AMADOR COUNTY
MOUNT ZION
California Department of Forestry
September 3, 1927: "Following an official visit of State Forester M. B. Pratt, accompanied by United States Service Official Price, announcement is made by State Forest Ranger James Smith that after inspecting possible locations for a lookout station in Amador county that Mount Zion had been selected as the most desirable location.
About nine miles east of this city, the place offers the most ideal situation in the opinion of the forestry officials. The people of the county are gratified that Amador will have such a station next season, as the service is needed." (Stockton Independent)
About nine miles east of this city, the place offers the most ideal situation in the opinion of the forestry officials. The people of the county are gratified that Amador will have such a station next season, as the service is needed." (Stockton Independent)
June 10, 1928: "James Smith, fire warden, came before the members of the Amador county board of supervisors Monday in order to get assistance for a look out station at Mt. Zion near Pine Grove. The board agreed to pay one-half of the salary at $55 per month not to exceed four and one-half months.' (Oakland Tribune)
July 7, 1928: "State Forest Ranger James Smith reports that the new lookout station at Mount Zion, near Pine Grove, is proving to be highly successful in locating fires. Smith states that from June 9 fifteen fires have been located by the man in charge. Six of the fires were in Amador county, four in El Dorado and six in Calaveras county. This new lookout station will greatly lessen the fire danger." (The Lodi Sentinel)
February 18, 1929: "A.B. 342 and a companion act, A.B. 343, giving the State Department of Natural Resources jurisdiction over two parcels of state land now used for forestry purposes, but heretofore controlled by the State Surveyor-General. The Mt. Zion fire lookout area, in Amador County is one of the districts affected." (The Oxnard Daily Courier)
December 14, 1929: "The material for the states' new steel lookout tower on Mount Zion is expected to arrive within a few days and the tower will be erected during the present month. An engineer from the state forestry department was in the county last week inspecting the site for the new tower, which will be erected about 350 feet south of the present station. Amador county, through its board of supervisors, contributed $250 toward the cost of the structure. The tower will be seventy feet high and the foundation that will support it will raise this height another ten feet. The moving of the tower to a new point on the mountain will give a clearer view to lookouts. Trees and brush have already been removed from the top of Mt. Zion." (Blue Lake Advocate)
February 5, 1930: "The new steel lookout station on Mt. Zion, which was financed by the Amador County Board of Supervisors and the state, is completed. The new tower, which is 50 feet higher than the old one, commands a remarkably fine point of vantage of neighboring counties as well as Amador. Work will be started next month on the highway to the station." (Stockton Independent)
February 10, 1930: "Historical names will be given to three fire lookout stations in Amador, Tuolumne and Santa Clara counties, the stations to be completed for use during this year's fire season, it was announced today by State Forester M.B. Pratt.
One is the Mt. Zion lookout tower erected on Mt. Zion in Amador county." (The Hanford Sentinel)
February 11, 1930: "The station to be completed for use during this year's fire season, it was announced today by State Forester M.B. Pratt." (San Mateo Times)
February 12, 1930: "Three fire lookout stations now being by the state division of forestry, in cooperation with federal and counties agencies, in Amador, Tuolumne and Santa Clara counties, have names of historical interest, it was pointed out by State Forester M.B. Pratt.
Mt. Zion in Amador county is reported to have been given its name by five ministers who mined in that vicinity." (Santa Cruz Evening News)
March 13, 1930: "Two new lookout towers costing $1800 each for use during the forest fire season this year, will be erected in the Sierra Nevada mountains, State Forester M.B. Pratt, announced today.
One of the stations will be on Mount Zion, near Jackson." (The Hanford Sentinel)
March 13, 1930: "Construction of steel tower for Lookout Station on Mt. Zion above Pine Grove, completed." (Woodland Daily Democrat)
April 30, 1930: "A large attendance is expected at the dedication at 2 o'clock Sunday of the new steel lookout tower on Mt. Zion.
Fred G. Stevenot, director of the state department of natural resources, will be the speaker.
Music for the occasion will be furnished by the forty-piece Preston School band." (The Sacramento Bee)
May 2, 1930: "Assemblyman H.E. Dillinger planned to go Sunday to Mt. Zion Lookout, near Jackson, Amador County, to attend ceremonies dedicating a forest service lookout tower there." (Mountain Democrat)
April 6, 1931: "In cooperation with the board of supervisors, water is being developed for the lookout on Mt. Zion, which the local people wish to convert into a recreational center." (Reno Evening Gazette)
June 3, 1930: "Many were present to witness the dedication of Mt. Zion lookout station Friday afternoon. State Forest Inspector E. P. Briggs was the master of ceremonies and presented the program." (Stockton Independent)
September 4, 1931: "W.C. Austin, State Forest Ranger, confined to his bed for several days the past week the result of a bite by a "Chinese bedbug," also known as a Kissing bug, causing severe swelling about his face and neck. He was bitten while sleeping at the Mt. Zion lookout station near Pine Grove, Amador County.
Mr. Austin was able to attend to business Monday." (The Mountain Democrat)
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National Geodetic Survey |
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DESIGNATION - MT ZION LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - JS4004
STATE/COUNTY- CA/AMADOR
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - PINE GROVE (1973)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY CALTRANS 1972 (RMB)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF THE CALIF DIVISION OF
FORESTRY STEEL LOOKOUT TOWER KNOWN AS MT. ZION LOOKOUT LOCATED IN
SECTION 9, T6N, R12E MT. DIABLO MERIDIAN.
