SILVER BOW COUNTY
HIGHLAND MOUNTAIN (RED)
Deer Lodge National Forest
1S-7W-8
1S-7W-8
September 17, 1939: "Stewart said CCC workers have completed a lookout station at Highland peak, near Red mountain, south of Butte. A trail and telephone line have also been built. The lookout, sixth in the forest, will be manned next year, according to forest officials." (Montana Standard)
October 22, 1939: "On Highland peak, 20 miles south of Butte, a lookout house about 14 square feet was built. Three miles of trail and eight miles of telephone wire also were laid to connect this point with other locations. This lookout is on the Butte ranger district, administered by Ranger Doug Morrison." (Montana Standard)
October 28, 1939: "Construction of a new forest service lookout station at Highland peak, south of Butte, was scheduled for completion today, according to L.M. Stewart, assistant supervisor of the Deer Lodge national forest. The station will be placed in operation next spring.
A Civilian Conservation Corps crew, working under the supervision of Willard Bruns of Phillipsburg, foreman, will finish construction of a lookout building, eight miles of telephone line and three miles of trail to the lookout, and building of range fences, the forest official said." (Montana Standard)
September 20, 1953: "Take the word of Don McPherson, 20, who found out it can be the real thing. During the summer Don served the Deer Lodge National Forest as a lookout atop Red Mountain in the Highlands south of Butte, and sat through a bolt out of the blue that virtually shattered his tower, causing an estimated $1,500 in damage. He tells it this way:
'During the storm there were very few strikes at the ground and all of them were at a safe distance from the tower.
'Suddenly there was a 'whoosh' and a blinding flash of light. I guess I must have blacked out for a second or two. When I came to the lookout was a shambles.
'Outside it was pouring, a regular cloudburst. The tower didn't offer much shelter. The windows were all broken and there was a gaping hole in one corner of the building.'
McPherson said he donned raincoat and took out for the nearest telephone to notify forest headquarters of the lightning strike and receive instructions. He hiked about six miles in the drenching downpour.
An Inspection of the lookout disclosed that more than 70 panes of glass had been shattered. The lightning bolt, the first to strike a lookout tower in this area in many years, apparently followed a radio lead-in, jumped to a stove, blew apart a teakettle, found a ground wire and went outside near the point of entry, John Fallman, supervisor of the Deer Lodge Forest, said.
From evidence at the lookout, forest officials said, it appears that the concussion force of the lightning bolt was against the north and south walls of the building. Broken glass was scattered on the outside of those walls. Glass from the east and west walls fell inside the tower.
McPherson, except for a few tiny burns about the legs, believed to have been caused by sparks, and a few scratches from flying glass, escaped unhurt. His hearing, he said, was impaired for a day or two-- 'it left a ringing in my ears,' he recounted." (Montana Standard)
'During the storm there were very few strikes at the ground and all of them were at a safe distance from the tower.
'Suddenly there was a 'whoosh' and a blinding flash of light. I guess I must have blacked out for a second or two. When I came to the lookout was a shambles.
'Outside it was pouring, a regular cloudburst. The tower didn't offer much shelter. The windows were all broken and there was a gaping hole in one corner of the building.'
McPherson said he donned raincoat and took out for the nearest telephone to notify forest headquarters of the lightning strike and receive instructions. He hiked about six miles in the drenching downpour.
An Inspection of the lookout disclosed that more than 70 panes of glass had been shattered. The lightning bolt, the first to strike a lookout tower in this area in many years, apparently followed a radio lead-in, jumped to a stove, blew apart a teakettle, found a ground wire and went outside near the point of entry, John Fallman, supervisor of the Deer Lodge Forest, said.
From evidence at the lookout, forest officials said, it appears that the concussion force of the lightning bolt was against the north and south walls of the building. Broken glass was scattered on the outside of those walls. Glass from the east and west walls fell inside the tower.
McPherson, except for a few tiny burns about the legs, believed to have been caused by sparks, and a few scratches from flying glass, escaped unhurt. His hearing, he said, was impaired for a day or two-- 'it left a ringing in my ears,' he recounted." (Montana Standard)
DESIGNATION - RED MTN LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - QY0503
STATE/COUNTY- MT/SILVER BOW
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - PIPESTONE PASS (1996)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1956 (WFD)
THE STATION IS ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTH OF BUTTE AND 13 MILES EAST
OF U.S. HIGHWAY 91. IT IS A SMALL WHITE CABIN SUPPORTED BY
POLE LEGS. THE HEIGHT WAS NOT DETERMINED BY MEASUREMENT.
VERTICAL ANGLES WERE OBSERVED ON THE GROUND AT THE BASE OF THE
TOWER.