STRANGER MOUNTAIN
Stevens County - Department of Natural Resources - 31N-38E-14
1929: "In eastern Washington three new lookouts were put into operation, one is Stranger Mountain in Stevens county" (Division of Forestry Annual Report)
July 26, 1934: “A lookout on Stranger peak in Stevens county was unconscious for two hours after his station was struck, but suffered no serious after-effects.” (The Newport Miner)
July 26, 1934: “A lookout on Stranger peak in Stevens county was unconscious for two hours after his station was struck, but suffered no serious after-effects.” (The Newport Miner)
September 8, 1934: “Donald Lawson of Stranger lookout and Bill Crosset of Calispel lookout were on fire patrol duty the past days as it has been so smoky that they were unable to see anything from their stations.” (The Colville Examiner)
September 8, 1934: “Donald Lawson of Stranger lookout and Bill Crosset of Calispel lookout were on fire patrol duty the past days as it has been so smoky that they were unable to see anything from their stations.” (The Colville Examiner)
September 22, 1934: “Donald Lawson, who has been on Stranger lookout for the past summer, packed out Thursday, leaving Saturday morning for Pullman where he will enter his third year of college.” (The Colville Examiner)
September 22, 1934: “Donald Lawson, who has been on Stranger lookout for the past summer, packed out Thursday, leaving Saturday morning for Pullman where he will enter his third year of college.” (The Colville Examiner)
July 13, 1935: “Chas. Lawson, Jr., left Monday morning for Stranger lookout where he will spend a few days with his brother, Donald Lawson.” (The Colville Examiner)
July 13, 1935: “Chas. Lawson, Jr., left Monday morning for Stranger lookout where he will spend a few days with his brother, Donald Lawson.” (The Colville Examiner)
August 31, 1935: “Mr. Chas. Lawson spent a few days last week at Stranger look-out with his son, Donald Lawson.” (The Colville Examiner)
August 31, 1935: “Mr. Chas. Lawson spent a few days last week at Stranger look-out with his son, Donald Lawson.” (The Colville Examiner)
September 28, 1935: “Donald Lawson arrived home last Monday after spending the summer on Stranger look-out. He left Wednesday for W.S.C. Where he will enter college again this year.” (The Colville Examiner)
September 28, 1935: “Donald Lawson arrived home last Monday after spending the summer on Stranger look-out. He left Wednesday for W.S.C. Where he will enter college again this year.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 20, 1936: “Donald Lawson, who returned home from W.S.C. Last Saturday, left Monday for Stranger lookout, where he will be stationed this summer.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 20, 1936: “Donald Lawson, who returned home from W.S.C. Last Saturday, left Monday for Stranger lookout, where he will be stationed this summer.” (The Colville Examiner)
July 11, 1936: “Chas. Lawson Jr. is spending a few days with his brother, Donald, on Stranger lookout.” (The Colville Examiner)
July 11, 1936: “Chas. Lawson Jr. is spending a few days with his brother, Donald, on Stranger lookout.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 15, 1940: “Wyatt B. Moorehead, lookout at Stranger mountain.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 15, 1940: “Wyatt B. Moorehead, lookout at Stranger mountain.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 7, 1941: “Rangers and technical employees of the Colville district of the state forestry division were busy this week perfecting their new radio network recently installed by R. M. Fuller, state radio technician.
Stationary two-way sets have been installed in lookouts on Mt. Spokane, Dunn mountain and Stranger mountain. The Colville and Deer Park offices each have a portable two=way set as part of their equipment.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 7, 1941: “Rangers and technical employees of the Colville district of the state forestry division were busy this week perfecting their new radio network recently installed by R. M. Fuller, state radio technician.
Stationary two-way sets have been installed in lookouts on Mt. Spokane, Dunn mountain and Stranger mountain. The Colville and Deer Park offices each have a portable two=way set as part of their equipment.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 24, 1944: “Installation of short wave radio sending and receiving sets linking up Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties was completed Monday by Bob Fuller, radio technician for the state division of forestry, and his assistant Max Giverson.
Sets were installed at the following lookout stations: Stranger Mt. In Stevens county, Mt. Spokane and Mica peak in Spokane county and on Saddle mountain in Pend Oreille county.” (The Colville Examiner)
June 24, 1944: “Installation of short wave radio sending and receiving sets linking up Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties was completed Monday by Bob Fuller, radio technician for the state division of forestry, and his assistant Max Giverson.
Sets were installed at the following lookout stations: Stranger Mt. In Stevens county, Mt. Spokane and Mica peak in Spokane county and on Saddle mountain in Pend Oreille county.” (The Colville Examiner)
August 26, 1949: "The national forestry has had a total of 15 fires in the last week. Fourteen of these were lightning caused, the other was unknown.
The control tower on Stranger mountain near Waitt's lake was struck by lightning last week, but no one was hurt." (The Statesman Examiner)
June 6, 1952: "Stranger Mountain lookout west of Valley has recently been manned by Mrs. Wyatt B. Moorhead of Chewelah." (The Statesman Examiner)
July 13, 1953: "Stevens county division of forestry is working in cooperation with the county public utility district is erecting a 2 1/2 mile power line to Stranger mountain lookout station.
The lookout is located 22 miles southwest of Chewelah.
Preliminary work on the right of way for the power line was started in late June. When completed the line will furnish electricity to operate a power radio and lights at the station.
Deer Park Pine Industry, Inc., has a caterpillar working making a road the length of the power line. The right of way will have a 30-foot average." (Portions of this story were lost in the publishing of the story to the web page)
September 5, 1959: "A new 40-foot lookout tower with 14x14-foot living quarters is being constructed on Stranger mountain, west of Waitts lake for use by the department of natural resources, said John Link, field supervisor.
The tower will replace one built by civilian conservation corps crews in 1934.
Link said the towers will remain manned for a while, depending on weather and with consideration toward the hunting season opening." (The Spokesman-Review)
1958-60: "The lookout construction work is performed by the Department's own carpentry crew. In the past two years, the crew completed nine lookouts at a cost averaging $8,000 apiece, one of which is located at Stranger Mountain, Stevens County." (2nd Biennial Report Washington Department of Natural Resources)
1983: A 42-foot timber tower with a standard DNR cab was built.
2008: Moved cab to Stevens County Fairgrounds