KERN COUNTY
BRECKENRIDGE MOUNTAIN
Sequoia National Forest
June 6, 1928: "Sequoia forest service officials made a trip of inspection in the south end of the Sequoia forest last week. They inspected the lookout stations on the summits of Piute and Breckenridge mountains." (Bakersfield Californian)
September 18, 1930: "A road has been built from Breckenridge peak, in Kern county, to connect with the Bakersfield road.
Other improvements in the Sequoia National forest include the erection of a lookout house on the regulation tower, 14 feet square on the top of Breckenridge peak, at an elevation of 8,000 feet." (Visalia Times-Delta)
November 22, 1930: "Among the improvements made within the Sequoia National Forest during the past season was the modern lookout constructed on Breckenridge mountain about 25 miles due east of Bakersfield which is one of the best to be found within the forest boundary.
This lookout is 14 by 14 feet square and sets on top of a tower 24 feet high. It has large plate glass windows on all four sides which afford an unobstructed view of the surrounding country. These windows are protected in winter by large shutters, which, in summer, serve as sun shades. The lookout is furnished with a map showing the entire country in which this lookout station is supposed to function; also it is equipped with protractor and alidade with which the ranger on duty determines the location of fires. A telephone is also an important piece of the lookout's equipment, this being of so much assistance in carrying on communication during the fire season. A new road to this lookout station was completed prior to starting its construction." (Bakersfield Californian)
August 3, 1931: "Persons who believe that the men in the national forest lookout stations are lonely, forgotten folk, may draw a different conclusion from Melvin Marshall at Breckenridge, who has had 400 visitors since May 11. He will be there until the first heavy rain or snowstorm, probably late in the fall, when he is assured the fire season is over." (Bakersfield Californian)
August 11, 1931: "The forestry service has started the building of a new trail from this point (Hobo Hot Springs) to the lookout station on Breckenridge." (Bakersfield Californian)
September 15, 1933: "Erosion control work on Breckenridge mountain will soon be brought to a halt by cold weather, according to reports from Havilah Camp F-101, Citizen's Conservation Camp. Only one squad remains on the mountain, for fire lookout duty, and the boys will be employed in repairing and painting the Breckenridge ranger station before they are forced out by winter snow." (The Bakersfield Californian)
July 30, 1935: "Ross Shaw, stationed at the ranger lookout station on Mount Breckenridge, has returned from Los Angeles, where he was called by the death of his father, R.C. Shaw, former widely known mining man of Kern county.
The senior Shaw for many years was associated with the Mammoth mine at Keyesville and the Warrington mine in the Havilah district." (Bakersfield Californian)