KELLETER
Missouri Lookouts - Washington County - Missouri Conservation Commission - Meramec State Forest - 40N-1W-21
1940: 8.91 acres were acquired by the Conservation Commission for the purpose of erecting a fire tower. (Missouri Conservation Commission Annual Report)
1941: A 66-foot wood tower erected on a 8.91 acre towersite. (Report of the Missouri Conservation Commission)
October 31, 1941: "The new Kelleter fire tower on Pea Ridge east of Sullivan, fifteenth in the State Conservation Commission's system for protection of Missouri forests, was officially dedicated last Sunday in a program driven indoors by the rain.
The dedication ceremony, scheduled to take place at the tower site, was held at Meramec State Park lodge following a luncheon attended by state, national and local foresters and conservationists." (Franklin County Tribune)
January 1942: "On Sunday, October 26, the Kelleter Lookout Tower located within the Meramec Forest Protection District was dedicated in honor of Mrs. Pauline J. Kelleter, mother of Supervisor Kelleter of the Clark National Forest. The tower, with adjoining improvements, was constructed for the Missouri Conservation Commission by CCC Camp S-78, on the Meramec State Forest." (Forest Service Bulletin -Daily Contact - R-9)
1945-1946: The 'Official Manual of the State of Missouri' indicates that the towersite is owned by the Missouri Conservation Commission and is 8.9 acres in size.
November 1, 1946: "The new Kelleter fire tower on Pea Ridge, east of Sullivan, was officially dedicated." (Franklin County Tribune)
FY1956-57: "An extra bedroom was added to the residence at Kelleter." (Missouri Conservation Commission Annual Report FY 1956-57)
August 26, 1965: "Mrs. Emil Timmerman of Route four Sullivan had a harrowing experience Sunday August 22nd when a bobcat chased her into her home in Jules Creek Hollow near the Kelleter Fire Tower.
Mrs. Timmerman had been cutting grass in her yard with a sickle when she saw the bobcat approaching her. She tried to chase it off but it was unsuccessful.
Mrs. Timmerman called Ed Christopher, the tower man at Kelleter, and he came with his 12-gauge shotgun. After a short hunt he killed the maddened animal with a blast to the head as it approached him through a barnyard gate. Christopher states that he thinks the animal could have been maddened by rabies but he burned the carcass as his shot mutilated the bobcat's head.
According to Christopher this is the second bobcat killed in the Jules Creek area in four months." (Sullivan Tri-County News)
FY 1965-66: "Two bedrooms and a bath plus complete remodeling of the Kelleter towersite residence was completed." (Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Report FY 1965-66)
FY1969-70: "The old Kelleter Lookout Tower is one of the original wooden towers erected in the 1930's. It has been decided to maintain this tower as a historical type installation. In view of this, we completely reworked the structure and installed pressure treated wood pretty well throughout." (Annual Report of the Missouri Department of Conservation)
FY1972-73: "A new roof was laid at the Kelleter tower residence." (Annual Report of the Missouri Department of Conservation)