DAGSBORO
Sussex County
1931: "Work on the erection of the towers was started on July 29, 1931 and completed October 15 when the towers were opened for service. The towers are normally open but 2 1/2 months in Spring and 2 months in the Fall or a total of 4 1/2 months of the years; the length of each period being largely dependent on weather conditions and the possibility of forest fires.
All towers are of a steel construction with inside wooden stairway leading to a 7 foot square cabin; the upper half of which is enclosed in glass. They are 100 feet in height from the ground to the bottom of the cabin floor or 110 feet over all. The top is of beacon type construction providing a hurricane deck which not only shades the steel roof but may sometime serve for triangulation surveying or aeroplane beacon installation.
The Dagsboro tower, so named because it is located about 1 1/4 miles north of the town of the same name, is situated on a 35-foot elevation and can be reached from the back road from Millsboro to Dagsboro. The telephone communication in this tower is provided by nearly 1/4 mile of underground cable.
Site and improvement --------------------------------$185.79
Erection of tower---------------------------------- ----1,691.80
Equipment---------------------------------------------------95.30
Telephone connection-----------------------------------100.36
Total------------------------------------------------------- 2,073.25
+ Cost of tower----------------------------------------$8,103.98" (2nd Annual Report of the State Forester FYs 1931 & 32)
All towers are of a steel construction with inside wooden stairway leading to a 7 foot square cabin; the upper half of which is enclosed in glass. They are 100 feet in height from the ground to the bottom of the cabin floor or 110 feet over all. The top is of beacon type construction providing a hurricane deck which not only shades the steel roof but may sometime serve for triangulation surveying or aeroplane beacon installation.
The Dagsboro tower, so named because it is located about 1 1/4 miles north of the town of the same name, is situated on a 35-foot elevation and can be reached from the back road from Millsboro to Dagsboro. The telephone communication in this tower is provided by nearly 1/4 mile of underground cable.
Site and improvement --------------------------------$185.79
Erection of tower---------------------------------- ----1,691.80
Equipment---------------------------------------------------95.30
Telephone connection-----------------------------------100.36
Total------------------------------------------------------- 2,073.25
+ Cost of tower----------------------------------------$8,103.98" (2nd Annual Report of the State Forester FYs 1931 & 32)
1933: "At the Dagsboro tower, which is situated on a 35 foot elevation about a mile and a quarter north of Dagsboro, some difficulty has been experienced in preventing wind erosion of the sandy soil around the piers and base of the tower. Part of this was due to visitors driving over the tower knoll and breaking up the protective sod covering. To prevent this, the plot was fenced and planted with 1500 loblolly pine seedlings in 1932 and 33. Thus, the tower area not only serving forest protection needs but is also being used as a forest planting demonstration area with wind erosion prevention as the primary object." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1933)
1934: "The wind erosion of the sandy soil around the piers and base of the Dagsboro tower (1 1/4 miles north of Dagsboro) had become so serious that seven loads of rich loam soil were hauled in to replace the sand blown away and from sod forming grass seed was sown on the fresh earthen fill. It is hoped that the resulting cover will effectively prevent further wind erosion. The wire fence was tightened and the fence posts given a coat of aluminum paint. Japanese black and Loblolly pine seedlings were planted to replace trees which had died in the previous plantings." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1934)
1938: "New sash made in accordance with Department designs have been purchased for replacement of those in the Dagsboro tower but will not be installed until next fall." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1938)
1939: "Prior to the usual fall opening of the lookout towers, the original window sash in the Dagsboro tower were replaced with new cypress sash." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1939)
1957: "Outside woodwork on the Dagsboro tower was give one coat of aluminum paint." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1957)
1958: "Extensive repairs were made to steps and landings on the Dagsboro tower." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1958)