Makeover underway at Sidney's Camp Lookout

Camp Lookout in Sidney is being restored by the Boothill Cemetery Committee.

The house known as Camp Lookout is located on the corner of Elm Street and 10th Avenue on the north side of Sidney. It was built in 1867 to provide shelter for soldiers from Fort Sedgwick, Colo.

The soldiers set up an outpost along Lodgepole Creek to protect railroad workers working on the Union Pacific. Later, known as the Sidney Barracks, it eventually became a lodging facility and then a private residence.

This week, carpenter Dave Melchior has been working on recreating the balcony.

"It's the oldest structure in Sidney," said Boothill Cemetery Committee chairperson Cathy Wilson. "It was used to watch over the railroad, and this is the first time the balcony has been out and exposed since the turn of the century. We've been looking at pictures to make sure we recreate it to the best of our abilities."

According to Wilson, additions to the house got rid of the original balcony that was used as the "lookout."

"It doesn't look like a lot of work has been done to the house," Wilson said. "However, there's a new roof, a stone wall is being rebuilt, four additions were taken off, new windows have been installed and we are following all of the standards of preservation. After we complete the outside, we will work on the interior design."

The ultimate plan for Camp Lookout is to have the restoration and landscaping completed by April 2017 to celebrate Sidney's 150th birthday. The house will be a pictorial museum including artifacts of Sidney's history.