OHIO LOOKOUTS
ROCKBRIDGE (SUGAR GROVE)
Fairfield County
March 26, 1937: "One new forest fire tower will go into service this spring at a point 2 1/2 miles southeast of Sugar Grove in Fairfield county, according to Associate State Forester Bernard E. Leete, in charge of fire control.
The Sugar Grove tower completes a chain of 19 towers which protect the woods of southern Ohio from fire damage. This latest 100-foot tower, built last year, has just been equipped with location maps and other equipment used to spot forest fires and will be in charge of Towerman Earl Vorhees of Gibsonville.
East of Sugar Grove tower is another tower, the Shawnee, which has been in service only a few months. It is located between Nelsonville and New Straitsville." (Chillicothe Gazette)
The Sugar Grove tower completes a chain of 19 towers which protect the woods of southern Ohio from fire damage. This latest 100-foot tower, built last year, has just been equipped with location maps and other equipment used to spot forest fires and will be in charge of Towerman Earl Vorhees of Gibsonville.
East of Sugar Grove tower is another tower, the Shawnee, which has been in service only a few months. It is located between Nelsonville and New Straitsville." (Chillicothe Gazette)
1939: "A forest fire was reported raging in Blue Valley, about two miles east of the BIS. Ted Dupler, in charge of the fire tower at Sugar Grove, sighted black smoke from that area at 1:45 p.m. and dispatched two crews of workmen and a crew of 20 BIS inmates to the scene." (Lancaster Eagle Gazette - 20 years ago column in the November 10, 1959 edition)
April 15, 1941: "T.D. Dupler, fire tower watchman at Sugar Grove, said Tuesday afternoon that a forest blaze near Enterprise had burned over 100 acres in a few hours.
A wind was spreading the flames.
Crews were summoned from Rock House, Ash Cave and Sugar Grove." (The Logan Daily News)
July 25, 1958: "Nearly everyone is 'up in the air' over the wet spell we're having, but probably few persons in this area get as high as fire tower overseer Joseph Reichley, Logan, Ohio, whose job it is to supervise work of fire watchers in towers like this (photo) 100-foot giant a few miles south of Sugar Grove. Actually the summertime is an off season for fire watchers who work almost exclusively in the spring and fall when the woods aren't clothed in fire-resistive greenery. The current drench has all but obviated the possibility of a blaze in local woodlands. Reichley, who oversees five towers in Fairfield, Hocking and Vinton counties, said today his towermen haven't spotted a fire since May. But though rains ate saturating the countryside, Reichley still keeps high and dry, while periodically inspecting his posts." (Lancaster Eagle Gazette - Caption under photo of the tower.)
October 17, 1963: "As the long dry spell remains and area farmers continue their pleas for rain, a lone watchwoman, situated in a 7 by 7 foot room atop a fire tower in Berne Twp., keeps her eyes peeled for signs of valley fires.
Mrs. Dale Helber, 33, Logan, has had a steady job for the past 20 days. Located in the 100-foot high tower, one of 5 fire towers in District 4, Mrs. Helber begins her watch about 9 a.m. each day.
The Berne Twp. fire tower is located on the Hocking-Fairfield County line and is under the supervision of Supt. Joe Reichley, division warden. This is the third year Mrs Helber has been watchwoman." (Lancaster Eagle-Gazette)
July 30, 1977: "Work will begin shortly on the first phase of the Ohio-Hocking Forestry Museum on the campus of Hocking Technical College. The museum will cover a three-acre area and feature six major themes.
The college has acquired another log house which has been disassembled and is stored, to be reconstructed on the museum grounds. The college now has title to a 100-foot fire tower which is now located in Sugar Grove. The fire tower no longer was needed, and the title simply was transferred from one state agency to another." (The Logan Daily News)
March 27, 2017: "On the outskirts of Sugar Grove is an old forest fire lookout tower rusting rapidly with the 7-by 7-foot cab at the top now home to a wake of buzzards.
Standing underneath the 110-foot metal structure, resident Dave White announced Wednesday that he plans to fundraise for the Rockbridge Fire Tower's restoration and relocation. The tower, well known to many locals in the area, is commonly referred to as the Sugar Grove Fire Tower. It is the tallest in the state.
Some of the wooden stairs up to the tower are missing or rotten. The ladder from the ground to the staircase is gone, and the metal structure becomes more precarious as days pass with the rust and holes on lateral support beams." (Lancaster Eagle-Gazette)