BLOOMER HILL |
Butte County - California Department of Forestry
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July 3, 1924: "Construction of a lookout station 70 feet in height on the crest of Bloomer Hill, fourteen miles northeast of Oroville, will start this summer, it was stated yesterday by District Forest Ranger L.H. Holland and State Forester M.B. Pratt, who yesterday returned from Bloomer Hill where preliminary surveys for the proposed lookout were made.
From this particular vantage point sections of both Butte and Plumas county can be watched and it is said that the station will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of many fires before they reach the danger point.
A road has already been constructed to the top of Bloomer Hill, a telephone service will be installed." (Plumas Independent)
From this particular vantage point sections of both Butte and Plumas county can be watched and it is said that the station will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of many fires before they reach the danger point.
A road has already been constructed to the top of Bloomer Hill, a telephone service will be installed." (Plumas Independent)
March 7, 1925: "The plans of the state forestry bureau call for construction of over fifteen miles of telephone so that the various fire rangers will be all under one telephone call. The plans also call for the construction of the Bloomer look-out station so that it will be in use this summer." (Gridley Herald)
March 7, 1925: "Bloomer Hill, 20 miles from Oroville, will be topped with a 60-foot steel lookout tower before next fire season, it was announced today. This project has been made possible through a co-operative agreement between the state forester, Butte county and the United States forest service.
Bloomer hill is one of the highest points in the southwestern part of Butte county and a view from it commands a large area of private and government timber not covered by any other lookout." (Bakersfield Californian)
March 8, 1925: "Construction of a 60-foot steel lookout tower on Blumer Hill, 20 miles from Oroville, to assist forest fire fighters in locating fires in Butte county,was assured today when State Forester M.B. Pratt announced that a co-operative agreement has been entered into between Butte county and the United States forest service to finance the work." (Oakland Tribune)
April 8, 1925: "The sum of $300 was appropriated to assist in the construction of a lookout station at Bloomer Mountain. The station is to be erected by the State Board of Forestry under direction of L.H. Holland, county fire warden." (Oroville Mercury Register)
May 14, 1925: "A new lookout station is being installed on the summit of Bloomer Hill, just below Berry Creek. This station will be operated jointly by the federal and state forestry departments." (Plumas National-Bulletin)
June 13, 1925: "Bloomer Hill lookout, one of the highest in this section, towering 3040 feet above sea level, was completed yesterday. The lookout station towers 60 feet above Bloomer, which is 2980 feet above sea level.
The new lookout station will be appropriately dedicated sometime this month." (Oroville Daily Register)
June 17, 1925: "Saturday afternoon forest service officials, fire wardens and public will journey to Bloomer Hill, where the new lookout station will be dedicated with appropriate ceremonies." (Gridley Herald)
June 24, 1925: "Supervisor James Craig and James R. Craig attended the dedication of the Bloomer Hill lookout station Saturday. The dedicatory speech was made by State Forester M.B. Pratt." (Gridley Herald)
July 5, 1925: "The wild rugged beauties of Northern California are open to the autoist a short distance from Oroville in the Sierra-Nevada mountains. This was revealed Saturday by the dedication of the Bloomer Hill lookout station by State Forester M.B. Pratt.
Holding the record of being the only lookout station in California, accessible by automobile, the tower is said to be 'on top of the world.' Climbing a mile and a half grade straight up the mountain side, the tourist who attempts the trip is more than repaid for the effort by the view afforded. The mountain rises almost sheer on every side.
A panorama of forest clad mountains, and fertile plains stretches as far as the eye can see without obstruction. Chico and Marysville may be seen on clear days. Many excellent camping spots are found along this trip." (Oakland Tribune)
July 15, 1925: "The Butte county board of supervisors approved a contract between the county and state Monday for the suppression of forest fires in Butte county this summer.
According to the contract the county will pay the expenses for supplies during forest fire fighting and the cost of the erection of a $1300 lookout on Bloomer Hill.
The state, according to this agreement, will pay $1500 for the district forest ranger's expenses." (Gridley Herald)
June 5, 1926: "Telephone lines connecting the Bloomer Hill lookout station and the Great Western Power Company at Las Plumas have been completed.
Over the new lines news of any fire in Northeastern Butte County can be telephoned to Oroville from where fire fighters will be recruited.
The Bloomer Hill lookout station is one of the highest and best equipped in Northern California." (Oroville Mercury Register)
April 20, 1928: "Equipment is enroute to Oroville for a three-mile telephone line extending from the Bloomer Mountain Lookout Station to the Swayne Lumber Co. holdings, it was announced today by E.T. Biggs, new state forester inspector, who is now stationed here as a successor to W.H. Coupe.
Installation of the equipment will be under the direction of Ranger A.A. Miller of Oroville. The line will the lookout station two lines connecting with Oroville. The other wires extend to the Las Plumas station.
The old government line extending to Concow will be abandoned." (Oroville Mercury Register)
October 4, 1929: "George Cunha, forest service lookout at Bloomer Hill, shot a 4-point deer within 15 minutes walk of the lookout tower Wednesday. He was accompanied by Miles H. Young state forest ranger." (Mercury Register)
April 16, 1930: "Gus Hedlund and a crew of his men have finished scraping the Bloomer Look-out road. It is a great improvement and one that has been badly needed for sometime. They also scraped the road to the Big Bar Look-Out in the French Creek section." (Mercury-Register)
July 2, 1930: "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brouse of Bloomer lookout were surprised by a visit of a group of friends from Oroville and Gridley last Sunday. Brouse is acting as lookout man in the absence of Mr. Fox, the regular man, who is ill." (Mercury Register)
September 18, 1930: "Mrs. Roy Fox of Bloomer look-out who underwent an operation at a Chico hospital last week is getting along nicely. Fox is back on duty at the look-out." (Mercury Register)
October 6, 1930: "Extension of the state forestry service telephone line from the Milton Rogers ranch on Quincy Road to Bloomer lookout, 9 miles, will be started the middle of this week. Miles H. Young, state forestry ranger, said today.
The line will be completed, together with other forestry service lines, before next spring.
Young will blaze the route for the line and Patrolman E.M. Addington will aid in its construction.
Addington was at Bloomer lookout today giving the tower a new coat of weather paint. The tower will be painted regulation gray and green." (Oroville Mercury Register)
October 9, 1930: "Miles Young state forester, was up to Bloomer Lookout Tuesday. The lookout tower is getting a new coat of paint. Patrolman E.M. Addington is aiding Roy Fox, Bloomer lookout man in a general cleanup around the tower." (Mercury Register)
March 5, 1931: "A 22-mile telephone line connecting the Bloomer Hill forest lookout station near Berry Creek, directly with Oroville has been completed, Miles H. Young, forest ranger, said today.
The line will be put into use this summer in order to give quicker service to the local forestry office in reporting fires in the district. The lookout watches for fires in all parts of the county.
The Bloomer line is the first of several to be built this year in the county, Young said.
The line was built by Young, Henry Gaub and Jasper Hodkin all of the state forest service." (Oroville Mercury Register)
April 14, 1932: "Bloomer Lookout is being prepared for the 1932 fire season. A cleaning up process around the lookout includes the burning of stumps and the cutting of old logs. The road to the lookout also is being put in condition. A man probably will be placed on duty at the lookout about May 1." (Oroville Mercury Register)
June 6, 1932: "Mr. and Mrs. George Cunha and little daughters, Chickie and Martha, of Hamilton City have moved to the Bloomer Hill lookout where Cunha is lookout man for the summer months." (Oroville Mercury Register)
October 14, 1932: "A thief made himself an improvised bed in the Bloomer lookout tower 60 feet above the ground Tuesday night is being sought for the theft of a pair of field glasses and a canteen taken from the tower.
The man apparently slept during the night in his 60-foot high bed, consisting of a bench, an easy chair and a cushion, and when he departed took the field glasses and the canteen, property of the United States forest service.
George Cunha, lookout, was asleep in his house below when the articles were taken and did not discover until the next day that they were missing." (Oroville Mercury Register)
June 16, 1933: "Mr. and Mrs. George Cunha and little daughters, Chickie and Martha, have moved to Bloomer Lookout station from Hamilton City. Cunha is lookout man at the Bloomer tower." (Oroville Mercury Register)
January 26, 1939: "Improving the fire control telephone system of the Plumas National Forest, CCC men are now engaged in building a telephone line from Brush Creek ranger station to Bloomer Hill Lookout, according to Forest Supervisor D. N. Rogers.
The new line is to replace one formerly in use and is expected to provide better communication service. Bloomer Hill Lookout is the farthest west of all stations on the Plumas forest fire detection system." (Nevada State Journal)
