OAK MOUNTAIN
Arkansas - Saline County - Ouachita National Forest
1928: Tower constructed.
December 8, 1937: "Friendliness of a rattlesnake at a Ouachita National Forest lookout near here (Hot Springs) resulted in its death.
The snake, named 'Old Spot' by the forestry lookouts, had loitered near the tower atop Oak mountain for two years, 'chumming' with the observers. In the cool of the day the snake could be found at the foot of the tower, waiting for his human companions to come down and 'play with him.'
Recently a new helper who was not so familiar with the snake's ways was assigned to the tower. The helper was hanging up clothing one morning when 'Old Spot' crawled up the hill. The reptile was playful, but the lookout thought the snake meant business.
'Old Spot' got too close. Now he won't come back for anymore games.
'Old Spot" was one of three rattlers that were seen around in the vicinity of the lookout tower. A little later one of its mates was found dead.
The third reptile, sensing a change in attitude, apparently found a new home. It hasn't been seen since in the vicinity of the tower.
Forest rangers said that the snakes were wild, but that they never had tried to bite anyone. Forest workers even had fed insects to 'Old Spot.'" (The Port Arthur News) (Texas)
The snake, named 'Old Spot' by the forestry lookouts, had loitered near the tower atop Oak mountain for two years, 'chumming' with the observers. In the cool of the day the snake could be found at the foot of the tower, waiting for his human companions to come down and 'play with him.'
Recently a new helper who was not so familiar with the snake's ways was assigned to the tower. The helper was hanging up clothing one morning when 'Old Spot' crawled up the hill. The reptile was playful, but the lookout thought the snake meant business.
'Old Spot' got too close. Now he won't come back for anymore games.
'Old Spot" was one of three rattlers that were seen around in the vicinity of the lookout tower. A little later one of its mates was found dead.
The third reptile, sensing a change in attitude, apparently found a new home. It hasn't been seen since in the vicinity of the tower.
Forest rangers said that the snakes were wild, but that they never had tried to bite anyone. Forest workers even had fed insects to 'Old Spot.'" (The Port Arthur News) (Texas)
1966: Removed
DESIGNATION - OAK MOUNTAIN LOT
PID - EJ1910
STATE/COUNTY- AR/SALINE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - NIMROD SE (1968)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1940 (ANS)
THIS IS AN INTERSECTION STATION. POINT OBSERVED UPON WAS
THE CENTER OF THE OAK MOUNTAIN, UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
LOOKOUT TOWER. THIS IS A STEEL STRUCTURE, 100 FEET TO FLOOR
OF LOOKOUT HOUSE AND 15 FEET FROM FLOOR TO PEAK OF ROOF.
THE LOOKOUT IS LOCATED ON THE SUMMIT OF OAK MOUNTAIN, 11.3
MILES SSW OF APLIN, AND 18.5 MILES SE OF OLA.