MISSOURI LOOKOUTS

EASTWOOD

Carter County
National Forest
26N-1W-25

April 11, 1935:   "A crew of the CCC boys were here last week and erected the telephone line adjacent to the new road right-of-way.  The line will be connected up with the fire tower to be erected down near the cemetery, and will be used by fire-fighters of the CCC in locating forest fires and notifying others of the forestry service of the location of the fires."   (The Current Local)

​May 7, 1936:   "From a reliable source comes the information that work on erection of the fire tower will begin this week, but first a bungalow will be erected to house the men engaged in the work, and later to form a home for the man who will be placed in charge of the lookout and tower.  It will be built at the site selected on the Bark Camp road east of Eastwood."   (The Current Local)

May 21, 1936:   "The work of excavating for the foundations for the fire tower began with a force of men on the job Monday morning just after the rain ceased.  The site located is about a mile east of Eastwood on a high hill on the Bark Camp road, which is an ideal place for it as it commands a view of a large scope of country in all directions.  The tower will be equipped with all necessary instruments for the correct location of forest fires, and a man, or 'lookout,' as he is called, will be constantly in attendance."   (The Current Local)

May 28, 1936:   "In company with 'Pap" Samples we visited the fire-tower site one day last week and can report that work is progressing as fast as possible with the limited force of men at work.  The excavations for the foundation, consisting of four holes 8 x 8 feet square and six feet deep, were nearly completed, and was necessary to use dynamite as rock was encountered.  Sand and gravel for the mixing of concrete was on the grounds ready for use, also the steel for the tower uprights and braces, and when this work is once under way the tower will soon be a reality."   (The Current Local)

June 4, 1936:   "The encountering of solid rock near the bottom of the holes being dug for the foundations for the fire tower has retarded the work of the erection of that 'lookout,' and it cannot be finished as soon as expected.  Dynamite cannot be used in blasting for fear of shattering the rock below."   (The Current Local)

June 25, 1936:   "Work on the lookout tower is progressing in a satisfactory manner, the foundations are about completed and erection of the steelwork will soon be started.  When completed doubtless work on the roads leading to the tower will be started as they will be needed, at least when fall comes, so that the fire fighters can get here in a hurry should fire get out in the Federal forest reserve."   (Van Buren Currant Local)

September 3, 1936:   "Odis White, living on the Couch place a half mile from the school house, has a 'half position' as tower tender at the Eastwood fire tower.  We say 'half' because we are informed it is a part time job, he and Uel Iller are on duty each every other day.  A residence is being built at the tower site, and when completed it is expected some one person will be placed in charge of the lookout job there."   (The Current Local)

1936:   A 100-foot steel tower erected.

December 3, 1936:   "Joe Donley has taken Youle Iller's place at the fire tower and is now looking for fire, but hope he doesn't find any."   (The Current Local)

August 4, 1938:   "Otis White, wife and two children from Eastwood were here Wednesday laying in supplies for a good housekeeping job.  Otis is U.S. towerman at the fire tower at Eastwood and Uncle Sam has none better."   (The Current Local)

September 22, 1938:   "Mr. and Mrs. Odis White and two little daughters were in Van Buren on Saturday, Odis coming to have a tooth extracted.  He is the fire tower man at the Eastwood tower for the forestry department."   (The Current Local)

March 14, 1946:   "Mr. and Mrs. Oades White and children spent Saturday in the Conrad Foerster home.  Oades and family have moved from Eastwood to Birch Tree,  He was keeper of the Eastwood fire tower for many moons and we presume he is transferred to similar work in Shannon county."   (The Current Local)