ALABAMA LOOKOUTS
CHIMNEY PEAK
Calhoun County
Alabama Forestry Commission
Alabama Forestry Commission
August 7, 1947: "Miss Fannie Warick has donated five acres of land on Chimney Peak where a fire tower will be erected. Right-of-way to the tower has been donated by A.J. Kitchens across whose property a road will run to the tower.
The tower is one of several over the county which serve to keep down forest fires." (The Anniston Star)
The tower is one of several over the county which serve to keep down forest fires." (The Anniston Star)
August 1, 1948: "The steel for the observation tower which will be erected on Chimney Peak has arrived and work is expected to begin as soon as the forestry division's engineering crew can get to the job.
The Calhoun County Commission built a road to the site of the tower last year and work has been delayed on erection of the tower because of the steel shortage." (The Anniston Star)
August 26, 1949: "Ceremonies for the dedication of the second forest fire tower in Calhoun County will be held at 3 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the tower site northeast of Jacksonville.
This new steel tower, which has been in construction for a year is 99 feet and 9 inches high. Approximately 200 person are expected to attend the barbecue and supper and program at the dedication ceremony.
Officials of the State Fire Conservation Department are scheduled to be on hand for the dedication. Among those expected are Bert F. Thomas, director of Conservation; J.M. Stauffer, state forester, and J.H. Watson, district forester. A number of rangers will also participate on the program.
Calhoun County's other forest fire tower is in Blue Mountain, and Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Chandler have charge of it. They reported that there have been no serious forest fires this year, but that several small forest fires have broken out.
This new tower will do much to prevent fire outbreaks in the county. Today in Alabama the area classified under intensive forest fire control is 16,835,755 acres. The ultimate goal of the Conservation Department's Division of Forestry is 18,044,938 acres.
The Calhoun County tower is one of three new towers in the state. The three new ones brings the total number for the state to 123, with Clay and Blount counties also holding dedication ceremonies in the next few weeks for new fire towers." (The Anniston Star)
September 6, 1949: "Dedication ceremonies for the Chimney Peak Fire Tower will be held tomorrow afternoon beginning at 3 o'clock. Because of the inaccessibility of the roads leading to the tower, the ceremonies are to be at Germaninc Springs two miles north of Jacksonville, it was announced today.
The erection of this fire tower is of paramount interest to residents of the northern section of Calhoun County, where it will provide a look-out for fires, and will minimize the danger of rapidly spreading forest fires that are always worse in the Fall of the year, it was pointed out.
The tower was built by funds from the State Department of Conservation, the Calhoun County Commission, and private citizens of Jacksonville, who have been anxious for this protection, it was said." (The Anniston Star)
September 8, 1949: "Chimney Peak Fire Tower, third to be constructed in the northern part of Calhoun County, was officially dedicated yesterday afternoon in ceremonies at Germanic Springs, north of Jacksonville." (The Anniston Star)
October 13, 1974: "Question: The fire tower on Chimney Peak in Jacksonville appears to be abandoned. All the lines to it are cut, the door has been removed, all the windows are broken out and all fire-finding equipment has been removed. Does the Forestry Dept. not use it anymore? Why not? Isn't it dangerous to leave the tower in that condition? W. A. Jacksonville.
Answer: A,G, Ayers, Alabama Forest Service, said the tower is still in use by the Forest Service. Because of repeated and expensive acts of vandalism they have had to remove all equipment including windows which had not been broken, he said. It was costing from $300 to $1000 per month to replace or repair what vandals had damaged or stolen, he said. Since they have limited funds that are needed for fire control they have had to put less money into upkeep of the Chimney Peak tower." (The Anniston Star)