NEOSHO (ELWOOD)
Missouri Lookouts - Newton County - Missouri Department of Conservation - 25N-31W-9
1946-1947: 91.78 acres were acquired for a towersite. (Annual Report of the Missouri Department of Conservation)
June 28, 1947: "Neosho tower in Newton county is scheduled to be an 80-foot wood structure." (Daily Capital News)
July 23, 1947: "Work on the Elwood fire tower, being put up by the Missouri Conservation service, is progressing rapidly, and should be completed withing two weeks. Randolph Mason, agent of the commission predicted today. The tower is located at the junction of alternate 71 and 60 highways.
Landowners and farmers in that area are being contacted by men in the commission relative to 'signing up' for the protection offered by the tower and fire truck, and most have indicated they would cooperate, Mason said.
While manpower hasn't been available for a concerted drive on signing up the farmers, the work will be done as soon as possible. Each owner or tenant is asked to sign a gentleman's agreement with the commission that he will not be allowed access to his property for the purpose of fire fighting.
Mr. and Mrs. Lovell Brewer, and daughter, now living south of Stella, will occupy the farm where the Elwood tower is located, and Brewer will act as towerman for that area." (Neosho Daily Democrat)
1947-1948: The 'Official Manual of the State of Missouri' indicates that the towersite is owned by the Missouri Conservation Commission and is 91.78 acres in size.
September 16, 1948: "James Hanson from Pineville will take over the duties as the new Neosho lookout tower man shortly. Hanson and his family expect to move to the station house shortly.
The house has been remodeled during the summer months and a new garage has been built. The remodeling program of the station also calls for the construction of a new barn." (Neosho Daily Democrat)
FY1956-57: "Major repairs were made to the residence at Neosho." (Missouri Conservation Commission Annual Report FY 1956-57)
September 28, 1961: "Two Southwest Missouri cousins, 17 and 18, were sentenced to two years each under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections when they pleaded guilty in McDonald County Circuit Court recently to theft of bin oculars and a radio set from the Neosho fire tower.
The youths, who also admitted shooting into the tower with a rifle, were apprehended after an investigation by Conservation Commission Towerman Victor A, Schmidt of Neosho. Schmidt said he traced the youths through their use of a book of gasoline purchase coupons which one of them admitted stealing in a break-in at the Neosho fire protection district garage in Powell.
The binoculars were recovered after the youths were apprehended but Schmidt said one of the youths returned the radio set to the tower before he was arrested.
Prosecuting Attorney Robert Yocum said the two were specifically charged with felonious stealing of binoculars and a radio set of the value of more than $75. They have been transferred to Jefferson City for assignment by the Department of Corrections to a correctional institution." (Gasconade County Republican)
FY 1968-69: "A new steel tower was erected at the Neosho towersite." (Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Report FY 1968-69)
FY1969-70: "The Neosho tower residence received a one-room addition plus major repairs to the rest of the house." (Annual Report of the Missouri Department of Conservation)
FY1971-72: "A new furnace was installed in the Neosho tower residence." (Annual Report of the Missouri Department of Conservation)
Removed