QUARTZ MOUNTAIN
Ferry County - Colville National Forest - 34N-33E-34
July 22, 1932: “Men and teams are at work skidding timbers for the 40 foot towers on Quartz and Tunk Mountains." (Republic News-Miner)
September 30, 1932: “Ranger Hougland was out on Quartz mountain this week raising a lookout tower.” (Republic News-Miner)
July 7, 1933: “The Forest Service recently completed a lookout tower on Quartz mountain. The tower is about 50 feet high and the glass enclosed room at the top, where the lookout man on duty lives, is 16 feet square. The tower is securely braced and protected by lightning ground rods of copper.
The lookout is easily reached from Republic and as visitors are welcome it makes a good trip. One leaves the main San Poil highway at the Forest Service sign 'Nine Mile Road' and crosses the San Poil river and continues on up a good mountain road for five miles by car which puts you within one and a half miles of the tower. The trail on up is good with very little steep climbing.
Wonderful views of the country can be had from this mountain top and Glenn Campbell, the lookout on duty there, assures us that visitors are always more than welcome.” (Republic News-Miner)
November 1934: "During the past week the men of the McMann camp completed construction of the Quartz Mountain road which leads from over the Nine-Mile road to Quartz Mountain Lookout. A garage and storehouse for the use of the Lookout-Fireman during the fire season has been constructed at the end of the road." (Six Twenty-Six)
June 15, 1934: “It is estimated that the Quartz Mountain road will be completed by July 1st. Completion of this road will mean the passing out of existence of another pack trail, as the end of the road will be within a few feet of the lookout tower.” CCC news (The Republic News-Miner)
June 15, 1934: “It is estimated that the Quartz Mountain road will be completed by July 1st. Completion of this road will mean the passing out of existence of another pack trail, as the end of the road will be within a few feet of the lookout tower.” CCC news (The Republic News-Miner)
October 26, 1934: “During the past week the men of the McMann camp completed construction of the Quartz Mountain road, which leads from over the Nine-Mile road to Quartz Mountain lookout. A garage and storehouse for the use of the lookout fireman during the fire season has been constructed at the end of the road.” (The Republic News-Miner)
October 26, 1934: “During the past week the men of the McMann camp completed construction of the Quartz Mountain road, which leads from over the Nine-Mile road to Quartz Mountain lookout. A garage and storehouse for the use of the lookout fireman during the fire season has been constructed at the end of the road.” (The Republic News-Miner)
September 1935: "Lookout scene of wedding. High on the top of Quartz mountain, in a Colville national forest lookout, Lawrence Sprengel, Republic, stationed there, and Miss Adella Courter, Republic, were married by the Rev. G.F. Graham. The elevation of the mountain is 4803 feet and the lookout station is 40 feet high. Mr. and Mrs. Sprengel will not leave the station until called in after the forest fire season." (Six Twenty-Six)
1977: The last season the lookout was used for fire detection.
November 16, 1997: "The Quartz Mountain lookout, situated on a ridge at 4,830-feet, six miles southeast of Republic, burned to the ground on Oct. 7. Colville National Forest officials say the cabin and 30-foot tower fell victim to arson." (The Spokesman-Review)