TEXAS LOOKOUTS
KOUNTZE
Hardin County
Texas Forest Service
Texas Forest Service
December 29, 1927: "At Kountze, a lookoutman has been stationed in the Hardin County Courthouse cupola which is about eighty-five feet from the ground. More than fifty fires were discovered by this lookoutman during the fall fire season. (The Tulia Herald)
December 2, 1943: "Mrs. N.D. Bartlett is stationed at the Kountze, Hardin County, lookout tower, five miles southwest of Kountze. In her 100-foot high glassed-in tower, Mrs. Bartlett spots and accurately locates fires by the 'cross shot' method, then notifies patrolmen and fire fighters.
Mrs. Bartlett also maintains her part of the 1,800 miles of telephone lines, the 'ears' of the Texas Forest Service. Her husband is a corporal in New Guinea." (The Kerrville Times)
Removed
DESIGNATION - KOUNTZE TEXAS FOREST SERV LOT
PID - BL2102
STATE/COUNTY- TX/HARDIN
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - KOUNTZE SOUTH (1984)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1952 (RLE)
THE STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 4.0 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF KOUNTZE
ON STATE OWNED PROPERTY. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT 0.1 MILE SOUTH
OF FARM ROAD NO. 770 IN A SMALL GROVE OF PINE TREES. IT IS
A FOUR LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE SUPPORTING A 7 FOOT BY 7 FOOT
SQUARE OBSERVATION CAGE WITH A PYRAMIDAL ROOF. IT HAS AN
OVER-ALL HEIGHT OF 100.0 FEET.
THE POINT OBSERVED UPON WAS THE TOP AND CENTER OF THE ROOF.
TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE RAILROAD DEPOT IN KOUNTZE, GO
EAST ONE BLOCK TO U.S. HIGHWAYS NO. 69 AND 287 AND STATE ROUTE
NO. 326. HERE TURN RIGHT AND GO SOUTHERLY ON U.S. HIGHWAYS
NO. 69 AND 287 AND STATE ROUTE NO. 326 FOR 0.45 MILE TO WHERE
STATE ROUTE NO. 326 TURNS RIGHT, TURN RIGHT AND GO WEST AND
SOUTHWEST ON STATE ROUTE NO. 326 FOR 2.7 MILES TO THE JUNCTION
WITH FARM ROAD NO. 770 ON THE RIGHT, TURN RIGHT AND GO WESTERLY
ON FARM ROAD NO. 770 FOR 1.7 MILES TO A T ROAD LEFT LEADING
INTO THE LOOKOUT TOWER, TURN LEFT AND GO SOUTHERLY ON A
GRADED DIRT ROAD FOR 0.1 MILE AND THE STATION ON THE LEFT AS
DESCRIBED.
STATION RECOVERY (1984)
RECOVERY NOTE BY US POWER SQUADRON 1984 (RWK)
STATION DESTROYED.
LOOKOUT TOWER NO LONGER EXISTS.
ACCORDING TO MR. HERMAN HART AND MR. GENE RYAN, TEXAS FOREST SERVICE
EMPLOYEES, KOUNTZE, TEXAS. THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE LOOKOUT
TOWER WAS TORN DOWN DURING 1980. THIS PARTY HAVING LIVED IN AREA
NEARLY ALL HIS LIFE HAS PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT THE LOOKOUT TOWER
NO LONGER EXISTS.