BANNER MOUNTAIN
Nevada County - California Department of Forestry
1911: "The Banner Lookout Tower near Nevada City was erected the spring of 1911 and demonstrated its usefulness in locating fires in one locality when the patrolman was in another." (American Forestry - Vol. 18, 1912)
July 2, 1911: "B.F. Howe, who has been appointed as the lookout at the station at Banner mountain on the Tahoe national forest, commenced his duties this morning.
Supervisor R.L.P. Bigelow of the Tahoe forest stated yesterday that he desires to have property owners in the immediate vicinity of Banner mountain co-operate with the service now that the lookout station has been established. He states that all that is necessary for those to do who desire to co-operate, is to furnish a plat of their holdings and it will be reproduced on the official maps of the Tahoe forest and should a fire break out on the land the lookout will telephone to the headquarters at Nevada City and give the location of the fire. The owner will then be notified." (Sacramento Union)
September 26, 1911: "The rain removed all necessity for a lookout on Banner mountain today, and for the first time since July, Lookout B.F. Howe was enabled to take a vacation today, and went to his former home at Canada Hill, where he will remain until the rains have ceased and there will be occasion for him to return to the tower." (Sacramento Union)
October 5, 1911: "There are a few places where extra men will be maintained for a while, one of these being at Banner. Lookout Howe will be keep his post until there is absolutely no chance for a fire to break out." (Morning Union)
July 2, 1914: "The wonderful vista of the country to be obtained from the vantage point in the tower on top of Banner Mountain has made that eminence somewhat of a tourist center, largely by reason of the rudely constructed tower in which the lookout for the Tahoe Forest Reserve maintains a close vigil during the summer months of the year, or in other words during the 'fire season.'
It was the necessity of providing better facilities for discovering forest fires that brought Banner lookout into existence. Because of the extensive view from the high tower it is possible for the attendant to discover a fire and by means of the telephone dispatch men to fight the blaze sometimes even before the people who live in the vicinity of the fire know that it is burning. This was demonstrated by a fire which broke out only a few weeks ago.
The wide popularity of the old mountain which a few years ago, before the establishment of the lookout station, was ascended only by an occasional visitor or hunter, is shown by the register in the tower. During the month of June 391 visitors registered, an average of thirteen each day for the month. This unusually large number is probably due to the fact that many made the pilgrimage to the mountain-top in the hopes od witnessing the upheaval of Mt. Lassen, Lookout Howe having reported seeing a column of smoke arising from the volcano on two different occasions. The recent eruption could not be seen from the Banner tower. Mt. Lassen is said to be about ninety miles in an air line from the top of Banner.
Yesterday, the first day of July, saw seven visitors at Banner, which is not a bad start. July might even outdo June in point of attendance." (Morning Union)
July 12, 1914: "The lookout station of the Forest Service on Banner Mountain, five miles from this town, was visited during June by 391 persons. From this station parts of five counties may be seen, the panorama being of extraordinary beauty. On clear days the steam from Lassen peak can be perceived through field glasses. Several years ago the people of this town placed a powerful telescope in the tower, thus adding to the interest of a visit there." (San Francisco Chronicle)
June 3, 1915: "Within a short time Nevada City and Grass Valleyans will once more be wending their way to the lookout station of the Forest Service on Banner Mountain to enjoy the many beautiful and interesting sights that can be seen from that point. B.F. Howe took up his duties as lookout on June 1st.
Forest Supervisor Bigelow reports that a load of lumber was taken to Banner yesterday, to be used in repairing the lookout station, and that when the repairs are completed the stairs leading up to it will be much steadier, and people will not experience difficulty in climbing them. The big telescope which is stationed there during the summer months will be put in place in a few days.
Considerable work has been done by the Forest Service men on the road leading to Banner and it is now in fairly good shape. Since the lookout station was established a few years ago, hundreds of visitors, have spent some of their spare time there, and it is expected that there will be even more this year than in the past." (Morning Union)
June 4, 1915: "The forestry lookout station on Banner mountain has been re-established for the summer and Lookout B.F. Howe has taken up his residence there. Lumber and other things necessary for his comfort have been hauled to the station. The big telescope which has been there will be located on the lookout station within a few days. The Banner station is a popular place during the summer for residents of the two cities and crowds drive there daily." (Sacramento Union)
May 17, 1917: "Opening a scenic road to the crest of Banner mountain, three miles from here, is being promoted jointly by Nevada City and Grass Valley Chambers of Commerce. When completed an easy grade will lead to the forest service lookout station, which has an altitude of4000 feet and commands a view of parts of seven counties." (San Francisco Examiner)
October 16, 1925: "The record of Eli Dale on the Happy Camp Mountain Lookout Station is indeed a long record and a good one, but the Tahoe can go one better, as Benjamin F. Howe has been on duty at Banner Mountain Lookout since July 1, 1911 - 15 years. It has been necessary for him to keep the required weather records, as well as attend to his other duties. The Banner tower when built was among the first lookout towers in District 5, and is a wooden structure. Howe has about worn it out. We expect to put a steel tower on Banner Lookout next year and Howe claims that he is going to wear it out, too, before he quits. - Tahoe" (California District News Letter)
March 15, 1926: "A new steel lookout post is to be constructed on Banner Mountain, near Nevada City, M.B. Pratt, state forester, announced. It will replace an old wooden tower. The new structure will be 60 feet high and will command a view of state and national forests in the Banner Mountain region." (Woodland Daily Democrat)
June 26, 1926: "The Banner Mountain lookout station near Nevada City, Nevada county, was dedicated recently by R.O.P. Bigelow, superintendent of the Tahoe National Forest. The lookout tower, a steel structure 60 feet high, was built jointly by the state and federal forestry departments." (Livermore Journal)
June 5, 1930: "For his twentieth consecutive year Benjamin F. Howe, veteran watchman of the United States forest service, went to his lookout post in the Sierras Sunday to scan the territory for forest fires during the 1930 season. All other lookouts in the mountain region began their duties June 1." (Nevada State Journal)
November 16, 1930: "Ben F. Howe, veteran lookout at Banner Station, is down from the mountain for the season and when he returns next year it will be to a new and more commodious home, construction of a new house, 18x24, with three rooms now being underway." (The Morning Union)
December 12, 1930: "The new house for the lookout at Banner has been completed, and will be ready for occupancy when the necessity for a watchman comes with the summer fire season.
It is a commodious three roomed structure and will be a great improvement over the small cabin that has served as the lookout's home since a station has been maintained at Banner.
The building was constructed by the National Forest Service and the State Forest Service, which share the expense of maintaining a lookout." (The Morning Union)
April 4, 1931: "In co-operation with the United States Forest Service, a lookout house was built on Banner Mountain. Last year a steel tower was erected there, as a co-operative project with the United States Forest Service." (Fresno Bee)
December 1931: "Benjamin F. Howe, lookout at the Banner tower, on Banner Mountain, near Nevada City, has completed more than 20 years service in that capacity. He began duty at the tower July 1, 1911, and every summer since that time has occupied the tower during the daylight hours watching for fires in an area that on a clear day embraces a vast region. When he first went on duty the tower was a frame structure 40 feet high. In 1926 a 60-foot tower was erected and last fall a three-room house was erected at the base of the tower for the observer when off duty. He is one of the oldest lookouts in the service. Mr. Howe is paid jointly by the federal Forest Service and the California state department of forestry." (The Timberman)
October 25, 1938: "Care in burning debris within the boundaries of the Tahoe National forest was urged Monday by Forest Supervisor DeWitt Nelson, who declared that in spite of recent rains there is a possibility of a bad fire breaking out.
Nelson said that as a precautionary measure, the Banner Lookout Station has been remanned for the time being. This action, he continued, was necessary because of weather conditions and the amount of debris burning being done." (Nevada State Journal)
July 25, 1941: "Many red-faced boys and their parents reported to the Supervisor's office of the Tahoe National Forest as a result of a letter sent to them by Law Enforcement Officer J.D. Rafferty to explain the presence of their names scribbled on the lookout house at Banner Mountain. A little time ago the lookout house was broken into and several items were stolen. In an attempt to solve the theft letters were written to each of the persons whose enthusiasm for leaving their names on public buildings indicated that they had recently visited this prominent lookout site. Sheepish youngsters and their parents, when encountering the Law Enforcement Officer, stammered and stuttered and admitted that they had defaced the tower. As an object lessen to them they were asked to return to the tower and scrub off their names with Dutch Cleanser. A letter sent to one lad was answered by a forty-word telegram from Santa Cruz stating that he was guilty, but if it were possible he would like to delay his return home due to the fact that he was working and felt that he would lose his job if he had to appear immediately.
Banner Mountain Lookout Henry Bopp has been deluded with visitors, each carrying a can of Dutch Cleanser and a rag and the combined efforts of all of the sixteen lads has given us a nice, clean, shinny tower perched majestically above the local community of Nevada City.
The thief, incidentally, is still at large. -Everhart, Tahoe." (California Ranger)
January 28, 1948: "Repair work is now progressing on the Banner Mountain lookout station maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, Ranger Warren Barnes of the Tahoe National forest reports.
The sixty-five foot steel tower is being completely renovated, with flooring replaced in the lookout cab, new lightning protection installed, also an aluminum paint job on the entire structure. New glare reducing glass is being installed to provide more efficient smoke detection during the fire season. The lookout will have the "new look," Ranger Barnes comments.
All buildings are yet to be wired for electricity, provided by the new power line recently installed on the Banner Mountain ridge. In addition, permanent radio installations are to be made at the lookout as soon as materials are available. This will permit automatic year round radio service for the division of forestry as well as the Forest Service.
Present maintenance work is under the direction of Fire Control Assistant Vane Pitney of the North Bloomfield ranger district." (Nevada State Journal)
February 19, 1971: "The fire lookout station atop Banner Mountain 5 miles east of here boasts California's first 'Women's Liberation' fire lookout crew.
Coeds Betty Jean Edwards and Jamie Emerson have provided 12-hour-daily, 7-day-a-week fire watching service for the past two fire seasons.
Banner Mountain is one of the three lookout points in a preserve of 450,000 acres.
Do they get lonely atop the 60-feet steel observation tower? Not really. Passing planes often buzz the tower and deer and coyotes show their faces at dawn or twilight, they report." (Hutchinson News - Kansas)
Coeds Betty Jean Edwards and Jamie Emerson have provided 12-hour-daily, 7-day-a-week fire watching service for the past two fire seasons.
Banner Mountain is one of the three lookout points in a preserve of 450,000 acres.
Do they get lonely atop the 60-feet steel observation tower? Not really. Passing planes often buzz the tower and deer and coyotes show their faces at dawn or twilight, they report." (Hutchinson News - Kansas)