South Mount Hawkins you came alive in 1937 standing proud on your 30’ wooded tower at 7,783’ above sea level. You were staffed and taken care of by various personnel until Sandy Delapp arrived in May 1952. She was to be your caregiver during fire seasons until September 30, 1980. You had various improvements through out the years and saw so much.

I often wished that you could talk and tell me what you have seen in your many years. Your stories I’m sure would be best sellers. Then came the smog and the Forest Service financial cut backs and you were closed down. Sandy, I’m sure, felt the loss as so many of us are feeling now.

You were left unattended until the late 80’s. It was then that the Forest Service decided to take you down. Your windows were removed and then you were gutted, all that remained was your shell. Then came the day that you were to be pushed over and forgotten forever. But luck was with you.

A retired Forest Service personal was listening to his scanner and overheard the radio conversation between the dozer driver and the man in charge of taking you down. The quick thinking of the Forest Service retiree that had come to love you also, and he called Mike McIntyre. Mike did not know this was happening to one of his historical buildings. Mike then got a hold of the dozer driver and saved you.

Mike questioned himself than on what to do with you. He started with putting a chain link fence around you. In the early 90’s Mike found a group of people who wanted to put you back together. Your shutters were put back on and your windows were brought back up and set inside of you, part of your wall was put back in place. With this work done you were somewhat sheltered from the weather. Then the group lost interest in you and you were left to sit alone again.

In 1997 Mike made a phone call to a group called the San Bernardino National Forest Association to see if they would be interested in restoring you and Vetter Mountain. His goal was to staff both of you with volunteers and to use you as you were built to be a fire lookout.

George and I were asked to come along because of our experience in restoration of lookouts. I will never forget making that curve and seeing you standing there. I think I fell in love all over again. George and I could see past all the wrong that was done to you, we could see you shinning and alive again. So with the help of Bill Cone, Dick Cone, Jack Cone, Dave Walker, Kermit Eller, Jim Mayfield, George and myself you had your windows, cabinets, walls, roof, floor, and your guts put back in, alone with a new landing and a new coat of paint inside.

You were ready for your grand re-opening on September 4,1999. But sorrow hit you again. The Bridge Fire broke out and it put you on hold, unlike the last time you were never forgotten or left alone, instead you got a new coat of paint outside which made you even more presentable to your public. So on September 19,1999 you were called back in service by your old friend Sandy Delapp.

As the few short years past you have made a lot of new friends and have a lot of new stories. These new friends and old ones will not forget you and what you have done for us. We lost you September 1st to a senseless wildfire. You are a loss that I can never forget.

You may only be a wooden structure but you brought meaning of life for me. To honor you we will rebuild and your spirit will live forever in our new South Mount Hawkins Lookout.

-Pam Morey

For more information, please visit our main website at: http://anffla.org

All information below this point is for review by the team during our website building...

DONATE HERE

KEY CONTACTS

The ANFFLA is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation and your gift is tax deductible to the extent of the law.