JEFFERSON COUNTY
STRAWBERRY BUTTE
Helena National Forest
8N-3W-1
8N-3W-1
February 29, 1940: "Percy Melis, supervisor of the Helena national forest, announced yesterday that a new permanent fire lookout station will be established in the McClellan creek area, either on Shingle butte or on another mountain one mile south of there. Surveys are now being made to determine the better point." (Independent)
March 26, 1940: "Development of the Strawberry butte ranger lookout station on the McClellan creek area is also scheduled for this summer. In addition to constructing a 60-foot fire lookout tower and cabin on Strawberry butte, the boys will also build a road to the lookout and string telephone line. Strawberry butte is southwest of the McClellan ranger station." (Independent) Note: This work was accomplished with labor from the Rimini CCC Camp.
June 29, 1946: "The forest service is encouraging the public to visit lookout stations in the national forest, especially Strawberry lookout which has a good road leading to it. Ralph Eaton, in charge, will be willing to explain and demonstrate different phases of the work, Erle White, forest ranger, said today, after returning from a week's tour of the McClellan creek area with John W. Venrick, assistant ranger." (Independent Record)
August 5, 1949: The lookout on Strawberry Butte reported a plume of smoke to the north. This fire went in the history books as the Mann Gulch Fire that on this date cost the lives of 13 fire fighters.
September 9, 1949: "One forest service lookout station in the Helena national forest was manned again today as fire danger increased and federal weathermen forecast lightning storms.
Gardner Cromwell was ordered to his post on Strawberry mountain this morning. Several lookouts in this area were called down from stations after rains last week reduced the fire danger.
The average fire danger on the Helena national forest today was 55." (Independent Record)
August 4, 1950: "A forest service 'lookout holiday' was declared today for the family which has been assigned to Strawberry mountain lookout station as the fire danger dropped to 11 on the Helena ranger district of the national forest after an afternoon rain yesterday.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lassise and family were in Helena today enjoying a change of scenery and doing necessary shopping." (Independent Record)
August 28, 1958: “Strawberry lookout road in the Helena national forest has been reconstructed and now is ready for travel, Verne Hamre, forest supervisor, announced.
'The lookout tower is the tallest in the Helena forest,' Hamre said, 'approximately 80 feet high.'
Persons interested in visiting the lookout will now be able to travel on a road that is free of boulders and with a regraded surface.
Hamre said John Hass, road foreman, was in charge of the reconstruction. He added that Tate Peek is observer at Strawberry lookout.” (Independent Record)
August 2, 2018: "Break-in/Damage to Government Property - On 8/2, an LEO on the Helena RD investigated a break-in and damage to government property at the Strawberry Butte Lookout Tower. Unknown individual(s) had damaged locks, doors, and cabinets of the facility. The investigation is ongoing." (Law Enforcement Report)