SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
STRAWBERRY PEAK
San Bernardino National Forest
T2N-R3W-30
T2N-R3W-30
February 14, 1933: "Establishment of a new United States forest service lookout tower on Strawberry peak was decided upon yesterday after a survey of various locations, according to Supervisor J.E. Elliott of the San Bernardino national forest.
A 30-foot tower, topped by a standard lookout station, in which the observer can make his home, will be constructed within a few weeks, Mr. Elliott said, in time for the opening of the fire season.
The former lookout, located a few miles away in Grass valley collapsed several weeks ago under the effects of the heaviest snowfall in more than 30 years. It was 80 feet high, but the 50 additional feet was needed to see over the timber according to the supervisor.
The Strawberry peak location is 250 higher, however, and a 30-foot tower will allow greater visibility than the tower at the Grass valley site." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
A 30-foot tower, topped by a standard lookout station, in which the observer can make his home, will be constructed within a few weeks, Mr. Elliott said, in time for the opening of the fire season.
The former lookout, located a few miles away in Grass valley collapsed several weeks ago under the effects of the heaviest snowfall in more than 30 years. It was 80 feet high, but the 50 additional feet was needed to see over the timber according to the supervisor.
The Strawberry peak location is 250 higher, however, and a 30-foot tower will allow greater visibility than the tower at the Grass valley site." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
March 8, 1933: "Bids for the construction of a steel lookout tower house on Strawberry peak in the San Bernardino national forest will be called shortly by regional officials of the United States forest service, Supervisor J.E. Elliott was advised yesterday.
The Strawberry peak lookout replaces one at Grass valley, which collapsed during the heavy storms in mid-January. Ranger L.M. Correll conducted a visibility survey which revealed that a larger area could be seen from the Strawberry peak site.
The new tower will be of steel construction and 30 feet high. The one at Grass valley was 80 feet high and built of wood. The added height was needed to see over the timber, forest officials said, adding that a 30-foot tower at Strawberry peak will command as good a view." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
March 29, 1933: "Materials for the construction of a Federal forest service lookout at Strawberry peak are expected to arrive in San Bernardino within two weeks, and work on the station will start immediately, according to Supervisor J.E. Elliott of the San Bernardino national forest.
The tower will be 30 feet high of steel construction, topped by a steel lookout house 14 feet square. The new tower replaces one at Grass valley, which collapsed during the heavy snows of the winter." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
May 12, 1933: "Steel for the new lookout tower to be constructed on Strawberry peak in the San Bernardino national forest has been received at the Del Rosa warehouse of the forest service, and will be taken into the mountains as soon as the weather permits.
The tower, to be 30 feet high, will be entirely of steel, replacing a wood tower at Grass Valley which collapsed during the heavy snows last winter.
Supervisor J.E. Elliott plans to have the tower erected and in service by the opening of the fire season June 1." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
May 20, 1933: "Construction of the new Strawberry peak lookout of the United States forest service began yesterday, and forest officials estimated that it will be completed within a week.
The lookout replaces one at Grass valley, which collapsed under heavy winter snows. It will be located on Strawberry peak because of better visibility. The new tower is steel and 30 feet high. The old tower, of wood, was 80 feet high." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
May 25, 1933: "Construction of the new Strawberry peak forest service lookout is being held up at present by failure of special bolts to be used in its erection to arrive from the East, it was announced yesterday by Assistant Supervisor L.M. Correll.
Steel and other materials for the 30-foot tower are already at the site, Correll said, and the new station, one of the most modern in Southern California, will be ready for occupancy by the opening of the fire season June 1." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
June 3, 1933: "The Strawberry peak lookout, which replaces one at Grass Valley which collapsed during the winter snows, will not be ready for occupancy until about June 15, according to the supervisor. Work on it will be resumed today with the arrival of special bolts from the East. Erection of the station was delayed until their arrival." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
July 22, 1933: "Equipment for the construction of a house on top of the 40-foot lookout tower at Strawberry peak arrived yesterday at the San Bernardino headquarters of the Federal forestry department and will be sent to Strawberry peak immediately.
The equipment came from Oregon. The construction work will be in charge of Ranger Adelbert Fawcett." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
August 20, 1933: "Completion of a new Federal lookout at Strawberry peak was announced yesterday by J.E. Elliott, supervisor of the forest service.
The new lookout has been equipped with the latest range-finding equipment and will afford added fire protection for the mountain area." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
October 11, 1933: "John S. Everitt, former assistant supervisor of the San Bernardino national forest and now fire prevention inspector for the California region, paid his first official visit to the forest yesterday and, accompanied by his successor, Lynn M. Correll, inspected the new lookout tower at Strawberry peak." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
July 12, 1934: "Lynn M. Correll, assistant supervisor of the Federal forest service, yesterday inspected the Strawberry peak lookout station." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
September 24, 1934: "By using an eight foot airplane propeller. mounted on ballbearings, to drive a ballbearing automobile generator, through a 'V' belt with a 10 to 1 ratio, it has been found possible to generate from 200 to 1,000 watts of electric energy per day, depending upon the wind conditions at Strawberry Peak Lookout on the San Bernardino Forest. The electric energy is stored in six volt automobile batteries which assures a constant electrical supply capable of furnishing ample power to operate a battery type radio and three 21 candlepower automobile light bulbs, which in ordinary daily use consume 250 watts.
The generator output is 2 amperes with an 8 m.p.h. wind; and 18 amperes with a 30 m.p.h. wind.
The total cost of the outfit was $15, which means cheap electricity as the upkeep is practically nothing and it will last indefinitely.
Similar outfits should operate equally well on other lookout points and stations exposed to the wind. From R-5 Bulletin." (Forest Service Bulletin)
September 25, 1936: "Strawberry Peak Lookout, located on the Arrowhead Ranger District, has had a total of 5743 visitors since May 1 of this year. To answer all of the questions asked of the Lookout, Mr. Leslie B. Salm, requires considerable time on his part as well as dodging around the tower so as to see between the people standing on the catwalk. Of 117 pertinent (?) questions asked of Les in one day the following are samples:
1. Can we sit on your bed? How can you sleep on that Bed?
2. Do you ever get lonesome?
3. How can you see when the shutters are down?
4. How long must we wait to see a forest fire?
5. I suppose you spend much of your time reading.
6. Who cuts your hair for you?
7. What is the pay? Can you get married?
8. Do you talk to yourself? May we play the radio?
9. Do you follow this work because you like it or do you have asthma or something?
10. Can we take our clothes off if we go behind the rocks to take a sun bath?
11. Are there any nudist colonies around here?
12. Can we read your diary?
13. Does the Government give you your uniforms or do you have to give them back when you are through here?
14. Can you shoot deer whenever you to for your meat?
15. What are those three balls going around on that post for? And so on far into the night. The last experience Les had was when two drunks crawled around the locked trap door and made faces at him as he took an old-fashioned bath in a tin tub. --D.M. Tucker - San Bernardino --" (California Ranger)
October 23, 1936: "There is being used at the Strawberry Peak Lookout on the San Bernardino an instrument known as the minute minder which has been found to be very useful to insure keeping a nearly perfect schedule for observation and radio contacts. It is a small clock used on O'Keefe & Merrit stoves, and very inexpensive, costing about $3.00. It may be set to alarm at any time from one to sixty minutes by simply twisting a conveniently located pointer to the number of minutes desired on the large dial.
During the early morning and late evening it is usually set for ten minute alarms and during the heat of the day for five minute alarms. Instruments of this kind attached to all fire finder stands would show worthy results, even where observations are now carried on by the most conscientious observers. Lookouts would find the nerve strain and tension that accompanies this work greatly relieved with the satisfaction of knowing his county is being reasonably covered. -- D.M. Tucker - Dist. Ranger -- L.B. Salm - Lookout -- (California Ranger)
October 23, 1936: "The sympathy of not only the members of the Forest Service but of the general public as well goes out to the lookoutman perched on his lonely peak with nothing but the wailing wind and the denizens of the wild to bear him company.
Leslie Salm, atop Strawberry Peak on the Arrowhead District, however, sometimes wonders if our mountain tops are not just a little to crowded. In response to a recent question from a young city charmer, peering into cupboards, under the bed and other such places, "Don't you get terribly lonely away up here sometimes?" Les merely gulped and answered by a wave of his hand as he indicated the throng in his back yard, each one a potential human interrogation point.
Registered visitors to this Strawberry Peak Lookout for the months of July, August and September, 1936, totaled 5,192, there being a total of almost 2,300 during the month of August alone. Sympathy may be needed for this particular lookoutman but not on the basis of loneliness. --W.S.B. - San Bernardino - (California Ranger)
August 19, 1941: "George Deacon, formerly superintendent at City Creek C.C.C. camp, has been assigned to Mr. Plummer's position and Frank Starke, who has been assigned to the lookout station at Strawberry peak has been made assistant dispatcher." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
July 20, 1945: "Mr. Frank Murphy was stricken while on duty as forest ranger in charge of the Strawberry Peak lookout station. When he failed to respond to short wave radio or phone calls, personnel from a nearby lookout was dispatched to investigate and found him unconscious. He was rushed to a San Bernardino hospital and passed away shortly afterwards. The coroner's report indicated death was due to insulin shock." (The Grizzly)
November 24, 1945: "Three slim, attractive girls are replacing fire wardens in the lonely, important lookout towers which look down on the thickly forested resort areas of the San Bernardino mountains.
On Strawberry peak, 6,150 feet above sea level, is Mrs. Barbara Wager, wife of ex-forest ranger Harry Wager, now in service." (San Mateo Times)
August 29, 1953: "Flames ran around three sides of the Forest Service lookout atop Strawberry Peak and embers landed atop the roof, but the structure was undamaged." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
1982: After being discontinued by the Forest Service the lookout was re-opened and staffed by volunteers.