BRITISH COLUMBIA LOOKOUTS
SWANSEA MOUNTAIN
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January 18, 1924: "Norman Moore, the district forester from Cranbrook made the ascent of Mount Swansea last week. This is rather an arduous undertaking in the winter season and requires to be done on snowshoes. Mount Swansea lies just across the lake from Ivermore. Its highest point is three thousand feet above the level of the water. From its crest an exceptionally good view of the country all about and it is more than probable for that reason that a forest fire protection cabin will be built on the summit and a lookout established during the season of fire control. The operator from its lofty cabin will be connected by a private telephone system with the trunk lines which extend throughout the length of East Kootenay." (Agassiz Record)
April 11, 1924: "The Provincial Forestry department, through their district forester, Mr. Norman Moore, have made public that the proposed fire outlook station on Mount Swansea, at the back of the village of Invermere will at once be gone on with. Tenders are being called for a full bill of material for the construction of the required building, and when this is delivered the work will at once be commenced of taking the material on pack horses to the highest part of the peak, some 5000 feet above sea level. The building will be of the regulation type and will be surmounted by a high lookout platform. An experienced observer, supplied with a full equipment of fire detectors will be on constant duty from the first of May to the first of October, perched in his eyrie. The character of the mountain, which ends in one isolated pinnacle is such that a wonderful range of wooded mountain and deep valley will be afforded, and a possible range of over one hundred miles being under observation. From his station on the mountain top, the observer will have direct telephonic communication with the divisional office at Cranbrook." (Agassiz Record)
July 4, 1924: "The work on the government forest lookout on the top of Mount Swansea at the back of Windermere goes merrily on under the direction of skilled hands. The mount stands some three thousand feet above lake level and its crest is possibly some five miles distant in a bee line from this place, yet by night the glare of the necessary bonfire is plainly seen as it mounts into the air. This is strangely like to the emission of a small volcano at times, or takes one back in thought to the historical, picturesque beacon fires that at one time were used as primitive signals for the conveying of long distance news." (Cranbrook Herald)
1924: "A new standard lookout was constructed on Mount Swansea, in the Cranbrook Forest District, which has a commanding view of all the country tributary to the headwaters of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers." (Report of the Forest Branch, Department of Lands)
September 5, 1924: "This year, too, forest protection is expedited through the use of the two lookout stations at Swansea, near Invermore, and at Moyie, west of Cranbrook. These have a commanding view in every direction and by making use of them it has been possible to dispense with the services of a number of patrolmen." (Cranbrook Herald)
1924: Listed under improvements on the Cranbrook District: Swansea Mountain Lookout and telephone line, $1,593.). (Report of the Forest Branch, Department of Lands)
1925: The Southern Interior District spent $15.00 on maintenance of the lookout. (Report of the Forest Branch, Department of Lands)
June 17, 1927: "R. Lowerson has just been notified of his appointment as lookout man at Swansea, near Invermore, for the forester department, and has left to take up the work." (Creston Review)
July 4, 1929: "During a thunder storm Tuesday afternoon Arthur J. Walker, of this place, climbed the upper storey of his forestry fire observation tower on the top of Mount Swansea at the back of Windermere. He had barely put his head above the level of the floor when he was rendered unconscious by electrical energy, and fell to the ground and for four hours remained unconscious.
When he was able to summon assistance it was found that he had been severely injured internally and had to be conveyed to Cranbrook hospital for relief. An operation proved to be a necessity. He will be an inmate as a result for several weeks to come." (Calgary Herald)
December 1960: "Game stories reported range from the unsuccessful 'insured' approach used by Lookoutman George Walker, who petted, patted, and pampered a three-quarter curl ram on Mount Swansea this summer, (looking forward to opening day, September 1)... You guessed it - on August 31 the ram left for safer pastures." (Forest Service Newsletter)
Removed
