CHELAN COUNTY
TUMWATER MOUNTAIN
Wenatchee National Forest
25N-17E-27
25N-17E-27
1914: Site first developed as a heliograph lookout central station. (See: story below)
March 20, 1914: "A.H. Sylvester, the local forest supervisor, makes the announcement this week that the transmitting of messages by heliograph will be in vogue in the Wenatchee National forest this summer. The instruments and other equipment, which is similar to that used for signal purposes in the army, has been ordered and on their arrival will be put into operation as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.
The system used for conveying messages is by means of mirrors, two of which are placed on a tripod, reflected into each other, and the flasher worked by means of a shutter, In this manner messages are known to have been transmitted up to a distance of 70 miles. The Morse code is used, the dots and dashes being worked by the making and breaking of the flashes with the shutter. Abbreviated codes will likewise be used for different signals, like 'I understand.'
Four lookout stations on high peaks that command a view of the surrounding country will be established, says Mr. Sylvester, and from these points the instrument men will be able to call the central station at any time a fire breaks out. The lookout men will be stationed on the following peaks, 'Sugar Loaf,' at the head of the Chumstick, 'Swakane,' on the Entiat range, 'Dirty Face,' at Lake Wenatchee; and 'Tip Top' near Blewett. While it has not been definitely decided on, the central station will probably be located on the first range of mountains north of town as this point would be in direct communication with all of the four stations. When any of the lookout men spot a fire they take a reading on it with a compass, which reading they signal to the central station, which then telephones the same to the forestry office here. When two or more readings from different stations to the same fire have been received, they can be plotted on the first map and the almost exact location of the fire determined. It is only possible to use the heliograph when the sun shines, but records show that there are few cloudy days in this section during the summer months." (The Leavenworth Echo)
June 18, 1915: "Floyd Blankenship and five men began this week on a trail to be completed to the top of Tumwater mountain, just back of town. The trail starts from the ranger station at the foot of the mountain and runs in a northerly direction to the low swag just north of town. From that point it will ascend the mountain at an easy grade on the west and north side. The ranger station to be built on top of the mountain will not be visible from the western part of town but can be seen from the east end. Ultimately it is the intention to run a telephone from the ranger office to the top of the mountain. A number of parties were watching the progress of the work yesterday morning from Front street. Mr. Sylvester says the grade will average about twelve per cent, which is not considered steep for a trail." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 2, 1915: "The three mile trail to the Lookout Station on top of the mountain just west of town was completed Wednesday. It is the intention of the forestry service to build a telephone line to this station at an early date. Another line will also be built to the lookout station on the summit of Dirty Face mountain on Lake Wenatchee." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 16, 1915: "J.A. Fernstrom is now camped near the summit of the mountain west of town and is in communication by telephone and heliograph with the forestry office. His principal duties are to watch for forest fires and report them." (The Leavenworth Echo)
August 6, 1915: "Mr. Sylvester received a heliogram message from the forest supervisor at Chelan yesterday morning. The message was relayed from the lookout stations at the following points. From Chelan to Stormy mountain, from there to Sugar Loaf, thence to Tumwater mountain and from there it was telephoned to the Forestry office." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 7, 1916: "J.H. Osborn will have charge of the fire lookout station on top of Tumwater mountain, west of town. He plans to have his wife and baby with him most of the time." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 14, 1916: "J.H. Osborn, who will have charge of the lookout station on top of the mountain west of town, started to his post of duty Wednesday followed by two pack horses. Just as they reached the top of the trail the horses took fright and started down the mountain pellmell, scattering his camping outfit along the trail. Later in the day he started from town with a new load and reached his destination about midnight." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 28, 1916: "Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Sylvester together with Miss Raftree and little Margaret made the ascent to the lookout forestry station on top of Tumwater mountain last Sunday. Approximately three hours were required to make the climb. Two horses were taken on the trip and Margaret and Mrs. Sylvester found it convenient to make use of them. Miss Raftree walked almost all the distance up and down. The view from the top where by the way, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Osborn are spending their vacation, is usually fine and far reaching." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 6, 1917: "Miss Lila Snyder and Miss Rachel Tullis accompanied some of the ranger boys on a trip to the top of Lookout mountain on the 4th where a lookout station is maintained thru the summer by the forestry department." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 6, 1917: "Forest Supervisor Sylvester says Wenatchee received the first intimation of the fire from the watchman stationed at the forestry lookout station on Lookout mountain, four miles west of Leavenworth, who reported the fire to Leavenworth central, from which office it was promptly reported to Wenatchee central telephone station. The operator there stated he had not had any previous notice of the fire." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 6, 1917: "Bridge Fire Alarm Given from Lookout Mountain" "Forest Supervisor Sylvester tells the Echo that the Wenatchee bridge fire was first discovered by the ranger at Lookout station from the top of the mountain of the same name, three miles north of Leavenworth, on the afternoon of the Fourth of July, and the notice of the fire telephoned to the Leavenworth central stationwith the request that they telephone Wenatchee central office that a fire had broken out two miles west of Wenatchee which Wenatchee central relied was the first advice received of the fire. The lookout on the mountain could not make out at a distance of 26 miles what it was that was burning but made out that it was a fire of considerable proportions." (The Leavenworth Echo)
June 7, 1918: "Now that the season for forest fires is nearly here the District Forester is preparing to man some of the hitherto unused lookout locations in the National forests by erecting the new standard ready-cut lookout houses. The Portland district office has ordered two of the standard houses from local mills and they will be put up on Philchuck Mountain in Snoqualmie Forest and Tumwater lookout in the Wenatchee National Forest.
The new type of lookout house adopted by the District Forester provides for a house 12 feet square surmounted by a cupola six feet square. All the house and cupola is surrounded by windows and the entire house is constructed of ready-cut material, so that it may be transported up the mountains without unnecessary trouble. The material for a lookout house weighs nearly four tons including the glass and hardware. All the pieces are numbered so that there is no time lost in putting it together and so that no extra material will be carried to the top of the mountain where the stations are located." (The Oregonian)
June 18, 1920: "Miss Iva M. West has accepted the position in the Forest service of watch at the lookout station on Tumwater mountain. This region, though just to the northwest of the city, is one of the wildest in the community and Miss West anticipates many visits from Brother Bar before the season is over." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 9, 1920: "John S. Brender reports two forest fires the first of the week, one on Sunday in the Eagle Creek district, reported from the Tumwater lookout and put out before two acres were burned over, and the other on Monday in the Mountain Home district, which was spotted by Mrs. Brender and quickly taken care of. The forest service is 'johnny on the spot' and it will not be their fault if damaging fires get out." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 16, 1920: "There is one girl lookout this summer. Miss Iva West is working on the Tumwater Lookout. She graduated from the Leavenworth high school a few years ago. (The Leavenworth Echo)
June 3, 1921: "Miss Iva West will officiate as forest service lookout at the station on the mountain just west of town again this season. The station will be opened about the fifteenth." (The Leavenworth Echo)
July 8, 1921: "A man living near the mouth of Stevens canyon burned forest material without a permit last Saturday morning. The fire was spotted by Miss Iva West, in charge of the Tumwater Lookout and five minutes after reported to Ranger Brender he was out at the place of the fire. The offender was brought before Justice J.C. Davis and fined $25.00 and costs. The forest service has instructions to enforce the law requiring permits to burn brush and rubbish and also that pertaining to campfires, and it is given out that these instructions will be carried out regardless of party or parties concerned." (The Leavenworth Echo)
May 19, 1922: "Mr. and Mrs. Tom Featherstone and others went on a trip to the lookout station on Tumwater mountain Sunday and while resting. a nice brown bear appeared near them. Evidently he did not know that the season on bear is closed, or else he took them for shepherds, for upon discovering that they were near he lost no time in getting into the obscurity of a deep ravine." (The Leavenworth Echo)
September 28, 1923: "Talbot West, who has been at Tumwater station, also came down Tuesday. The fire season is about over and all the lookouts are coming in.” (The Leavenworth Echo)
September 28, 1923: "Talbot West, who has been at Tumwater station, also came down Tuesday. The fire season is about over and all the lookouts are coming in.” (The Leavenworth Echo)
June 20, 1924: “Forest Supervisor A.H. Sylvester has virtually completed the placing of summer employees in the Wenatchee National Forest.” "Talbot West is lookout on Tumwater Mountain." (The Leavenworth Echo)
June 20, 1924: “Forest Supervisor A.H. Sylvester has virtually completed the placing of summer employees in the Wenatchee National Forest.” "Talbot West is lookout on Tumwater Mountain." (The Leavenworth Echo)
August 7, 1925: “Peter Sauer was sick last week and his son Welcome, was called down from the lookout station on Tumwater Mountain.” (The Leavenworth Echo)
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