SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

LITTLE MOUNTAIN

San Bernardino County / California Department of Forestry

January 13, 1926:  "Construction on Little Mountain of a lookout station such as will enable fire searchers to view the entire valley is contemplated for county fire protection, it was announced yesterday by County Forester Roy M. Tuttle.  Powerful telescopic equipment will be used in the proposed station.
      The Little Mountain station of the county forestry department will be equipped with a model station that was exhibited several years ago at the National Orange Show.  Since that time the station equipment has been in storage.
      Eventually, according to the announcement from Fire Warden Tuttle, the Little Mountain station will be given modern equipment second to no other station in Southern California."   (The San Bernardino County Sun)

April 6, 1926:  "From a lookout on Little Mountain, County Forester Roy M. Tuttle will watch for fires in the San Bernardino mountains next summer.
      A site on which the lookout will be constructed was deeded to the county yesterday by the Muscupiabe Land & Water company, owners of a large tract on the low range of hills north of the city.
      Equipped with powerful field glasses Forester Tuttle or guards will be stationed at the lookout during every hour of the day and night, surveying the thousands of acres in the foothills, mountains and lowlands.  The county forester patrols only areas outside the national forest reserve but will cooperate with Supervisor S.A. Nash Boulden in a fire patrol during the fire season."  (The San Bernardino County Sun)

May 2, 1926:  "Construction of a telephone line to the site of the county forestry lookout on Little Mountain has been started by the Associated Telephone company.  Foundations already have been laid for the lookout station and work will be resumed when County Forester Roy M. Tuttle returns from a convention of state and county forestry officials in Sacramento."  (The San Bernardino County Sun)

May 5, 1926:  "Construction started on county's new forest fire lookout station on Little Mountain."  (San Mateo Times)

June 22, 1927:   "Organization of the county fire fighting forces will be completed this week with the installation of the lookout on the summit of Little Mountain, Forester R.M. Tuttle announced yesterday.  Last year, the first in which the lookout was established, the Little Mountain lookout station amply proved its value in the detection of fires, according to Forester Tuttle."   (Santa Ana Register)

August 1, 1927:  "A heliograph will be installed at the lookout station of the San Bernardino county forestry department on Little mountain as a means of flashing signals in communicating with the federal lookout station on Keller peak.  A circular porch is being constructed at the top of the mountain on which to install it.  The heliograph will be used in communicating with the various government forestry crews cutting fire trails on the slopes of the San Bernardino mountains."  (Corona Daily Independent)

July 12, 1928:  "New living quarters at the foot of the Little Mountain lookout tower, maintained by the county to 'spot' forest and brush fires,m is being constructed under the direction of Frank G. McLain, county building superintendent, it was announced yesterday by County Forester R.M. Tuttle.
      The new building will be 20 x 20 feet and divided into two rooms with windows that will afford a clear view for many miles.
      Heretofore M.R. Jackson, who is in charge of the lookout station, has lived in a tent house while not on duty in the lookout tower." (The San Bernardino County Sun)

July 16, 1938:   "A receiver will be placed at the forestry lookout atop Little Mountain, with the speaker connected by a direct line to the sheriff's office.
      Placing the receiver high above the surrounding district and beyond the path of obstacles will create better reception from the two-way mobile transmitters.  The controls of the receiver will be operated from the radio room in the sheriff's office.
      Installation of the remote receiver will be the first of its kind in police radio systems in the West.  This method has been used with success by aviation companies."   (The San Bernardino County Sun)

January 10, 1939:   "Milton R. Jackson, in charge of the state forestry department's lookout station on Little Mountain, clocked the wind at 50 miles an hour early yesterday.  It diminished later in the day.  Jackson predicted stronger gusts early today, with abatement later in the morning.
      The force of the wind did not approach that of the recent storm, he said, and was not as severe in the vicinity of San Bernardino as in Cucamonga and Chino districts and parts of the Fontana district."   (The San Bernardino County Sun)

September 14, 1940:   "Apparently started by hunters in a cove near Marshall boulevard and Mt. Vernon avenue, a brush fire swept to the summit of Little Mountain yesterday afternoon, threatening the state forest service lookout station.
      The blaze was brought under control after about two hours, with but little damage.  Foresters estimated that the fire burned approximately 150 acres of brush.
      Crews directed by State Ranger Russell Z. Smith managed to save the lookout station."   (The San Bernardino County Sun)

September 17, 1948:  "The plan of an army demolition squad was to blow up harmlessly, 3,000 bomb fuses and 12 incendiary bombs.  But things got a bit out of hand Thursday.
     Bits of incendiaries sailed into dry brush.  Fire raced up the side of Little mountain, State Forester P.S. Black in his lookout station atop the mountain looked out and forthwith yelled for help.
     The demolition men turned firemen to help foresters control the blaze.  A clearing saved the lookout station, also Black.
     Lt. J.P. Sainata, in charge of the traveling squad disposing of left-over munitions, comments: 'The explosion was a little bigger than expected.' "  (Tucson Daily Citizen)