SUMMERVILLE
South Carolina - Dorchester County - South Carolina Forestry Commission
1969-70: "The year 1929 marked the real beginning of forest fire detection on private lands in South Carolina. Mr. C.P. Cuthbert, who was employed by West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, supervised the erection of the first steel forest fire lookout tower for private lands in the state. This tower, financed by West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, is located near Summerville in Dorchester County and was originally known as the Middleton Gardens tower. Through a cooperative agreement, the Summerville tower is still in year-round service as part of the state forest fire detection system. This is generally regarded as the first fire tower constructed in South Carolina." (Report of the State Commission of Forestry, 7/1/69 to 6/30/70)