Stranger/Stensgar Lookout Site

In 1929, a platform tower and cabin was built with help from the Washington Forest Fire Association. (#1 Lookout)

In 1934, a 50-foot tower with 7x7 foot cab was built by the civilian conservation corps crews. (#2 Lookout) The lookout person was Donald Lawson, a third-year college student at Pullman. His station was hit by lightning and Donald was unconscious for two hours after his station was struck, but suffered no serious after-effects. The first week of September was so smoky he could not see anything from his station. He left for college and his post around September 20.

In 1935, Donald Lawson was back as the lookout person. His brother Chas. Lawson, Jr. spent a few days at the lookout with him in July, as did his dad Mr. Chas. Lawson in August. Donald left at the end of September to go back to W.S.C.

In 1936, Donald Lawson was again the lookout for the summer. Again, his brother visited in July.

In 1936, a USGS team placed a benchmark at the summit saying that the marker was 23 feet from the approximate center of the 70-foot lookout tower. Monument labeled as STENSGAR.

In 1940, the lookout was Wyatt B. Moorehead.

In 1941, rangers and technical employees of the Colville district of the state forestry division put in a new radio network installed by R. M. Fuller, the state radio technician.
Stationary two-way sets had been installed in lookouts on Mt. Spokane, Dunn Mountain and Stranger Mountain. The Colville and Deer Park offices each had a portable two-way set as part of their equipment.

In 1944, installation of short-wave radio sending and receiving sets linking up Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties was completed by Bob Fuller, the radio technician for the state Division of Forestry, and his assistant Max Giverson. Sets were installed at the following lookout stations: Stranger Mountain in Stevens County, Mt. Spokane and Mica Peak in Spokane County and on Saddle Mountain in Pend Oreille County.

In 1949, the lookout tower on Stranger was struck by lightning, but no one was hurt.

In 1952, possibly 1951, the lookout was manned by Mrs. Wyatt B. Moorhead of Chewelah.

In 1953, the Stevens County Division of Forestry was working in cooperation with the county public utility district is erecting a 2.5-mile power line to the Stranger Mountain Lookout. Preliminary work on the right of way for the power line was started in late June. The line furnished electricity to operate a power radio and lights at the station. Deer Park Pine Industry, Inc., had a caterpillar working making a road the length of the power line.

In 1959, a standard 40-foot lookout tower with 14x14-foot living quarters was constructed for use by the department of natural resources, said John Link, field supervisor. Link said the towers will remain manned for a while, depending on weather and with consideration toward the hunting season opening. The lookout construction work was performed by the DNR carpentry crew. The cost was around $8,000. (#3 Lookout)

In 1963, a USGS party reported that a new tower had replaced the old tower.

In 1983, a 42-foot timber tower with a standard DNR cab was built (#4 Lookout).
The (#3 Lookout) 1959-1983 was bought by Dave Kresek (Rays son), for $1 provided it was removed within 30 days, because it was blocking the view of the new (#4 lookout 1983-2008). Dave moved the cab only to his Crystal Ridge, Idaho property. The DNR wanted the legs to remain for communication antennas. The 20 foot iron legs and X braces are from the guard tower at the old Gieger AFB brig. He modified the cab with an inside stairway entry.

In 1994, the #4 lookout was last staffed during the tinder-dry 1994 fire season.

In 2008, the #4 lookout cab was moved from Stranger to the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds in Colville for display.

In 2000, Dave Kresek sold the #3 lookout on his property to a hunting outfitter for handicapped clients. After being vandalized repeatedly, the entire property went on the real estate marked for years at about $80,000. Around 2016, Kristie Wolfe purchased the #3 lookout and property, turning it into a rental.

Parts of the Stranger #2 1936 L-6 cab are used in the Ray Kresek museum cab in his yard. Nuts and bolts, shutter hardware.