LEECHER MOUNTAIN
Okanogan County - Okanogan National Forest - 32N-23E-19
August 28, 1921: "Contract awarded for lookouts--The Coast Culvert & Flume company of this city (Portland) has been awarded a contract to build two steel lookout tops for the forest service. One of these will be located on Leecher mountain, in the Chelan national forest, according to announcement at the district forester's office." (The Oregon Daily Journal)
June 1922: "Rangers Pierpont and Price are helping erect a lookout tower on Leecher Mountain. The tower is 40 feet high and of standard construction." (Six Twenty-Six)
July 2, 1920: "Forest Supervisor P. T. Harris announces the following lookout appointments for the ensuing fire season on the Okanogan forest: Chas. Bossuot, Leecher Mountain." (The Oroville Weekly Gazette)
July 2, 1920: "Forest Supervisor P. T. Harris announces the following lookout appointments for the ensuing fire season on the Okanogan forest: Chas. Bossuot, Leecher Mountain." (The Oroville Weekly Gazette)
October 1922: "Our lookout accommodations have been greatly improved this season by the addition of a steel tower 50' tall with a cage on Leecher Mountain." (Six Twenty-Six)
June 8, 1926: "Fred Cole is the first lookout to begin work in the Chelan national forest. He is at Leecher mountain lookout station. Other lookouts will begin duty between June 10 and 20, according to Forest Supervisor P.T Harris." (The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review)
May 30, 1930: "Richard Bassett will be employed as lookout man on Mt. Leecher this summer. He will take up his duties on or about June 15." (Brewster Herald)
July 1, 1930: “Richard Bassett left Wednesday for the forest lookout station at Mt. leecher, where he is stationed for the fire season.” (The Wenatchee Daily World)
July 1, 1930: “Richard Bassett left Wednesday for the forest lookout station at Mt. leecher, where he is stationed for the fire season.” (The Wenatchee Daily World)
July 2, 1930: “John Branton went up to Mount Leecher lookout station Monday to spend some time with Richard Bassett, who is in charge of the lookout station.” (The Wenatchee Daily World)
July 2, 1930: “John Branton went up to Mount Leecher lookout station Monday to spend some time with Richard Bassett, who is in charge of the lookout station.” (The Wenatchee Daily World)
June 17, 1931: "The Twisp Camp Fire Girls climbed to the top of Mount Leecher last week. The first lap was to Benson creek, where the base camp was made. The second day was spent on the telephone trail to the top and back. The girls climbed the glass and steel lookout tower overlooking the Chelan forest. The hike home was made Saturday. The forest service recently finished an automobile road to the top of the mountain, providing a drive of unusual scenic beauty." (The Spokesman-Review)
June 16, 1933: "Richard Bassett came in from Seattle by auto, Sunday. He has been employed in his father's service station on 4th Avenue and Madison street in Seattle.
Richard is a graduate of Brewster High School and has many friends in this vicinity. He has been in the forest service during the summer for the past three years.
Mr. Bassett took over the Mt. Leecher lookout station this week and started his summer vigil." (Quad City Herald)
June 30, 1933: "Ralph Lawless spent Monday and Tuesday helping the Mt. Leecher lookout, Richard Bassett, who was handicapped by a bruised hand, sustained when his car was wrecked." (Brewster Herald)
June 29, 1934: "Richard Bassett, who is the lookout man at Mt. Leecher. was in Brewster Thursday on business." (Brewster Herald)
August 28, 1936: "Richard Bassett is down from his lookout station on Leacher Mountain. The recent heavy rain made it possible to leave the woods for a short time." (The Herald-Reporter)
October 2, 1936: "Richard Bassett, lookout on Mt. Leecher, drove down Tuesday evening to have his dog given medical attention. The animal had broken its leg while chasing a rat. Dr. McKinley put the injured member in a plaster cast." (Quad City Herald)
November 13, 1936: "Richard Bassett, stationed during the summer and fall at the Leecher Mountain Lookout, ceased duties there Tuesday for the remainder of the year. Mr. Bassett reported only four small fires due to careless hunters in the woods during the hunting season. The long dry spell caused his lookout duties to be extended a month over any previous year." (Quad City Herald)
July 29, 1954: "Misses Nellie Parks and Molly Longmoor have taken up their duties as look-out girls on Mt. Leecher." (Methow Valley News)
July 17, 2014: The lookout was evacuated by helicopter, flames from the Carlton Complex Fire had effectively surrounded the lookout making escape unsure at a later time. The lookout was not re-staffed as a primary lookout this season.