BALD MOUNTAIN
Eldorado County - Eldorado National Forest
October 27, 1911: "In order to better protect the national forests lying in Placer and El Dorado Counties the Government is constructing a house designed as permanent headquarters for a lookout man on the topmost peak of Bald Mountain, several miles east of Georgetown. From this station, which is 4613 feet above sea level a man can look over not only the El Dorado National Forest, but a great portion of the Tahoe forest. The peak of Bald Mountain is already connected by telephone with the central office of the forest service." (The Folsom Telegraph)
May 18, 1912: "Many improvements in the forest range service are reported by Supervisor Evan R, Kelley, although the appropriation set aside for forest protection is much less than was estimated as necessary for the ensuing year, and some of the work contemplated cannot be carried out at once. Eighteen camping places have been prepared along the State Highway, fitted up with tables, benches, and fireplaces, which will be free to the public, and in a great measure, do away with the danger from fires left by careless campers. The fire line along Peavine to protect the timber in that section, about five miles in length, is finished, and a steel lookout tower, 60 feet in height, has been ordered for Bald Mountain, where a man will be stationed during the season. This will be connected by telephone with the various forest range stations, and with the office in this city. R. Bryan, H. Nelson, F.R. Kelley, and E.E. Benny have been appointed fire guards in the service, to be stationed at Pacific, Silver Creek, Georgetown and Bald Mountain districts." (Mountain Democrat)
August 3, 1912: "The sixty-foot steel lookout tower of the Forest Service on Bald Mountain has been completed. The tower is about two miles from Quintette, and commands a view of almost the entire reserve." (Mountain Democrat)
October 3, 1912: "Forest Supervisor Evan Kelly, formerly an official of the Tahoe forest, but now supervisor of the Eldorado national forest reserve has just received photographs of the new lookout tower built on Bald mountain. This tower has a concrete base and is of steel, sixty-two feet high and the mountain has an altitude of 4500 feet. It is connected with telephone to Placerville and the lookout man, F.R. Kelley, acts as a 'central' for the two telephone lines to Mosquito and Georgetown forest ranger stations. A man is stationed at the tower continuously during the fire season, from May 1st to November 1st. The tower was built by Forest Ranger Jones, Forest Guard Melson and Lookout Man Kelley.
A road is being built on top of the mountain which, after completion, will make the tower accessible for autoists." (Morning Union)
September 20, 1913: "Word was received at Forest Service headquarters Tuesday from their lookout on Bald Mountain, that a serious forest fire was raging on the ridge above Georgetown. It was successfully handled by the S.P. Company, under Warden Chas. Jerrett." (Mountain Democrat)
June 5, 1914: "Fire guards are now being placed at different stations in the El Dorado National Forest to be prepared in plenty of time for any emergency. R.F. Kelley has been assigned to the lookout post on Bald Mountain." (The Folsom Telegraph)
May 29, 1915: "The steel lookout tower on Bald Mt. which was toppled over by severe winds of last February will soon be replaced by a more substantial structure.
Teams are now engaged at hauling cement and sand to the site from which the concrete abutments of the new tower will be made. As soon as the structural material reaches the ground, Harold Melson, one of the chief improvement men of the El Dorado National Forest, will take charge of the crew in assembling it." (Mountain Democrat)
June 26, 1915: "The first fire of the season within the El Dorado National Forest was discovered and located at 4:10 p.m. on the 10th inst by Harold Melson, who is acting as a Primary Lookout for the Forest Service on Bald Mountain. The report was transmitted to Fireman W.B. Davis of Lynchburg, who with a couple of men repaired to the fire immediately, reaching it at 6:40 p.m., and with the assistance of two sheep herders succeeded in controlling it by 10 p.m. The land burned over is located in Sec. 1 T. 13 N, R. 11 E., and is the property of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, in Placer County. It started on a steep sidehill on the north slope of the Rubicon River. The prompt action of the Forest Officers prevented a conflagration which might have resulted in a disaster. The damage to standing timber was slight, being confined to butt burn only, but approximately five acres of fine young growth of pines were killed." (Mountain Democrat)
July 10, 1915: "Harold Melson returned to Placerville Tuesday from the U.S. Forest Service Station at Bald Mt., where he has had charge of a crew of men employed at erecting a new steel lookout tower at that place. The tower is of the latest model, and is designed to withstand extraordinary wind strain." (Mountain Democrat)
July 10, 1915: "A.W. Hughes, who has been engaged with the Forest Service at carpenter work within the Pacific District, has returned to Bald Mt. Lookout Station, where he will be employed as a primary fire lookout man during the ensuing season." (Mountain Democrat)
September 11, 1915: "A fire started Monday afternoon at the Wm. Hall place on the Volcanoville Ridge, above Georgetown, which was under fair way to become a most damaging conflagration if the Forest officers had been less prompt in reaching it. The blaze started in a heavy growth of pine reproduction under which pine needles for ten or more years past had collected to a depth of 8 or 9 inches. Bald Mt. lookout discovered the fire and notified Chief fireman Milton D. Norris and Forest Fireman Henry Irish at the Georgetown Ranger Station, who rode to it, a distance of about eight miles, with all the speed their saddle horses were capable of traveling, reaching it in time to put it under control before it had spread over more than an acre and one-half." (Mountain Democrat)
June 1, 1916: "A.W. Hughes of Georgetown will be stationed at the primary lookout on Bald mountain." (Sacramento Union)
September 22, 1917: "Archie Hughes was down from the Bald Mountain lookout station this week." (Mountain Democrat)
March 31, 1923: "The forest service is building a new house at the Bald Mountain lookout station. Rangers Archie Hughes and Raliegh Bryon of Placerville and Rangers R.C.M. Berriman and Bert Young of the Georgetown station are the carpenters and we understand the camp cook is no other than our forest supervisor, Edwin F, Smith." (Mountain Democrat)
May 12, 1923: "Supervisor Morgan has a 2-horse grader on the Tunnel Hill road and the forest service is improving the road in to Bald Mountain. A crew of four men are fixing up the road between Georgetown and the ranger station, so the mountain road will soon be in first-class condition." (Mountain Democrat)
June 19, 1925: "Forest Supervisor Edwin F. Smith left this morning for Bald Mt. Lookout to have charge of a training course for guards on the El Dorado National Forest. All phases of fire prevention work will be taken up and discussed in an informal meeting which is to last two days, June 18 and 19.
Bald Mt. Lookout station is situated on the Georgetown district in the El Dorado National Forest, at which place the Forest Service have erected a 60 foot tower in which the lookout must be stationed during all periods of fire danger, on the lookout for fires. This station on a high mountain and with the aid of a tower, practically all the Georgetown and Pacific districts can be covered and fires detected. Demonstrations on location of fires, methods of suppression, etc., will be given all short-term men, especially all new men going on duty this year." (Mountain Democrat)
June 4, 1926: "This is the second annual meeting of this kind that has been held on this forest and is for the purpose of instructing the men, particularly the summer protection force in regard to their duties and to make better cooperation of the entire field force in the prevention and suppression of forest fires within the Eldorado National Forest.
This meeting is being held on Bald Mt. Lookout Station in the Georgetown district, for the reason that this is the most important station on the Forest. The Forest Service have a 50-foot tower on this peak and the lookout man is able to detect fires a great distance. Actual demonstrations will be given all phases of the work possible." (Mountain Democrat)
May 4, 1928: "Orin Murdock takes up his duties on Bald Mountain Lookout Station May 3." (Mountain Democrat)
May 25, 1928: "The annual fire guard school for the staff of the Eldorado National Forest patrol was to close here today, after a three day study of all phases of fire protection under the supervision of Forest Supervisor Edwin F. Smith.
Approximately thirty members of the forest staff have attended the sessions, which have been held chiefly at Bald Mountain lookout station." (The Mountain Democrat)
May 3, 1929: "R.O. Murdock moves to the Bald Mountain Lookout station this Wednesday, for the season. This is the first lookout on this side to be opened." (The Mountain Democrat)
May 31, 1929: "The Fire Guard School held on Bald Mountain last week was attended by 28 Forest Officers, besides a number of guests. This school is held every year at the beginning of the fire season for the purpose, principally, of instructing in forest fire fighting and fire prevention, Forest Supervisor Smith was in charge. During the session two fires were reported in the Georgetown district, both set by lightning, one, about ten miles from Bald Mt. on the river hill north of the Bacchi place, and the other north of Pilot Creek. No material damage was done." (Mountain Democrat)
June 28, 1929: "A truck load of dynamite exploded during the noon hour in the vicinity of Blue Canyon, above Auburn, along the main line of the Southern Pacific railroad. Two men, the driver and his helper were killed.
This is the report received at the local forest service office. The report did not state whether the car was on the main road. A large forest fire was started but was believed to be under control by late in the afternoon.
The discovery of the explosion was made by the Bald Mountain lookout of the forest service whose report started investigations which led to aid being sent to the scene." (The Mountain Democrat)
July 19, 1929: "The Bald Mountain lookout of the Eldorado National Forest reported a brush fire burning in the vicinity of the Church-Union mine south of El Dorado, Thursday forenoon. His report to the forest service office was that the blaze appeared to include a considerable acreage.
State fire warden W.C. Austin and Assistant E.C. Vail were at the scene of the fire." (The Mountain Democrat)
October 11, 1929: "Thor, the thunder-god, was on the war-path last Sunday night.
It is not known whether he was angry because Mrs. Thor had been using his razor to split kindling with, or whether he was just out of sorts, but residents of Placerville and El Dorado County are keenly awake to the fact that something was wrong.
R.O. Murdock, who has been lookout at Bald Mountain for the El Dorado Forest Service for almost ten years, saw the display of Thor's wrath from the crow's nest and he reports he "never saw anything like it" as the jagged lightning flashed one way and another across the Sierra summit.
"Numerous fires were started," the forest service reported, "but the accompanying rain fall put all out but three, and these were soon controlled."
The rain gauge of the Pacific Gas and Electric company in Placerville recorded .38 inch of Precipitation." (The Mountain Democrat)
May 23, 1930: "The season of special vigilance against the fire demon in Eldorado National Forest will be instituted on Wednesday of next week at the conclusion of a two-day fire guard school to be held at Bald Mountain ranger station.
Twenty-five fire guards and district rangers have been notified by Forest Supervisor Edwin F. Smith to report Monday evening at that station.
Tuesday morning, instruction in telephone equipment, tools and their care, locating of fires, packing and care of stock and special equipment will be given, concluding with an inspection of a guard station." (The Mountain Democrat)
April 24, 1931: "Owing to the unusually dry condition of the country the forest service guards are already going on duty. Orin Murdock goes to Bald Mt. Wednesday. He will be assisted by Willard Greenslate." (The Mountain Democrat)
May 29, 1931: "The Forest Service Training School for fire guards was held at Bald Mountain Lookout Station, above Georgetown this week. Among the 35 in attendance was Robt. Deering, Chief of Operations, from the Regional Office, San Francisco, and five state guards. The school was in charge of Rangers Milton of Pacific District and George B. Young of Caldor District." (The Mountain Democrat)
June 26, 1931: "Willard Greenslate of Georgetown and Miss Jennie Steevers of Penobscot were married in Reno last Wednesday, and after a short trip have settled down at Bald Mountain Lookout Station for the summer, the groom being relief man at that station. The happy young couple have the best wishes of a host of friends." (The Mountain Democrat)
August 7, 1931: "Flying over Georgetown last Thursday afternoon, a Mather Field officer dropped a note for Forest Ranger Berriman, telling him of a forest fire near the Argonaut mine. Orin Murdock of the Bald Mountain Lookout had already discovered the fire, however, and it was got under control after several hours fighting, and after about forty acres had been burned over." (The Mountain Democrat)
June 6, 1932: "Mr. and Mrs. R.O. Murdock moved to Bald Mountain Monday for the summer. Mr. Murdock is in charge of the Lookout station there." (The Mountain Democrat)
August 11, 1933: "Vigilance of the fire lookout at Bald Mountain and the prompt work of his co-workers is praised by Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Donaldson, of Fort Hill, east of Georgetown, in a letter to this paper.
Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson express themselves as being particularly grateful for the work done by the lookout and the fire fighting crew, in discovering and extinguishing a fire on their property on Monday of last week. The blaze had been started by lightning and the Donaldsons would not have known it was burning had not the lookout picked up the smoke and sounded the alarm.
'In an incredibly short time," their letter states, "the men and trucks were on the spot and had the fire extinguished, so that only a small area was burned'" (The Mountain Democrat)
April 13, 1934: "R.O. Murdock, Forest Service fire lookout at Bald Mountain, went on duty the middle of last week.
Mr. Murdock was ordered to duty owing to the rapid drying out of the forest and the failure of expected showers to make their appearance.
We understand he will enjoy a short lay-off in the event of rains between now and the first of May, but on that date will take up his summer's vigil." (The Mountain Democrat)
October 7, 1938: "Rex, rattlesnake hunter number one (dog kingdom) recently discovered a large rattlesnake near the barn on Bald Mountain. The huge serpent was immediately suppressed and disposed of by Lookout Orrie Murdock. However, this is not the end of the story.
Going into round two, the morning of the following day Orrie discovered a sly old skunk partaking of choice bits, including the head of the deceased rattler. Then after having his fill the host folded his napkin and trotted slowly back to his den.
Going into scene three, the third day makes this story a very sad affair, for there precisely in the same spot where the buzztail had been suppressed, disposed of and engulfed, lay the skunk, very, very dead. -T.C. Clifton - Eldorado -" (California Ranger)
Going into round two, the morning of the following day Orrie discovered a sly old skunk partaking of choice bits, including the head of the deceased rattler. Then after having his fill the host folded his napkin and trotted slowly back to his den.
Going into scene three, the third day makes this story a very sad affair, for there precisely in the same spot where the buzztail had been suppressed, disposed of and engulfed, lay the skunk, very, very dead. -T.C. Clifton - Eldorado -" (California Ranger)
October 30, 1958: "Sealed bids will be received until 11:00 a.m. November 7, 1958 at the U.S. forest Service, 630 Sansome Street, Room 608, San Francisco 11, California for the Bald Mountain Lookout, and the dismantling of the existing tower, on the El Dorado National Forest. Bald Mountain is located in El Dorado County, approximately 12 miles east of Georgetown, California. Copies of the bid may be secured from the above address or viewed only at the office of the Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest, Placerville, California." (Mountain Democrat)
August 2, 1982: "'This is the main tower for the area and is considered the cream of the crop by every lookout,' added Dwain Schrader, Eldorado Forest Fire Specialist with the Georgetown Ranger Station and Delma's supervisor. "It has electricity, water, easy access and is in close proximity to town."
"That's true," Delma chimed in, "but it is still a long walk to the outside bathroom."
That last point is a definite consideration for Delma since she resides at the tower every Sunday through Thursday in the months of May, June, July, August, September, October and November. Perched atop the 32-foot high steel structure, her house is a 13 feet square room with 360-degree windows, a bed, stove, sink, cupboard, refrigerator, table, chairs, scanner, phone, two Forest Service radios, an azimuth finder (fire-finding device), and a TV." (The Mountain Democrat)
May 18, 1983: "The U.S. Forest Service reported a 300-gallon water tank was stolen from the Bald Mountain Lookout station off Wentworth Springs Road sometime during the winter. The theft was discovered May 15." (Mountain Democrat)
May 21, 1986: "Rocks were thrown at a U.S. Forest Service weather station on Bald Mountain between May 17 and 18, causing an estimated $360 worth of damage, according to sheriff's reports." (Mountain Democrat)
August 9, 2002: "The U.S. Forest Service Bald Mountain Lookout on Country Road was burglarized July 31. A generator, power converter and chain saw were taken. The estimated loss is $2,000." (Mountain Democrat)