PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
MIDDLESWARTH
Snyder County
April 26, 1923: "Commanding a view for more than a score miles, a 60-foot observation tower of steel has been erected on the highest point of Jack's Mountain in the western part of the county.
The structure is 2127 feet above sea level, and is located just south of the Snyder-Middleswarth park.
The record breaking time of sixteen hours was all required to raise the massive structure. The crew of seven men who put up the observatory consisted of Forester Wm. Weishaar, G.W. Parsons and R.D. Ewings, all sent by the Harrisburg office of the Forestry Department; District Forester R.D. Winter, of Mifflinburg, and Ranger Middleswarth, Towerman Rosswell Erb and Guy Hackenberg, all of Troxelville.
The Middleswarth Tower, so named because of the prominence socially and politically of the Middleswarth family in past and present Snyder county history, commands an unexcelled view of the Jack's Mountain belt, as well as of the more northerly mountains of Union county, and even west into Mifflin county, Rainsares, Sand Mountain, and Poe Mountain towers are visible from the Jack's Mountain site.
A telephone line is almost completed, which will connect Troxelville with the tower by way of the Snyder-Middleswarth Park and Kettle Gap. It will be the means whereby quick reporting of fires may be accomplished, both to and from all parts of Union and Snyder counties, including the district headquarters and ranger stations. The tower may be reached thru the Middleburg exchange.
Rosswell E. Erb, of Troxelville, a faithful servant of the state, has been selected because of his knowledge of the mountains, to act as towerman. He will be on duty from 6:30 in the morning until darl each day until June 1 and all fires will be promptly reported by him." (The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune)
The structure is 2127 feet above sea level, and is located just south of the Snyder-Middleswarth park.
The record breaking time of sixteen hours was all required to raise the massive structure. The crew of seven men who put up the observatory consisted of Forester Wm. Weishaar, G.W. Parsons and R.D. Ewings, all sent by the Harrisburg office of the Forestry Department; District Forester R.D. Winter, of Mifflinburg, and Ranger Middleswarth, Towerman Rosswell Erb and Guy Hackenberg, all of Troxelville.
The Middleswarth Tower, so named because of the prominence socially and politically of the Middleswarth family in past and present Snyder county history, commands an unexcelled view of the Jack's Mountain belt, as well as of the more northerly mountains of Union county, and even west into Mifflin county, Rainsares, Sand Mountain, and Poe Mountain towers are visible from the Jack's Mountain site.
A telephone line is almost completed, which will connect Troxelville with the tower by way of the Snyder-Middleswarth Park and Kettle Gap. It will be the means whereby quick reporting of fires may be accomplished, both to and from all parts of Union and Snyder counties, including the district headquarters and ranger stations. The tower may be reached thru the Middleburg exchange.
Rosswell E. Erb, of Troxelville, a faithful servant of the state, has been selected because of his knowledge of the mountains, to act as towerman. He will be on duty from 6:30 in the morning until darl each day until June 1 and all fires will be promptly reported by him." (The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune)