VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
MIDDLESEX (Saluda)
Middlesex County
Viginia Department of Forestry
Viginia Department of Forestry
March 6, 1969: "The re-location of a Forest Fire Lookout Tower from a point three miles east of West Point to a new location near Saluda has placed the tower seven miles closer to Lancaster County. The new tower location, about seven miles from the county line, will make possible much better surveillance of the forest acreage in Lancaster County.
The new location will be helpful in two different ways. First, the Saluda tower lookout will now be able to see some smokes in Lancaster County that the Miskimon fire tower lookout will not be able to see. Secondly, when either tower spots a smoke, the lookout watchman will contact the man in the other tower in order to secure degree readings from both towers, the exact location of the fire can be pin pointed quickly, thus enabling the forest warden to save valuable time and drive directly to the fire to investigate it.
It was necessary to move the tower because Route 33 will be improved and widened and the tower was standing on the proposed highway right-of-way. The new location will result in more effective coverage of the forest acreage in all directions." (Rappahannock Record)
The new location will be helpful in two different ways. First, the Saluda tower lookout will now be able to see some smokes in Lancaster County that the Miskimon fire tower lookout will not be able to see. Secondly, when either tower spots a smoke, the lookout watchman will contact the man in the other tower in order to secure degree readings from both towers, the exact location of the fire can be pin pointed quickly, thus enabling the forest warden to save valuable time and drive directly to the fire to investigate it.
It was necessary to move the tower because Route 33 will be improved and widened and the tower was standing on the proposed highway right-of-way. The new location will result in more effective coverage of the forest acreage in all directions." (Rappahannock Record)
January 2003: The lookout tower sold at auction with removal required.