NORRIS PEAK
Pennington County - Black Hills National Forest - 6E-2N-29
May 6, 1932: "When an emergency fire guard is needed at Norris Peak in the southeastern corner of the Black Hills national forest, the lookout will no longer have to perch precariously in the top of a tall, swaying pine or spruce tree as he did last summer during the dryest part of the season.
Uncle Sam is building a new 35-foot steel tower with a glassed-in top for his watchman at the head of Wild Irishman gulch. Norris Peak overlooks a section of the forest which is not easily watched from either Harney of Custer peaks. A half mile trail is being built from the auto road up to the peak and telephone connections are being put in. The tower will be ready for use by July 1." (Rapid City Journal)
Uncle Sam is building a new 35-foot steel tower with a glassed-in top for his watchman at the head of Wild Irishman gulch. Norris Peak overlooks a section of the forest which is not easily watched from either Harney of Custer peaks. A half mile trail is being built from the auto road up to the peak and telephone connections are being put in. The tower will be ready for use by July 1." (Rapid City Journal)
June 20, 1932: "A 35-foot steel tower on Norris Peak, south of Deadwood, is ready for a fire lookout, but there is not much for a fire lookout to do season. Last season a lookout perched in a tall pine tree on Norris peak to watch for smoke but this season not a fire has been reported to date in the Black Hills National Forest, it was learned at headquarters office in Deadwood.
Up to June 30 last summer there had been 10 fires with a burned area of 76 acres at a cost of $929. Before the season had ended the cost of fire fighting was up to $95,584.15.
Forest officers are hoping to have a clear record this season.
Sheep and cattle have been turned into the forest for grazing and there are about 20,000 of each. Grass is luxuriant but not normal yet." (Rapid City Journal)
June 29, 1932: "Frequent showers have made it unnecessary to place fire lookouts on Custer peak, Norris ridge, and Cement ridge so far this season, it was learned at the office of the Black Hills national forest. Lookouts who keep a sharp watch for fires during the hot,dry season, went out last season late in May.
There have been no fires reported in the Black Hills forest this season." (Angus-Leader)
June 2, 1933: "It has not been decided when a lookout will go on duty at Norris Peak, depending upon weather conditions." (Rapid City Journal)
July 27, 1933: "A sub-camp (CCC) will be established soon near Norris peak, where 18 men will work for a month. They will do some trail building, spring development and build a shelter cabin, for the Norris peak lookout." (Rapid City Journal)
June 27, 1940: "The forest has a secondary or emergency lookout at Norris peak. The secondary lookouts are used only in times of fire hazard, such as after severe electric storms or when the weather has been very hot and dry for a long time." (Rapid City Journal)
July 14, 1954: A fire at Norris Peak, near Pactola, was a spot fire and was controlled by the Pactola ranger and crew." (The Black Hills Weekly)
March 9, 1961: "Withdrawal from appropriation, except under mineral leasing laws, has been ordered on 550.69 acres scattered through the Black Hills National Forest.
Most of the land is in tracts of 10 to 40 acres used for fire lookouts." Included in the order: Norris Peak lookout. (Rapid City Journal)
June 6, 1963: "Two secondary fire lookouts remain to be manned as the Black Hills fire defense system moves into another fire season.
The Veterans Peak and Norris Peak stations will be manned depending on weather conditions." (Rapid City Journal)
