Parsons Mountain Lookout
US 837, SC 7
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 837, SC 7 (view other lookouts in United States, South Carolina) |
| Date Registered | November 17, 2009 |
| Nominated by | Ron Stafford |
| Location |
Sumter National Forest Abbeville County, South Carolina |
| Coordinates |
N 34° 04.984' W 082° 21.767' (view using Google Maps) N 34° 04' 59" W 082° 21' 46" N 34.083060° W 082.362780° |
| Elevation | 824 ft (251 m) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
| Cooperators | Long Cane Ranger District |
Description
This 73' LS-40 Aermotor tower with 7'x7' galvanized sheet metal cab with hip roof was constructed in November 1935 and used by the Forest Service actively until 1989. The Parsons Mountain Lookout is the oldest remaining tower standing on the Sumter National Forest and was the third tower built within the Long Cane Division. It is one of several lookout stations used in the comprehensive fixed-point fire detection of the earlier years of the Forest Service.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Photo courtesy of Ron Stafford
Visit Reports
September 16, 2020: Christopher Armenti
Condition |
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| Needs paint? | No |
| Shutters OK? | Not Applicable |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | The structure and stairs were in good condition with only sporadic surface rust. The windows in the cab are all broken and some of the window framing is missing. The security fence around the base shows signs of being pulled down to get access to the tower. All of the steps are present and the Jeep Road to the summit was in good condition as was the trail to the summit. There was some vegetation starting to attach to the lower part of the structure and the support building. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
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| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | No towers nearby |
| Other enroachments? | Low vegetation growing over fence and attaching to tower supports. |
Access and Signs |
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| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | There is no access and the tower is signed as no trespassing. The support building has a radio emissions warning and a high voltage sign. The ground inside the fence shows signs of recent activity. The trash can at the summit was overflowing with beer bottles. Seems to be a drinking hangout |
Staffing |
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| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
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| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
No
Needs someone to perform minor site maintenance, empty trash and cut back vegetation. Cab would need work but since i didn't climb up due to the access restriction I am not sure how much damage has been done to the window frames.
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Photos |
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