James C. Sarvis
Salt Lake City Tribune
The caption reads: Making one of his checkups of the Salt Lake valley from his fire lookout station atop the Walker Bank building is Jay M. Hamilton, forest service employee, who is in charge of the lookout, which will be maintained 12 hours a day. July 14, 1941
Walker Bank Building Lookout
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Elevation: ~4370
Status: Removed
Year Built: 1939
Year Removed: ~1948
This lookout in Salt Lake City was on the top of the 15-story Walker Bank Building. There was no enclosure, just a three legged map/alidade table. It was first established in 1939 by the Wasatch National Forest and the Salt Lake City water department, and used until about 1948. Its purpose was the protection of the surrounding city watershed and the detection of fires before they could attack the city itself. In The Salt Lake Tribune issue of July 14, 1941, Jay Hamilton, the fire observer, is pictured with his map table (right). The lookout was usually staffed from late morning until dark. In those days the Bank building was the tallest in the City.
Read the full Tribune story. The FamilyOldPhotos website displays an early postcard of the Walker Bank Building.
Visit the Former Fire Lookout Site Register entry for the Walker Bank Building lookout.
Thanks to Ron Kemnow for finding and sharing the story of the Walker Bank Building fire lookout.
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