VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
ARK AKA (Gloucester)
Gloucester County
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry
October 7, 1933: "A fire watch tower is now under construction near Ark post office, Gloucester County, to be used in the new system of fire protection which is being incorporated with the cutting of fire lanes through the local forest. This and other towers rising to a height of around 100 feet are to be used as watch towers during 'The fall fire season,' according to Fire Warden W.H. Walker of Gloucester.
Men from the CCC camp near West Point are cutting in the local forest daily, putting fire lanes through the major tracts of timber in the county.
This system of fire stops will be mapped out and a watchman in the tower may indicate by telephone to the fire warden any place he may see a smoke.
Fire Warden Walker said that he did not know when the warden service will begin." (Daily Press)
Men from the CCC camp near West Point are cutting in the local forest daily, putting fire lanes through the major tracts of timber in the county.
This system of fire stops will be mapped out and a watchman in the tower may indicate by telephone to the fire warden any place he may see a smoke.
Fire Warden Walker said that he did not know when the warden service will begin." (Daily Press)
August 2015: The 100-foot Aermotor tower was placed up for bid at Government auction, listed as scrap condition.
DESIGNATION - ARK LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - GV4409
STATE/COUNTY- VA/GLOUCESTER
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - GLOUCESTER (1986)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (GWL)
THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS THE ARK LOOKOUT TOWER, A 4-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH A GLASS ENCLOSED CAB ON TOP, OVERALL HEIGHT ABOUT 125 FEET. THE POINT OBSERVED UPON WAS THE CENTER OF THE CAB. IT IS OPERATED BY THE VIRGINIA FOREST SERVICE.
IT IS ABOUT 0.15 MILE NW OF THE JUNCTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 217 AND U.S. HIGHWAY 17 IN THE SETTLEMENT OF ARK, ABOUT 3 MILES NW OF GLOUCESTER.