FLATHEAD COUNTY
FIREFIGHTER MOUNTAIN
Flathead National Forest
30N-18W-27
30N-18W-27
February 16, 1951: "Construction projects that may be undertaken this summer in the reservoir area include a new Firefighter mountain lookout station above Riverside creek, and a three mile single lane road to the lookout." (Hungry Horse News)
April 1, 1952: "The reclamation bureau Monday awarded contracts for a new lookout tower and lookout house for the new fire-fighter mountain lookout on the east side of the Hungry Horse reservoir. Columbia Falls Lumber Company got a $3,217 contract for the tower. Neidermeyer Martin Lumber Company received a $3,105 contract for the lookout house." (The Billings Gazette)
May 16, 1952: "The Bureau of Reclamation will open bids June 10 at the Hungry Horse project for erecting and painting a forest service lookout tower and house on the north point of Firefighter mountain, overlooking the Hungry Horse reservoir, and construction of 3.85 miles of road to connect the new lookout station with the new forest service road on the east side of the reservoir.
The new lookout station will be constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and turned over to the Forest Service for operation in the network of fire protection stations maintained in the Flathead river's South Fork drainage basin.
Bids to be opened June 10 will cover construction of a 14 by 14 foot house on top of a 41-foot high lookout tower. Materials will be furnished by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Work under the contract is scheduled to start within 30 days after the successful bidder is notified, and all work required for construction of the lookout and road is to be completed within 420 days." (Hungry Horse News)
June 11, 1952: "Valley Construction company of St. Ignatius apparently bid low at $34,840 to build a firefighter lookout tower overlooking Hungry Horse dam. The reclamation bureau project includes building nearly four miles of road to the tower. Bids will be forwarded to the Boise regional office for approval." (The Independent Record)
June 13, 1952: "Valley Construction Co., St. Ignatius, was the apparent low bidder with a total bid of $34,840 on a Bureau of Reclamation contract for the erection of Firefighter Mountain lookout tower and house overlooking Hungry Horse reservoir, and for the construction of 3.85 miles of road to the new lookout.
Other low bidders among six opened at the Bureau's Hungry Horse office were: Morgenstern and Schelt, Missoula, with a bid of $42,354.20; and F. L. Flynn, Billings who bid $57,937.50.
The new lookout station, which will be about 27 miles southeast of Columbia Falls, will be constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and turned over to the forest service for operation in the network of fire protection stations maintained in the Flathead river's South Fork drainage basin.
Work under the contract is scheduled to start within 30 days after the successful bidder is notified, and all work required for construction of the lookout and road is to be completed within 420 days." (Hungry Horse News)
July 11, 1952: "Valley Construction Co., St. Ignatius, has been awarded a Hungry Horse project contract for $34,840 to erect the Firefighter mountain lookout tower and house and 3.85 miles of access road. This is a replacement facility for the forest service as a result of the new reservoir." (Hungry Horse News)
August 29, 1952: "Valley Construction Co., St. Ignatius, has completed 1 of the 3.85 miles of the new Firefighter mountain lookout road. Coming later is erection of the lookout tower. The contract is for $34,840." (Hungry Horse News)
August 21, 1953: "The Hungry Horse Dam project, 99 per cent completed, this week saw another contract finished.
It was the $34,834,32 contract held by Valley Construction Co. for the 4-mile road to Firefighter mountain lookout in the reservoir area.
Contract for this replacement facility also included erection of the lookout tower and house furnished by the government. Materials for the tower were purchased last year under a separate contract." (Hungry Horse News)