LEMHI COUNTY
BALDY
Salmon National Forest
21N-21E-17
21N-21E-17
August 22, 1912: "From officials at the Salmon forest office it is learned that the new pack bridge over Salmon river about a mile below the mouth of Big creek is completed, and already in commission. It is a cable suspension, 226 feet long, six feet wide in the clear.
It is also stated that work is now in progress for the survey of the proposed new telephone line from the office in Salmon to the summit of Baldy mountain on the Leesburg summit west of this city. This is an independent telephone line, intended to facilitate the work and reporting of fire guards during the season of possible fires. The survey is in charge of F. C. Haman. It is the ultimate intention to extend this line further, but it will stop at the summit of Baldy this season, about ten miles from town.
The summit of Baldy mountain is the signal station of a fire guard at present, and it is held down by a son of W.F. Bradley. From this eminence he can see an extensive scope of country, and can sight a forest fire for many miles in any direction. It is his duty to visit this lookout frequently, and report to the headquarters at this city whenever he finds the horizon warming up." (The Lemhi Herald)
It is also stated that work is now in progress for the survey of the proposed new telephone line from the office in Salmon to the summit of Baldy mountain on the Leesburg summit west of this city. This is an independent telephone line, intended to facilitate the work and reporting of fire guards during the season of possible fires. The survey is in charge of F. C. Haman. It is the ultimate intention to extend this line further, but it will stop at the summit of Baldy this season, about ten miles from town.
The summit of Baldy mountain is the signal station of a fire guard at present, and it is held down by a son of W.F. Bradley. From this eminence he can see an extensive scope of country, and can sight a forest fire for many miles in any direction. It is his duty to visit this lookout frequently, and report to the headquarters at this city whenever he finds the horizon warming up." (The Lemhi Herald)
September 4, 1913: "W.B. Hays and family of Tendoy were in Salmon over Sunday. Mr. Hays has been packing wire and other supplies for the forest service on the job of the new phone line which is being constructed from the top of Baldy mountain, west of this city to a lookout station at the head of Hat creek." (The Lemhi Herald)
December 5, 1913: "Another lookout is maintained on the Salmon forest at Baldy mountain or Salmon City peak, which is nine miles by telephone line southwest of Salmon. At this point and also at Rocky Point, which is due north on the Divide trail are maintained instruments to indicate the exact location of a distant fire. Each of these is like the face of a clock, a foot and a half in diameter placed horizontally exactly level, a foot and a half high. The margin of the dial is marked with 360 degrees, instead of hours, and there is but one hand. Each dial is placed with '0' degree exactly north, and by pointing the hand toward a fire, its exact direction from the lookout is known and the point of intersection of the directions from the two stations, known to the supervisor, enables him to locate the fire very closely.
A practical test of the instruments in locating a fire between garden Creek on the south bank of the Salmon river last summer, evidenced their accuracy. This fire was thirty miles distance from either lookout, and numerous valleys and ridges intervened.
When not used each instrument is protected by a water proof oilcloth hood." (The Ogden Standard)
August 13, 1915: "A.M. Bradshaw, the ranger, came to town Monday evening from Baldy mountain to report a small forest fire which had been discovered on the head of Horse creek. The lookout station on Baldy covers most of the area of the Salmon forest, and it is connected with the home office by telephone; but lightning recently had put the talk-tools out of commission, and the dispatch had to be sent this time by horseback." (The Salmon Herald)
July 26, 1918: "The Salmon forest office has a crew of twenty field men now on the job of riding range and installing two new telephone lines. This is the largest force ever employed from the Salmon office. Wires will soon be stretched from Baldy mountain to Taylor mountain and from the mouth of Big creek to Long Tom and Blue Nose mountains. Carl Kriley and S.C. Scribner are at the head of these constructions crews." (The Idaho Recorder)
June 30, 1920: "Lionel Renner will soon go to take up his work as lookout man on Baldy mountain. He is a second class scout and is known to be able to identify smoke." (The Salmon Herald)
1924: A Salmon Forest lookout report states that this was a 9x9 lookout building and not staffed this season because the surrounding country was visible from other lookouts.
1942: Abandoned. (Kresek)
April 6, 1967: "Funeral services for Lee Cameron Bradley, 78, were held at the Jones Funeral Home Monday, April 3, 1967, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Don I. Smith officiating.
He was the first lookout on Bald Mountain, west of Salmon, that being the first lookout point used by that Forest." (The Recorder Herald)
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National Geodetic Survey
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DESIGNATION - BALDY MTN LOOKOUT CABIN
PID - QZ0558
STATE/COUNTY- ID/LEMHI
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - LEESBURG (1989)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1945 (JCT)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF A DILAPIDATED APPEARING WOODEN
SHACK USED AS AN EMERGENCY LOOKOUT STATION. IT IS ABOUT 6 FEET
SQUARE. IT IS ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF BALDY MOUNTAIN WHICH
IS APPROXIMATELY 5-1/2 MILES SW OF SALMON.
