BEAUFORT
Missouri Lookouts - Franklin County - Missouri Department of Conservation - 42N-2W-10
FY 1954-55: "A new tower was erected at Beaufort in Franklin County." (Missouri Conservation Commission Annual Report FY 1954-55)
November 24, 1955: "All of Franklin county is now included in the Meramec Fire Protection District with the completion of a new 100-foot three miles southwest of Beaufort on Highway EE.
Formerly only that part of Franklin county south of Highway 66 was under fire protection and the addition of the new tower brings the total area under protection to 1,500,000 acres.
Virgil Fritz of Spring Bluff is the Beaufort towerman. He will man the tower when the woods are dry enough to burn and the higher the fire danger gets, the more rigid the detection schedule is in the towers." (Washington Missourian)
September 7, 1967: "Rene Uphouse and John Clagget of Union, 15 days in county jail 'stayed.' They were convicted of 'injuring state property.' Charges had been brought by Vernon Seiler, wildlife agent for the Conservation Department. Vandalism at the Beaufort fire tower has cost the state more than $1000." (St. Clair Chronicle)
FY1974-75: "The Beaufort fire tower was dismantled." (Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Report)