Marin County Fireman Paul Hogancamp, 51, died at the Mount Barnabe Lookout on May 30, 1961. Marin County Coroner Frank J. Keaton reported after an autopsy that Paul had an apparent heart attack, and then fell down the lookout stairs. Hogancamp, wearing a carpenters belt, had been working alone, making repairs in preparation for the fire season opening later that week. His body was discovered at 11 a.m. by the Mt. Tam Fire Lookout, Marin County Fireman Art McKay, when he was 'making the rounds' checking telephone lines at the Mt. Barnabe Fire Lookout.
Paul Hogancamp had joined Marin County as a Fireman in 1945, in the fourth year of the existence of the County Fire Department. A native of Iowa, he had previously worked as a truck driver for a brief time. A resident of San Rafael at 625 Mission Ave, he left behind his wife Pearl, and children and grandchildren Bob and Gary Smith, Mrs. Hazel Lakeside and Wilma Hogancamp, and his mother Mrs. Pearl Hogancamp of Stockton (late husband Albert Hogancamp), five brothers and three sisters, Glenn, Oroville, Wayne, Harry, and Kenneth Hogancamp, Mrs. Juanita Eastman, Mrs. Hazel Heikens. and Mrs. Bernadine Focil, all of lowa. His internment was in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Paul Hogancamp had joined Marin County as a Fireman in 1945, in the fourth year of the existence of the County Fire Department. A native of Iowa, he had previously worked as a truck driver for a brief time. A resident of San Rafael at 625 Mission Ave, he left behind his wife Pearl, and children and grandchildren Bob and Gary Smith, Mrs. Hazel Lakeside and Wilma Hogancamp, and his mother Mrs. Pearl Hogancamp of Stockton (late husband Albert Hogancamp), five brothers and three sisters, Glenn, Oroville, Wayne, Harry, and Kenneth Hogancamp, Mrs. Juanita Eastman, Mrs. Hazel Heikens. and Mrs. Bernadine Focil, all of lowa. His internment was in Storm Lake, Iowa.
The Fire Lookouts
While we intend to publish the history of the fire lookouts, we have not done so yet. For a look at the newer Dickson lookout and the Mount Tamalpais lookout, go to http://californialookouts.weebly.com. Briefly, on April 11, 1938, a site was picked for a second fire lookout station to supplement the Mount Tamalpais Fire Lookout. The site was located on Mount Barnabe. Construction of this second lookout tower would allow the use of "triangulation" to determine the exact location of the "smoke" and allow observation of lands to the North that were not visible from the Mount Tamalpais Lookout.
Fred W. Dickson of San Geronimo donated the land for the lookout to the old Tamalpais Forest Fire District (TFFD) in 1938, along with a right-of-way access easement. The lookout tower was completed and placed in operation on June 6, 1939. The district gave the land and lookout structure to Marin County in 1941 when TFFD ceased operations and became the Marin County Fire Department. It was originally known as the Dickson Lookout, but became known as the Mount Barnabe Lookout over the years. The original structure was torn down in 1982 and replaced with a modern, then 'state of the art' Lookout Tower.
It is not clear exactly when or why the original name change occurred. The place name of the 1466 foot peak came from Barnabe, a white mule that grazed there long ago. This name first appeared in the San Geronimo Quadrangle 7.5" map in 1954. Several decades later, Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey urged re-dedication of the facility in the Dickson family name, after discussions with the family. A ceremony was held on July 9, 2011 officially dedicating it as the Dickson Fire Lookout.
Fred W. Dickson of San Geronimo donated the land for the lookout to the old Tamalpais Forest Fire District (TFFD) in 1938, along with a right-of-way access easement. The lookout tower was completed and placed in operation on June 6, 1939. The district gave the land and lookout structure to Marin County in 1941 when TFFD ceased operations and became the Marin County Fire Department. It was originally known as the Dickson Lookout, but became known as the Mount Barnabe Lookout over the years. The original structure was torn down in 1982 and replaced with a modern, then 'state of the art' Lookout Tower.
It is not clear exactly when or why the original name change occurred. The place name of the 1466 foot peak came from Barnabe, a white mule that grazed there long ago. This name first appeared in the San Geronimo Quadrangle 7.5" map in 1954. Several decades later, Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey urged re-dedication of the facility in the Dickson family name, after discussions with the family. A ceremony was held on July 9, 2011 officially dedicating it as the Dickson Fire Lookout.