GIDDENS HILL
Louisiana Lookouts - Bossier Parish
June 20, 1946: "The most outstanding feature of important forestry work to be done in Bossier parish during the coming year will be the erection of a lookout tower on Giddens hill, with telephone lines connecting with the towers at Bellevue and Plain Dealing.
This was pointed out in an outline of the forestry program at a meeting of the Bossier Parish Forestry board held at the courthouse in Benton recently. Attending the meeting were J. F. Harrison, H. L. McKnight and M. R. Smith, of the Louisiana Forestry Commission, and the following board members: M. Roy Bolinger, J. W. Bass and R. E. Hardcastle. James Wafer was unable to attend.
Following the meeting of the Bossier Forestry Board, M. E. Smith, district forester for northwest, stated that plans for construction of the Giddens hill tower, a 100-foot all steel project, were already being put in effect. It was described as the finest tower site in Louisiana. Giddens Hill is 525 feet above sea level. The site is now being cleared.
The site, it is reported, was leased from the Sandridge-Beauchamp estate for a period of 25 years. A dwelling for the tower will be erected and subsistence plot will be laid out.." (The Planters Press)
This was pointed out in an outline of the forestry program at a meeting of the Bossier Parish Forestry board held at the courthouse in Benton recently. Attending the meeting were J. F. Harrison, H. L. McKnight and M. R. Smith, of the Louisiana Forestry Commission, and the following board members: M. Roy Bolinger, J. W. Bass and R. E. Hardcastle. James Wafer was unable to attend.
Following the meeting of the Bossier Forestry Board, M. E. Smith, district forester for northwest, stated that plans for construction of the Giddens hill tower, a 100-foot all steel project, were already being put in effect. It was described as the finest tower site in Louisiana. Giddens Hill is 525 feet above sea level. The site is now being cleared.
The site, it is reported, was leased from the Sandridge-Beauchamp estate for a period of 25 years. A dwelling for the tower will be erected and subsistence plot will be laid out.." (The Planters Press)
November 7, 1946: "It was learned Monday, from Mr. Walter Burge, of Bellevue, who has long been connected with the fire-fighting setup of Bossier Parish, that the fire tower at Giddens' Hill, near old Fillmore, is now a completed job. For some time past Mr. Burge has been assisting in the constructing of fire towers, both in and out of the parish.
The new tower gives Bossier a total of three, the other two being the Plain Dealing tower, near Rocky Mount, and the Bodcau tower, near old Bellevue.
The Giddens' Hill fire tower, Mr. Burge said, lacks only three inches of being 100 feet in height. Atop such an elevation, one can easily imagine the magnificent view afforded on a clear day. Shreveport, of course, can easily be seen and so can Minden, and Mr. Burge added that even the Plain Dealing tower is to be seen sometimes, as can the town of Spring Hill. Smokes, he said, are easy to see from the towers." (Bossier Banner-Progress)
November 14, 1946: "Completion of the fire tower at Giddens hill, near old Fillmore increases to three the number of fire towers in Bossier parish, the others being in the Plain Dealing Rocky Mount area and Bodcau-Bellevue area.
The tower at Giddens hill is 97 feet high, enabling the look-out staff to detect smoke over a wide territory in the interest of forest protection." (The Planters Press)
April 11, 1947: "Towerman Josh Matlock and wife have moved into their new house on Giddens Hill. We believe this to be one of the nicest towerman's dwellings in the state. We don't mind saying that both Mr. and Mrs. Matlock are taking a great interest in improving the grounds around the house and tower. The Lord helps those who helps themselves. Insofar as in keeping with the rules and regulations of the Louisiana Forestry Commission and in the best interests of the state, the district forester wishes to do likewise.--Louisiana Forestry Bulletin." (The Plain Dealing Progress)
July 26, 1951: "Several members of the North Louisiana Forestry Commission in Bossier parish the past week have been very busy painting the residences of towermen at Plain Dealing, Bodcau and Giddens Hill towers." (The Planters Press)
August 11, 1976: "Melvin D. McMahon of Haughton received his 25-year award. McMahon started work with the commission on Oct. 1, 1951, as the crew leader based at Giddens Hill Fire Tower. He is still the crew leader, although the tower has been moved onto the Barksdale AFB reservation." (The Shreveport Journal)
DESIGNATION - GIDDENS HILL LOT
PID - CQ3250
STATE/COUNTY- LA/BOSSIER
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - EASTWOOD (2018)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1969 (LGB)
THE POINT INTERSECTED KS THE TOP CENTER OF THE CABIN
SURMOUNTED ON A FOUR-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH AN OVERALL
HEIGHT OF ABOUT 125 FEET. IT IS ABOUT 11-3/4 MILES EAST OF
BOSSIER CITY, 2-1/2 MILES NORTHWEST OF HAUGHTON AND 1 MILE
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE VILLAGE OF FILLMORE.