PLUMAS COUNTY
MOUNT HARKNESS
Lassen National Park
December 12, 1929: "A fire lookout and meteorological and seismeological stations are to be constructed on the summit of Mount Harkness in the southeast corner of the park for fire protection and study of volcanic activities. An appropriation of $3,300 is made for these improvements." (Feather River Bulletin)
1930: "A crew of builders was moved to Mount Harkness, where the new park lookout station was erected." "A six mile long telephone line connected the newly newly constructed Harkness lookout station with headquarters." "The first park-operated lookout station was established this year on Mount Harkness. This addition has proved to be very effective in fire control work, inasmuch as the station is located at a strategic point for viewing the park area." (Report of the Director of the National Park Service)
July 12, 1930: "A forest fire lookout station on Mt. Harkness, at an elevation of 8000 feet in Lassen National forest, is nearly completed, the state division of forestry announced today. A meteorological and seismological station is to be located on that mountain." (San Mateo Times)
July 23, 1930: "On Mt. Harkness, directly over Juniper Lake, a lookout station is being built. This site commands an unequaled view of Lassen Volcanic National Park and all the lakes in the surrounding country. The new station will be equipped with the latest range finders, and a study of Mt. Lassen will also be made from there. The ordinary lookout station costs between $1,000 and 1,500. The one on Mt. Harkness will be valued close to $4,000. It is planned to build a road to the top. At the present time visitors have to walk about a mile and a half, but the going is not so hard." (The Sacramento Bee)
September 10, 1930: "The recent completion of the new lookout station on top of Mt. Harkness, in Lassen Volcanic National Park, the finest and best equipped in Superior California, marked an important milestone in the protection plans for that park.
Although primarily designed for fire detection purposes, Mt. Harkness Lookout will undoubtedly be one of the most popular points of interest in the park to the visiting public, it being easily accessible by a good trail from Juniper Lake. This was kept in mind when designing and planning the building, which is of native stone masonry, rough hewn logs and attractive interior. The building itself is almost twice as large as the average lookout station.
The station, in charge of Henry Lind, also houses a seismograph, which, in connection with two others in the park and grouped around Lassen Peak, the only active volcano in continental United States, hourly records the slightest quiver of the earth." (The Sacramento Bee)
1930: "A fire-lookout station constructed during the season on top of Mount Harkness in Lassen Volcanic National Park is among the finest and best equipped in northern California. In addition to the usual maps and compasses, it contains an Osborne fire finder and a panoramic photograph mounted so that the location of the fire will be shown simultaneously on the photograph and the map when detected by the fire finder. This station serves a triple purpose. In addition to its importance in the fire prevention program of Lassen, it affords visitors, who may easily reach it by trail, an opportunity to view the country through powerful glasses, and it also contains a seismograph, which, in connection with two others, hourly records the slightest quivers of the earth." (Report of the Director of the National Park Service)
