SMYRNA
New Castle County
1937: "For the last two or three years the Department has contemplated extending the tower system to cover lower New Castle County. Application was made to ECW for the size and type of tower deemed adequate to our needs and in keeping with our standards, but after a long delay advice to the effect that our request could not be met was received. Accordingly the number of towers remains the same as last year." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1937)
1938: "Thus far the hope of erecting a forest fire lookout tower in lower New Castle County and extending the area of intensified protection into this region of the State has nor materialized. In order that it may, it is proposed to request appropriation of funds therefor from the next General Assembly." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1938)
1939: "The request of the Department for additional funds for erecting and maintaining a new forest fire lookout to cover the timbered area in the southern part ob New Castle County and the northern part of Kent County was not granted by the General Assembly. In consequence expansion of the area of intensified protect in the State will have to be held in abeyance." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1939)
1941: "The new tower is situated on a 1 1/2 acre plot of land fronting on the west side of duPont Road about 1 1/4 miles north of Smyrna. It is 120' tall (130' over all) and while of the same type and design as other towers in the system, has several improved features of cabin design, among which are lower side walls, lower windows, and higher ceiling. The all-over interior finish is half inch plywood supported on wooden framework to provide dead air space insulation everywhere except in the sidewalls where blanket type insulation has been installed. Windows are of the new parallel rolling type developed by the Department. Tower site improvements, at present, consist of fencing on three sides; a graveled entrance road and parking lot, and driven well near the tower." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1941)
1942: "At the close of the last fiscal year the job of finishing the appointments in the cabin of the Smyrna Tower was still in progress. Completion was effected early in this fiscal years and the tower placed in service during the Fall fire season." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1942)
1950: "The search for a, hard to locate, leak below the windows of the Smyrna tower was not completely successful and the resulting inflow of water caused a rotting of the floor boards in a corner of the cabin and a deterioration of the plywood side wall. This damage was repaired by replacing a portion of the floor boards and the linoleum floor cover. That portion of the side walls below the window was either completely removed and replaced or covered with a heavy gauge aluminum sheet. During the process of the repair work it is believed that the source of the leak has been located and stopped.
The blue glass which was bought and installed as a test last year in the Smyrna tower has proved itself desirable both in glared reduction and also in making smokes more easily detected. And as a result additional glass was purchased for installation in two other towers." (Annual Report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1950)
1957: "Programmed: Electric service for Smyrna lookout, to permit installation of radio communication." (Annual report of the State Forester to the State Forestry Commission, FY 1957)