TEXAS LOOKOUTS
KIRBYVILLE
Newton County
Texas Forest Service
Texas Forest Service
September 1926: "The first forest fire observation tower in Texas was erected this year on the Kirbyville State Forest. It is of steel construction, and 80 feet in height. Situated on a high knoll, it gives an unobstructed view of the country in all directions. Smoke from mills 25 to 30 miles distant can be seen with the naked eye.
In building this tower the Texas Forestry Department had the cooperation of the Federal Government under the Clarke-McNary Act." (The Forest Worker)
In building this tower the Texas Forestry Department had the cooperation of the Federal Government under the Clarke-McNary Act." (The Forest Worker)
December 29, 1927: "The first forest fire lookout tower in Texas was erected by the Texas Forest Service, A,& M. College of Texas, in 1926, H.F. Munson, assistant chief, division of forest protection, points out in a recent discussion of 'Lookouts: The Eyes of the Forest.' This tower is eighty feet high and is of steel construction. It is located five miles southeast of Kirbyville in the Kirbyville State Forest. It has a cabin seven feet square at its top with windows on all sides. It is equipped with a fire finder for locating fires on a map and a telephone which gives the lookoutman communication with the forest patrolmen in the vicinity of the tower. During the fall fire season, from August to the present, the lookoutman has discovered 175 fires from this tower. Fires have been sighted as far away as thirty-five miles." (The Tulia Herald)
July 27, 1948: The tower near Kirbyville will be moved slightly and will be increased to 120 feet in height. (The Mexia Daily News)