Merch Fire Tower - Lost! LbNA #22131 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Boots Tex  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 11, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Cleveland |
| County: | San Jacinto |
| State: | Texas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Lone Star Quilter |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 19, 2006 |
| Status: | FFFFm |
| Last edited: | May 11, 2006 |
***During routine maintenance 6-25-06, discovered this box missing!! Went back a couple of days later just to be sure, and it is definitely lost.***
This is about 1/2 mile round trip. Easy, level walk.
Only 20 of the 142 fire towers that once covered East Texas remain in place. This is not one of them. Most of the towers were built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps., and were abandoned, then dismantled, starting in the 1970’s when they were rendered useless by modern technology, such as satellite surveillance. All that remains of the Merch Fire Tower is the foundation, overgrown and forgotten. Notice the four column foundations, which are laid out in a square pattern. The larger concrete pad served as the support for the stair structure. Look up and imagine steel columns soaring above the trees to a 7’ x 7’ steel box, and the faithful ranger who had to climb the 100 feet of stairs to work every day.
Directions:
From Houston, go north on U.S. 59 to Cleveland. Take the Coldspring exit to FM 2025 and go north about 5 miles to FM 945. There is a Citgo station on your left. Turn left and go 1.2 miles. On the way, you will cross the San Jacinto River. The road will “S” curve, first to the left, then to the right. When you pass Shaw Road on the left, look for the trail markers for the Lone Star Trail. There is no parking lot here, but you can pull off the road to the right and there is adequate parking room.
To the box:
Cross the highway to the trail sign. Walk along the trail for a little over 2/10ths of a mile until you come to the foundations. You can’t miss them. Turn to your left and face the concrete stair tower pad. There are rows of anchor bolts on top of the foundation running down both sides. Go to the second anchor bolt on the right and look for the box on top of the concrete pad, covered with leaves, twigs and a rock. Please replace as found.
This is about 1/2 mile round trip. Easy, level walk.
Only 20 of the 142 fire towers that once covered East Texas remain in place. This is not one of them. Most of the towers were built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps., and were abandoned, then dismantled, starting in the 1970’s when they were rendered useless by modern technology, such as satellite surveillance. All that remains of the Merch Fire Tower is the foundation, overgrown and forgotten. Notice the four column foundations, which are laid out in a square pattern. The larger concrete pad served as the support for the stair structure. Look up and imagine steel columns soaring above the trees to a 7’ x 7’ steel box, and the faithful ranger who had to climb the 100 feet of stairs to work every day.
Directions:
From Houston, go north on U.S. 59 to Cleveland. Take the Coldspring exit to FM 2025 and go north about 5 miles to FM 945. There is a Citgo station on your left. Turn left and go 1.2 miles. On the way, you will cross the San Jacinto River. The road will “S” curve, first to the left, then to the right. When you pass Shaw Road on the left, look for the trail markers for the Lone Star Trail. There is no parking lot here, but you can pull off the road to the right and there is adequate parking room.
To the box:
Cross the highway to the trail sign. Walk along the trail for a little over 2/10ths of a mile until you come to the foundations. You can’t miss them. Turn to your left and face the concrete stair tower pad. There are rows of anchor bolts on top of the foundation running down both sides. Go to the second anchor bolt on the right and look for the box on top of the concrete pad, covered with leaves, twigs and a rock. Please replace as found.