CHEWS RIDGE
Monterey County - Los Padres National Forest - 19S-4E-6
1919: A family resided in a government owned cabin at the summit. This building also served as the lookout building. (Lookouts of the Los Padres Forest - By Irma Oksen Reaves)
1929: A 12 foot steel tower with lookout cab was constructed on the ridge. (Lookouts of the Los Padres Forest - By Irma Oksen Reaves)
August 1, 1930: "Chew's Ridge Lookout, 30 odd miles from Monterey, is reached by a short spur from the State Highway to Tasanjara. The situation has its advantages - and its catches. Most lookout men can spot visitors, an hour ahead, toiling up the narrow trail. To lookout Arthur Story and his Missus, fast motor cars break into sight a minute before they arrive at the top. Thus, on a recent Sunday, broke a car in which were State Forester Pratt, Mr. Morrell from Washington, D.C. and Messrs. Price and Hutchinson from the Regional office.
The Lookout and Missus had washed the windows but two days before. The distinguished inspectors were quite affable, didn't seem to find much except an error on the alidade map the lookout couldn't help anyhow. But one never knows. An humble lookout man constitutionally regards Regional officers as like the gentlemen Shakespeare said could 'smile and smile and be a villain still.' And that Captain Price didn't seem to be overlooking a thing!
The officials departed. Next, there rattled up an old coupe manned by Sgt. Flodolius and Pfc. Everett, 30th U.S. Infantry, detailed to the Citizen's Training Camp at Monterey.
'Can we come up?' called the Sgt.
Lookout Story called back, 'You just bet you can! After an hour of the brass-hats, you leather-necks will be right welcome!" -- Story, Chews Ridge Lookout." (California District News Letter)
During World War Two the lookout was used as an Air Warning Service site and additional housing was constructed for the AWS observers that were on duty around the clock. (Lookouts of the Los Padres Forest - By Irma Oksen Reaves)
July 11, 1933: "
September 14, 1951: "Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Johnston returned last week from a four days' visit with Mrs. Johnston's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Yates at Chews Ridge Forestry Station, 42 miles west of King City.
Mr. and Mrs. Yates, residents of Arroyo Grande for the last 23 years or more, man this fire lookout station each year from about June 1 until after Fall rains assure no further forest fire hazards.
Chews Ridge has an elevation of 5060 feet and Mrs. Johnston said that for the last six miles to the station the elevation increases 3500 feet. While there they could see Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, through binoculars." (The Arroyo Grande Valley Herald Recorder)
June 13, 1952: "Mr. and Mrs. Yates, former residents of Arroyo Grande, have been spending the last seven months in this valley. For the last 10 years they have been manning a lookout station for the U.S. Forest Service at Chews Ridge, 51 miles west of King City in Los Padres National Forest." (The Arroyo Grande Valley Herald Recorder)
April 10, 1953: "Mr. and Mrs. Yates have been spending from six to seven months each year, from May 1st to November 1st in the Forestry Service at look-out stations during the fire hazard season.
They were stationed for the last several years at Chews Ridge, Monterey County." (The Arroyo Grande Valley Herald Recorder)
1983: The lookout underwent renovation to modernize the facilities. (Lookouts of the Los Padres Forest - By Irma Oksen Reaves)
