HARNEY COUNTY
DRY MOUNTAIN
Ochoco National Forest
22S-26E-11
22S-26E-11
June 13, 1929: "The Snow mountain road crew is completing a motor way from the upper Silver Creek section to the summit of Dry Mountain on which Mr. J.T. Choate will serve as lookout-fireman for the coming summer. A new telephone line was constructed there last year, so with these improvements more efficient fire protection can be given to that extremely hazardous portion of the forest." (Central Oregonian)
July 18, 1929: "Ranger E.W. Donnelly, assisted by Fireman Jack Choate and Road Foreman W.J. Baur, is constructing a platform near the top of a yellow pine tree on the summit of Dry Mountain. On this platform will be mounted a telephone, fire finder, etc., for use of the lookout who will occupy that station. The platform will be more than 100 feet from the ground and will afford a much better view than can be obtained from any point on the ground, since the top of the mountain is pretty well covered with timber." (Central Oregonian)
September 1929: "Jack Choate, who occupies the 'crows nest' 110 feet from the ground in a yellow pine tree on the summit of Dry Mountain, says he now feels perfectly at home since four 3/8 " guy cables have been placed on the tree and the ladder improved to such an extent that he can run up and down the tree in high gear. Road Foreman Baur assisted in fixing up this lookout tree which is the highest platform occupied by a lookout on the Ochoco." (The Ochoconian)
December 1930: "A fireman's cabin was constructed on Dry Mountain at the base of the steel tower site." (The Ochoconian)
March 19, 1931: "A 75-foot steel lookout tower was received at the forest service warehouse in Prineville on March 17. The tower is to be placed on Dry Mountain in the Snow Mountain district. This will greatly facilitate detection in this vicinity, since heretofore the lookout has been obliged to climb a tree in order to see over his territory. This will be the first steel tower on the Ochoco." (Central Oregonian)
March 1931: "The Dry Mountain steel tower is here at last. We have been getting it for just about a year now. The material which has come from Aermotor Company in Chicago weighs a little over 11,000 pounds. It will be shipped to old Riley by Forest Service truck and then to Dry Mountain by team. The tower will perhaps be put up in May, or at any rate, before the start of fire season. This tower is 73 feet from the ground to the floor of the observation tower, and has a stairway of wooden steps." (The Ochoconian)