Witherbee Lookout
US 297, SC 2

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 297, SC 2 (view other lookouts in United States, South Carolina)
Date Registered December 1, 1998
Nominated by Glen Stapleton, District Ranger
Location Frances Marion National Forest
Berkeley County, South Carolina
Coordinates N 33° 09.716' W 079° 49.750' (view using Google Maps)
N 33° 09' 43" W 079° 49' 45"
N 33.161940° W 079.829170°
Elevation 66 ft (20 m)
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators Wambaw Office, Francis Marion National Forest

Description

One of the few remaining examples of South Carolina’s once extensive fire lookout network, Witherbee Lookout was originally erected on the Bethera tower site with a ground house in the 1930s. It is the oldest remaining tower on the Witherbee Ranger District and was one of several lookout stations used in the comprehensive fixed-point fire detection of the earlier years of the Forest Service. In 1952 the tower was moved to the Witherbee Ranger Station on the Francis Marion National Forest. The 100’ LS-40 Aermotor steel tower with 7’ x 7’ metal cab retains the original design and materials and was used by the Forest Service actively until 1989.

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Photos

Photo courtesy of Ron Stafford

Photo courtesy of Ron Stafford