ALBERTA LOOKOUTS
SALT PRAIRIE
Slave Lake Division
July 22, 1954: "S. J. McNab of Slave Lake and B. Brower of Kinuso were rangers at work here recently. Material is at hand to build a new lookout tower at Salt Prairie, northeast of town." (Peace River Record Gazette)
September 1, 1954: "Ranger Nichols has been taking gravel to the Fire Tower for some concrete construction." (Peace River Record Gazette)
October 28, 1954: "Located 44 miles from town and 12 miles from the nearest settlement, this 80-foot steel structure is topped by a wooden eight-sided cupola having a diagonal distance of eight feet and reached by a steel ladder.
Material for the tower was hauled in by truck last winter and was built during the last one and one-half months, by the Forestry construction crew from Peace River with the help of the Chief Ranger and Rangers Phil Nichols, Desmond Woodman and Elmer Johnson, from adjacent districts.
A three-room cabin--kitchen, bedroom and radio room was built at the foot of the tower, as well as a power house.
A tower man will be taken in at break-up next spring and must live here until after fire hazard next fall--with only the monthly supply visit of Ranger Phil Nichols for company." (Peace River Record Gazette)
April 28, 1955: "Almost impassable roads, snow, mud and water greeted the party of Forestry officials who left High Prairie, Wednesday, April 20, to install the Towerman and his equipment in the new Salt Prairie Fire tower.
Radio Technician Ronnie Linsdale of the main office, Edmonton, Chief Ranger A.C. Rogers, of Slave Lake, Towerman Leo Roe of Kinuso and local Forestry officer, Phil Nichols of Salt Prairie, made up the party who travelled from High Prairie by truck 30 miles, then boarded a tractor with rubber-tired wagon for the final 12 miles to the new tower.
The Towerman's cabin 18 x 24 feet, is built on a hill, with the 80-ft tower adjacent. Radio equipment was installed in the cabin, with remote controls in the tower.
In this cabin, towerman Roe and his wife will live from April until snow flies next fall, with no contact except with Ranger Nichols, who brings in supplies each month.
The party put up weather reporting equipment, rain gauge, wet and dry bulb thermometers, fire hazard apparatus, high and low temperature reading guages, and all the usual equipment of the intricate occupation.
The Rangers reported that there is as yet no evidence of the many bears and porcupine so prevalent in the woods there last year, while the tower was being constructed." (Peace River Record Gazette)
May 22, 1958: "Allen Sloan and his cousin of Kinuso came up via motorcycle on Friday to spend the weekend with his parents at the Salt Prairie tower." (Peace River Record Gazette)
November 20, 1958: Towerman Cliff Sloan has finished his season's work at Salt Prairie and are returning to their home in Kinuso. (Peace River Record Gazette)
March 26, 1959: "Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sloan of Kinuso will be moving to Salt Prairie tower very soon where he will be lookout man." (Peace River Record Gazette)
April 30, 1959: "Forestry technician Ron Lineton of Slave Lake was up to check the radio equipment at Salt Prairie Tower last Saturday. Mrs, Lineton and two children accompanied him and visited with Mrs. Nichols while Mr. Lineton was at the tower." (Peace River Record Gazette)
November 5, 1959: "Ranger Nichols brought Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sloan in from Salt Prairie tower Saturday with the scout car, the only vehicle that can travel the bad roads without trouble." (Peace River Record Gazette)
May 3, 1967: "The tower men are back on the job again, Jim Sartorious is at the Salt Prairie tower. The men were taken to their posts the first of the week." (Peace River Record Gazette)