MATNEY KNOB UNIT 16, TOWER 5
Arkansas - Baxter County - State Forestry Commission / Ozark National Forest
November 3, 1933: "The National Ozark Forest has contracted with S. C. Hutcheson, of Norfork, for the purchase of 1750 acres of land just across the White River which takes in Matney Knob, one of the highest mountains in this section of the state. The Forest Service will construct a road from this place to the crest of Matney, where they will construct a lookout tower to be used in fire prevention work. This work will be done by the C.C.C. company, which has its camp at Push Mountain. The road will also give a new outlet to a large number of people who live south of the river." (Baxter Bulletin)
November 6, 1933: "The National Ozark Forest Association has contracted for the purchase of 1,750 acres of land on White River in Matney Knob, one of the highest mountains in this section of the Ozarks range. The forestry service will construct a road from Norfolk to the crest of Matney and a lookout's tower will be erected, to be used in fire prevention work. Members of the C.C.C. encampment at Push Mountain will be used on the project." (The Kansas City Times)
December 21, 1934: "Truman Kelley and family made a trip to the Matney Knob Lookout tower last Sunday and spent the day with the tower keeper, Mr. Mayford Husffines and family." (Baxter Bulletin)
July 5, 1935: "Mr. and Mrs. Mayford Huffines, keepers of the Matney lookout tower near Lone Rock,, with their small son, were visiting their parents last Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Huffines has been keeper of that tower most of the past year." (The Baxter Bulletin)
September 27, 1935: "At Matney Knob look-out tower, which was completed by the Forest Department of the Ozark National Forest reserve a few months ago, and which is situated a few miles northeast of here, there was held on last Sunday (the 22nd inst.) an all day singing and preaching service. A large concourse of people from the surrounding towns and counties assembled there and spent the day, a sumptuous dinner made up from 'the fat of the land' was partook of at the noon hour." (The Baxter Bulletin)
December 24, 1937: "Mr. and Mrs. Mayford Huggines, keepers of the Matney Lookout tower, were visiting relatives and friends here the first of the week." (The Baxter Bulletin)
October 7, 1938: "Mayford Huffines, who has been keeping the Matney Knob Lookout tower for two years, with his family left here Monday of this week for Devil's Knob tower, near Clarksville, Ark. and will keep that tower in the future. It is not known at this time who will succeed Mr. Huffines at the Matney Knob tower." (The Baxter Bulletin)
May 10, 1946: "Mr. Vickers with his family have moved to the Forest Look-out Tower, known as Matney Tower, 20 miles north of Big Flat." (Baxter Bulletin)
National Geodetic Survey
DESIGNATION - MATNEY LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - GF0672
STATE/COUNTY- AR/BAXTER
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - NORFORK (1966)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1953 (JCM)
THE STATION IS ON THE SUMMIT OF MATNEY KNOB ABOUT 2 MILES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF NORFORK. IT IS A FOUR LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE
ABOUT 100 FEET IN HEIGHT PAINTED ALUMINUM. THE POINT INTERSECTED
WAS THE CENTER OF THE TOWER TO WHICH A TRAVERSE WAS MADE, THE
DISTANCE WAS FOUND TO BE 65.60 FEET AND 19.996 METERS SOUTHEAST
OF TRIANGULATION STATION MATNEY.