TUOLUMNE COUNTY
RUSHING MOUNTAIN
California Department of Forestry
November 20, 1930: "Plans are under way for the erection of a fire lookout tower for the foothill country in portions of Tuolumne, Calavaras and Stanislaus counties, according to a report by State Ranger Ed Minners. The proposed site is the top of Bib Hill, on the W.H. Rushing ranch, west of Keystone." (Plumas Independent)
February 26, 1931: "An agreement was reached Tuesday by the supervisors by which Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties will jointly erect a lookout station on Russian Hill between Knights Ferry and Keystone, for fire purposes.
The lookout station will be maintained by the Forest Service during the danger season. The supervisors appropriated $600 as the county's share of the cost.
Supervisor Fowler said that the lookout would make possible a watch on a wide range of territory as far as Montpellier, and would be of material assistance in checking grass and grain fires." (Oakdale Leader)
March 2, 1931: "The sum of $800.00 was appropriated toward the expense of erecting a Fire Outlook Tower at Rushing Hill in Tuolumne County." (Modesto News-Herald)
April 15, 1931: "A fire lookout tower, giving protection to Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties is assured by an appropriation of $600 by the county board of supervisors on Tuesday.
A similar amount was donated by the Tuolumne board, and construction of the thirty-foot tower on Rushing Mountain, near Oakdale will start at once, according to Earl T. Barron, state fire warden.
It will be completed by May 1, and throughout the entire dry season a man will be on duty continuously, Barron said. He will have telephone connections with rural fire departments, and upon "spotting" smoke or flames will order apparatus and men to the scene.
The lookout will have a sweeping view of most of Stanislaus and a great part of Tuolumne County. His telephone will keep him in touch at all times with both rural and city fire departments.
The state will maintain the lookout, Barron said, after the tower is constructed by the counties. (Modesto News-Herald)
April 27, 1931: "Warrant for $600.00 was ordered drawn in favor of STATE DIVISION OF FORESTRY for this county's portion of erecting a fire Outlook Tower at Rushing Hill." (Modesto News-Herald)
May 14, 1931: "The fire lookout tower, being built on the top of a hill on the Rushing ranch between Keystone and Knights Ferry will be completed during the present week, according to Clay Dorroh, manager and fire chief of the Oakdale Rural Farm Fire Unit. Earl T. Barron, State Fire Inspector, is arranging for suitable ceremonies in the nature of a dedication.
These two men are chiefly responsible for the erection of the tower, which will enable a watchman to spot the smoke of incipient fires over a large area of western Tuolumne and eastern Stanislaus counties, as well as portions of the foothills of Calaveras county.
The tower is made of steel and is forty feet high. A glass cage on the top, in which a man will be stationed during the dry months of the year, enables the watchman to look out over a wide expanse of country and when a smoke is seen its location can be triangulated with a sort of range-finder and the nearest station where there is a fire-fighting unit located can be at once notified by telephone.
This piece of work was sponsored by Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties, each contributing $600 towards the cost of construction, It was erected by the state, and will be maintained by the state. Ed Tinney of Keystone is to be assigned to the position of watchman in the tower as soon as it is ready for service.
A telephone line from Keystone to the tower has been practically completed by Ed. Minners, State Ranger, assisted by Frank Tyler." (Oakdale Leader)
June 26, 1931: "A twenty acre grass fire was reported Thursday morning on the Warner Beale ranch, now leased by Veranus Ellinwood of Sonora, located in the Don Pedro country. The fire was reported by Edward H. Tinnen, lookout at the newly constructed fire tower on Rushing Hill, who spotted the smoke before other lookouts were able to see it." (Modesto News-Hearld)
October 20, 1931: "The value of the lookout station at Rushing Hill and the quick results obtained in cases of fire were demonstrated yesterday when an alarm was phoned in about a fire near Knights Ferry.
A farmer in that vicinity had been given a fire permit to burn grass. No sooner had the blaze started than Ed Tinney at the lookout station discovered it and sent in the alarm. Clay Dorrah, rural fire chief, knew of the permit and did not take out the truck." (Modesto News-Herald)
November 15, 1934: "Edward Tinney, 65, of Keystone, keeper of the fire lookout on Rushing Mountain, was taken to the Sonora hospital Friday evening suffering from a paralytic stroke, which occurred while he was milking. His condition is serious and not much changed at this writing." (Oakdale Leader)
July 8, 1936: "Frank Tinney, lookout at Rushing Mountain, was forced to leave his post because lightning threatened the station, according to an Associated Press dispatch from Sonora." (Oakland Tribune)
