VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
ISLE OF WIGHT
Isle of Wight County
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry
October 1, 1936: "As a means of discovering a fire as soon as possible after it breaks out, a 120 foot steel lookout tower will be erected on the Windsor road about two miles west of the Court House. This tower, which is one of the highest in the state, will be equipped with maps and instruments which will enable the tower operator to quickly discover and locate any fire which may break loose." (Smithfield Times)
November 12, 1936: "The Fire Tower near here is nearing completion and Fire Warden Charlie Darden will soon be on the job quenching forest fires." (Smithfield Times)
December 17, 1936: "The Virginia Conservation and Development Commission, through Chief Forest Warden Chas. W. Darden, announces the completion and placing in operation of the new 120 foot steel forest fire lookout tower located just west of the Court House on the Windsor road. Mr. Wilbur C. Hall Chairman of the Conservation and Development Commission in commenting on this tower which is one of the three highest in the State, pointed out that it represents an investment of approximately $2500.00 and through the commission it was procured and erected at no cost what ever to Isle of Wight County." (Smithfield Times)
April 15, 1937: "The Board of Supervisors recently from the office of Wilbur C. Hall Chairman of the Virginia Conservation and Development Commission a report of the Isle of Wight Forest Warden Organization, which was formed in co-operation with the county Board last summer.
The report showed that last fall there occurred within the county only three forest fires, with an average of 33 acres burned per fire. The cost to the county for the half year was only $3.90 while the cost of the State was $171.30.
Mr. Hall is commenting on the organization pointed out that the 120 foot steel lookout tower and the forest fire fighting equipment which were procured through the co-operative efforts of the Conservation and Development Commission and the Board of Supervisors, should mean a saving of thousands of dollars to the timberland owners of the county during the future years.
The Isle of Wight Tower is being cared for by R. H. 'Doc' Holland, who is in the tower all day during dry weather and on the lookout for telltale smoke of forest fires. Chief Warden Chas. W. Darden urges that everyone who has any brush or sedge burning to do notify the towerman as to the place and time of burning in order to avoid the extra expense of sending a forest warden to investigate the smoke." (Smithfield Times)
March 24, 1955: "LOOKOUT NEEDED---TO WORK" "In Isle of Wight Forest Fire Tower. Work is part time and seasonal, as tower is operated only during Spring and Fall on dry days. Will be paid at rate of $6 per day. If interested, contact Chief Forest Warden C. W. Darden at Isle of Wight. Telephone Smithfield 328-W-4." (Smithfield Times)
January 27, 1993: "An age-old landmark in Isle of Wight County no longer resides along Route 258, its home for about 57 years.
The old fire tower was dismantled Saturday, but it won't be mothballed. The tower will be reassembled about a mile away to serve its new purpose.
Bob Hall and Peter Edwards, owners of Southwind Shooting Farms, recently obtained ownership of the old fire tower. The structure will be incorporated into Southwind's clay disk firing range." (Smithfield Times)
1993: Removed