COPPS
Gogebic County - Ottawa National Forest
May 30, 1944: "To increase its fire detection facilities, the Ottawa National forest is building a new lookout tower, according to R.B. McKennan, forest supervisor.
This tower is north of the old Copps iron mine, about four miles northwest of the Michigan State Park, and will be known as the Copps Lookout Tower. It will afford about equal coverage of lands in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, in the vicinity of Lake Gogebic, and will locate fires in territory not thoroughly covered by existing towers. It will also furnish cross shots on fires sighted by the other towers.
Construction is under general direction of Harry Matthews, Bessemer District Ranger. The foreman in charge is Albin Ohman, Ironwood. Local labor from Gogebic county is being utilized in the work and operations will proceed as rapidly as weather conditions permit.
Rising 100 feet into the air, the tower will be of creosoted timbers joined with bolts and steel rings which give added strength to the structure. An inside stairway will lead to the seven-foot square glass-enclosed observation cab so that the person on duty may obtain some exercise when high fire danger necessitates long hours. Short wave radio will furnish communications with other towers and the Ranger District's guard station.
Authority for the construction of the tower was granted by the War Production Board, and it will improve fire detection for a considerable area in which extensive logging operation are underway." (Ironwood Daily Globe)
This tower is north of the old Copps iron mine, about four miles northwest of the Michigan State Park, and will be known as the Copps Lookout Tower. It will afford about equal coverage of lands in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, in the vicinity of Lake Gogebic, and will locate fires in territory not thoroughly covered by existing towers. It will also furnish cross shots on fires sighted by the other towers.
Construction is under general direction of Harry Matthews, Bessemer District Ranger. The foreman in charge is Albin Ohman, Ironwood. Local labor from Gogebic county is being utilized in the work and operations will proceed as rapidly as weather conditions permit.
Rising 100 feet into the air, the tower will be of creosoted timbers joined with bolts and steel rings which give added strength to the structure. An inside stairway will lead to the seven-foot square glass-enclosed observation cab so that the person on duty may obtain some exercise when high fire danger necessitates long hours. Short wave radio will furnish communications with other towers and the Ranger District's guard station.
Authority for the construction of the tower was granted by the War Production Board, and it will improve fire detection for a considerable area in which extensive logging operation are underway." (Ironwood Daily Globe)