ARIZONA LOOKOUTS
MORMON LAKE
Coconino County
Coconino National Forest
17N-9E-3
Coconino National Forest
17N-9E-3
1914-18: A round pole tower with open platform was constructed at a cost of $139.63.
June 18, 1920: "On Monday morning, J.E. Wiley, Mormon Lake look-out fire guard, found fire near Allen Lake. It took him until nine o'clock that night to get it under control. Convinced that it started with a campfire, he tracked some burros to Mormon Lake, where he found a camping party, in charge of L.V. Rush. He brought them here, before Justice-of-the-Peace R.J. Kidd. Rush was frank about the fire and made such a good impression that Forest Supervisor E.G. Miller recommended leniency, and he was let off with a fine of $10." (The Coconino Sun)
July 13, 1922: "Our sheets D-NF for the fiscal year 1923 provide $600 for a steel tower and shelter for Mormon Lake lookout. While a new tower is needed, we have decided that it would be advisable to go ahead and complete the Mahan job before starting in on the new tower at Mormon Lake. Furthermore, it seems desirable to wait until the final survey for the extension of the Flagstaff Lumber Company railroad is made before we decide on the best location for the Mormon Lake lookout-fireman in the future." (O-Improvement - Memo to District Forester)
July 13, 1922: "Our sheets D-NF for the fiscal year 1923 provide $600 for a steel tower and shelter for Mormon Lake lookout. While a new tower is needed, we have decided that it would be advisable to go ahead and complete the Mahan job before starting in on the new tower at Mormon Lake. Furthermore, it seems desirable to wait until the final survey for the extension of the Flagstaff Lumber Company railroad is made before we decide on the best location for the Mormon Lake lookout-fireman in the future." (O-Improvement - Memo to District Forester)
June 27, 1927: "In case you are getting out bids for lookout towers to be constructed on other forests, after July 1, I shall appreciate your getting out bids on a fifty-foot tower for the Mormon Lake lookout.
I do not remember whether the standard tower would be exactly fifty feet high or not; but anywhere from forty-five to fifty feet will be satisfactory to us. As I recall, the cab is seven feet square. The tower should be shipped to Flagstaff: but we would not want delivery before July 1, as we shall be short on money for freight." (Memo to District Forester from Forest Supervisor, Coconino)
June 27, 1927: "In case you are getting out bids for lookout towers to be constructed on other forests, after July 1, I shall appreciate your getting out bids on a fifty-foot tower for the Mormon Lake lookout.
I do not remember whether the standard tower would be exactly fifty feet high or not; but anywhere from forty-five to fifty feet will be satisfactory to us. As I recall, the cab is seven feet square. The tower should be shipped to Flagstaff: but we would not want delivery before July 1, as we shall be short on money for freight." (Memo to District Forester from Forest Supervisor, Coconino)
July 13, 1927: "In your opinion would we save money by building a one-room log cabin for the Mormon Lake lookout-fireman, or would it be just as cheap to build a house something like the one on Mahan? We want to get to the lookout tower, cabin, and cistern after you complete the Beaver Creek flume." (O-Improvement-Coconino - Memo from Forest Supervisor to Ranger Lochman)
July 13, 1927: "In your opinion would we save money by building a one-room log cabin for the Mormon Lake lookout-fireman, or would it be just as cheap to build a house something like the one on Mahan? We want to get to the lookout tower, cabin, and cistern after you complete the Beaver Creek flume." (O-Improvement-Coconino - Memo from Forest Supervisor to Ranger Lochman)
August 26, 1927: "Dear Sirs: Reference is made to Mr. Munro's telegram of August 21 and letter of August 22, and to your invoice, of which one copy is enclosed. As stated by Mr. Munro the four angle plates were missing when the other material for the tower was received, and since it was included in the specifications it is presumed that it will be supplied without further cost. We will therefore file your invoice without further action unless further advised." (Letter to The Aermotor Company from The Forest Supervisor, Coconino N.F.)
August 26, 1927: "Dear Sirs: Reference is made to Mr. Munro's telegram of August 21 and letter of August 22, and to your invoice, of which one copy is enclosed. As stated by Mr. Munro the four angle plates were missing when the other material for the tower was received, and since it was included in the specifications it is presumed that it will be supplied without further cost. We will therefore file your invoice without further action unless further advised." (Letter to The Aermotor Company from The Forest Supervisor, Coconino N.F.)
1927: A 48-foot steel Aermotor Model LX-24 tower with a 7 x 7 cab accessed by an outside ladder replaced the earlier wood tower.
1927: A 48-foot steel Aermotor Model LX-24 tower with a 7 x 7 cab accessed by an outside ladder replaced the earlier wood tower.
July 24, 1928: "We are setting up an allotment of $100 for the Mormon Lake Lookout Pasture. You will probably want to have Stanton Wallace do at least a part of the work." (O-Improvement-Coconino Memo to Ranger Rice from the Forest Supervisor)
June 8, 1953: "Mr. and Mrs. Sam Saunders are stationed at Mormon Lake lookout for the summer and are very happy to be nearer town this year. They brought their young in Thursday for a check up and she now weighs 12 lbs at three months. So Georgette has doubled her weight." (Arizona Daily Sun)
1988: National Register of Historical Places: "Mormon Lake Lookout Cabin (added 1988 - - #87002459)
1988: National Register of Historical Places: "Mormon Lake Lookout Cabin (added 1988 - - #87002459)
2019: Tower removed.