CHELAN COUNTY
McGREGOR MOUNTAIN
Chelan National Forest
34N-17E-31
34N-17E-31
November 1926: "During out last lightning storm, the lookout house, while still under construction, was hit by a bolt on the corner of the tower. From there the charge ran down the 4x4 supporting the tower, splitting it into splinters and cutting off above the guy wire. The metal shingles along one corner were thrown in all directions.
In running down the guy wire, it exploded a 600 pound boulder to which the cable was anchored, then jumped to the drag line on the 1400-foot double tramway cutting the drag line at each place it ran through a block. This allowed one carriage to run to the bottom of the tram which demolished it and let down one standing line, one eighth mile of telephone line was heated to a high temperature and left a kink in it about every six inches.
Mr. Ramm, the carpenter, and Mr. Heaton, the lookout, were at their camp one-half mile below the lookout house when the bolt struck. The telephone was unhooked and the boys were getting supper when Mr. Ramm was knocked unconscious for about twenty minutes, receiving a burn as large as a dollar on the top of his head and many small burns on the bottom of his feet. Mr. Heaton was not injured, due to the fact he had rubber shoes on, having no nails in the soles. Mr. Heaton and Mr. Ramm were at least ten feet from the telephone line.
Mr. James, the cook at the road camp, eight miles away, was talking on the phone at the time the bolt was released. He was knocked unconscious for a couple minutes, receiving burns on the cheek, arm and feet. Mr. James, otherwise known as 'Dunc', was about to report rain in that locality when hit. It was rumored that 'Dunc' is in the market for a good lightning arrester that can be carried in the hip pocket or elsewhere on his person. Roy Weeman" (Six Twenty-Six)
In running down the guy wire, it exploded a 600 pound boulder to which the cable was anchored, then jumped to the drag line on the 1400-foot double tramway cutting the drag line at each place it ran through a block. This allowed one carriage to run to the bottom of the tram which demolished it and let down one standing line, one eighth mile of telephone line was heated to a high temperature and left a kink in it about every six inches.
Mr. Ramm, the carpenter, and Mr. Heaton, the lookout, were at their camp one-half mile below the lookout house when the bolt struck. The telephone was unhooked and the boys were getting supper when Mr. Ramm was knocked unconscious for about twenty minutes, receiving a burn as large as a dollar on the top of his head and many small burns on the bottom of his feet. Mr. Heaton was not injured, due to the fact he had rubber shoes on, having no nails in the soles. Mr. Heaton and Mr. Ramm were at least ten feet from the telephone line.
Mr. James, the cook at the road camp, eight miles away, was talking on the phone at the time the bolt was released. He was knocked unconscious for a couple minutes, receiving burns on the cheek, arm and feet. Mr. James, otherwise known as 'Dunc', was about to report rain in that locality when hit. It was rumored that 'Dunc' is in the market for a good lightning arrester that can be carried in the hip pocket or elsewhere on his person. Roy Weeman" (Six Twenty-Six)
July 1929: "Yes, we still remember that lightning struck the McGregor Lookout house while it was under construction. The elevation of the peak is 8,160 feet, and the house was located on the top. We have also in mind several trees on the top of the ridges that have been struck by lightning and set fires on his forest. R.L. Weeman" (Six Twenty-Six)
July 23, 1932: “A total of 76 radio sets of the short wave types recently tested out by the forest service are being installed in the Chelan forest according to R.E. Johnson, dispatcher at the Winthrop ranger station.
The 11 large sending and receiving sets are being installed at Okanogan, where the forest supervisor is located, and at the following lookout station: McGregor Mountain." (The Wenatchee World)
Activated: July 1, 1942; Deactivated: September 7, 1942. Seattle Filter Center.
Removed
