ARISTES (centralia)
Pennsylvania - Columbia County
September 9, 1920: "A. C. Silvius, secretary and treasurer of the Anthracite Forest Protective Association, has notified the Department of Forestry that the board of directors of the association has ordered reconstruction of the Aristes fire tower, Columbia county and the construction of a telephone line to the Upper Lehigh tower, near Hazelton." (Republican and Herald)
September 15, 1920: "An observation tower to be used in connection with discovering and fighting forest fires is to be of steel construction, 64 feet high, with a 12 foot square base of concrete.
A.C. Silvius, Secretary and Treasurer of the Anthracite Forest Protective Association of Pottsville, was here and at Aristes today, making necessary arrangements for the tower.
In due course the tower will be equipped with telephone instruments so that it will be possible to telephone to emergency places when fires is discovered. Later an observer or patrolman will be employed to keep a close look out and direct the fighting of fires." (Mount Carmel Item)
April 22, 1921: "A tower has been erected in the vicinity of Aristes. It was ordered after the serious forest fire in that section about a year ago." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 6, 1921: "October 15 is the date for observers to commence to work at the fire towers in the mountains to keep a close watch for forest fires that do so much damage and ruin so much timber. There should be less fires in this section this year because of the observation tower near Aristes." (Mount Carmel Item)
June 3, 1922: "Sixty-four students from Girard College, Philadelphia, under the care of three professors, are scheduled to visit the fire tower erected at Aristes by the Pennsylvania Fire Protective Association. The party will be chaperoned by Captain James Archibald of Pottsville. Daniel Hinkle, a former townsman, is included in the party." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 25, 1923: "Property stolen from the Aristes, Columbia County, fire tower, which was dynamited recently, has been recovered at the home of 'Teddy' Jackson and John Larkins at Centralia. Offers of settlement had been made, but the State is disposed to prosecute because this is the second instance where these public safeguards have been ruined by vandals." (The Wilkes-Barre Record)
September 17, 1924: "The Anthracite Forest Fire Company, No. 2, of Aristes, has been formed here, the second of its kind in the state. Mount Carmel has the first and it is hoped in time to form additional companies throughout the country.
Heretofore the watchman in the fire tower here has had to call Mount Carmel for fire fighters when a fire was discovered. The new company will also interest itself in community welfare, plans being made to establish a playground and recreational center." (Lebanon Daily News)
October 15, 1926: "The Aristes tower, however, will not be used this fall, as state inspectors have condemned the structure, on account of weak concrete piers, and unstable ladders.
Mat Smith, of this city, Aristes towerman, will be on patrol duty until the tower is placed in condition for use." (Mount Carmel Item)
September 14, 1927: "New steel fire observation towers are to be erected this fall, in two locations, in the Wesier forest district. The announcement has been made by Chief Forest Fire Warden Wirt.
One tower will be erected near Aristes in Columbia county. A tower now located near Aristes is said to be no longer fir for service. The new tower is to be eighty feet in height." (The Altoona Mirror)
September 21, 1927: "The second 80-foot tower will be located at Aristes, a new site near the town of Aristes, Columbia County. This tower will replace an old tower located several miles east of Aristes and now in an unsafe condition. This tower overlooks the watersheds of the Shamokin Water Company, Locust Gap territory, and a large portion of Mount Carmel township, in which a great many of the forest fires occur every spring and fall." (The Indiana Gazette)
November 1927: "Four new steel fire observation towers are soon to be erected by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. Two 80-foot towers will replace old towers that have become unserviceable, one near Aristes, Columbia County." (Forest Worker)
March 28, 1928: "All towers are open to the general public for inspection and a man is in charge of each during the fire season. The Aristes tower, which was reconstructed this year, is one of the highest in the State, and offers a commanding view over a wide range. Objects as far away as Hazelton are discernible from this tower on a clear day." (Mount Carmel Item)
March 24, 1934: "Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, went on duty this morning on the fire tower at Aristes." (Mount Carmel Item)
March 25, 1935: "Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, is in charge of the Aristes tower, one of the highest in this part of the anthracite region." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 17, 1935: "Jesse C. Yocum, of Lime Ridge, Columbia county, Inspector for the State Department of Forests and Waters, visited the Aristes fire tower yesterday.
The tower is manned by Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, one of the department's ablest observers.
Yesterday's visit was his first official one in his new capacity. From the Aristes tower he continued his inspection trip to the tower on Boyer's Knob." (Mount Carmel Item)
November 11, 1937: "Sylvester Beaver is in charge of the Aristes tower, the telephone number of which is Mount Carmel 902R3." (Mount Carmel Item)
November 5, 1938: "Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, once again is on the look-out atop the 80-foot Aristes tower, Mr. Beaver, despite the fact that he is nearing his 68th birthday, still is in excellent physical condition and climbs several times daily the 108 steps which lead from from the ground straight up into the lookout tower, a feat which certainly would tax the strength and heart of men much younger than the veteran towerman." (Mount Carmel Item)
July 22, 1939: "The Aristes tower was manned for the forst Thursday, Sylvester Beaver, Aristes, being back on duty, and shortly after telephone connections were placed a fire was discovered south of Centralia." (Mount Carmel Item)
November 30, 1939: "Short-wave radio sets have been installed in the forest fire towers of this region, enabling the towermen to communicate with each other.
Sylvester Beaver, towerman at the Aristes fire tower, reported poor visibility today but no fires. He went on duty on October 16 and will continue until heavy rains or snows soak the dry woodlands." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 29, 1940: "At the Aristes fire tower, Sylvester Beaver has started his eleventh consecutive year." (Mount Carmel Item)
April 14, 1941: "Sylvester Beaver, veteran towerman at the Aristes fire tower, went on duty on April 3 and will remain at his post until the forest fire season closes on or about May 30.
Beaver added that NYA boys are patrolling the woods." (Mount Carmel Item)
September 30, 1941: "The Aristes tower in charge of Sylvester Beaver of Aristes opened Sunday a week ago." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 13, 1942: "Sylvester Beaver, Aristes, observer at the Aristes fire tower is already on duty watching for early Fall fires." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 13, 1944: "Forest fire observation towers in this vicinity were reopened on October 1 by the State Department of Forests and Waters.
Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, is again on duty at the Aristes fire tower." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 25, 1946: "Jerry Burns, of Buck Run, who has occupied the lookout tower at Aristes since the first of October, reported today that no fires had been sighted from that post so far this season." (Mount Carmel Item)
October 7, 1947: "Sylvester Beaver, of Aristes, Columbia county, who last week took his post as observer on the state fire tower near the town, is one of the oldest observers in the region from the standpoint of continuous service. Beaver has manned the Aristes tower for 18 consecutive years. He has discovered and reported many forest fires." (The Plain Speaker)
April 7, 1951: "Forest fire towers in Northumberland County are now manned for the annual all-out spring campaign against forest fires. The towers will be occupied by observers until late next month.
A tower is located at Aristes, near the Northumberland-Columbia County line." (Shamokin News-Dispatch)
May 3, 1976: "The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Bureau of Forestry, offers for sale to the highest bidder, for removal, Aristes Fire Tower, Conyngham, Township, Columbia County.
For further information and necessary bid forms, contact District Forester prior to May 12, 1976." (Evening Herald)
Removed
DESIGNATION - CENTRALIA FIRE TOWER 1934
PID - KW2995
STATE/COUNTY- PA/COLUMBIA
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - ASHLAND (1984)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1934
TO REACH FROM THE TOWN OF ASHLAND, GO N ON HIGHWAY 120 FOR 1.4 MILES
TO CENTRAILIA. HERE HIGHWAY 120 TURNS W. CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD
FOR 1.6 MILES TO A FORK IN THE ROAD (JUST N OF THE VILLAGE OF
ARISTES). TURN LEFT AND GO 0.6 MILE TO THE FIRE TOWER ON THE LEFT
SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A T-ROAD LEADING TO THE FIRE TOWER.