SOUTH CAROLINA LOOKOUTS
PARSON'S MOUNTAIN
Abbeville County
Sumter National Forest
Sumter National Forest
November 8, 1935: "The construction work on the third steel lookout tower to be built by the U.S. Forest service in the Long Cane Ranger district will get under way sometime during the next few days. This tower will be placed on the very top of Little mountain, or Parson's mountain, as it is sometimes called, and will rise up to a height of 73 feet. Little mountain is located a few miles south of Abbeville and a 73 foot tower on the top of it will be visible for many miles in all directions. A telephone line will soon be constructed connecting this tower with the office of the central dispatcher, whose headquarters will either be at Bradley or at Troy." (The Index-Journal)
February 2, 1936: "Everyone who has been in the vicinity of Abbeville during the past few days has seen the large, 73-foot tower built on Parsons Mountain by the United States Forest Service. Parsons Mountain or Little Mountain, as it is sometimes called, is located approximately seven mil;es south of Abbeville and, in addition to being one of the key lookout points in the Federal Government Fire Detection System, this mountain has an unusual distinction. The largest gold nugget in the Smithsonian Institute is labeled as having been found on Parsons Mountain near Abbeville. At the headquarters of the Long Cane Ranger District it was announced that this tower would be manned by lookouts within the next two weeks and immediately after the telephone line has been built from the tower and connected to the Fire Control Board at Bradley, District Ranger William P. David said." (The Index-Journal)
April 12, 1936: "The first and most important job in any Forest Service camp is fire protection. Consequently, three steel lookout towers have been constructed and are manned during all daylight hours. Lookouts are now stationed on Parson's Mountain Tower, Troy Tower, and Key Bridge Tower. These towers are connected with Camp F-7 by telephone. Immediately after smoke is sighted, the Project Superintendent is advised of its location and he in turn dispatches a regular fire crew to investigate it. After each fire is suppressed, a careful study and survey is made of the burned area. The information thus gained is used to determine the cost and damage of the fire." (The Index-Journal)
February 14, 1937: "Construction work has been generally favored by the weather during the past week and considerable progress has been made in all phases of this work. The right-of-way for the road to the lookout tower on Parsons Mountain has been completed and actual construction of the road will be started as soon as possible." (The Index-Journal)
January 1939: "This mountain is located on the Long Cane Ranger District, 6 miles south of Abbeville. The largest gold nugget in the Smithsonian Institute, in Washington, was found on this mountain. A Forest Service lookout tower is located on top of the mountain." (A Guide to Forestry Activities)
May 24, 1973: "Sumter National Forest District Ranger Claude Moody, of the Long Cane District, announced today that the Parsons Mountain Tower Road is now closed to motor vehicles.
'This has been a move we have reluctantly considered for some time.' Moody said. 'Continuing vandalism at the tower is the primary reason for closing the road. The tower is broken into almost every year.
'Attempted breakins, causing damage, are frequent. Many of the window panes must be replaced each year. In addition to these problems, signs at the tower are continually defaced.
'A large visitor information sign was replaced about a year ago and is now completely ruined again. Damage even extends to trees around the tower which have been cut and defaced, Constantly rising costs of maintenance and cleanup at the isolated tower site, in the face of budgetary restrictions, makes us feel this is the only reasonable solution,' he said.
Moody states that visitors are still welcome at the tower. 'We feel that the visitor who climbs the hiking trail will not be the type to vandalize.' " (The Index-Journal)