North Carolina Forestry Service History

Last updated: January 28, 2017

Early forms of forest fire protection in Wake County:

• Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942 (national years of operation)
• Holly Springs farmers form volunteer forest firefighting group, 1943

Early fire towers in Wake County:

• Bay Leaf
  1936 - Lease recorded
  West side of Six Forks Road, approx. 0.5 miles North of  �Six Forks�, now Strickland Road intersection, approx. 8 miles north of Raleigh, high ground between Baileywick Rd and Six Forks Rd
  1937 - 99�-9� Aermotor steel tower erected
  
  1967 - New tower site purchased
  SR 1828 now Howard Road, approx 650 feet West of NC Hwy 50, Creedmor Road, approx. 3 miles north of Hwy 70
  1968 - 99�-9� Aermotor steel tower re-erected on new site^ncfs
  1985 - Last year tower was manned.
  
  Jenny Tilley was the long-time operator of the Bay Leaf Tower. In the June 27, 1988, edition of the Raleigh Times, Ms. Tilley was listed as the secretary of Wake County Ranger Albert Coley, a position started three years earlier, when she ended her work as fire watcher.
   
• Knightdale
  1938 - Tower site acquired from Meredith College trustees.
  Southside Place, east side of Hester Street, approx 1800 feet south of railroad property, and extending to Sallinger Street.
  1938 - 120� International-Stacey steel tower erected
  1971 - House and site sold
  1972 - Tower removed, for storage in Clayton and subsequent relocation to South Mills, Pasquotank County^ncfs
   
• Apex
  1940 - Original Tower Site, 100 ft wood tower erected, Greason Mfg Co. Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church Crossroads, approx 770 feet W of crossroads, (Approx 4 miles east from Apex)
  1951 - Lease filed for new tower site
  Swift Creek Church-Apex Road approx 1200 feet SE of intersection with Apex-McCullers Road, approx. 2.5 miles SE of Apex
  1951 - 99�-9� Aermotor steel tower erected
  1981 - Last year tower was manned
  1986 - Site reverted to owner, tower sold^ncfs

Historical notes:

• Staff in February 1994:
  • Wake County Ranger Albert B. Coley - Call # 11-90
  • Asst. Ranger Jerry Duke - Call # 11-91
  • Asst. Ranger Alton Perry - Call #11-92
  • Vacant position for equipment operator - Call #11-95
  • [Former] Tower Operator Jenny Tilley
• In December 1995, Alton Perry was named the new county ranger.

Present Forestry Service facilities in Wake County:

• Fire Tower on Howard Road, no longer used
• Ranger house and equipment shed at same location.  House used as private residence
• Administrative offices at Wake County Office Complex on Carya Drive

• ^ncfs North Carolina Forest Service
• ^oh Oral history

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