Misc. and General Info.
1933: "All towers are of steel construction with inside wooden stairways leading into a seven 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, being of beacon type construction, provides a hurricane deck, which not only shades the steel roof underneath but may be used for triangulation surveying or possible aeroplane beacon installation.
Due to the elapsed time between the spotting of a smoke and the necessity of communicating with the Dover office to obtain triangulation readings from the large fire control map kept there, it was found advisable to equip each tower with small maps of the same type. During the fiscal year one map was placed in each of the towers in order that Towermen in communication concerning a smoke could check one another on the location. After an exchange of readings, each Towerman performs his own triangulation on the small control map and check his conclusions with that of the Towerman with whom he is in communication. Subsequent investigation on the ground has repeatedly proven the accuracy of the map determinations.
Because heavy wind driven rains would often beat into the towers beneath and around the window, it was deemed advisable to make some changes in the window sills to remedy this condition before extensive repair would be necessary to all woodwork in the tower. Consequently, the old flat sills were replaced by sloping sills and the window sash made to slide upon metal guides rather than between wooden guides. No report has yet been received to the effect that water is getting into the cabins, and it is certain that the repair work which was done has saved a much larger repair bill at a later time." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1933)
1934: "The outside woodwork of the Dagsboro, Laurel and Ellendale towers was given the biennial coat of aluminum paint and the interior woodwork and ceiling of the cabins of each painter a flat black in an effort to reduce reflection and glare. To further reduce the amount of glare, which was so tiring on the eyes of the towermen, heavy dark green curtains were installed in the above mentioned towers." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1934)
1935: "Improvements to three (Dagsboro, Laurel and Ellendale) of the four towers in the system consisted of the installation of plaster board insulation on the walls of the tower cabins, the total cost of which was $91,55. The steel side walls of the tower cabin offer nonresistance to the induction of heat or cold and the buckling of the metal, due to strain and imperfections of manufacture, permit rain and drafts to enter to the determent of the equipment and discomfiture of the towerman. The insulation has not only made the cabin more comfortable but by reason of the method employed in installing it, stopped the booming of the sides which formerly attended high winds. The value of board as insulation against temperature is not defended but its rigidity and resistance to air infiltration made its use economically advisable for the purpose." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1935)
1936: "At the close of this spring's fire season and in accordance with the Department's maintenance policy, the outside woodwork on the Laurel, Dagsboro and Ellendale towers was given a coat of aluminum paint." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1936)
1938: "The exposed woodwork of all towers was given the usual coat of aluminum paint at the close of the spring season." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1938)
1940: "Decay in the windows of the Ellendale and Interstate towers will require their replacement very soon." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1940)
1941: "Within the past two to three years decay has made it necessary to replace the window sash in the four older towers. This year, when effecting such repairs in the Ellendale tower, both sash and framing of new design perfected by the Department were installed. In this new design the parallel operation of the windows is retained, but in an effort to eliminate as much glare as possible the head was dropped 8 inches. Materials have been purchased for a similar repair installation in the Interstate lookout and replacement linoleum has been purchased for the Ellendale and Viola towers." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1941)
1942: "Repairs to the towers consisted of installing the new parallel rolling sash, designed by the Department, in the Interstate tower and the replacement of linoleum in the Ellendale and Viola towers." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1942)
1943: "At the close of the spring fire season this year exterior woodwork on the Ellendale and Dagsboro towers was repainted. Minor repairs consisted of a new map cover glass, insulation ceiling, and rug on the Laurel tower, and repair of the telephone cable burned out by lightning on the Smyrna tower." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1943)
1946: "The trap doors on the Viola and Smyrna towers, being of large size and of solid laminated construction, were excessively heavy. They were replaced with hollow cell doors of lighter construction.
Following a program of installing insulated ceilings in the towers began on the Laurel Tower during the war when that tower was operated as an AWS unit, 3 towers have now been improved--the last having been the Ellendale Tower. In every case this improvement has proven well worth its cost in comfort of the Towerman, fuel saved, acoustical improvement and orderliness of the tower cabin." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1946)
1949: "A single spray coat of aluminum paint was applied to the exterior surfaces of all woodwork on all towers in the system." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1949)
1951: "During the year 4 towers (namely Viola, Ellendale, Dagsboro and Laurel) were wired for electric power following the awarding of the contract for radio installation in the above towers. The contract price on wiring each tower was $100.00. In each case the electric meter is on a pole near the tower and wires were run up the leg of the tower in metal conduits. Power for Laurel tower is supplied by the Delaware Power and Light Company, while on the other towers it is obtained through the Delaware Electric Cooperative.
Installation of blue glass was made in Ellendale, Dagsboro and Smyrna towers as an aid in reducing the glare and making smokes more easily detected by the towermen." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1951)
1952: "The outside woodwork of all towers was painted with aluminum paint. Some minor repairs such as replacement of defective steps, etc. were done as needed." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1952)
1956: "Bolts and nuts were checked and tightened on all of the forest fire towers; those that were worn or were otherwise defective were replaced.
Minor repairs were made as needed." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1956)
1958: "Outside woodwork of the forest fire towers was painted with one coat of aluminum paint. Minor repairs as needed to towers." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1958)
1959: "Minor repairs were made to forest fire towers as needed." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1959)
1960: "Only such minor repairs as were needed were made to the Forest Fire Lookout Towers." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1960)
1961: "The woodwork of all Forest Fire towers was given at least one coat of paint and such other minor repairs were made as need." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1961)
1962: "Only minor repairs, as needed, were made on the forest fire lookout towers." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1962)
1963: "Only such minor repairs as needed were made on the Forest Fire Lookout Towers." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1963)
1964: "No major repairs made to towers, but minor repairs and upkeep were performed as needed." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1964)
1965: "No major repairs were made during this period but minor repairs and upkeep were performed as needed. The outside woodwork on some of the towers was painted as the condition indicated the need." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1965)
1966: "During the year no major repairs were completed, but minor repairs were done as needed. The exterior and interior of some of the towers were painted." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1966)
1967: "Only minor repairs were made to equipment and towers during the year. A survey of the five towers was completed, and four of the towers are scheduled for repainting." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1967)
1968: "Only minor repairs were made to equipment and towers during the year." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1968)