ILLINOIS PEAK
Mineral County - Lolo National Forest - 15N-28W-25
July 15, 1915: "Forester Phillips, with a government pack train, went to the head of Cedar creek last Monday to establish a lookout station on Illinois peak, where a close-watch will be kept of the surrounding country, which includes the Clearwater, St. Joe and this vicinity. This peak is one of the highest elevations, besides a 12-foot platform or lookout station will be constructed. Calvin MacDonald will be left in charge of this important station." (The Mineral Independent)
August 13, 1915: “Burns MacDonald is visiting his uncle Calvin MacDonald who is lookout man at Illinois peak.” (The Mineral Independent)
August 13, 1915: “Burns MacDonald is visiting his uncle Calvin MacDonald who is lookout man at Illinois peak.” (The Mineral Independent)
September 3, 1915: “Calvin MacDonald at Illinois Peak came to town Wednesday and will be engaged in other forest work.” (The Mineral Independent)
September 3, 1915: “Calvin MacDonald at Illinois Peak came to town Wednesday and will be engaged in other forest work.” (The Mineral Independent)
August 16, 1934: "Burns MacDonald is visiting his uncle Calvin MacDonald who is lookout man at Illinois peak." (The Mineral Independent)
September 22, 1935: "Most of the Lookout men have returned from their posts in the forests. Bud LaCombe is down from Illinois peak." (The Missoulian)
1938: A steel Aermotor tower of approximately 72-feet was erected. All materials for the tower were packed in to the site by pack mules.
1938: A steel Aermotor tower of approximately 72-feet was erected. All materials for the tower were packed in to the site by pack mules.
August 12, 1943: "Charles Kern, 17-year-old son of Missoula's assistant fire chief, is a lookout on Illinois peak, nearly 8,000 feet in elevation. He makes his home on a 60-foot steel tower. There is no danger of hot weather spoiling food, he reports, because there is a natural refrigerator in the form of a deep bank of snow with a stone's throw of his station." (The Missoulian)
July 24, 1947: "Leeland Spencer of Bonners Ferry, Idaho was stationed at Illinois peak last week as a lookout." (The Mineral Independent)
1974: The tower was dismantled and removed from the site by the use of pack animals. The use of a helicopter was deemed too expensive.