SHEEP MOUNTAIN
Johnson County - Bighorn National Forest
June 28, 1922: "Supervisor E. W. Tinker, accompanied by John McLaren, fire chief of forest district No. 2, left today for the Little Horn river district to investigate the possibilities of establishing and maintaining a lookout on Sheep mountain.
The greatest danger of fire in many years is reported by Mr. McLaren to the east as the country there has been dry this year, little rain having been recorded." (The Sheridan Daily Enterprise)
The greatest danger of fire in many years is reported by Mr. McLaren to the east as the country there has been dry this year, little rain having been recorded." (The Sheridan Daily Enterprise)
July 22, 1938: "Fred Foster, forest service fire lookout, was here Thursday for examination of an ear deafened Wednesday afternoon when lightning struck the lookout station on Sheep mountain, 32 miles west of Buffalo.
Windows were shattered by the bolt, instruments were destroyed, telephone wiring was damaged and Foster's bed was set afire. The lookout repaired the telephone wiring and notified Forest Ranger U.J. Post.
Forest service officials said it unusual for lightning to cause damage at a lookout station, as all stations are wired as thoroughly as possible for lightning protection.
Opinion was expressed that Foster's deafness would be only temporary. He planned to return to Sheep mountain Friday." (Billings Gazette)
July 28, 1938: "Fred Foster, fire lookout man on Sheep mountain, 32 miles west of Buffalo, was deafened temporarily in one ear by thunder last week when lightning struck his lookout station, shattering windows, damaging instruments and setting his bed on fire. The bolt struck within four feet of the spot where he was standing.
Forest service officials said that was unusual as lookout stations are wired as thoroughly as possible for lightning protection during frequent mountain electrical storms." (Casper Star-Tribune)
February 25, 1939: "Fred M. Foster, who was partially deafened last summer by a bolt of lightning, has had his hearing restored.
Foster, a fire lookout on Sheep mountain, 32 miles west of Buffalo, lost his hearing in one ear on July 29, 1938, when lightning struck his lookout station. He returned this week from a California hospital where his hearing was restored.
The lightning damaged many instruments in Foster's station and shattered windows in addition to setting his bed afire." (Billings Gazette)
January 18, 1941: "The use of the caterpillar I believe will be as cheap as hiring a team. The tractor will be there then to use in transferring the building material for Sheep Mountain Lookout to the building site." (CCC camp inspection, Hunter Side Camp. Morris B. Simpers, Project Superintendent)
January 6, 1949: "A satisfactory road has just been built to the Sheep Mountain Lookout." (Memorandum to the Regional Forester)
November 20, 1956: 500 visitors were reported by the lookout this season. (Memo to the Regional Forester)
August 16, 1957: "The fire danger in the southern Big Horn Mountains is 'serious,' Joe O'Rourke, district ranger, said Thursday.
Lack of rain during July and August has dried out the forest and the Sheep Mountain Lookout Station has been placed on a 24-hour watch, O'Rourke said.
He termed the Forest Service 'lucky' because there have been no lightning storms in the past several weeks." (Billings Gazette)
November 15, 1957: 623 visitors were reported this season by the lookout. (Memo to the Regional Forester)