HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN
Jefferson County - Deerlodge National Forest - 5N-6W-35
August 30, 1936: "Haystack mountain with an altitude of 8,000 feet and located in the Deer Lodge national forest is going to be the new fire lookout station.
It will be constructed with glass windows on all sides where a man will be stationed throughout the summer months to watch for fires.
This spot commands a splendid view of a large portion of the forested area in Jefferson county. It is located east of Elk Park on a high ridge overlooking the greater portion of Boulder district and portions of Whitehall and Butte districts.
A crew of ERA workers has packed in with all their equipment to a point 8,000 feet up under Haystack Mountain, where they will carve and blast a trail out of the huge boulders and cliffs for about three-fourths of a mile. This will permit them to pack in the necessary equipment to construct the lookout station.
According to Forest Ranger L.L. Lake, the lookout station will be equipped with the most modern equipment for detecting fires, observing lightning storms, and measuring fuel and moisture conditions with scientific instruments. Construction work is under the supervision of Ranger Lake of Basin and Jensen of Butte." (Montana Butte Standard)
It will be constructed with glass windows on all sides where a man will be stationed throughout the summer months to watch for fires.
This spot commands a splendid view of a large portion of the forested area in Jefferson county. It is located east of Elk Park on a high ridge overlooking the greater portion of Boulder district and portions of Whitehall and Butte districts.
A crew of ERA workers has packed in with all their equipment to a point 8,000 feet up under Haystack Mountain, where they will carve and blast a trail out of the huge boulders and cliffs for about three-fourths of a mile. This will permit them to pack in the necessary equipment to construct the lookout station.
According to Forest Ranger L.L. Lake, the lookout station will be equipped with the most modern equipment for detecting fires, observing lightning storms, and measuring fuel and moisture conditions with scientific instruments. Construction work is under the supervision of Ranger Lake of Basin and Jensen of Butte." (Montana Butte Standard)
November 14, 1936: "A forest observation station has been completed at the top of Lookout Mountain, east of Butte, it was reported yesterday by forest officials.
At the top of a trail blasted from rock 8,640 feet above sea level, the recently completed fire detection station commands a view 20 miles in radius. The station is the third in Deer Lodge National forest. Construction of a forth on Cable mountain, 11 miles west of Anaconda, is scheduled next summer.
Construction of the lookout station by ERA aid was a tortuous process. Every bit of the 14-foot cabin was packed three miles up the mountain over a narrow trail by pack horses. Material weighed four tons and at 200 pounds per horse would have required one animal to make 40 trips. Even water for mixing concrete had to be packed.
Large windows and two doors were strapped on horses and carried up without a mishap, Ranger L. L. Lake, in charge of the job, told R. T. Ferguson, supervisor of the Deer Lodge National forest.
The cabin is located about five miles east of the Butte-Helena highway in Elk Park and is visible from the road.
The cabin is surrounded with glass to aid lookouts in locating fires. Inside are living quarters and a map. Construction of a telephone line is now under way. Pack horses were rented from Mike Quinn of Boulder." (Montana Butte Standard)
December 6, 1936: "ERA crew working for the Forest Service on the Boulder ranger district in Jefferson county resumed work Dec. first.
The crew working under the supervision of Ranger L.L. Lake at Basin, is reconstructing the telephone line from the Hay Stack Lookout to Elk Park Inn. This line, strictly for fire control purposes, will be the connecting line for the new Haystack Lookout just recently completed.
Present plans contemplate completion of the job this month. Adverse weather conditions are making progress rather slow." (Montana Butte Standard)
July 18, 1937: "With telephone connected Haystack is now occupied. Lightning struck the lookout station recently but caused no damage." (Montana Butte Standard)
June 30, 1944: "Supplies for Haystack lookout at Elk Park and Highland lookout will be moved by a pack train of mules, V.T. Linthacum, acting forest supervisor, said Thursday.
The mules were trucked over from Philipsburg and will carry the supplies to the lookout stations from here. Men for the stations will move in after July 4, Mr. Linthacum said." (Montana Standard)
July 17, 1954: "Installation of Robert Hickman, 114 S. Ohio, at the lookout tower at Haystack was completed by the Butte district ranger's office Thursday.
Merle Hofferber, district ranger, said Hickman was taken by pack mule to Haystack by George Kore, assistant ranger, and Frank Bentley. The two Forest Service men remained with Hickman to acquaint him with methods and equipment, Hofferber said." (Montana Standard)
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