SOUTH CAROLINA LOOKOUTS
HODGES
Greenwood County
South Carolina Forestry Commission
South Carolina Forestry Commission
November 22, 1945: "Plans for an extensive system of fire protection for the forests of Greenwood county are being brought into reality now.
Two carloads of poles for the telephone feature of the system have arrived and are being distributed along the roads where the telephone system for warning of forest fires is to be laid out. County Forest Ranger Wyatt Turner said this morning.
The lookout towers over one hundred feet high are to be erected in Greenwood county. One will be south-southeast of Hodges.
The towers are to stand on a site of ten acres of land for each bought for that purpose and a neat cottage will be erected on each site for the use of the tower man who will be constantly on the lookout for forest fires.
No funds are put up by the county of Greenwood itself, but the county furnished the two sites for the observation towers. The management of the system is under county control but there is no expense to the county in the establishment and maintenance of the fire protection system.
In buying the two sites of ten acres each for the places to erect the observation towers and the cottage for the observer or towerman it is stipulated that in the event the towers are ever abandoned the property with all improvements is to revert to Greenwood county.
The land for the tower near Hodges was bought from J.W. Ellison.." (The Index-Journal)
Two carloads of poles for the telephone feature of the system have arrived and are being distributed along the roads where the telephone system for warning of forest fires is to be laid out. County Forest Ranger Wyatt Turner said this morning.
The lookout towers over one hundred feet high are to be erected in Greenwood county. One will be south-southeast of Hodges.
The towers are to stand on a site of ten acres of land for each bought for that purpose and a neat cottage will be erected on each site for the use of the tower man who will be constantly on the lookout for forest fires.
No funds are put up by the county of Greenwood itself, but the county furnished the two sites for the observation towers. The management of the system is under county control but there is no expense to the county in the establishment and maintenance of the fire protection system.
In buying the two sites of ten acres each for the places to erect the observation towers and the cottage for the observer or towerman it is stipulated that in the event the towers are ever abandoned the property with all improvements is to revert to Greenwood county.
The land for the tower near Hodges was bought from J.W. Ellison.." (The Index-Journal)
1969-70: "Construction was started on four new tower residences during this year. A house is being built at Hodges Tower in Berkeley County." (Report of the State Commission of Forestry, 7/1/69 to 6/30/70)
1970-71: "Four new tower residences were completed during 1970-71, including one at Hodges tower site." (Report of the State Commission of Forestry, 7/1/70 to 6/30/71)
July 13, 1993: "The Hodges Fire Tower is one of two towers in Greenwood County that will be phased out in October." (The Index-Journal)