GRANITE BUTTE
Lewis and Clark County - Helena National Forest - 13N-7W-26
September 2, 1932: "Construction of a new lookout tower on Granite mountain, south of Stemple pass, will be started immediately, it was announced yesterday by Supervisor James Templer of the Helena national forest. The lookout will be built of logs which will be cut now and allowed to season through the winter. The building will be erected early in the spring.
An appropriation of $800 for the lookout was included in the Helena forest allotment for the current fiscal year which was received about a month ago. It is the only piece of new construction work authorized this year, with the exception of a telephone line extension, because of the economy program adopted by the government.
Need for the lookout station has been urgently felt for a long time, but has been postponed in the past in order to complete other necessary improvements. It will be a valuable addition to the Helena forest in fire detection work because of the advantageous location of Granite peak. The observer will be able to see as far as the Lincoln ranger station on the west and many miles into the Marsh creek country and the Elkhorn district to the southeast.
A lookout has been maintained on the mountain in past seasons but his efforts have been handicapped by lack of a proper station and fire finding equipment." ( Independent - Helena)
An appropriation of $800 for the lookout was included in the Helena forest allotment for the current fiscal year which was received about a month ago. It is the only piece of new construction work authorized this year, with the exception of a telephone line extension, because of the economy program adopted by the government.
Need for the lookout station has been urgently felt for a long time, but has been postponed in the past in order to complete other necessary improvements. It will be a valuable addition to the Helena forest in fire detection work because of the advantageous location of Granite peak. The observer will be able to see as far as the Lincoln ranger station on the west and many miles into the Marsh creek country and the Elkhorn district to the southeast.
A lookout has been maintained on the mountain in past seasons but his efforts have been handicapped by lack of a proper station and fire finding equipment." ( Independent - Helena)
September 8, 1932: "Ranger McKnight of the Lincoln ranger district of the Helena National forest has returned from an inspection to a lookout in the Philipsburg region. Supervisor James Templer also made the trip. Helena forest officials are preparing to start construction of a new lookout tower on Granite Peak near Flesher." (Independent - Helena)
September 15, 1932: "Supervisor James Templer of the Helena forest, says construction of a new lookout tower on Granite mountain, south of Stemple pass, will be started immediately. Logs will be cut this fall and the building erected next spring. The tower will cost approximately $800. It is the only construction authorized in the Helena forest, with the exception of a telephone line extension." (The Choteau Acantha)
October 11, 1932: "Announcement that the new forest service station, on top of Granite butte in the Marsh creek country, would be completed by the end of this week was made yesterday by Supervisor James Templer of the Helena national forest.
A new road will be built to the station and will provide a scenic drive of great beauty. The road is to be completed and placed into passable condition by the beginning of next summer and it will be opened for general use then. The public is invited to make the trip and inspect the lookout station.
The top of the mountain at the lookout affords one of the most impressive views in the whole Helena forest, according to Supervisor Templer. It overlooks the Lincoln country, the Belts and the Elk Horn district and gives a clear view for miles on all sides.
The new lookout station will be glassed enclosed all around. Its location is considered one of the most strategic in the Helena forest for fire suppression purposes because of its command of great areas of the surrounding country.
Construction of the road and lookout are the only pieces of new work of importance undertaken this year by the forest service because of the program of economy adopted by the government." ( Independent - Helena)
October 27, 1932: "If the wind ever stops blowing, the Helena forest will have a lookout station at the top of Granite peak, but, for the season at least, the project is abandoned.
Last summer, says Supervisor James W. Templer, a lookout was stationed on the peak but the wind blew steadily, made his eyes water continuously and he wasn't much help until a canvas tripod was erected for his protection.
Then the forest service started construction of a permanent station there. But the wind still blew and a crew of four men finally gave up the attempt to place the roof.
The wind blows there, the supervisor says, in a circular movement, down one creek and up another. Maybe, he says, if the wind ever quiets down, the work can be completed." (Billings Gazette)
November 11, 1932: "Work on the Granite Peak lookout station, which was started some time ago, has been temporarily abandoned, and a crew of four men, camped on the crest of the South Poorman and Marsh creek ridge, are wondering how to erect a roof on a lookout station 'where the wind never stops,' it was announced recently by James Templer, supervisor of the Helena national forest.
When work first started on the station two men were used by the forestry department. With wind continuing without sign of let-up Supervisor Templer detailed two additional men on the job. But the wind 'she blew,' and work was stopped.
According to Supervisor Templer wind blows continuously on the tall peak in a circular movement; coming up South Poorman creek and down Marsh creek. Last summer a lookout man was detailed on the peak to spot fires but the wind was such that the man's eyes watered continuously and he was not of much use until a canvas tripod was erected for his benefit." (Philipsburg Mail)
March 3, 1933: "As far as new road construction work in the Helena forest this year is concerned, there will be but one project commenced, the supervisor stated. A passable auto road to the Granite Butte Lookout station will be constructed; money for this project to come from last year's emergency relief fund. Only the most necessary of improvements will be attempted, Supervisor Templer stated." (Independent)
May 16, 1933: “One of the most modern lookout stations in the West is located on Granite Butte. An automobile road will be extended to the peak this spring. During the last few years a temporary station has been maintained on the peak. Last fall a large, glass enclosed lookout was erected. Supervisor Templer stated that should fire season become dry and fire hazards increase, men would be added to the protection force.” (Independent)
August 4, 1944: "A forest service crew has been sent to investigate a report of a fire at the mouth of McQuithy gulch, about 10 miles west of Canyon Creek, Vern Edwards, Helena forest ranger, said today.
The smoke was reported by the Granite Butte lookout, he said. No reports on the size of the blaze have been received." (Independent Record)
July 25, 1947: "Radio communication with Granite Butte forest service lookout station has been established to replace the telephone service which is temporarily out of order, Favre Eaton, forest supervisor, said today.
Construction crews, clearing trees from a roadway in the area knocked the line down and the fire danger being so great at the present time, we felt that communication had to be established immediately, Eaton said." (Independent Record)
National Geodetic Survey
DESIGNATION - GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - RX0888
STATE/COUNTY- MT/LEWIS AND CLARK
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - GRANITE BUTTE (1968)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1956 (WFD)
THE STATION IS LOCATED ON THE SUMMIT OF GRANITE BUTTE AND
LIES ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LINCOLN, ABOUT 2.5 MILES
SOUTH OF STEMPLE PASS.
THE STATION IS THE BASE AND CENTER OF THE FOUR LEGGED, WOODEN,
LOOKOUT TOWER. THE TOWER IS ABOUT 40 FEET IN HEIGHT, AND IS
LIES 1.280 METERS WEST OF TRIANGULATION STATION GRANITE. THE
BASE OF THE TOWER IS 0.11 METER HIGHER THAN TRIANGULATION
STATION GRANITE.
