BAYS MOUNTAIN
Tennessee - Sullivan County - Tennessee Division of Forestry - District 1
November 17, 1948: "The only fire lookout tower operated by the Forestry Division in Sullivan County is the 60-foot steel structure on top of Bays Mountain. George McCloud, who has been there six seasons, is the towerman." (Kingsport News)
October 27, 1953: "The region-wide forest fire threat was localized near Kingsport Monday afternoon as a brush blaze licked across 10 acres of done-dry hillside at the foot of Bays Mountain.
A state forester, James T. Morelock, discovered the blaze at 1:25 p.m. while on patrol duty from the Bays Mountain lookout tower." (Kingsport Times)
December 13, 1953: "Lonely as a lighthouse keeper's is the job of Govan Smith Jr., fire tower atop 2,300-foor-high Bays Mountain. For five long months each year, Smith perches in his seven-foot-square lookout shelter atop a 60-foot steel tower with nothing for company except the birds, the clouds and one of East Tennessee's most magnificent panoramic sweeps. From mid-October to mid-December, through March, April and May, Smith scans the countryside from lofty ET-12. His sole duty: Keep Tennessee's forests green.
His only communication with the outside world for days on end may be a few terse words with the fire department at Holston Ordnance Works, spread out 1,000 feet below him, and exchanges of information with his co-workers in neighboring lookout towers." (Kingsport Times-News)
October 5, 1955: "The state has purchased a dozen 80-foot steel lookout towers as part of a forest fire protection program, officials said Monday.
Carl Peterson, state forester, said each tower will cost approximately $36,000 erected. The towers will be erected by late fall or early winter, he added.
He said the towers would be located in three counties.
Anderson County near Clinton; Davidson near Nashville; Granger on Clinch Mountain; Grundy near Beersheba Springs; Jackson at 'Seven Knobs'; Lawrence near West Point and near Henryville; Maury near Theata community; Stewart near Martin; Sullivan atop Bays Mountain; White near Rock Island community; and Williamson at Stlllhouse Hollow." (Kingsport News)
October 7, 1955: The state purchased 12 80-foot steel lookout towers, one of which will be erected at this site by early winter at a cost of approximately $36,000. (The News-Democrat)