ARIZONA LOOKOUTS
BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN
Coconino County
Kaibab National Forest
Kaibab National Forest
1910: The first lookout on this site was an old spruce tree topped out with a small platform on the top that was used as a patrol lookout. The lookout was constructed by Rangers Benham and Sevier. The lookouts rode up from Camp Clover on a daily basis.
February 4, 1916: "Supervisor Greene of the Tusayan National Forest together with Ranger Kimball skeed up to the top of Bill Williams Mountain on Tuesday of this week. On the way up they repaired the telephone line, which in places was buried to a depth of six feet in snow. It was necessary to dig down at least eight feet to enter the lookout cabin from which location they talked to the local Forest Supervisor's office." (The Coconino Sun)
August 24, 1916: "It has been suggested to the Forest Service that a Register be installed in the lookout on Mt. Bill Williams. The matter is under advisement and the Register will probably be installed. It would give a chance to leave name and address without scarring the trees. Indeed, lovers names might be inscribed on its pages linked with a heart." (Williams News)
May 17, 1917: "Charles Cattermole arrived in Williams Wednesday night from Prescott to assume his duties as lookout on Bill Williams." (Williams News)
June 21, 1917: "Mr. W.A. Whiting, of New York, has accepted a position with the Forest Service. Mr. Whiting will be on Bill Williams Lookout." (Williams News)
May 16, 1919: "Claude Melick has entered the Forest Service and is stationed at the lookout on Bill Williams where he will remain during the fire season. He and Mr. Christensen made the trip up on Wednesday and found that the snow there is four feet deep." (Williams News)
May 21, 1920: "For a number of years the local Forest Office has been looking for a better location for a trail up Bill Williams mountain. They have been seeking one that would permit of a trail to be opened earlier and closed later than the old trail, and that would cost less for unkeep. After giving the matter considerable study, and weighing the possibilities offered on each of the more exposed slopes of the mountain, a trail branching from from the Coleman Lake road was settled upon. This has now been cleared and is open to travel.
The old trail is still blocked by huge banks of snow that cannot be crossed by man of horse, and present indications are that this condition will continue several weeks. In addition to this the trail is washed out in a number of places and will be almost impassible after the snow is gone.
The new trail, on the other hand, has been open for a number of days and is in daily use by the forest lookout already stationed at the top. This trail is washed out in but one place and that is soon to be repaired. The grade of the new trail is much less than that of the old, the steepest incline being approximately 12 degrees or less than half that of some points in the old trail. This is one of the greatest advantages possessed by the new routs." (Williams News)
1924: A 30-foot wooden tower was constructed.
May 28, 1935: "Bill Williams mountain rises to an elevation of 9,264 on the edge of Williams. Horseback and hiking trails lead to its top, a round trip hike requiring about four hours.
Atop the mountain is the forest service fire lookout station. From there a view may be had ranging up to 200 miles. On clear days the north rim of Grand Canyon is discernible." (Arizona Independent Republic)
1937: An Aermotor Model MC-39 was erected with an airway beacon on the top.
October 28, 1938: "A ringside seat at a bull elk fight in the forest primeval is something that money can't buy, but was an experience that cost Floyd Barker, fire lookout on Bill Williams mountain, not one penny.
Barker was standing in his tower late Sunday afternoon scanning the country for fires when he heard a peculiar noise, sounding like the throaty meows of a good cat fight. Barker soon identified the clatter of horns along with the other sounds and presently two cow elk stalked into the clearing back of his cabin. The sounds continued, and in a few minutes two large bull elk, one with four points on one side and five on the other and the second with long spike horn, entered the clearing. Their horns were locked and they were struggling in much the same manner as two wrestlers, each fighting for an advantage. The bodies of both bulls were splotched with blood.
Mr. Barker said the fight continued unabated for fully 30 minutes with the cows standing nearby but apparently not interested.
The cows finally strolled into the timber and were followed a few minutes later by the two bulls, still fighting every inch of the way. The bulls left the battlefield looking like it had been plowed." (Arizona Independent Republic)
May 12, 1939: "Three Williams Grade School youths David McNelly, Cecil Burrage and Jackie Grace, told of an exciting experience upon their return to the city Wednesday afternoon from a hike to the Bill Williams fire lookout.
The trio hiked the long trail and was enjoying a visit with the lookout, Art Bowie, shortly after 1 o'clock when the lookout called their attention to a large brown bear approaching a saddle a short distance from the tower. As the animal entered the saddle the lookout whistled and it came to a halt. For five minutes the bear stood slowly rolling his head from side to side and apparently carefully scrutinizing the country. Then, as if satisfied that no danger existed, it ambled leisurely across the saddle and disappeared down the other side of the mountain.
Last summer Mr. Bowie was in the tower when two bull elk engaged in a 15-minute battle nearby." (Arizona Independent Republic)
The trio hiked the long trail and was enjoying a visit with the lookout, Art Bowie, shortly after 1 o'clock when the lookout called their attention to a large brown bear approaching a saddle a short distance from the tower. As the animal entered the saddle the lookout whistled and it came to a halt. For five minutes the bear stood slowly rolling his head from side to side and apparently carefully scrutinizing the country. Then, as if satisfied that no danger existed, it ambled leisurely across the saddle and disappeared down the other side of the mountain.
Last summer Mr. Bowie was in the tower when two bull elk engaged in a 15-minute battle nearby." (Arizona Independent Republic)
October 27, 1939: "One of the highest airplane beacon lights in the United States is at an elevation of 9,242 feet on Bill Williams mountain in Arizona." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
January 20, 1948: "David Williams, forest service lookout on Bill Williams mountain during the summer, was seriously injured Sunday when he fell 35 feet from a tree.
He was trimming the tree at the ski area on the mountain and cut his safety belt with an axe. He was helping to install and adjust the pulley for a ski tow.
He was taken to a hospital at Cottonwood after examination revealed that he had suffered a pelvis fracture, and fractures of both arms and one leg." (Prescott Evening Courier)
May 18, 1953: "A road will be built to the top of Bill Williams mountain near Williams under an agreement signed by the U.S. forest service and the Arizona highway commission.
The road will be used in setting up Arizona highway patrol radio relay facilities, as well as forest service equipment. The patrol then will be able to broadcast to and from the northwest corner of the state, which has been a 'blind spot' in the past. And the forest service will use the peak in its fire warning system." (Tucson Daily Citizen)
June 23, 1954: "A road has been pushed through to the summit of Bill Williams mountain, in the heart of northern Arizona's lumber country, for the first time.
A combined project of the state highway department and the forest service, it was completed last week. The route is narrow and winding and is closed to the public.
It is designed mainly to aid in fire control." (Tucson Daily Citizen)
April 21, 1965: "A spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service said today it would take 3 to 4 days to clear landslide debris from Bill Williams Mountain road south of Williams.
Forest Service crews said the slide covered about 70 feet of the road with rocks and trees. It is believed the slide was caused by melting snow.
There is still 5 feet of snow on the mountain." (Phoenix Gazette)