the possible exception of a lunch room which could be located as to provide year-round, ample meal service and would not encroach upon the featured portion of the park."

March 11, 1948

Superintendent Levitt writes that hotel accommodations should be provided outside the Park and all concession facilities at the Rim should be condemned.

April 1948

Park Superintendent Leavitt and his staff find themselves without postage money after Congress cuts the NPS's postage allowance by 60%. Mailouts for informational requests is cut back. The NHA comes to the rescue with the loan of a few stamps to help with pressing matters.

April 16, 1948

Snowfall for April sets a new record with 93.5 inches being recorded. The previous recoerd of 91 inches was set in April of 1932.

May 10, 1948

In an internal letter, the NPS observes that the fire escapes at the Lodge are inadequate. To use them, a guest would have to get access to an often locked room and then step up on a chair to reach the window sill.

June 3, 1948

NPS Director Druy writes that the removal of the Lodge should be made a condition for granting a new concession contract in 1960.

August 6, 1948

Fatal fall of Lodge employee near Vidae Falls.

August 1948

The Rim Drive is finally opened. A storm closes the Drive about 4 weeks later.

August 1948

The regional NPS office, recognizing the hight fire danger of the Lodge, attempts to close the building as a public hazard, but political pressure keeps it open for another 40 years. During the 1960's and 1970's the building bedded down 300 employees and guests each night. Fire escapes included knotted ropes leading out to ladders nailed onto the roof. Fire escapes and a sprinkler system were not added until the late 1970's/

September 18, 1948

The North Entrance Station is demolished in a collision with a visitor's car.

December 1948

Record snow fall for December of 196 inches.

Season 1948 Visitation: 243,533

1949

Underground power cables are installed between Headquarters and the Rim Village. They last for the next 23 years. (See: August 16, 1972)

The Superintendent reports that: "It is important to finalize plans to move headquarters to South Boundary". This move was planned for and talked about for years, but nothing definite was ever established.

Feburary 13, 1949

The Crater Lake freezes over for three months. A long period of abnormally low temperatures forced the upper water strata of the lake down to freezing. Ice first appeared around the shorelines and gradually grew towards the center of the Lake. After the surface was solid, heavy snowfalls deposited four feet of snow on the 2 to 12 inches of ice.

March 14, 1949

Dr. Ruhle, C.R. Fitzgerald, Jim Kilburn (Park electrician, 3027 Muller Street, Redwood City, California 94061) and two others walk on the frozen Lake over to Wizard Island. The only men to do so. The ice cracked and made grinding noises as the men were walking on it. Wayne Howell, Asst. Superintendent said the men were "nuts" for having walked on the frozen Lake and for having put themselves into such personal danger. (Part of story was relayed to the authors by Mr. Kilburn.)

The men had attempted to bring snowshoes with them, but the steep decent down the inner rim forced them to abandon their snowshoes. Some of the party returned the way they came, directly back to the Rim while one member of the expedition crossed Skell Channel and hugged the Western shore on his return route.

May 15, 1949

Elva G. Varnum is appointed the Park's ninth postmaster, a position she held for 20 years.

June 14, 1949

Lodge concession begins daily bus service to Medford.

July 1, 1949

A private school is organized for the school age children living in the Park.

August 1949

A boundary extension of over 4,500 acres is recommended by the Oregon Caves Committee. The committee feels the extension is urgent. They were alarmed that the clear cutting had approached to within a half mile of the Monument. "At the rate the land is now changing, in 30 years or less, the Monument will become an island. If saved now, the Monument will be an outstandingly beautiful remnant of a unique mountain forest region that elsewhere will have largely vanished forever." (The extension effort was not successful and much of the water and viewsheds surrounding the Caves have been clear cut. Oregon Caves NM is the second smallest natural unit in the NPS system. Studies have shown that clear cutting of the surrounding National Forests has a devastating impact 500 feet into the Monument causing a disturbance of 33% of the natural eco system.)

September 29, 1949

Fatal auto accident, with one injured critically.

November 1949

Elmer I. Applegate,82, grandson of famed Oregon pioneer, Lindsay Applegate, dies. Dr. Applegate established the herbarium at Crater Lake and conducted the first major studies of the Park's flora. Elmer held honorary degrees from Stanford and other schools because of his contribution to the field of botany. His papers and collections were left to Standford.

Season 1949

Visitation: 255,610

(Next stop 1950's)